Thinkpads Forum

Hi guys. While I don't contribute much I do follow many of your discussions closely and now I feel like I'd like to have your opinion on something that's bugging my mind lately.

I've go five computers for myself right now: a desktop sandy bridge machine, a semi-desktop Dell Precision M90, and three portable thinkpads.

Needless to say, five computers is way too much. I use my desktop and the M90 on a daily basis but the thinkpads get rarely used because I don't travel that much. Still, I'd like to keep one notebook for those rare ocasions I go out (or simply I want to browse Internet while on bed or couch, hehe) and sell the other two but I'm undecided on which one to keep:

T61:
2.4 GHz T8300, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, 14.1 SXGA+ (using T60 lid), X3100, Bluetooth, DVD-RW, 9c battery, no WWAN upgradeable

Pros:
It's a full size machine. It is fast and battery life is very good with many options. The screen is big, the resolution wonderful. It is complete including optical drive. Two expansion slots: CardBus and ExpressCard. There is a modded BIOS for it wich removes the whitelist.

Cons:
Too big and heavy. Build quality is noticeably lower than T60 (and, unfortunately, chassis is sightly different so it's not possible to swap it, I've already tried). Not WWAN upgradeable as it is; I might need to open it up and add the antenna and such; I'm not afraid of it but sounds like too much work. Only 2 MiniPCI-E slots, this is important because the SSD is of the SLC kind and I rather keep it than upgrading to a larger but MLC one. My idea is to buy an SD to MiniPCI-E adapter and add more internal capacity without losing the optical drive. Screen is CCFL so lower life expectancy and lower brightness.

X200:
2.4 GHz P8600, 4GB RAM , 64GB SSD, 12.1 WXGA, 4500MHD, Bluetooth, 6c battery, WWAN upgradeable

Pros:
The fastest machine of the bunch, Small and light. It's the most complete machine of the bunch: it has three MiniPCI-E slots so I can add the internal card as planned. It has an integrated SD slot which the other two machines lack. And an ExpressCard slot. Webcam (though I've never used it to be honest). Quiet and cool. Long battery life with many options.

Cons:
I've never quite liked the big bezels, make the machine size feel so wasted. Screen is too small. Screen is CCFL so lower life expectancy and lower brightness.

X300:
1.2 GHz SL7100, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, 13.3 WXGA+, X3100, Bluetooth, DVD-RW, 6c battery, WWAN upgradeable

Pros:
This machine is NICE. Decent screen size and resolution with LED backlight (which the other two machines lack). It is very light and thin. Has three MiniPCI-E slots. Webcam. Optical drive. There is a modded BIOS which removes the whitelist.

Cons:
Even though I have no complaints about buid quality, I've never been a fan of thin laptops. I once grabbed the laptop with one hand and the computer froze in the spot; probably the chassis flexed and the hard drive disconnected. It looks fragile compared to the X200. The machine is very limited in expandability: it doesn't have an SD slot and neither has an ExpressCard slot to add one. So no SD ability. No docking station options. Slow compared to the others. Battery life worse than the others without a real way to expand it.

None is a gaming laptop so video doesn't matter that much. Which one would you keep?

I've got five PCs - two HTPCs, a desktop, an old ThinkPad and a new ThinkPad. It seems just about right to me. Boy, that's a tough call. If you're not in favor of a thin laptop, that probably rules out the X300. If you want the resolution, that'd favor the T61, but if it were me, I'd probably pick the X200. The X200 allows for the AFFS upgrade, which gives you a much better screen than the other two, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty. Plus, the lack of a track pad gives it that old school look, which like my R60e, I find much more aesthetically pleasing. Good luck whichever way you go.

X200 seems today best choice out of this list. It's portable and specs are better compared other two laptops.

You have a very much liked 14.1" Standard 4:3 T61.
That T61 mobo will fit in a 15" T60 with some chassis modifications, and turn into a Frankenpad.
The 15" SXGA+ or UXGA screens in the T60/T60p are IPS.
Plenty posts about this in the T6x Forum.

I'd keep the X200 or the T61, but I wouldn't keep either as-is. I'd upgrade the X200 to an AFFS or a PVA display, and I'd make the T61 into a T60/T61 FrankenPad.

The X300 is a beautiful machine and an amazing example of engineering. It's also relatively low-powered, very expensive to repair, and has one of the worst screens I've seen on a modern laptop (not terribly bright, bad contrast ratio, and worse viewing angles.)

yup my $1200 X300 has worst screen than my current $297 x120e. really a shame, as the poster above mentioned it's a great machine but it was ruined by its screen.

If I were in your position, I would probably try and see how much you can get for the three notebooks and then perhaps invest in a T410.

The reason I say this, is I had a T60 (Which I loved, but it was a little too big), I currently have an X200s and an X300. The T60 was a tank, quite literally. Quality was great, but man it was just too big for me I found. Hurt my hips after a while.

I love the size of the X200s, but it lacks a decent resolution screen. Mine anyway, it's only 1280 x 800 with a Celeron M in it. Battery life is good with the larger battery, but it's pretty sluggish I find.

The X300 is the best compromise between size and portability, but I just hate the touchpad. Being an ALPS, it just doesn't work as nicely as the T series. I've always had a problem with ALPS pads for some reason.

I find myself constantly going back to my T410 now. I may unload the other two in the near future and just keep the T410. Size, weight, quality and screen resolution are great on the one I have. Plus, because it's an older generation the used market is starting to pick up a bit with better prices. I got mine for less 600 shipped about 6 months ago now. And it's like new which was nice.

Anyway, those are my thoughts and obviously for your needs you may prefer another model. I hope this helps out a little bit. Good luck man, I know it's tough!

I've decided I'm going to get rid of the T61 since I've got a replacement already(see blow) and now I really see no point in keeping it. I don't want to sell it, though, it's a nice machine and I'll give it to my sister.

As for the X300 vs X200, it's not an easy decision at all. I'm still thinking about this and more opinions are very welcome.

I just got a T420 for cheap ($450-ish):

HD (1366x768) screen
i5-2520m
Integrated graphics
4GB 1 DIMM
250GB mechanical drive (the guy removed the 128GB SSD and left a HDD without a caddy!)
Bluetooth

Preliminary analysis:

Pros:

Significantly faster than any of the machines I own, excellent battery life (about 4.5 hours on a full charge), solid, excellent port selection and arrangement.

Cons:

Unreasonably big, I find no logical explanation as to why are they making them so big; other than they want a touchpad in there at all cost. At the expense of about an inch over and under the screen it doesn't seem like worth it to me... I rather have a significantly more compact machine than having a redundant input method. It's thick but I don't complain because it feels solid; probably a cost saving measure since it's got a 12.7mm drive instead of the 9.5mm one used in previous models.

Not a true Thinkpad, the lid lacks the clamshell design and the durable plastic-on-plastic fit (it's got rubber now). Doesn't prevent the lid from flexing and doesn't seem like it protects the screen well (mine already has two pressure points). They moved or removed stuff around for no logical explanation to me, like removing the AC status led, WWAN status LED, put caps indicator on the key itself, power indicator in the button itself... nothing of this bothers me but I see no point in doing changes just for the sake of it.

Major complaint is that WWAN and MSATA are mutually exclusive and I wonder why on a machine as large as this. There was more than enough room to fit a third MiniPCI-E slot (and more!). Also, I wonder who's the guy who designed the optical drive faceplate: it's so exposed it opens frequently.

Question:
If I decide to swap the screen for a high resolution one, what chances are that Lenovo finds out and voids my warranty? I would like to add a fingerprint palmrest.

mikemex wrote:If I decide to swap the screen for a high resolution one, what chances are that Lenovo finds out and voids my warranty?

Hard to say, but it's a risk and if they do there's nothing you can do about it.

If you know what your needs are, then it's simple, keep the one that is best fit. If you don't know what you want I'd keep the t420 and t61. Why? Because I have a personal bias toward the T61 series and the T420 is newer with newer specs.

Well, I got rid of the T61 and X300. They are in good hands, don't worry