Lenovo thinkpad t400 ddr2 ram. The Lenovo ThinkPad T400s is strong but lightweight. Appearance and ease of use

Often the new is the well-forgotten old. But in the case of new IBM/Lenovo models, it would be more correct to say “classic”. The most correct forms, a minimum of design refinements, everything is strict, but stylish and tasteful. This is exactly what a laptop should be, the main buyer of which is the corporate consumer. Externally, the new generation of the T series is no different from the old one - the only differences are in the digital index and the filling. Both laptops reviewed in this article, the ThinkPad T400 and T500, are built on the new Intel Centrino 2 mobile platform, both are equipped with Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processors and 2 GB of RAM. But the older model ThinkPad T500 has a video subsystem based on AMD RADEON HD3650, while the younger ThinkPad T400 has an HD3470. In addition, the matrices are different - the 15-inch model has a screen resolution of 1680x1050 pixels, and the 14-inch model has 1440x900 pixels.

The delivery set includes the following items:

• charger;
• overlays for the manipulator (trackpoint);
• complete operating instructions;
• initial installation instructions;
• Safety and Warranty Guide;
• brochure with a list of additional accessories.

The ThinkPad T400 still has the same classic appearance as most previous models, including IBM laptops themselves. When folded, it is a strict parallelepiped with barely smoothed corners. The display cover is made of a material familiar to Lenovo laptops - matte plastic containing metal chips.

The material looks great, and in addition, it is very practical - small scratches that plague “glossy” laptops are not afraid of it, as are fingerprints. When pressure is applied to the lid, it bends quite a bit, but the rigid Roll Cage frame, made of magnesium alloys, prevents it from bending until it comes into contact with the fragile matrix. The panels of the work area are made of thick black plastic with a rough surface, and the bottom is made of slightly thinner black plastic with a matte surface.

The case doors are connected by small but powerful metal hinges integrated into the laptop frame. The lid, when folded, is held in place by two hooks, and the lock latch is located at the right edge of the front end of the lid. The rubber shock absorbers on the lid are very tiny, and when the laptop is folded, they do not cope with their main task at all, and, despite the presence of two hooks, there is about 0.5 mm of play between the flaps. A slight play in the battery mount is also noticeable. Otherwise, the build quality turned out to be very good, although the overall impression was still slightly spoiled by the play of the lid.

The front edge carries an IEEE-1394 port, a wireless switch, a pair of standard audio connectors, and the aforementioned lock latch.

The battery occupies most of the space at the back, to the left of which is the security lock socket, and to the right is the external power connector and the ventilation grille.

The left end is the busiest - a ventilation grille, a VGA port, RJ-11 and RJ-45 communication ports, a pair of vertically located USB ports, a slot for installing ExpressCard/54 expansion cards and a PCMCIA port, in place of which, as in our case, can be installed memory card reader. We noted a few shortcomings in the layout of the left panel. First, the surface is too busy. Secondly, vertically located USB ports are too close to each other; moreover, with this type of placement of a USB port, the likelihood of damage to the installed connector is much higher than with a horizontal placement.

The right panel houses the hard drive cover, one vertically positioned USB port, and a removable optical drive that can be replaced with an optional battery or a dummy cover. The bottom of the laptop is flat and dotted with many ventilation holes, but their size is small. A docking station connection connector is installed in the central part of the bottom.

The workspace is not much different from most T-series laptops. It’s worth noting one drawback right away - when pressure is applied above the keyboard, in the area of ​​the shutdown key, the case panel flexes noticeably, which is very strange, given the general “stiffness” and rigidity of the case. The keyboard is full-size, with the width of the alphabetic keys being 18.5 mm. The key travel is soft, with a clear indication of the actuation moment, but, unfortunately, the keys are quite noisy. When you press hard on the keys, the base of the keyboard moves noticeably, which is especially noticeable on the right side.

There are three manipulator keys under the keyboard; the “trackpoint” is located between the keys in the center of the keyboard. The touchpad has a size of 70x38 mm and is equipped with horizontal and vertical scrolling areas. The keys of both manipulators have a fairly long travel, but all the keys are quiet.

Under the keyboard, in the area of ​​the arrow keys, there is a mandatory element for the corporate segment of laptops - a fingerprint scanner. Above the keyboard there is a power button, as well as volume control keys and a button for calling up the ThinkVantage Productivity Center proprietary menu. A pair of built-in speakers are hidden in the corners under the decorative grille.

Ten system status icon indicators are built into the bottom of the display cover. When the lid is closed, indicators for network, battery status and standby mode are available. A web camera and a tiny keyboard backlight are built into the top edge of the display cover.

Display

The laptop has a 14.1-inch widescreen display with a matte surface and a resolution of 1440x900 pixels. In test packages, the matrix is ​​referred to as Lenovo, but in fact, nothing more than a Samsung product is installed - model LTN141WD-L05, more detailed characteristics of which can be found on the manufacturer’s website. The display is quite contrasty and bright, it does not turn into a mirror in back or side lighting, because it has a matte rather than glossy surface. The backlight power is quite enough to work in any conditions. But color rendering and viewing angles (especially horizontal) leave much to be desired - at the slightest deviation from the right viewing angle, the colors fade and are inverted, so before work you will have to adjust the angle of the matrix.

Appearance and ease of use

The T500 and T400 models are similar in appearance, like twin brothers, and if you don’t put them side by side, it’s difficult to understand who is who. The same materials and the same magnesium alloy Roll Cage frame are used. Even the play between the sashes at the front edge is the same.

But, fortunately, the T500 has no play in the battery lock; it fits like a glove. The only difference is the location of the connectors and interfaces at the ends of the device.

At the front, a memory card adapter slot has been added to the IEEE-1394 port, the wireless interface switch, a pair of standard audio connectors and the lock latch.

The back surface is absolutely flat, and a battery of similar capacity does not protrude beyond the boundaries of the case, like in the T400. Therefore, the body looks neater and more stylish. To the left of the battery there is a safety lock eyelet, and to the right there is a connector for connecting an external power source and a ventilation grille.

The right panel looks completely empty, but its entire surface is used by various elements: the hard drive cover, the optical drive tray, which, as in the case of the T400, can be easily removed with the press of a button, and the RJ-11 connector.

On the left panel there is a ventilation grille, a VGA port, e-SATA, RJ-45 connectors, three vertically located USB connectors and two slots for expansion cards - ExpressCard and PCMCIA. You still need to look for a more unfortunate arrangement of USB connectors than the Lenovo ThinkPad T500 - vertical placement is already a drawback, but, in addition, only three connectors are placed so close that when working with several USB devices you constantly have to use adapters or a USB-Hub .

On the bottom, only the port replicator connector is accessible to the user. Memory modules, as in the case of the T400, are accessible only after removing the panel under the keyboard; however, this panel can be easily removed. The working surface of the T500 is completely different from the T400, so there is no point in describing it in detail. It is only worth noting that the case panel above the keyboard bends much less under pressure, and the keyboard does not move at all.

Display

The laptop has a 15.4-inch widescreen display with a matte surface and a resolution of 1680x1050 pixels. The matrix was produced by the LG-Philips tandem, model LP154WE2, the detailed characteristics of which can be found on the manufacturer’s website. The Matrix pleased me in every way. The first thing that catches your eye is the large viewing angles in both planes. Contrast and color rendition are also at a high level, and the matte surface of the matrix allows you to work comfortably in the presence of a back or side bright light source. You can work outdoors on a sunny day, but the brightness is still a little lacking. When displaying a uniform dark field on the screen, a small amount of flare is noticeable at the top and bottom edges, but it is so small that it is completely unnoticeable during everyday work.

Sound subsystem

The sound subsystem of both laptops is based on the integrated Conexant Cx20561 codec. It is very difficult to find any information about this codec on the manufacturer’s website, but from scraps of scattered information we can conclude that this codec combines the functions of a modem and an audio codec. The ThinkPad T400 and T500 models have the same speakers, they are also placed almost identically, so there is practically no difference in sound - a narrow frequency range, the sound is empty, but at the same time it is well detailed and loud, and when the volume is set to maximum it does not “choke” or wheezes. The headphones sound quite good on both laptops, which was later confirmed by tests. The audio path was tested in the popular RightMark Audio Analyzer 6.0.6 test package. (hereinafter referred to as RMAA) using the Creative E-MU 0202 USB audio interface. Equalizer settings are default. Overall rating - very good!

Wireless interfaces

In terms of communications, and especially wireless communications, laptops are absolutely identical. Both have a pair of wireless interfaces - Bluetooth v2.0+EDR and the Intel WiFi Link 5300 Wi-Fi module. The latter is mandatory for the Centrino2 platform, but an option such as the ThinkPad 11b/g Wi-Fi module is also available in the model configurator Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter III, and this adapter is $40 cheaper than the one installed in the laptop we tested. Also, both laptops can have a 3G modem installed (the card slot is located under the battery) and a WiMAX module combined with a wireless network adapter. However, the copies provided for testing were not equipped with them. It is worth noting that both technologies are increasingly spreading in large cities of the CIS, and the hour is not far off when slow EDGE will transmit the last bit of information, giving way to faster data transfer methods.

Setting up network connections is possible both using standard OS tools and using additional software supplied with the laptop, which, by the way, from Lenovo, and in the past from IBM, is very convenient and functional.

Noise level and thermal conditions

Both laptops are neither too noisy nor too hot. The T500 model in idle mode makes a barely noticeable rustling noise from the fan blades; the noise they create does not exceed 32.9 dB. Under heavy and prolonged loads, the noise level rises to only 34.3 dB, and very rarely and briefly (for 5-20 seconds) - to 36.5 dB. The increase in fan speed is very funny - the sound is reminiscent of the growl of a sports motorcycle, somewhere a couple of kilometers away, picking up speed.

With heating everything is also going well. The temperature of the air flow discharged by the fan is 51.3 degrees, the temperature of the working surface, depending on the measurement point, varies from 28.4 to 31.3 degrees, and the bottom - from 27.2 to 36.0 degrees. The hottest spot is under the processor.

The T400 is somewhat more noisy - already in idle mode the noise level is 34.6 dB, under high loads it instantly rises to 36.9 dB, and during prolonged loads it sometimes reaches 38.5 dB. The increase in speed of rotation of the impeller in the T400 does not occur smoothly, as in the T500, but sharply, with a pronounced step. But the T400 heats up somewhat less. The “exhaust” temperature is 47.2 degrees, the working surface is 28.1-30.0 and the bottom, depending on the measurement point, is heated to a temperature of 26.7-35.6 degrees.

Performance

Both laptops are built on the Centrino2 platform. In fact, they only differ in the video cards they use: the older brother T500 has an HD3650 adapter, and the T400 has an HD3470. The opponent chosen was the Samsung R560, also built on the Centrino2 platform, but equipped with an nVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT video card and twice as much RAM.

Power supply and battery life

Both laptops have lithium batteries with a capacity of 56 Wh. The shape of the batteries is unusual, and in the T400 the battery protrudes noticeably beyond the boundaries of the case, while in the T500 it fits into the overall design.

When tested in the Battery Eater Pro package in "classic" mode (maximum load), the T500 laptop lasted 124 minutes, T400 - 167 minutes. Both models have very good results, especially the T400, and, as practice shows, such results for Centrino2-based laptops are not the exception, but rather the rule. Charging the batteries of both laptops takes quite a long time - almost three hours, but both are charged to 90% level in approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

The laptop comes with pre-installed software for flexible configuration of energy saving settings, in which you can configure multiple schemes and quickly switch between them.

Nestled comfortably in the mid-range segment of Lenovo's ThinkPad family, the T series offers a strong combination of price, performance and portability. The 14.1-inch T400 is less bulky than the small business Lenovo SL or budget R Series, and less expensive than the ultraportable Lenovo X or heavy-duty W Series. At $1,549, this business laptop has top-notch features like switchable graphics, as well as long battery life and excellent ergonomics. In other words, it has everything you'd expect from a ThinkPad.

Lenovo T400: Design Review

While Dell and HP have already given their business laptop lines more modern designs, the T400 doesn't offer any new touches to the classic ThinkPad look. The chassis and keyboard are black, with a touch of bright red on the TrackPoint joystick and blue on some keys, including the ThinkVantage button, which launches Lenovo's software utility, and the Enter key. A row of green status lights is located just below the screen.

Unlike the SL and X300/X301 series, the T400 has simple, metal hinges, rather than smooth, black ones. The lid is not made of glossy plastic and does not have a luminous logo, as in the SL series.

Like the Samsung X460, the laptop's greatest thickness is only 33mm.

The extended 9-cell battery forms a significant bulge at the rear of the device and lifts the overall weight to 2.54kg from the slim 2.13kg of the low-capacity four-cell battery. Although the system fits comfortably on your lap and doesn't tip over, the back of the laptop is noticeably heavier than the front.

Adequate ports

The Lenovo T400 comes standard with all the ports a mobile professional could want, with one exception. The right side also houses the only USB port. On the left there is an ExpressCard/54 slot, Ethernet, a modem connector and two more USB ports. The front panel houses a FireWire connector, as well as a microphone input and a headphone output, and a Kensington lock on the rear panel. For added security, the system even comes with a fingerprint reader.

A card reader, an absolute must these days, isn't included in the base configuration, but it's available as an option for an extra $10 when you order the T400 from Lenovo.com. Users would also like to have DisplayPort and HDMI ports, but they are not essential.

Keyboard, TrackPoint and Touchpad

The Lenovo T400 has the same keyboard as other ThinkPad models, with strong feedback and predictable key layout. However, if you put it next to some of the other devices in the line, such as the X300, SL300 and the old Z61t, you'll notice that the keys on the T400 are a little less responsive and, unlike the rest of the range, there's noticeable flex throughout the keyboard. Users note the difference in internal design and the use of a weaker base plate than, for example, the ThinkPad T61.

Between the “P” and “P” keys the already familiar miniature TrackPoint strain gauge joystick is conveniently located. While most users prefer the touchpad, many appreciate the precision of this pointing device, and touch typists appreciate the ability to move around the screen without removing their hands from the center row of keys. Owners who don't like the TrackPoint joystick can ignore it entirely and use the precision touchpad below the space bar to navigate.

Heating temperature

Like other ThinkPad laptops, the Lenovo T400 remains pleasantly cool in use. For example, after 15 minutes of web surfing, the temperature between the G and H keys did not exceed 29 degrees, the touchpad had a temperature of 28 ° C, and the rear lower part of the case heated up to an average of 29. According to experts, any temperature not exceeding 32 degrees on the scale Celsius can be considered exceptionally cool.

Display

The 14.1-inch diagonal LED-backlit screen produces vibrant colors and crisp images for both normal laptop use and video viewing. Color quality remains stable at angles up to 45 degrees, which is enough for at least three adults to be able to sit in front of the screen and watch a movie without discomfort.

Lenovo releases the T400 with a resolution of 1280 x 800 (WXGA) or 1440 x 900 (WXGA+) pixels. Users strongly recommend choosing the option with the best display performance. The 1440 x 900 pixels on the 14.1-inch monitor provide enough screen real estate to comfortably view web content or long documents without eye strain.

Webcam

1.3 megapixels is more than enough for video conferencing, but it's clearly too little for photography. Photos and videos taken in low light conditions are clear, bright and full of detail, but pixelated. In Skype video chat, movements are smooth.

Surprisingly good sound

The built-in speakers produce loud, clear, although a little metallic sound at higher volumes, both when watching videos and when playing music. Users report that when listening to jazz, dance-pop and rock, they experienced little distortion even at maximum volume. Still, the results are far from hi-fi systems, so audiophiles will probably need headphones or external speakers.

Switchable graphics

Lenovo offers the T400 with two different graphics options: an integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD chip or a switchable graphics solution that allows users to choose between the same power-efficient Intel chip and the more powerful ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 card without rebooting.

Performance

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz, 2 GB DDR3 RAM and Centrino 2 chipset provide strong performance test results for the Lenovo T400 laptop. The switchable graphics performance in high-performance mode in the PCMark Vantage test shows an impressive 3576 points, 700 points above the average for thin and light systems. That's better than the Dell Latitude E6400 (3025), Fujitsu LifeBook S6520 (3383), and Lenovo's SL400 (3411). The EliteBook 6930p, which had a significantly higher score of 3,749, has a slower 2.4 GHz processor, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450 graphics card, but has a lower resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels.

Both modes of the Lenovo T400 are rated positively by users. The laptop allows you to simultaneously take a Skype video call, stream high-definition video from Fox.com, and edit a Word document without any noticeable lag or program pauses on both the high-performance and low-cost integrated graphics processor.

Booting takes 1 minute and 5 seconds, which is 1 second slower than average for laptops in this class. But still, users would like to significantly reduce the start time, at least to the level (53 s).

Graphics performance

In High Performance mode, the Lenovo T400 scored 2,557 in 3DMark06, which is 1,200 above average and better than the SL400 (2,225) and Samsung X460 (2,082), both of which have discrete graphics. The power-saving processor drags the 3DMark06 score down to a mediocre 753 points, 600 below average.

Laptop owners do not recommend using the T400 as a gaming machine, only as a last resort. For example, the F.E.A.R. test in high performance mode it produces a respectable but unremarkable 35 fps at 1024 x 768 and 24 fps at 1440 x 900 pixels. Energy-saving graphics allow us to get only 15 and 6 fps as a result of the test.

For a business system, the T400 provides good multimedia performance. DVD viewing is enjoyable in both discrete and integrated graphics mode. Dark scenes are reproduced accurately and with less noise or distortion, while bright scenes are quite colorful.

Hard drive performance

The Lenovo T400 is available in 5400 and 7200 rpm hard drive variants, as well as solid-state SSD drives. According to user reviews, the Hitachi 160 GB HDD with a speed of 7,200 rpm is the weakest link in the overall performance configuration of the laptop. The drive completed the test copying 4.97 GB of mixed media files in 5 minutes 9 seconds, which corresponds to 16.5 MB/s - average for models in this category. Although the score is better than the SL400 (12.6 MB/s), HP EliteBook 6930p (12.7 MB/s) and Fujitsu LifeBook S6520 (14.9 Mbps), the Dell Latitude E6400's drive speed is only 5400 rpm runs at 18.5 MB/s.

Configuring the system with a larger drive capacity can improve performance. The Lenovo SL300, with its 250GB 5400RPM Hitachi drive, is significantly ahead of the Lenovo SL400. For those who can afford to pay for higher speeds, users are advised to purchase solid-state drives.

Wireless Performance

The Intel WiFi Link 5100 provides good data transfer speeds for laptops in this class: an average of 20.7 Mbps at a distance of up to 5 m and 16.3 Mbps at a distance of up to 15 m. The T400 can also be equipped with integrated mobile broadband cards cellular operators.

Battery life

A laptop battery test involving continuous web surfing via Wi-Fi in high performance mode showed the T400's battery life to be 5 hours 19 minutes. This compares to the Dell Latitude E6400 (5:17) and Lenovo SL400 (5:20).

In power saving mode, the Lenovo T400 battery lasted a whopping 6 hours and 26 minutes, which is significantly longer than the category average (4:28). However, it's important to remember that testing was done with a bulky nine-cell battery pack, so six- and four-cell devices show significantly shorter battery life.

Included Software

Like other ThinkPad laptops, including the SL400 and SL300, the T400 is free of bloatware. The system comes with typical Lenovo Care utilities, including battery management, system recovery, and password management, as well as drive security tools and Lenovo T400 drivers. InterVideo WinDVD and Roxio Easy Media Creator are included for recording and playing DVDs.

When upgrading to a new operating system, you will need to update your Lenovo T400 laptop power management software. Drivers and new software can be obtained from lenovo.com. True, the manufacturer does not provide drivers for devices that have not been tested with Windows 10. This includes the Lenovo T400. Instructions for updating the software are also located there.

Verdict

The advantages of the model are the ability to work with two types of graphics hardware and the long operating time of the nine-cell battery. Among its shortcomings are an outdated design, mediocre hard drive performance, a clunky appearance when using an extended battery, and the lack of a memory card slot in the standard configuration.

So the Lenovo T400, complete with its nine-cell battery, is not the lightest 14.1-inch laptop, but it is one of the most powerful and longest-lasting devices in its class. Switchable graphics, a fast processor and the Centrino 2 chipset give owners a portable system with desktop-like performance and battery life exceeding 6 hours.

• Built-in numeric keypad and integrated UltraNav dual pointing system with wide touchpad below the keyboard, click zones, label scroll areas, multi-touch; and TrackPoint and customizable touchpad for maximum pointing flexibility.
• ThinkVantage button, individual speaker volume up, down and mute buttons, microphone mute button
• The keyboard has an Fn key, which is a special key located in the lower left corner. The Fn key allows the user to instantly activate the following operating functions by pressing the Fn key and the function key labeled:
  • Standby / Suspend / Sleep mode
  • Switch between device display modes
  • multimedia
• A fingerprint reader is integrated into the stand for the rest of your ThinkPad laptop to prevent unauthorized access to your laptop and data
• Waterproof
• ThinkLight Keyboard Light illuminates the keyboard to improve visibility in low light conditions

• PC3-8500 Non-Parity Technology (NP) Double Data Rate Three (DDR3)
• Two SO-DIMM slots
  • Use of 1067 MHz SO DIMM memory is recommended for this system.
• 1 GB, 2GB, or 4GB memory
• Supports up to a maximum memory of 8GB
• 2GB, 4GB Intel Turbo Memory (on some models)
  Note: Only 64-bit operating systems support more than 3GB of system memory (RAM).

• All systems come with the UltraNav dual pointing system, featuring TrackPoint and a customizable touchpad for maximum pointing flexibility is part of the keyboard. TrackPoint features Press-to-Select, Internet scrolling and magnifying glass for precise and convenient control.

Connection

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Operating environment

For systems with 358.1 mm (14.1 inch) TFT display:

Platform:

• Width: 337 mm (13.3 in)
• Depth: 241 mm (9.5 in)
• Height: 21.1 to 25.9 mm (0.83 to 1.02 in)
• Tuned system weight: Starting at 1.77 kg (3.9 lbs)

Environment:

• Maximum unassisted altitude: 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
• Temperature
  • At altitudes up to 2438 m (8000 ft)
    • Operating room: 5.0°C to 35.0°C (41°F to 95°F)
    • Non-operating: 5.0°C to 43.0°C (41°F to 109°F)
  • At altitudes above 2438 m (8000 ft)
    • Maximum temperature when operating under reduced pressure conditions: 31.3°C (88°F)
• Relative Humidity:
  • Operating room: 8% to 80%

• Non-working: 5% to 95%

Note: When charging the battery, its temperature should be at least 10°C (50°F).

Thermal power

• 65 W (222 BTU/h) maximum or 90 W maximum (307 BTU/h) (depending on model)

Accessories:

Note: All weights and dimensions are approximate.

power

• The battery is the computer's internal power source when an AC adapter is not available. The battery is rechargeable and is charged using the AC adapter with the system.
• You can determine how much battery power remains using the ThinkPad Fuel Gauge utility. This shows the percentage of charge remaining, whether there is one or two batteries in the system.
• Another optional lithium-ion battery, the Ultrabay Li-Polymer battery, fits into the Ultrabay Slim so two batteries can be installed to extend battery life.
• A six-cell lithium-ion battery is supplied with the system.
• An optional three cell Ultrabay Li-Polymer II battery for extended battery life is available.
• Li-ion battery: 6 cell, 3.9 Ah, 312 g (0.69 lb)
• Battery life:
  • 6-cells: up to 6.5 h;
  • 6-cell battery plus Ultrabay: up to 11 h
• Rated voltage: 10.8V DC
• Capacity: 4.0AH

Notes:

• (*1) Battery life (and recharge times) will vary depending on many factors including screen brightness, applications, features, power management, battery conditioning and other customer preferences.

Safety

• Hardware Password Manager (HPM)
• Intel Anti-Theft (AT)
• Security chip
• The fingerprint reader on some models offers users a convenient solution to authenticate at system startup and log into Windows with the touch of a finger.
• A locking device in the security slot provides physical security.
• ThinkPad Embedded Security Subsystem provides authentication and encryption of data transmission.

• A power-on password (POP) protects the system from unauthorized use. If POP is installed, you will be prompted for a password:
  • Every time the system is turned on
• When the system returns to normal operation from standby mode
• Supervisor Password provides a higher level of security than POP. Supervisor Password protects system functions from use by unauthorized users and also protects hardware configuration from unauthorized changes. The Supervisor Password prompt appears:
  • When the BIOS setup screen is available.
• Hard Drive Password (HDP) protects data on your hard drive from unauthorized access. Once HDP is installed, the data on the hard drive cannot be accessed without the correct HDP. Because HDP is stored on the hard drive, data remains protected even if the hard drive is removed to another system. You will be prompted to enter your HDP password:
  • Every time the system is turned on.

The first ThinkPad laptop was released by IBM in 1992. Lenovo has launched ThinkPad laptops since 2005, and the series continues to be popular among business users for its reliability, performance, and the latest technologies that enhance ease of use. ThinkPad laptops continue to evolve to deliver the latest generation of technology.

The familiar look of ThinkPad laptops has been updated with the release of the ThinkPad T400s model based on the Windows 7 operating system, equipped with a 14.1-inch resistive touch display with support for multi-touch input technology. In addition to this, the laptop is equipped with a powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processor, DDR3 memory and a solid-state drive.

All these technologies are not cheap; a model with multi-touch support will cost no less than 70,000 rubles. Lenovo deservedly calls this laptop “the perfect combination of performance, mobility and energy efficiency.” Does a laptop from a classic brand meet the requirements of new times? Let's see.

On the question of design
Lenovo ThinkPad laptops have changed little in terms of appearance lately. Many people think that ThinkPad design has become outdated or boring. We do not agree with this point of view; the T400s is a simple-looking, but very advanced device. It doesn't have the fancy shine that some competitors have, but high quality and sturdy construction are still important criteria for many business users.

Those who frequently use their laptop on the go will appreciate the T400s' signature Roll Cage technology, a unique spatial frame that makes it one of the most durable laptops around. This is a very strong system, without a single hint of play in individual parts. At the same time, the laptop remains lightweight and mobile.

One of the most interesting options of this model is the 14.1-inch touchscreen display with LED backlight. The matte screen with a resolution of 1440x900 pixels is almost perfect. It does not have a glossy coating, which makes it much easier to read information in bright light. Color rendering and brightness are also very good, and the backlight ensures uniform illumination of the matrix. The viewing angles, as often happens with laptops, could have been wider, but overall the screen is very, very good.

In addition to the rigid chassis, this laptop has an amazing keyboard. ThinkPad laptops generally have a reputation for being the most comfortable laptops in this department, and the T400s is no exception. Lenovo has slightly changed the design of the keyboard, making two frequently used keys - Esc and Delete - vertical and increasing their size. The distance between two adjacent keys has been reduced to minimize the entry of dust and dirt.

Another innovation concerns the Caps Lock key, buttons for turning on the laptop and muting the sound and microphone. They come with built-in LEDs to help you quickly see what's working and what's not. Separate volume, mute and microphone buttons provide comfort during active conversations using Skype and other VOIP clients.

The creators of the laptop have seriously reworked the classic design. Lenovo has reduced the number of external operation indicators on the display lid from three in the T400 to two in the T400s - now, without opening the laptop, you can find out whether the laptop is in sleep mode and what the battery status is. There are also fewer indicators under the display - only 3 instead of ten. The remaining indicators show the status of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth modules and, again, the battery. As a result, the design of the laptop leaves the impression of an absolute absence of unnecessary elements, except for the usual branding stickers to the left of the touchpad.
The T400s keyboard is about as good as a laptop keyboard can get. The comfortable size of the keys and large travel ensure comfortable typing even in the absence of an additional numeric keypad. The useful ThinkLight option, which illuminates the keyboard, is also present. To control the mouse cursor, you can use a standard touchpad with gesture support or a proprietary trackpoint. It is possible to control programs using a multitouch touch display, but more on that later.

The touchpad is almost ideal in terms of area and placement; it also supports multi-finger control - with special gestures you can zoom in on a document, rotate an image or scroll through pages. Having mastered new gestures, you will be surprised how you could manage without them before. You will have to get used to the textured surface of the touchpad at first, but in the future it will provide additional comfort in operation.

The built-in speakers flank the keyboard and they are surprisingly good, playing decent music and ideal for voice calls. Two built-in digital microphones also help improve speech quality.

The matte black surface of the display lid ensures that the laptop is 100% recognizable and leaves virtually no fingerprints on it. Another advantage of the T400s that is worth mentioning is the low noise level during operation and the virtual absence of heating. In power saving mode, the laptop operates almost silently: you can make sure that the fan is running only if you put your ear to the case. Of course, silence is also ensured by the solid-state drive. Even under high load, the built-in fan is very quiet.

On the bottom panel of the laptop there is a 6-cell lithium ion battery, and hidden underneath is a SIM card slot for an optional 3G module. Under the cover in the center are two slots for DDR3 memory; another cover with a single screw hides a slot for a 1.8-inch hard drive. The optical drive can also be removed by pressing one button, and in its place, in the UltraBay slot, you can install an additional three-cell battery, or another hard drive using an optional adapter.

Thin and Light
We're quite impressed with the design of the T400s - it's one of the thinnest and lightest ThinkPad laptops ever. The T400s with touch screen is slightly thicker than the version with a regular display; the dimensions of the laptop are 337x241x21 mm. Light weight ensures comfortable use of the laptop on the road.

There is only a lock on the front panel that allows you to open the cover. On the right is the wireless module switch, a DVD-RW optical drive (a Blu-Ray burner is available as an option), and a Kensington lock.

Owners of the ThinkPad T400s should thank its creators for including an optical drive in the package: thin models increasingly lack an integrated drive. However, our expectations in this case were not entirely justified. The drive makes noise when operating, which can completely ruin your DVD viewing experience. The drive is suitable for installing programs and recording data, but it is better to watch movies directly from the hard drive.

On the rear edge there is a power connector, a VGA output, an Ethernet connector, a USB port with constant power, another USB connector combined with an eSata port and a DisplayPort for connecting an external monitor. Thus, a laptop can be connected to an external display via both an analog and digital interface.

On the left there is another USB port (the laptop is equipped with three ports in total), a microphone and/or headphone jack, and an optional 5-in-1 card reader. In models without a card reader, an ExpressCard slot is located in its place.
The included power supply is quite compact and should fit in any laptop bag.

The documentation set includes a quick instruction manual, a safety guide and a warranty card, a maintenance and problem solving guide. Lenovo provides a standard 1-year warranty for T400s owners.

What about multi-touch screen?
Lenovo ThinkPad T400s was one of the first laptops with a full multitouch display, and what a one! The 14.1-inch capacitive touchscreen features N-trig's DuoSense digitizer, which enables control using up to 4 fingers simultaneously. Surprisingly, with active use, there are practically no fingerprints left on the screen.

The T400s touch display has good sensitivity, and operation is easy enough to press or swipe on the screen. With 4-point support, you can take full advantage of the multitouch functionality of Windows 7, including basic controls in any program, such as turning pages in the browser, rotating and zooming.

However, despite the fact that Microsoft has done a lot to support multi-touch in Windows 7, finger controls are not always comfortable. For example, it is not always possible to get the desired item into the Start menu on the first try. To expand the capabilities of the touch display, Lenovo installed its own SimpleTap application on the T400s.

This program opens by pressing the red button, which can be placed at the edges of the screen, as shown in the picture above. SimpleTap provides quick access to a number of frequently used features or applications. Click on the red button with your finger and a whole set of icons will open in front of you:

By default, SimpleTap provides basic system management capabilities. You can mute the sound, adjust the volume, lock the system, put the computer to sleep, or change the screen brightness. The program is very easy to use and easy to customize. The buttons can be dragged with your finger or pushed against each other - then they “scatter” across the entire screen, but return to their place with one click.

The brightness is adjusted using a slider; it is easier to use than the corresponding combination of buttons on the keyboard.

You can also add your own shortcuts to SimpleTap: the application allows you to launch regularly used programs, open web pages or individual documents. We're generally skeptical of a developer's software suite, but to Lenovo's credit, SimpleTap turned out to be a useful utility and a great way to get started using a touchscreen display.

Unfortunately, the T400s' touchscreen capabilities are used most of the time for general navigation. Multi-touch turned out to be an interesting toy, but after several hours of use you begin to understand that using familiar control methods is faster and more convenient. And typing text on the Windows 7 on-screen keyboard is not as convenient as on a real laptop keyboard. Using a touchpad or trackpoint, you can aim much more accurately than by tapping on the screen. Even multi-finger gestures to zoom or rotate can be done on the touchpad rather than on the screen.

Currently, the great multi-touch screen has few uses in real world applications. While testing the ThinkPad T400s, we kept wanting to rotate the screen, turning the laptop into a tablet. In this case, finger controls would be more appropriate, but reaching for the screen via the keyboard and touchpad (both of the highest quality) to perform some simple actions is simply unproductive. What's more, the T400s lacks a crucial touchscreen accessory: the stylus. Despite the fact that positioning accuracy using your fingers is quite high, using a stylus is more convenient in some situations. In addition, handwriting recognition in Windows 7 is simply not available without a stylus. The excellent screen and stylus included could make the T400s a real gem. But so far, the system with a multitouch display, unfortunately, has few applications.

System Configuration
Lenovo offers a range of options for the T400s. Here is just a short list of possible configuration items. Options in italics refer to the laptop model we tested.

CPU

• Intel Core 2 Duo SP9400 (2.40GHz, 6MB L2, 1066MHz FSB)
• Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 (2.53GHz, 6MB L2, 1066MHz FSB)

operating system

• Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
• Windows 7 Professional 32-bit
• Windows Vista Business 32-bit

Video card

• Intel GMA 4500MHD

RAM

• 2GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1.067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
• 3GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1.067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
• 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1.067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
• 6GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1.067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
• 8GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1.067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)

Control

• UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
• UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with biometric scanner

Webcam

• 2.0 megapixel built-in webcam

Hard drive

• 120 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5,400rpm
• 250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5,400rpm
• 128 GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA (available for T400s Elite modification)
• 256 GB Solid State Drive with encryption system, Serial ATA (available for T400s Elite modification)

Optical drive

• DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
• ThinkPad Blu-ray Recordable Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)

Expansion slots

• ExpressCard34
• 5-in-1 Media Card Reader

The T400s is more about performance than battery life, so Lenovo offers a choice of two Intel Core 2 Duo processors running at 2.4 or 2.53 GHz, instead of the ultra-low-power models typically found in thin and light laptops. To further speed up the system, you can purchase a laptop with a built-in solid-state hard drive.

A noticeable compromise between performance and compactness is the lack of a dedicated graphics card; for the T400s, Lenovo only offers integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics. The performance of the video system is sufficient for playing high-definition video, but not for games, which, in principle, will not be a problem for the target audience - business users.

The laptop we tested has a 2.4GHz processor and solid-state hard drive - a configuration not available when ordering from the official Lenovo UK website. As a result, we indicate the approximate price for our model - about 1900 pounds (* note: the cost of a model with an SSD in Russia is 70-80 thousand rubles, that is, a little cheaper). The minimum price for the T400s with multitouch screen is £1,492, with a maximum price of over £3,000 with a range of additional options such as 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a Blu-Ray burner.

System Configuration

Our updated set of tests has so far been tested on a fairly small number of laptops. As a result, we have no direct competition for the T400s. To compare performance levels, we used a pair of laptops on the Intel CULV platform: the MSI X-Slim X600 with an ATI Radeon graphics card and the Acer Timeline 3810T with integrated Intel graphics.

We use the built-in benchmark in the 7-zip archiver, which is optimized for use with multiprocessor systems.

HEXUS.PiFast evaluates the performance of one processor core, and CINEBENCH ensures full utilization of all processor cores.

To quickly evaluate gaming performance, Quake 4 is used at 800x600 resolution with low graphics quality. The integrated graphics system in the T400s does not support the maximum in-game settings - 4x AA and 16x AF. Because of this, performance with high graphics quality was not tested.

All tests were run with the laptops powered from the mains, in power consumption mode for high performance. In the battery test, laptops were put into power saving mode and the Terminator 4 movie was played in standard definition. The display brightness was set to maximum, the wireless modules were turned off. We assessed the time it took the laptop to discharge until it went into hibernation mode when the battery was critically low.

Performance

As expected, the dual-core 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor was significantly faster than ultra-low power processors. The results allow us to evaluate the system's response speed in real applications. The combination of a fast processor, large DDR3 memory and solid-state drive provides the fastest loading speeds for programs. Performance can also be assessed by the speed of system installation - installing Windows 7 took us only 22 minutes. Booting the OS takes about 50 seconds, and shutting down takes less than 10 seconds.

As a result, the Lenovo laptop performs well at work. It has enough power for fast work not only in office programs, but also for more complex tasks. For example, playing 1080p movies is no problem for the T400s, even if the video system's capabilities are not used.

As expected, the T400s gaming performance is not that great. The integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics provides acceptable frame refresh rates in Quake 4, but only at 800x600 resolution. The difference between the integrated graphics in Lenovo and Acer and the separate graphics card in MSI is quite significant.

Please note that the graphics system is the same in the T400s and Timeline 3810T. But the high performance of the processor, memory and disk system provided an almost twofold advantage of the T400s even in the gaming test.

A powerful processor consumes more power, which is noticeable in the battery life test results. The T400s lasted 2 hours and 43 minutes in video playback mode. The optional Ultrabay slot battery can double battery life, according to the manufacturer, and is definitely worth the splurge on this accessory.

As you can see, the Windows 7 Experience Index shows a very plausible picture. Graphics performance and battery life are not record-breaking, but in all other respects the T400s is one of the best.

Conclusion
The ThinkPad T400s is attractive in many ways. The build quality is perhaps the best on the market, and the keyboard and touchpad provide the most comfortable experience. With a fast Intel Core 2 Duo processor and SSD, the overall performance is remarkable. Add to this the absence of noise and the minimal thickness and weight of the laptop, and we get an almost ideal laptop for business.

There are, of course, disadvantages. You need to start with the high price and lack of a discrete graphics card. Additionally, we expected better battery life.

The new multitouch display also causes mixed impressions. In terms of quality, it is unrivaled, but the usefulness of such a display in a regular laptop is questionable. You think about this even more when you realize that the price difference between a model with multitouch and a regular display is about 12 thousand rubles.

Overall, the many positives clearly outweigh some of the negatives. If you're looking for a thin business laptop with a touchscreen display, the T400s will be hard to beat.

Advantages

• High quality build and materials
• Great keyboard and touchpad
• Virtually silent operation and high performance
• High-quality touch display with multi-touch input support

Flaws

• I wish it was a tablet
• Relatively low battery life
• No dedicated graphics card

The higher the score, the more we recommend purchasing the device. The rating is given based on the category to which the laptop belongs. Thus, the criteria for top quality laptops were applied to the ThinkPad T400s.

Lenovo T series laptops are located in the middle segment of the ThinkPad family. Devices in this series are characterized by a strong combination of price, mobility and performance. The 14-inch Lenovo T400 is less bulky than the Lenovo SL laptop or R series, but it costs much less than LenovoX portables or the heavy-duty W series, starting at $1,549. This device combines top-notch features such as long battery life, switchable graphics and excellent ergonomics. In other words, the device has everything you would expect from a ThinkPad.

LenovoT400 laptop: design review

While HP and Dell have already provided their line of business laptops with more modern designs, the Lenovo T400 does not add any new features to the classic ThinkPad look. The laptop's keyboard and chassis are finished in classic black, paired with a bright red Track Point joystick and blue accents on some keys, including the Think Vantage button. This button launches the Lenovo software utility and the enter button. Just below the screen is a row of green status lights. Unlike the SL series, the LenovoT400 laptop uses simple metal hinges instead of sleek black ones. The laptop lid is not made of glossy plastic. There is no glowing logo on it, like in the SL series devices. Similar to the SamsungX 460 devices, the LenovoT400 laptop has a maximum thickness of 33 mm. The use of an extended 9-cell battery creates a significant bulge at the back of the device. Additionally, this increases the overall weight of the device to 2.54 kg. The laptop fits comfortably on your lap and does not tip over when working. The back of the device is much heavier than the front.

The Lenovo T400 laptop traditionally comes with all the ports that a professional could need. There is only one exception here. On the right side there is an optical drive and one USB port. On the left side there is an Express card/54 slot, an Ethernet port, a modem connector and two USB ports. On the front panel there is a Fire Wire connector and a jack, a microphone input, and a headphone output. There is a Kensington lock on the back panel. For added security, the system even comes with an optional fingerprint reader. The basic configuration lacks a memory card reader, which is absolutely necessary today. However, it is available as an option for an additional $10. Also, many users would like to have HDMI and Display Ports in their device. But it is worth noting that these connectors are not vital.

Lenovo T400: Keyboard, Touchpad and Track Point

The LenovoT400 is a laptop with the same keyboard as other ThinkPad devices. The keyboard keys have a predictable layout and strong feedback. However, if we consider it next to other devices in the line, we can note that the LenovoT400 has less responsive keys. In addition, the LenovoT400 keyboard flexes noticeably. Users also note the use of a weaker base plate than the ThinkPad T61 and a different internal design. Between the “P” and “P” keys there is a miniature Track Point strain gauge joystick. Most users prefer the touchpad, but many appreciate the accuracy of this pointing device. Touch typists were pleased to be able to move around the screen without taking their hands off the center row keys. Those users who don't like the Track Point joystick can ignore it completely and use the high-precision touchpad located below the spacebar for navigation.

Lenovo T400: heating temperature

The Lenovo T400, like other ThinkPad laptops, stays cool at all times during use. After 15 minutes of surfing the Internet, the heating temperature between the G and H keys did not exceed 29 degrees. The touchpad heated up to 28 degrees. The back of the case heated to an average of 29 degrees. According to experts, any temperature below 32 degrees can be considered cool.

Lenovo T400: display

Lenovo T400 has a 14.1-inch LED-backlit screen. The screen produces clear images and vibrant colors during normal laptop use and video viewing. Color rendering quality remains stable at angles up to 45 degrees. This is quite enough for three adults to sit at the screen and watch a movie at the same time. The Lenovo T400 laptop is available with a resolution of 1440×900 or 1280×800 pixels. Users recommend choosing the option with the best display performance. The 14.1-inch screen has a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels, providing enough screen space to comfortably view all online content or long documents without straining your eyes. A 1.3 MP web camera will be more than enough for video conferencing. However, this will clearly be too little to create high-quality photographs. Videos and photos taken in low light conditions will be quite bright, clear, but pixelated. Movements in video chat via Skype are quite smooth. The device has surprisingly good sound. The built-in speakers produce clear, loud, albeit slightly tinny sound. This applies to both watching videos and playing music. As users note, when listening to rock, jazz and dance-pop, they did not experience distortion even at the maximum volume level. Still, the results obtained are quite far from Hi-Fi class systems. Music lovers will most likely need external speakers or headphones.

Lenovo T400: Switchable Graphics

Lenovo offers the T400 with two different graphics options: an integrated Intel GMA 4500 M HD chip or a switchable graphics solution that allows users to choose between the energy-efficient chip from Intel and the more powerful ATIMobility Radeon HD 3470 graphics card without rebooting.

Lenovo T400: performance

Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB of DDR3 RAM, and the Centrino 2 chipset provide high results when testing the performance of the LenovoT400 laptop. In high-performance mode, the switchable graphics performance in the PC Mark Vantage test shows an impressive 3576 points. This is 700 points higher than the average for light and thin computing systems. That's better than the Fujitsu Life Book S6520 (3,383), Dell Latitude E6400 (3,025), and Lenovo's SL 400 (3,411). The Elite Book 6930P, which scored higher (3749), has a slower 2.4 GHz processor, an ATI Mobility RadeonHD 3450 graphics card, and a lower resolution of just 1280 x 800 pixels. In their reviews, users positively evaluate both modes of operation of the LenovoT400 laptop. The laptop allows you to simultaneously receive a Skype video call, broadcast high-definition video and edit a document in Microsoft Word without any significant delays, whether using a power-efficient or integrated graphics processor. Loading takes 1 minute 5 seconds. This is 1 second slower than the average for laptops in this class. However, users would still like to reduce the startup time, at least to the level of the Dell Latitude E6400 laptop.

Lenovo T400: Graphics efficiency

The Lenovo T400 laptop in high performance mode showed 2557 points in the 3DMark06 test. This is 1200 above average and beats the Samsung X460 and SL400. When using an energy-saving processor, the test results drop to 753 points, which is 600 points below the average. LenovoT400 owners do not recommend using the laptop as a gaming machine. The FEAR test in high performance mode shows a value of 35 fps at a resolution of 1025x769 and 24 fps at a resolution of 1440x900 pixels. Energy-saving graphics allow you to get only 15 and 6 fps, respectively. As a business system, the LenovoT400 provides good multimedia performance. Watching DVDs in both discrete and integrated graphics mode is quite enjoyable. Dark scenes are reproduced with less distortion and noise. The plots turn out to be quite colorful.

Lenovo T400: Hard Drive Performance

The LenovoT400 laptop is available in HDD and SSD variants. Based on user reviews, Hitachi's 160GB 7200rpm hard drives are the weakest link in the laptop's overall performance. The drive completed a test copy of 4.97 GB in 5 minutes 9 seconds. This corresponds to 16.5 Mb/s. It is worth noting that this value is average for models in this category. Although the score is higher than the HP Elite Book 6930p, Lenovo SL400, or Futjitsu Life Book S6520, the Dell Latitude E6400 runs at 18.5 MB/s. Configuring the system with a larger drive capacity can improve performance. The same LenovoSL300 laptop with a 250GB Hitachi hard drive is significantly ahead of the SL400. For those who can afford to pay extra for higher speeds, users are advised to purchase solid-state drives.

Lenovo T400: Wireless Performance

The Intel WiFi Link 5100 card provides high data transfer speeds for laptops in this class. On average, it is 20.7 Mbit/s at a distance of 5 meters and 16.3 Mbit/s at a distance of 15 meters. You can also optionally equip your Lenovo T400 laptop with integrated mobile broadband cards from cellular operators.

Lenovo T400: Battery life

When testing battery performance, which consisted of continuous web surfing via Wi-Fi in high performance mode, the battery life of the LenovoT400 laptop was 5 hours 19 minutes. This value is quite comparable with the data obtained for the Lenovo SL 400 (5 hours 20 minutes) and Dell Latitude E6400 (5 hours 17 minutes) laptops. Lenovo T400 in power saving mode can last all 6 hours 26 minutes. This is significantly higher than the average for the entire device category - 4 hours 28 minutes.

However, it is worth considering that testing was carried out with a nine-cell battery. Six- and four-cell devices exhibit significantly lower battery life.

Lenovo T400: included software

Like many ThinkPad laptops, the Lenovo T400 is free of bloatware. The system comes with Lenovo Care utilities, including battery management, password management, and system recovery. Also included are drive and driver protection tools. If you upgrade to a new operating system, the user will need to update the power management program of the LenovoT400 laptop. You can get drivers and new software from Lenovo.com. However, it is worth considering that the manufacturer does not provide drivers for those devices that have not been tested with the Windows 10 operating system.

Conclusion

The advantages of the LenovoT400 model include the ability to work with two types of graphics hardware at once and the long operating time of the nine-cell battery. Disadvantages of the system include an outdated design, mediocre hard drive performance, the lack of a memory card slot in the standard configuration, and a clunky appearance when using an extended battery.