R400 vs T400? build quality/materials.

Hi I'm about to buy a new computer and for ~1000€ I get either a R400 with P8700 cpu or a T400 with P8600 cpu, i really dont care about the cpu since they are very close in performance I would be happy with a P8400 too, no problem.

Buuut what is the difference between these 2 computers?
This computer will be used at home most of the time, but when I travel it will come with me, and i have no plans getting a separate computer bag for it, it will go straight in the backpack as everything else and it should be durable enough to cope with it.

I have read in this forum that the T400 has a top shell of polycarbonate plastic
and bottom/base carbon reinforced plastic, rollcage unknown.

And on Lenovos US site I read the R400 has carbon top and bottom and magnesium rollcage.

Can anybody confirm this with 100% certainty?

What is the difference between these 2 computers except possibly the different choice of shell-plastic/carbon?

My first post! Do I get a cake?

 

Careful what you wish for, you may get it.

As for the R400, it's slightly thicker and heavier, but offers the same construction as the T400. The T400 does offer some premium options like WWAN for example, which are not available on the R400. Other than that you'd be hard pressed to tell them apart standing right next to them. Good Luck and welcome to NBR. Feel free to hang out and contribute where you can.

 

How would you interpret this?

Durable design
A new cooling system, larger vents and more efficient fans make R400 and R500 the coolest and quietest R Series models ever.

On 14.1" widescreen models, the top-cover roll cage helps protect the display. Combined with the ThinkPad roll cage in the notebook body, this innovative new feature enhances the R Series reputation for toughness and durability.
Featuring carbon-fiber reinforced plastic and other advanced materials, the ThinkPad R Series is designed to be lightweight without compromising durability.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...F338EB4B3178B3B6554&tabname=Features#tabstart

I would like to know if its all carbon or some parts carbon, and I know a few of you here probably know this.

About the rollcages, is there magnesium rollcages on both?

 

Because they're thicker, the R series generally run cooler. The R400 is near the same as the T400 construction wise. The T500 and R500 vary a bit more. The R500 is a more portly and it lacks the roll cage in the lid, but I would in no way describe it as flimsy.

 

They generally run at around the same temperature (provided the T400/500 is running on integrated graphics mode). My T500's P8700 is currently running at 30C, in the sunny California Bay Area afternoon (as measured by CoreTemp).

The R400 and T400 are both built very well, with the R400 being bulkier and thicker. I would go with the T400, as the P8700 offers only minimal performance increase over the P8600, but the T400 is lighter than the R400, for better portability on the road.

 

Hi...

I just bought a R400. As of now, I can say that it is of excellent build quality. I compared it with a friend's T400 and yes, as the others have posted, if you keep them side by side, at first glance there is very little difference noticeable. The T400 is a trifle lighter. But the R400 (to me) seems a bit sturdier. The R400 is also a bit thicker, but again not by much.

It has been 3 days since I got my R400 and it has been on continuously and it has not even gotten warm! Mind you, I live in a tropical country and the outside temperatures during the day are sweltering!

All in all, the R400 is a lovely machine and the given the price difference between the R400 and the T400 (which I was considering earlier), I think the former is more value for money. Of course there is the question about the graphics card, but then again, for the work that I do, a high-end graphics option (switchable or otherwise) was not really pertinant.

BTW, my R400 came with a the P8600, 500GB HDD and 4GB RAM. It does not have a webcam but is equipped with wifi and Bluetooth. I also fresh installed Win 7 Pro and later selectively added some of the Lenovo software (ThinkVantage).

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

Edit: I forgot to add that I have the extended battery on the R400, whic may also contribute a little to the weight. Thanks.

 

R400 with the T9xxx CPU runs around 5 degrees cooler than T400.... the R400 is my favorite....

and depending on the country, you can get WWAN in the R400.

 

+1...except that there was no WWAN on my machine

 

Thanks for your replies guys. It seems like there is almost nothing to separate these 2 models, cpu almost the same, price the same, both are well built, one is a little bit bigger, there is really nothing to tip the scale for me here. I wonder why even have a t400 model and a r400 in the first place?

Anyway I thought I should go with durability, but they are both good, is one better than the other? However I think I'm gonna to go with the one I can find cheapest and be done with it.

 

I think you will get the R400 for a cheaper price than the T400 - though the R400 may be a shade heavier than the T400.

As I see it, properly spec'd, the R400 (to me) represents VFM and in this sense, I agree with lead_org's point of view.

Good luck with your choice!