anamai

What is the main difference between the two?? I would like to get a computer, and am thinking of getting the T400..but am wondering if a SL will be more affordable..my price range i am willing to spend is around $900 and less...

DelfinoM

Main difference, SL is meant to be cheaper(less powerful components,less customization options), the chasis/case should otherwise be similar.

srunni

The SL series isn't one of the original ThinkPad lines. It was wholly designed by Lenovo and thus lacks the quality that stems from the "real" ThinkPads' IBM pedigree.

Koreo

Get a T-series. I've only heard bad things about the SL-series.

I own a T400 and it's great.

khoagland

the T series is the best windows notebook money can buy. do yourself a favor and get it.

excelblue

Do yourself a favor and spend a bit extra on the T.

The SL does not even compare to the T. It's their cheap line with inferior hardware and inferior chassis. The SL will not perform as well nor be as reliable as the T, and it seems like they've removed every feature that ThinkPads originally recieved praise for. If you're going for an SL, you might as well get a HP and save more.

I've had my T500 for a year, and it's survived lots of abuse, including an uncountable number of drops, being sat on, spilled energy drinks (and subsequent washings; while off, of course). I spent that extra bit of money knowing that I'll save time in not needing to be extra careful with it and being assured that it won't suddenly die on me when I need it the most. So far, all it got was major cosmetic damage, but the steel endoskeleton held up.