Lenovo T420 vs. Dell Vostro 3450

[James]

So I finally have enough money to get a new laptop, and I'm stuck in a quandary.

My basic specs wanted are:
Required:
---------------
14" screen
Sandy Bridge gen CPU
Sub 5lb. weight
camera/webcam
fingerprint reader

Desired:
---------------
USB 3.0
1600x900 screen resolution
Backlit keyboard

Vostro 3450 $600:
------------------------
i5-2410M
2MP webcam
USB 3.0
1366x768 screen
backlit keyboard
Intel 1030 wifi/BT
fingerprint reader
express card slot

Lenovo T420 $880:
-------------------------
i5-2410M
2MP webcam
1600x900 screen
keyboard light (not backlit)
Intel 6300 Wifi
BT 3.0
fingerprint reader
expresscard slot


The question becomes, is the nicer screen and build quality worth the extra $280 when it comes at the cost of the loss of USB 3.0?

I'm basically soliciting other shark's opinions here.

I'm leaning towards the Lenovo, but who knows. Maybe I should get the Vostro and wait for a big purchase when Ivy Bridge hits.

[ua549]

I've not had any serious issues with my Dell products and the NBD warranty service is great.

I'm not sure the Lenovo has a better build quality. My experience with their warranty service was less than acceptable, but it must have improved. The Lenovo seemingly has better specs and configuration options.

I would select the Lenovo or a different Dell product that more closely matches the Lenovo specs.

[flutie98]

I just picked up the T420 in my sig a couple months ago for $680 through their employee pricing program. PM me and Ill send you the details.

[horizons]

So I finally have enough money to get a new laptop, and I'm stuck in a quandary.

My basic specs wanted are:
Required:
---------------
14" screen
Sandy Bridge gen CPU
Sub 5lb. weight
camera/webcam
fingerprint reader

Desired:
---------------
USB 3.0
1600x900 screen resolution
Backlit keyboard

Vostro 3450 $600:
------------------------
i5-2410M
2MP webcam
USB 3.0
1366x768 screen
backlit keyboard
Intel 1030 wifi/BT
fingerprint reader
express card slot

Lenovo T420 $880:
-------------------------
i5-2410M
2MP webcam
1600x900 screen
keyboard light (not backlit)
Intel 6300 Wifi
BT 3.0
fingerprint reader
expresscard slot


The question becomes, is the nicer screen and build quality worth the extra $280 when it comes at the cost of the loss of USB 3.0?

I'm basically soliciting other shark's opinions here.

I'm leaning towards the Lenovo, but who knows. Maybe I should get the Vostro and wait for a big purchase when Ivy Bridge hits.

Depends on your budget. Lenovo ThinkPad are the best in terms of durability.

and yes better screen and REALLY nicer build quality is better than USB3 , you wont use usb3 daily but you will look at the screen every day. plus usb2 still works ... oh and all thinkpads come with esata ports .keep in mind ThinkPad keyboard is still the best u can have in a notebook today a Classic.

try to get the T420 with Nvidia nvs4200 option as well (with optimus).

the T420S COMES with Nvidia nvs4200 AND USB3 but is more expensive.

Edit : dont worry about USB3 , for 14$-20$ u can add it to your notebook using the express card slot

[James]

Well as of yesterday afternoon I am the future owner of a T420.

Got everything I want and paid less than originally planned. I'll post pics when I get it, but it won't even ship until the 20th of this month.


*Edit: Horizons, I went with the on-die HD3000. Battery life is more of a concern for me, and since this will be most for work (putty sessions, etc.) no need for nVidia graphics.

[horizons]

Well as of yesterday afternoon I am the future owner of a T420.

Got everything I want and paid less than originally planned. I'll post pics when I get it, but it won't even ship until the 20th of this month.


*Edit: Horizons, I went with the on-die HD3000. Battery life is more of a concern for me, and since this will be most for work (putty sessions, etc.) no need for nVidia graphics.

congratulations.

as for the optimus technology from nvidia , you can choose which VGA card to use .. so actually u can turn off the VGA card in case you dont want to use it , and use the sandybridge VGA only saving you battery life.

[ua549]

James, what flavor of Linux are you going to put on the T420?

[James]

Probably Ubuntu server 11.04 or 11.10 if it comes out. I.e. CLI only. I'll add in xwindows + fluxbox for a window manager. It is what I use on my workstation, and I dig it. I'll probably have a windows partition as well, not sure yet.

[Johnmcl7]

I've not had any serious issues with my Dell products and the NBD warranty service is great.

I'm not sure the Lenovo has a better build quality. My experience with their warranty service was less than acceptable, but it must have improved. The Lenovo seemingly has better specs and configuration options.

After a company switch from Dell to Lenovo I've found the same, their warranty service isn't great (within a few days rather than next business day despite what they promise) and despite their reputation for build quality, that warranty service has been needed frequently. They also can't seem to maintain any consistency in their docks (12 and 14in machines need different docks, new largely similar 14in machine needs a further different dock) and their monitor stands are a joke.

John

[James]

I got the Lenovo.

I'll try and post pics and impressions in the next few days. So far so good though. Added in the new RAM and the SSD, and the system is flying along nicely under a dual boot of Windows and Ubuntu 11.10.