Lenovo T530 Owner's Thread

[simplyderp]

Can any T530 owners list some pros/cons for me? This will help the decision making process.

I'm thinking about getting an i5 processor with the HD screen not the FHD.
Does anybody have a T530 NON-FHD? Is it worth the $200 investment?

It's not worth it. The FHD screen will only benefit you if you run graphics applications that support higher gamuts and benefit from a higher resolution. Even then, an entry level IPS monitor will be superior. I'm currently using a 15.6" screen with 1600x900 resolution. Sitting about a foot and a half away, I wouldn't be able to look at the screen comfortably if the text were any smaller.

[Jona90]

It's not worth it. The FHD screen will only benefit you if you run graphics applications that support higher gamuts and benefit from a higher resolution. Even then, an entry level IPS monitor will be superior. I'm currently using a 15.6" screen with 1600x900 resolution. Sitting about a foot and a half away, I wouldn't be able to look at the screen comfortably if the text were any smaller.

Thank you derp. Could list me some pro's/con's overall from the laptop?
How is the keyboard? Is it nice?
My budget is around 800-900 bucks. You think the T530 will be a good pick for me?

[hedgie58]

I have a question. I have a t530 and messed up by creating the recovery disks toa USB HD and compounded my error by erasing the q: drive recovery partion.

I reinstalled windows 7 pro and it seems the battery levels I have now are nowhere near what I had befrore this happens. Would I need to order the recovery discs from Lenovo or should I have another fix? Thanks in advance.

[OCM]

It's not worth it. The FHD screen will only benefit you if you run graphics applications that support higher gamuts and benefit from a higher resolution. Even then, an entry level IPS monitor will be superior. I'm currently using a 15.6" screen with 1600x900 resolution. Sitting about a foot and a half away, I wouldn't be able to look at the screen comfortably if the text were any smaller.

Thank you derp. Could list me some pro's/con's overall from the laptop?
How is the keyboard? Is it nice?
My budget is around 800-900 bucks. You think the T530 will be a good pick for me?

Well, I just got my T530 today and am loving it. I am upgrading from a T60p and the feeling is certainly different, the T530 is _much_ lighter and made of different plastics, I'll get used to the change pretty quickly. The keyboard is very nice, Except for the 6 row layout, I think I like it better than the classic.

As for the screen, I got the FHD upgrade and don't think i'll ever regret it. I've got good eyesight and thus can benefit well from it at 100% DPI, I guess one of the drawbacks would be sites like facebook or wired being oriented in a more vertical fashion waste a lot of screen real estate. If the FHD is too expensive or you think you wont take full advantage of it then just go for the HD+.

I might write a full review with pictures later, not sure yet.

[Jona90]

I ordered the T530 today. Hope it will be a great laptop for me.

What drivers did you guys install?

Did you do a clean Windows install? I am pretty nervous, because I don't want to mess up my laptop lol. I have a Windows 7 CD that I used for my desktop. Can I use that CD and use the activation code on the back of Thinkpad to activate it?

[1d42]

What kind of battery life are people getting? I'm planning on getting integrated graphics, HD+ screen, and either a SATA or mSATA drive. How much or a difference would there be between a 6 and 9 cell?

[Kaso]

I ordered the T530 today. Hope it will be a great laptop for me.

Hope it will serve you well.

What drivers did you guys install?

Copy the C:\SWTOOLS folder onto a USB flash drive. That's your collection of Lenovo-provided drivers and apps for the T530.

Did you do a clean Windows install? I am pretty nervous, because I don't want to mess up my laptop lol. I have a Windows 7 CD that I used for my desktop. Can I use that CD and use the activation code on the back of Thinkpad to activate it?

Why are you considering a clean Windows 7 install? Is it because you plan to replace the stock HDD, or install a mSATA SDD for boot? In general, you don't need to (re)install Windows. But if you want to, you can use your existing installation CD, together with the COA key. After installation, open Device Drivers, go down the list of drivers, point to the saved SWTOOLS folder on the flash drive and tell Windows to search the subdirectories for the right driver for each device.

And it's always good to make a set of Recovery CD/DVDs at the earliest convenience.

[outl@w]

Any benchmarks with 5400m?

[cantthinkpad]

Viewing angles and color quality on the 1600x900 are excellent for a TN panel. I use an entry level IPS monitor (Dell U2311H) for reference. I'm glad that I didn't opt for the 1920x1080 screen, because the resolution is good enough for a supplementary programming computer for my desktop and I would not be able to stand over saturated colors in non color managed applications.

Anybody know how the T530 1600x900 viewing angles and brightness compare to FHD, and to T430 1600 x 900 ? Have bounced from T430s w/ i7 to W530 with FHD and now to T530 w/i5 1600x900 with HD4000, partly to save $ and I don't like the E430 HD screen at local retail store and read viewing on T430 HD+ is similar. Since the ideal lenovo for me (T430s with great screen) doesn't seem to exist, might as well save some $ on a compromise.

Update: let me guess at the answer based on extensive experience with the T60WS (1680x1050) and T60p (1400 x 1050) and 10 minute experience with E430 HD.


Viewing angles scoring, 10 = best
T60p = 9.5
T60WS = 8
E430 = 2.5

Brightness:
T60p = 7
T60WS = 8
E430 = 8

Usability:
T60p = 9
T60WS = 9
E430 = 4 (annoying)

Awesomeness:
T60p = 7
T60WS = 9
E430 = 4

I'm guessing the T530HD+ is similar to the T60p screen, the T530 FHD is similar to the T60WS, and the T430 HD+ is similar in viewing angle to the E430.

[tommysss]

I have a T530 connected Thinkpad Mini doc plus 3 and when I connect external sound system I get alot of clicking noise from the speakers, however when I connect to the T530 directly no noise. The clicking noise seems to happens before and after alert tones.