Review of Lenovo ThinkPad T510 431328U 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

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I bought it because Lenovo, formerly IBM, is standard issue for a lot of companies and organizations. This is a nice, sturdy business computer meant for on-the-go work. I recently switched from an entertainment HP that was twice as heavy and twice as expensive with lots of flash and extras (it died just a few days after its extended warranty). Nevertheless, after running the T510 for a month, I must say I don't remember the HP being twice as good in any way. The Lenovo worked well right out of the box with fairly easy set-up. The biggest problem was synching up my wireless router.

The reasons I don't give it five stars are because there is no manual and it has frozen-up a few times. However, I added 2GB of additional RAM, so now I have a total of 3GB usable out of 4GB (for a 32 bit OS 4GB is the max upgrade) which gives it a nice little kick and no freezing up. The i5 Intel Core processor also helps in multitasking when I have Google Earth, Photoshop, Word, Excel, 5-8 open internet tabs, internet radio or streaming netflix, all going at the same time. Even with all this action, the unit stays cool and the battery has a long life.

After looking at a lot of popular brands up-close at a massive computer-mart, I can safely say that this was a great purchase. Yes, there are lots of computers that are sleeker and prettier, but herein lies the Lenovo charm. The black, non-glossy shell will remind you of sturdy sensible shoes and thick horn-rimmed glasses. Unassuming and unintended for kids or fashionistas, this box is built to 'get the job done'.

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I am writing this review based upon what this Thinkpad is , strictly a business laptop, not a multimedia laptop. If your in the market for the ultimate business campanion, then the newest Lenovo T series line is exactly what you are looking for. The new T series,which comes in the T410, 14.1" screen and the larger T510 with a 15.6" screen, are identical in ergonomics and build quality to the older T400/500 line. If you are planning to travel allot with your Thinkpad, you should opt for the lighter and smaller T410, if your planning to operate your Thinkpad mostly in an office environment, you should opt for the T510 with the larger display.

Overall, the T510 continues the long and proud tradition of Thinkpad computers started by IBM in the early 1990's and carried on by Lenovo since 2005. The newest Thinkpads maintain the same design, sturdiness, reliability and build quality of the earlier design Thinkpads. What is new is all under the hood where Lenovo utilizes the new Intel core i5 processors to bring additional power and speed to the Thinkpad line. This processor is all you will need in a business laptop, probably more. The i5 processor runs web searching with an "n" wireless card effortlessly and opens large and complex Office documents very smoothly. Note that this Thinkpad is NOT designed for playing HD movies or music CD's although it does both very well. People should consider what they are buying a Thinkpad for, which is business applications. The obvious advantage with the Thinkpad is the terrific typing experience which is second to none in the laptop market today. If you spend allot of time on the keyboard with large files as I do, you should know that the Thinkpad offers a fabulous keyboard , a long tradition started by IBM whose engineers knew that on a business laptop, this was the single most important feature.

So if a business laptop is what your in the market for, look no further than the T series Thinkpad. You'll spend close to $1000 or more but you need to consider this a long term investment. No other laptop manufacturer has so many of its earlier units such as the T40/60 line still in operation today. This is why I give the T510 Thinkpad 5 stars without hesitation.

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This is my 2nd think pad and I have been happy with both of them. Mine is a 64 bit Windows 7 Pro 4 gigs of ram. This computer is solid (well built) but not to heavy. I5 built in video card works much better then I expected. Runs Aero easy on 2 26 inch displays with out a problem. (docking station required) The new docking stations max out a 2 displays.

In the front of my office is an IT group that works on repairing laptops. I can not recall ever seeing a think pad getting repaird. Tec support is based in the USA and is helpful. Sometime you get what you pay for.

Honest reviews on Lenovo ThinkPad T510 431328U 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)

I finally upgraded from my older desktop Lenovo to this laptop with a docking station. I wish I wouldn't have waited so long the flexibility I have with laptop/docking station combo compared to my old desktop is wonderful. The keyboard is perfect; very responsive, full-size, and not chiclet-style. I transitioned from a regular full-size keyboard to this one without a problem. I miss my number pad a little, but not enough to go for the extra weight and size of a bigger laptop.

The track pad is very responsive, and this model also includes a pencil-eraser pointer between the G and H keys, with its own set of corresponding click buttons. I'm using this a lot more than I thought I would, especially for scrolling. I use the track pad more for other functions.

The monitor is great. I've been surprised that I don't get eye-strain from using it for long periods. (I was expecting it because of my experience several years ago with other laptops.) I love the proportions shorter and wider that enable me to work with Excel files without excessive scrolling. The battery life is good (for me), and charging is fast (whether from the charger or from the docking station. And it doesn't get hot, even when I've used it for hours, which is a big change from the other laptops I've had experiences with.

I purchased this for business and personal use, so I can't comment on how it would work for other, media-heavy users. The sound quality is great (for me), though, and the speed of the applications I use is fantastic. I'm coming from an older computer, but others who have newer PCs/laptops have commented on the speed of this laptop, so I'm pretty sure it's a good thing. :)

The weight is good, especially for the build quality (which is outstanding it would have to be for me to use it as a desktop replacement). I think if I had to travel more, I would probably go with the smaller model (the 410, or the lightweight 410s).

One reason I decided to go with another Lenovo is the build quality, but another very important reason is their customer service. I had to call a couple of times when my older desktop Lenovo had problems (power supply died one time, and I can't remember what the other issue was), and a part was sent out immediately. There was no "try this," or long hold times, or run-arounds. I told them I thought the power supply went out because my PC just died and there was that "burnt" smell you get when that happens, and they didn't question my "diagnosis." They told me they'd send a replacement part right out, and they did. The whole conversation probably took less than 5 minutes, including verifying my address to send it to. That kind of customer service for anything computer-related is hard to find these days.

The only complaint I have, and it's a small one, is that the Fn and Ctrl keys on the keyboard are inverted from most keyboards, and it still drives me crazy at times. But it's a small thing that's very much outweighed by all the positives I've noted. This laptop costs a little more than others of its size and features, but the solid build and great customer service are well worth the higher cost. It deserves 5 stars. :)

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I had no major complaints with the laptop. However, as soon as the 2 year warranty is up, both the hard drive crashed and the battery completely died. So you might want to buy the extended warranty or plan on getting a new computer every 2 years.