Intel's Core i5 processor is a terrific platform for any notebook, but I love what Lenovo has done with the second-gen Sandy Bridge i5 in the T420s. Even though this model has been discontinued by Lenovo (it was an early 2011 release), it's better in many ways than the follow-on T430s, with longer battery life (seven hours, realistically, with a drive-bay battery) and a much nicer keyboard. In fact, it's the nicest keyboard I've ever experienced in 30 years of IT work. I looked at a T430s, the replacement model, but decided on a T420s with a 120G SSD. The i5 really takes advantage of the SSD's speed!If you've used the T420, this new model is nothing like that older version. It's got a sleeker, tapered look, and feels much better, including in the keyboard. It's a pound lighter, and adds USB3 and DisplayPort.
The T420s has got great specs for both Win7 and Win8: 8GB memory, fast NVidia 1GB VRAM graphics (optional, be sure to get it), multitouch trackpad, and 1600x900 screen rez. And you can open the screen flat-out horizontal, which I love for my desk stand. Built in 720p webcam, stereo mic, and stereo speakers are great for GoToMeeting. The super-thin LED screen is anti-glare, not gloss, and I like that. But the 300:1 contrast isn't remarkable. Movies look a little flat on it.
But this is not a multimedia machine, it's a work platform. Text and graphics look stunning. The 14" high-rez widescreen has very sharp resolution. The notebook is not thin, either, but it's very light, with an extremely robust magnesium frame case. At an inch thick and four pounds, the thing is no problem for a briefcase. I wouldn't want to tote it in a sleeve, though. I recommend third-party upgrading to 8GB of RAM, since you can get a whole 8GB kit for just fifty bucks these days. I run VMware Workstation on mine and use it as a virtualization platform, with an external SSD to hold VHDs (a sweet little Oyen USB3 port-powered speedster).
Typical notebook networking: a GigE port, and built-in Intel Centrino 1x2bgn, which doesn't seem spectacular. But with two internal PCI slots, you could put in a real MIMO card if you needed it.
Some innovative touches: the "ThinkLight" keyboard flood light (on the screen top middle), rather than back-lighted keys, so you get some terrific ambient illumination when working in the dark. I love that! The keyboard is spill-resistant, and for a frequent air traveler that's important. It's got USB3, SD, and ExpressCard. ExpressCard is nice for adding additional ports such as Ethernet, serial, eSata, etc. Alas, it lacks HDMI, but it has a DisplayPort, so it can drive two external 27" monitors with some inexpensive adapters. It's got a modular bay design, so you can, for example, replace the DVD drive with an aux battery or second HD. All tool-less: click, slide, snap, you've completely reconfigured the machine! I put a second 500G HD in mine, and use an external SSD as well. I have lots of bits ;)
I do wish it had an external mic or stereo line in, though. Without that, I'm stuck with USB audio for SDR, a hobby of mine. I'll have to get an ExpressCard for that.
And after a year-long stint with a Dell, the Lenovo's compact, super-thin external power supply is a traveler's joy.
With the new model out, the T420s are priced right, too.
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My company bought me this laptop to take on the road. It is terrible. In fact, for my next laptop with this company I'm going to ask to buy my own. The IT are stuck on this brand and type of computer and we can't get them to change.I don't know how people call this "light" as my Sony Vaio (2 years older than my Lenovo) weighs the same. So in a briefcase, it weighs a ton.
For a 1K laptop, I would expect a much faster response switching between the laptop monitor and external monitors (right now my comp flickers a bit), the top sound buttons to work consistently, and for certain buttons to work when docked (turning on/off the wifi, pushing out to external monitors, etc).
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I love the t420s; it's the best thinkpad I've owned to date. I haven't had a thinkpad this thin since my t40, and that was a long while ago. The keyboard remains solid, and the exterior is as nice as ever. Sandy bridge is nice and powerful as advertised. Battery is long enough, but as always longer would be nicer.Boots quick and the ThinkVantage software is still excellent.
One big seller for me is the APS (Active Protection System). This stops the moving hard drive when motion is detected to prevent data loss in the event of a dropped laptop or whatever. To my knowledge, this feature is only available in Thinkpads and Macbooks.
Another cool feature: one of the USB ports will charge devices when the computer is in sleep, and even some phones (for example, the iPhone) when powered completely off! This is an awesome feature which can turn your laptop into a charging station (for example on a long flight, when you might care more about having your phone powered than laptop).
Main complaint is the slim HDD bay which can only take special 7mm HDDs. There are only 2 7200RPM HDDs which fit in that bay (the 320GB and a recently released 500GB). With the falling prices of SSDs, this isn't a big problem.
Bluetooth, Centrino Ultimate-N, 720p Webcam, USB3.0, DisplayPort. These are great modern features.
What an excellent machine this sturdy and thin T420S is!
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I bought thinkpad t420s from Lenovo website directly and also purchased extended next business day on-site warranty for $300 more...what was I thinking....Only a few months after purchasing it started to crash/restart when I touch the keyboard.
Technician over the phone said it must be a mother board problem and told me he'll send a new MB with a technician next day
Next day technician called and said he can't make it today.... but he can come tomorrow
Next day technician arrived and replaced motherboard with a used/refurbished MB ...but issue remained...New diagnosis key board needs replacement
Next WEEK he came back with a used/refurbished keyboard.... ...issue remained....New diagnosis.. It MAY be the housing/case let's send it to depot to check out....
2 days later Lenovo sends me a box to ship it... I dropped it at ups on same day and lenovo received it 2 days later...
2 more days later there came an e-mail saying they replaced the mother board again and the case and attached excel with diagnosis report saying everything working.
I got it back 2 days later and tried to switch on and it gave me a "Fan error"..... and wi wont go beyond bios screen....not cool to send a fake diagnosis report saying everything working.
2 days later technician came to my home, replace the fan and left ...now the machine working...
Same day I tried to connect it to the wireless...hmmm Now the wireless not working ....
called Lenovo and they told me to send it back to depot check...I told no way....I paid for onsite next business day support and I want that service ...and then they told me to call back next day between 8am-6pm and ask for issue escalation department
called back earlier today I was told there's no escalation department in Lenovo support..wtf??
Now 3 weeks later after the first issue I'm still waiting for the technician to come and replace wireless card or whatever wrong in there....
This is my experience with Lenovo for paying $1500 for a laptop and 300 for onsite next business day support... so will I buy a Lenovo again??? Never.......not even in a dream...
If you want to pay premium price for a crappy product with crappy support go for Lenovo....
i will update in fewdays to give the latest update..
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