Received T60(p). What are your impressions?

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donking! · #1 Post by **donking!** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:54 am

There are so many threads already in which people are talking about the T6x, which they have received, and what they think of it (initial impressions, more in depth impressions). I figured I'd start a thread here in the (foolish?) hope that we could keep all these thoughts together.

*

I received my 200762U yesterday (after a frustrating snafu with UPS which delayed it's delivery). I haven't had much time to fiddle with it. I'm busy with other things. And I'm trying to figure out whether to do the clean install. So I don't have it set up with all the software I need to really use it. But here are my thoughts so far, in no particular order:

1) As others have noted, the 6 cell battery that shipped with my unit is fairly loose. I rocks back and forth horizontally. This is a Panasonic battery. I also ordered a second 6 cell battery as a backup. It is a Sony battery. It rocks in the same manner, but much less. Definitely a snugger fit.

2) It's true, as noted elsewhere, there are no vent holes for the fan on the bottom of the 14.1" unit.

3) I have the Chicony keyboard. It's nice. But definitely more clicky clacky than the NMB keyboards I've tried on the T4x. It just doesn't have the same smooth travel and resistance. I will be replacing this.

The silver buttons don't seem as cheap as they looked in photos. They're fine to me. The blue on the enter button is so dark it's almost not noticeable. It definitely seems like Lenovo is trying to faze out the blue color.

4) I have the Hydis LCD. It's fine. I'm a little underwhelmed. Decent brightness. Color seems good. Perfectly functional. But it doesn't seem like the viewing angles are any better than on my five year old VAIO R505TLK. I really was hoping for the TMD, but I don't think I'll be replacing this. There really ought to be a 14.1" FlexView option. The hinges and stiffness seem extremely solid though. Happy about that.

5) The palmrest over the ExpressCard/PC card slot is surprisingly slim and flimsy, as has been noted elsewhere. I'm not really worried about it. But it does seem like if it received a good whack it could crack without much trouble.

6) I'm not very experienced with trackpoints. I like it. But I find it has to be hit pretty hard to get it to select or click anything. It's really not usable in this respect, which is how I'd like to use it. Otherwise it works great.

7) The trackpad is ridiculously tiny. I'm sorry, I know for trackpoint lovers the trackpad is just a nuisance and the smaller the better, to keep it out of the way. But if you want to use it, it's kind of lame. It's smaller than the trackpad on my 12" VAIO. Come on. And it's not well positioned. It's too far from the keyboard. It ought to come up closer to the trackpoint buttons, as on the T4x. I really think Lenovo screwed up on this one.

Also, is there a way with the drag lock function, when selecting by tapping the trackpad, to have the drag lock release after a time interval, from lifting one's finger, (rather than having to tap on the trackpad again)? This is how I've done it on my VAIO. I really like that functionality, but I don't see it as a setting anywhere.

Lastly, on this subject, I still hate the design changes (shape, lack of color) on the UltraNav in general. Seeing it in person has not been an improvement for me from an aesthetic viewpoint.

8 ) The all important fan. I can definitely hear it pretty much all the time. I haven't subjected the notebook to any heavy use, so I've never heard it ramp up. But I can hear it. It's not really a fan noise. It's just a rushing forced air noise. Pleasant enough. It's not bad. Quiet by my standards. Puts my very noisy VAIO to shame. But for those who want a silent computer, it's not that. In a quiet room the fan is distinctly audible.

9) There is a lot of bloatware that's annoying. Symantec? Uck. I hate their software. Fairly slow startup too. Will deinstall or do clean install to fix.

That's it for now. No sense of the performance yet, since I haven't really gotten to use the T60 much.

Hmm, I guess I've been focusing on negative things, though. It does seem like an extremely solid, well put together, notebook. I'm very happy and excited to have it. The design in nice, though I liked the T4x better. I am very much looking forward to the huge performance boost over what I've been using and even over my Dual 1 Ghz PowerMac G4. The multi-burner works great, though I haven't tried dual layer burning yet. The wireless (Atheros) seems to work well and has a very large range.

Okay, now that is it for now.

donking! · #2 Post by **donking!** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:28 am

Okay, I have a question. There was a small ziplock bag, which shipped with the notebook, that has two small screws of different lengths in it. PN 41V9708.

I couldn't find this part number anywhere. What are the screws for?

astro · #3 Post by **astro** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:36 am

Did you just hijack your own thread?

pundit · #4 Post by **pundit** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:01 am

donking! wrote:Okay, I have a question. There was a small ziplock bag, which shipped with the notebook, that has two small screws of different lengths in it. PN 41V9708.

I couldn't find this part number anywhere. What are the screws for?

Magically tighten this unsnug battery

?

#5 Post by **archer6** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:25 am

One of those screws is to lock the device in the ultra slim bay. (ie: optical drive, second hard drive). I put a second hard drive in my T42 and used the screw and for that purpose it's great. Just an extra measure of security.

donking! · #6 Post by **donking!** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:29 pm

astro wrote:Did you just hijack your own thread?

Okay I'm laughing out loud. I guess I did hijack my own thread. It seemed relevant to the first impressions of the T6x topic. One of my first impressions was: What the hell are these screws?

Anyway, I guess no one else is interested in having just one thread for these thoughts and impressions on the T6x? We all want our own threads?

Alas, as a less useful solution, here's links to other threads that are all basically doing the same thing (in no particular order):

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22223
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22015
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21965
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22287
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22133
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22109
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22348
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22358
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22328
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21974

See. It is a mess out there.

CupOfJoe · #7 Post by **CupOfJoe** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:44 pm

donking! wrote: ... There really ought to be a 14.1" FlexView option.

Hi donking,

If I am not mistaken (and I may be), I believe there is a 14.1" FlexView option. In other words, aren't all T60p models with 14.1" screens considered to have the FlexView option? (i.e., in the tabook file, see models 2007-82U, 83U, 84U, 86U, 87U, and others, probably)

-CupOfJoe

donking! · #8 Post by **donking!** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:49 pm

I don't think so, but I may be wrong. I think even on the T60p, only the 15" screens are FlexView.

CupOfJoe · #9 Post by **CupOfJoe** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:10 pm

donking! wrote:I don't think so, but I may be wrong. I think even on the T60p, only the 15" screens are FlexView.

Hmmm..... interesting.

As an example, if you take a look at page 64 of the current tabook file (March 2006 - Version 304), and scan the "Display" section (about a third of the way down on the page), you'll see that it does specify FlexView.

(When the tabook file differentiates between models having & not having a feature, it precedes it with "Some:". In the case of the FlexView feature, there is no "Some:" before describing the FlexView feature, and yet the page contains both 14.1" & 15" models.)

Anyway, this is just conjecture on my part: can anyone else out there enlighten us as to whether the T60p 14.1" models are considered to have FlexView?

-CupOfJoe

RaysMD · #10 Post by **RaysMD** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:23 pm

no, flexview is not available on the 14" Thinkpads.

I agree with donking on all of his points.

A. The new design is for the lack of a better word "unpleasant." The red colors on the track pad buttons were a nice touch. This ultranav is tiny and placed to low for comfort. Lenovo, keep the following in mind when you decide to redesign something. "never mess up a good thing." Never change your favorite dish at your favorite restaurant; for you'll be "unpleastantly" surprised.

B. I still think it's thicker than the original T4x series. About 1/8 of an inch.

C. Battery time had to go down since the CPU's are more powerful and the screen is brighter. I've learned to accept this.

I'm still contemplating on whether I should return this bad boy and keep the T42. The screen is brighter than the T42's Samsung (still not as vibrant). I do like the power from the dual core CPU. Running OSX is a breeze. very zippy. Unless, Apple comes out with a 13" dual core with a built in optical drive.

decisions, decisions...

csioucs · #11 Post by **csioucs** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:08 pm

You and others got me worried about the flex over the PCMCIA space/left palmrest. How bad is it? Can it crack all of a sudden if you press it stronger? Can you compare to something else, the flex I mean?

Perhaps those that did the RAM upgrade can enlighten us over the actual thinness of the carcass/palmrest in that area. (Hey, RAM upgraders, share a thought over here!)

Currently I am on a T30 which is quite solid in that respect...

Thanks.

CupOfJoe · #12 Post by **CupOfJoe** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:48 pm

RaysMD wrote: ... no, flexview is not available on the 14" Thinkpads.

I stand humbly corrected.

-CupOfJoe

csioucs · #13 Post by **csioucs** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:11 am

donking!

Besides the flex on the palmrest over the PCMCIA, how unusable is the touchpad? Does it still have the software that made it so customizable? Is it unusable at all, or is it in need of useradjusting to new size - is it just as sensitive?

There are times when I'm not using the point(my favorite), but the pad, as the point is too far away...

donking! · #14 Post by **donking!** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:06 am

I think the touchpad is useable. It's not the greatest ever and a curious step backwards from previous models. But I can work with it. The T60 does have the software for all sorts of customizing. Though, as I mentioned above, it lacks the drag, lock, and release function that I really like on my VAIO.

I wouldn't worry too much about the palmrest over the PCMCIA slot. It's a little flimsy. But it's not a make or break thing to me. I feel fairly secure that it's never going to crack, unless I whack the notebook in some pretty bad way.

lithium726 · #15 Post by **lithium726** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:17 pm

Thats what the Thinkpad Protection Plan is for

i highly recomend anyone buying a new TP spring for that...

pundit · #16 Post by **pundit** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:12 am

Initial thoughts.

If you're too lazy or busy to read the rest of this, just know that I love my new computer.

Now, onward, jobless one.

1. It is substantially larger and heavier than the 14.x" chassis. But it's not like I ever had a 14"er, and I'm moving to this 15"er from a very bulky ex-laptop, so all is well. Plus, 1600x1200 is, to put it mildly, wicked sweet.
2. As I type this, I know what the MBP people were "whining" about. There is an intermittent noise, that comes and goes as it wants to, but it is no way a big deal. I can only sense it when I sit all lonely-like in the corner of a dark room. As I often do.
3. It is super cool, and super quiet. The fan is rarely on. Of course, me being a poor student (as in forced to skimp on heating) in a cold state might have something to do with it.
4. The screen is gorgeous. Not ungodly-bright gorgeous, but just gorgeous. There is absolutely no budge as I try to flex the screen, and FlexView(TM) does work as advertised. I am even more impressed with the graphics card, which chewed through a demo of Quake 4 in 1600x1200 at high graphical detail. And no, I (obviously) don't have any dead/stuck/white/rogue pixels.
5. I don't know what people are cribbing about, but the battery life is outstanding. Easily over 5 hours on normal usage (with wireless) using the 9-cell battery (which I don't plan to use, because it is unweildy), and probably 3 hours or so with the 6-cell. People who "demand" anything more are just being greedy.
6. I cannot believe how much crap they've installed on the machine, especially since it's supposedly in "factory fresh" state. It works fine after it boots, but booting is a big ordeal when you need to start up 3000 odd processes. What were they thinking?
7. It gets worse on this front. Here is a picture of my disk's fragmentation "initially". I mean, come on! It's like they're going all out to sabotage whatever performance gains moving to dual cores might have brought them. But I worked out a reasonable solution.
8. Initially, I thought that the fingerprint reader was sort of gimmicky and flakey, and wasn't really impressed. 4--5 arduous reboots and seeing it work splendidly later, I changed my mind. Then for some reason it refuses to recognize me. I don't like it again.
9. The touchpad ought to have been "better". I don't know, I just don't deem it enough. Maybe it's too tiny.
10. I don't know what "awesome keyboard quality" people here bang on about, but I find it "just another keyboard". Blasphemous, I know. I'm not saying it's bad, but I'm saying it doesn't seem "special and dear" as the vibe I seem to get from others in these parts. Or maybe, I am just spoilt by using "special and dear" keyboards all my life.

11. It is very Linux unfriendly. But my rants on that I'll save for another post, probably in a different forum. Just note that my initial foray has seemed remarkably zippy when in Linux, but that's only because I was comparing it to the clogged Windows install.
12. I wrecked my recovery partition within few minutes of holding this laptop. I also sort-of dropped it (almost an initiation routine with me and my new electronics). I cannot believe they skimp on sending you a measily recovery DVD when they charge 3 grand for the computer. I wrecked the R&R partition after I made recovery discs, but I still plan to call and beg for a set from them. Out of principle.
13. My batteries, both the 6-cell and 9-cell aren't in any way loose. The only thing that isn't firm and snug in place is the screen-lid-thing (the top-half of the laptop) when it's closed. I can rattle it a bit when it's shut and latched. It doesn't bother me, as that is not a normal operation one does.
14. The geniuses at MS have decided upon a very subtle colour gradient (caused by a super subtle "light" source) on the stock welcome/login screen for Windows XP. This is specifically done so that jumpy people will freak out thinking it's an "inconsistent back-light".
15. The hinges are just as awesome as the little keyboard light is cheesy. Learn to type, people.
16. People worried about the placement of the microphone-hole; don't be. It is not covered by hands when in normal touch-typing position. Either that, or my hands are remarkably slender.
17. People worried about the 'flex over the PCMCIA slot' need to just get a pair of slender hands; like me.
18. The wireless card (intel, not atheros) seems to be excellent also. Being a bit of a privacy freak, I shelved my wireless router a couple of years ago, but my new thinkpad sees 6--7 WAPs around my apartment, while my old card only saw 2--3. Hence, it's excellent.

20. The thing that aggravates me the most (yes, even more than the audacity of "Diskkeeper lite") is the placement of the 'Fn' key. I need that key to be "cntrl". If you're a heavy (or even just an) Emacs user, you'll know how traumatic moving your beloved 'cntrl' or 'meta' keys can be.

donking! · #17 Post by **donking!** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:58 am

Hey Pundit, congrats on receiving your machine. Looking forward to hearing more of your impressions.

Do you know which keyboard you have? Just curious (since you're so underwhelmed by it).

I agree with you about the function key. It keeps messing me up. I also think having the page up and page down keys in the upper right hand corner is not good placement. I'd like to see them around the arrow keys. Even instead of the back and forward keys.

pundit · #18 Post by **pundit** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:31 am

donking! wrote:Do you know which keyboard you have? Just curious (since you're so underwhelmed by it).

Apparently, it's an "NMB". It's not that I'm underwhelmed. I just don't think a keyboard can "whelm" me either way, that's all.

Now, the feeling that the "dual two point one six GIGA hertz processors" are functioning no faster than any machine did 4 years ago? That's underwhelming.

donking! · #19 Post by **donking!** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:53 am

Its definitely faster than the 645Mhz Celeron Pentium II in my Vaio.

Big gaps in time bring more impressive changes with computers.

Received T60(p). What are your impressions?

Received T60(p). What are your impressions?

Re: Received T60(p). What are your impressions?

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