What would you buy? Z? T? Something else?

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slagmi
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What would you buy? Z? T? Something else?

#1 Post by slagmi » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:15 am

OK, it's time for a new one!

Only things I'm sure if is T or Z, Wide, have to have the Trackpoint, and this one will be my main squeeze. I have an x30 for travel, that I expect will be usable for another year(maybe). Web, mail, office, Photoshop, occasional game(most of them old), I'm OK with Vista, but it's not yet a requirement(thankfully). I'm buying new, refurb or used, in the .6 to 1K range.

What would you buy? Why? Just seeking opinions. Thanks in advance for all advice!

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#2 Post by tylerwylie » Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:50 am

T61's muy bueno.
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#3 Post by JonathanGennick » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:17 am

A couple of differences between Z and T that I've noticed:

1) You can find Z61ts with WXGA+ (1440 x whatever) screens that also have built-in cameras. However, I cannot go online and configure a T61 with that size screen and a camera. To get a camera in a T61 requires that I drop down to just WXGA resolution.

2) The Z machines are marginally smaller. Here are the dimensions from the T61 datasheet and a Z61t specifications page on Lenovo's website:

T61, 14-inch: 13.2 x 9.3 x 1.09 – 1.26”

Z61t: 13.1 x 9.0 x 1.05 - 1.22"

The difference in thickness is marginal -- only about 1/20th an inch. The difference in depth is 3/10s of an inch, which is more noticeable.

Another consideration is that the Z series is no longer being made. If you want to configure a machine exactly to your liking, then T is probably the way to go.

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#4 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:13 am

From reading the Lenovo forum about T61's http://forum.lenovo.com/lnv/board?board ... _Thinkpads
personally I would not want a T61, but instead choose a T60 or T60p.
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#5 Post by cj3209 » Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:43 pm

You can save literally hundreds of dollars on a z61t if you don't need the latest and fastest C2D processor and battery-hogging video card.

A celeron-based Z61t upgraded with a nice C2D processor will be hundreds less than a similar T61.

I've heard you can configure a T61 wide with the higher res 1440x900 lcd AND webcam if you call and ask.

:)
CJ

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#6 Post by Marin85 » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:42 pm

If I had to chose between T60p and Z61p, I would go for T60p - this from a proud owner of a Z61p 8). Why? Because T60(p) looks much more lika a TP, is built by Lenovo (and not for Lenovo) and with some more attention paid to the details. And the probability to get a Z causing issues later is higher than with a T model. But that´s just me :wink: .

Cheers

Marin
IBM Lenovo Z61p | 15.4'' WUXGA | Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2x 2.16GHz | 4 GB Kingston HyperX | Hitachi 7K500 500 GB + WD 1TB (USB) | ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 | ThinkPad Atheros a/b/g | Analog Devices AD1981HD | Win 7 x86 + ArchLinux 2009.08 x64 (number crunching)

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#7 Post by cj3209 » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:57 pm

Not sure what you mean 'built by Lenovo.' Lenovo doesn't make ANY notebook computers: they design them and then contract them out to companies like quanta and compal.

Your Z61p is as much a lenovo notebook as any t-series. Perhaps the targeted audience is different with the z-series more for consumers.

CJ
:)




Marin85 wrote:If I had to chose between T60p and Z61p, I would go for T60p - this from a proud owner of a Z61p 8). Why? Because T60(p) looks much more lika a TP, is built by Lenovo (and not for Lenovo) and with some more attention paid to the details. And the probability to get a Z causing issues later is higher than with a T model. But that´s just me :wink: .

Cheers

Marin

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#8 Post by mattbiernat » Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:54 pm

cj3209 wrote:Not sure what you mean 'built by Lenovo.' Lenovo doesn't make ANY notebook computers: they design them and then contract them out to companies like quanta and compal.
perhaps he meant that the newer lenovo thinkpads have lost a great deal of quality so that the price can be lowered and so that they can be sold in greater quantity. if this trend will continue it looks like by the time we get to T8X, thinkpads will be no better than dell machines.

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#9 Post by Marin85 » Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:58 pm

Maybe, I have some misinformation :oops: I thought Lenovo owes some manufacturing plants as well, but you´re certainly right. Lenovo manufacturing capacity cannot be compared with the one of ODMs like Compal and Quanta. A propo Z series and by and for Lenovo: Were the Z series designed by Lenovo? Maybe, that´s a point I misunderstood :)
As to the targeted audiances, I agree, they are different with one exception to mention: T60p (with WSXGA screen) and Z61p. Both machines have in general pretty much similiar specs, but the latter is a bit cheaper, and T-series simply "wear" their image from earlier times.

Thanks again for your note!

Marin
IBM Lenovo Z61p | 15.4'' WUXGA | Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 2x 2.16GHz | 4 GB Kingston HyperX | Hitachi 7K500 500 GB + WD 1TB (USB) | ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 | ThinkPad Atheros a/b/g | Analog Devices AD1981HD | Win 7 x86 + ArchLinux 2009.08 x64 (number crunching)

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#10 Post by slagmi » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:32 pm

Thanks All!

Prior to this post I was leaning toward looking for a sealed box T60 widescreen. Z's came to mind I guess because it was the first TP with wide. It's not so unique now..

Is Bill still selling?

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#11 Post by ryengineer » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:39 pm

slagmi wrote:snip....Is Bill still selling?
Why don't you ask him.
"I've come a long, long way," she said, "and I will go as far,
With the man who takes me from my horse, and leads me to a bar."
The man who took her off her steed, and stood her to a beer,
Were a bleary-eyed Surveyor and a DRUNKEN ENGINEER.

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#12 Post by slagmi » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:17 pm

K, will.
just haven't been here in awhile, thought it was weird none are listed on the www site.

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#13 Post by Voith » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:35 am

I'd go for T series. :)
T series FTW

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