I Love My T42
Part of my IT overhaul I mentioned is to try and streamline the way I work. Part of this involves moving lots of what I do to the new ThinkPad. Stuff like email (Thunderbird), common bookmarks, RSS feeds etc. Things I want to be able to do whenever wherever and that I've normally relied on the desktop, Bailey, for. Bailey will become a work-horse development machine. If I decide to keep him at all, that is. So far things are going well and I'm enjoying the freedom to reply to mail from anywhere (in the house at least).
I've had the ThinkPad long enough now to form an opinion and I'm happy to report that I love it! It feels like a real, well-built laptop. Unlike Lundy, its Dell predecessor, which felt plastic and cheap.
Unlike most new computers I buy I left this one as it was. Whereas I normally re-install a clean copy of Windows I chose not to. It's one of those where there is no CD and the recovery software is in a hidden partition. If you want CDs then you can burn your own. The reason I didn't reinstall Windows though is because there is so much IBM software preinstalled that the system seems to rely one. Most of it I am growing to rely on as well.
One of the features I really like is the IBM Access Connections software. If I am working in the office with a network cable then decide to go mobile I simply unplug the cable. The software picks this up and switches me to wireless mode. Vice versa works too. It can change other settings like proxy server if you have a location profile setup for working in a "real" office.
There are other utilities I like too. Such as the ability to make keyboard modifications. You can put a delay on keys like F1 so you to press it for a little while before you see any help. Prevents accidental triggers.
Talking of the keyboard, that brings me to the thing I really don't like and that almost prevented me even buying a ThinkPad - the missing Windows key. Why is it not there?! I'm a shortcut addict and only use the mouse when I have to. I love to use Win+E (Explorer), Win+D (show desktop), Win+L (lock screen) and Win+R (run command). Without the Windows key I am back to doing it the long way. Although using the Keyboard Customization Utility I've turned the righthand Alt key in to the Windows key.
Although they've saved space with the omission of a Windows key they've still managed to add browser back and forward buttons. Again, why!? Due to their placement they are nothing more than an annoyance (if you've used them you'll know why). Again, using the keyboard utility, I've managed to disable them.
So, what the ThinkPad lacks it can make up for in other ways. It's a great machine!
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Agreed, the TP is a great machine. I was recently "upgraded" to a Dell at work and I hate it. The IBM had a much clearer LCD and just felt much more solid.
As far as my PC laptop experience goes, I have had 2 Dells and 2 ThinkPads (T30 and now T43). I'm typing this message on my T43 and have to agree that the TP is a great machine.
The only issue I have with it is the crazy amount of default processes that run on it. When idle, my T43 still seems 50+ processes. It's easy enough to streamline this, but I would have preferred to not have to.
Jake, Try out the Microsoft Virtual PC that comes with your Action Pack subscription on your spanking new laptop. Keep the radical experiments within the virtual pc(s) and you'll keep your laptop s/w install squeaky clean.
That way you can take your servers with you on the road (if you so choose).
I'm in total agreement about the TPs, though I have an admitted bias ;-)
Ditto re the T42 - even without the windows key, external keyboard caps-lock quirks, these are extremely cool laptops. Pitty we just switched to HPs at work - my T42 will be sorely missed when its eventually replaced :(
Hi Jake
have been using my T41p for about 1 1/2 years now - great machine.
If you want I can send you the "restore" CD's => 4 cd's that will take the machine back to the factory state - even if you removed the restore partition (like I did ;o)
Drop me a line if you want the CD's
Ursus
Jake,
My T43 is my 6th or 7th Thinkpad and none have had the Windows key. Those and lots of other server keyboards that I have used frequently in the last ten years didn't have it either, which has conditioned me to work without it. My typical work style is to have the 6 or 8 apps that I use a lot active all the time. I just Alt-Tab back and forth. I suspend/resume a couple times each day and typically don't re-boot for a month or more unless Windows update or other install/upgrade requires it. I also keep shortcuts to Desktop, Outlook, Notes, Firefox, Mozilla, IE, PaintShop, HomeSite, FTP Voyager and Visual Studio on the taskbar. Most of the less frequently used apps are on the desktop and only a few clicks away. The remaining ~200 apps that I use far less frequently are available from the menus.
Re the missing Windows key:
You could create a start menu folder called "launcher". Copy shortcuts for your favorite apps into there and setup "ctrl-alt" key combos for them.
If you're forgetful like me, you can name the shortcuts "N - Notes", "F - Feeddemon" etc so you can remind yourself what is what.
One more note on the missing key. I use a great little utility called the wonderful icon (www.thewonderfulicon.com). It lets you assign any combination of ctrl, alt, shift, etc. to an app. It has far too many things in it to mention here (my favorite is the ability to take any window and make it always on top). Oh yeah - it's free.
Still, I would definitely do a clean install on the machine. The default installation is just too loaded.
Some of the IBM ... errr ... Lenovo utils are really great (like Access Connections: Finally location documents for Windows :-) ), some I never ever need. All the applications and drivers are there in c:\drivers or c:\ibmtools (do they still call it like that?). Plus you get all the stuff from the web, except for the original installer of Record Now and WinDVD.
Plus you gain the space wasted for this stupid hidden partition (which you will definitely want to, once you start working with virtual machines).
And as you have a license to use the OS, I wouldn't bother about installing from any CD available to you. The only drawback might be, that you'd probably have to activate XP.
Sure love my T42 as well. I used for about 6 months now and I have to admit it...... it is fantastic.
The only thing I would warn for is a clean install. I took over the machine from a colleague (who left our company). Since he was into .NET, I thought I clean the whole machine and start from scratch with it.
The strange thing was that XP installed OK. Then to some upgrades and start installing Notes/Domino, MS Office, ... But it took me about 5 tries (every time a clean install) to get all the installations done. Sometimes it would just hang in the middle of a Notes installation, then in the middle of an Office installation, .... I still haven't figured out what the problem was.
But everything is running fine now. And even the upgrades go without a problem now.....
I've also got a T42 and I really can't understand why they don't have the Windows key. Is it an IBM vs Microsoft thing? Who knows....
Like you, I configured the right ALT key to do Windows key duties so problem solved.
I didn't know that you do the other key stuff (I hadn't really delved too deeply into it) but on the subject of the browser keys:
a. Why have them when you generally use your mouse when surfing?
b. The backspace key does the same thing as the previous page button
c. How many times do you go "forward" when browsing?
Anyway, like you I had a Dell previous to the Thinkpad and now it's serving duties as a Linux test machine mainly used for hosting open source LAMP stuff.
The only problem I have is that we bought a T43 for somebody at work and I now want the biometric fingerprint doodad. Logging in has never been so easy!
Phil. The IBM v MS thing might explain it. But, then, why has mine got a "Designed for XP" sticker on it (complete with logo) that is impossible to remove!?
My T42 has the fingerprint reader. I love it too ;o)
PS: Shift+Backspace=Forward
i just got my new tp r52. and from the beginning i love it. one strange thing is that after suspend to disc the thunderbird is not working any more. bad thing because i normally do not reboot all the time but now i have to. :-(
does someone has a idea how to work it out?