Thinkpads Forum

Hi All:

I'm getting a new T60 - 2163ECU - is this a good buy? pls see below, I have never owned an IBM, my previous book is Dell, all comments are welcome, thank you!

by the way total price of the unit is $2,229, is it high this is via online order, i only saved it to my cart, but i will check out tonight or tomorrow morning ... your comments will be valuable in this decision, thanks~

ThinkPad T60 2613ECU

Processor: Intel Core Duo processor T2600 (2.16GHz, 2MB L2, 667MHz FSB)
Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Display type: 14.1 inch SXGA+ (1400x1050) TFT
Memory: 1GBMB PC2-5300 CL5 NP DDR2 SDRAM SODIMM
Graphics: 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
Hard drive: 100 GB 7200 rpm SATA Hard Drive
Optical device: ThinkPad 4x Max DVD Recordable Dual Layer Ultrabay Slim Drive Integrated data/fax modem: 56K V.92 Designed Modem
Integrated Ethernet: Integrated Gigabit Ethernet
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN: Wi-Fi wireless upgradable and Bluetooth
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter
Battery: ThinkPad 9 Cell Li-Ion Battery
USB ports: 3 USB 2.0
Security: Embedded Security Subsystem 2.0 and Integrated fingerprint reader

Without you telling us what you intend to use this T60 for, we can't tell you if it's a good choice or not.
By the first look, it's a overkill. You can always upgrade your memory, HD, so you can go easy on that. There are several deals right now with some T60 models that has $200 rebate.
Again, if you have the dough, then just spend it...we only live once

Those are the specs of the t60 I bought, and I paid $2040 with tax. My processor may have been a little bit slower.

main use will be for home office and some travelling ... possibly lots of programs like accounting, tax, large spreadsheets, pdf files, client presentation, etc. ...

NaBachman wrote:Those are the specs of the t60 I bought, and I paid $2040 with tax. My processor may have been a little bit slower.

is your processor the 2600 ?

NaBachman wrote:Those are the specs of the t60 I bought, and I paid $2040 with tax. My processor may have been a little bit slower.

Then it's definitely overkill. Your T60 is a custom-build so you can save several hundreds by getting the 2.0Ghz, 512MB ram and buy extra ram from 3rd party. Get the XP Home if you have the XP Pro already or know where to get it
I have a much lesser machine and I feel it's more than enough for me. I do mostly coding, VBA excel programming, matlab. I only need to get a new 7k100 SATA and 1G extra ram and I'm good for a few years.
Goodluck with your purchase

Then it's definitely overkill. Your T60 is a custom-build so you can save several hundreds by getting the 2.0Ghz, 512MB ram and buy extra ram from 3rd party. Get the XP Home if you have the XP Pro already or know where to get it
I have a much lesser machine and I feel it's more than enough for me. I do mostly coding, VBA excel programming, matlab. I only need to get a new 7k100 SATA and 1G extra ram and I'm good for a few years.
Goodluck with your purchase

i'll consider what you mentioned, but i do not have the XP Home or XP Pro what i do have is the Windows 2000 Pro - is this a good match for a T60 ...

I would not worry about "overkill". You will be absolutely in love with it when it gets there trust me.

It's an amazing machine, built like no other. I start grinning from ear to ear everytime I get to talking about it (total geek).

I needed a replacement for my 2001 Samsung and was on the market just like you ... with similar needs in terms of raw computing.

I knew I wanted a Thinkpad, just didn't know which one to get, I was at first debating between the T43 (still available) and the T60. Reading this forum helped, I went with

T60 2623 D6U

bought it from CostCentral for 1400USD with the 200USD rebate
bought 1G (Transcend) from Newegg for 69USD to bump it up to 1.5G -- it is working well

installed Office XP business
got a Logitech V270 bluetooth mouse for 44USD at Microcenter, a plain USB black keyboard for 14USD at Microcenter, a PowerSleeve14 for 55USD or so from booqbags.com

very happy so far... I tend to agree with baraider that it might be an overkill to buy that system at over 2000USD, especially if you are shelling the money out of your pocket, on the other if your company is paying for it, just go for the top of the top!

brutus wrote:

baraider wrote:Get the XP Home if you have the XP Pro already or know where to get it

i'll consider what you mentioned, but i do not have the XP Home or XP Pro what i do have is the Windows 2000 Pro - is this a good match for a T60 ...

I have not been to Lenovo's purchasing site much, and I was surprised by the above statement. I did not know that Lenovo was offering XP Home in the T-Series models. If memory serves, the T4x Series models only came with XP Professional. I went to Lenovo's site just now and saw that indeed, the T60 Series can be had with either XP Home or XP Professional, however with the T43, one can only get XP Professional.

My 2-cents worth is that XP Home is not worthy to belong in a T-Series ThinkPad. Others here may have a different opinion, but I have never liked XP Home. While Windows 2000 Pro is a fine operating system, it is dated, and I would not normally consider it for a new model computer. So to sum up; I would not scrimp on the operating system by getting XP Home unless you plan to run Linux or some other non-Windows operating system.

I went to Lenovo's site just now to try and view the OP's model, the ThinkPad T60 2613ECU. All I really saw for the T60 was Customize & buy, and one Top Seller model. Where are all the pre-configured models that I used to see?

GomJabbar wrote:

brutus wrote: i'll consider what you mentioned, but i do not have the XP Home or XP Pro what i do have is the Windows 2000 Pro - is this a good match for a T60 ...

I have not been to Lenovo's purchasing site much, and I was surprised by the above statement. I did not know that Lenovo was offering XP Home in the T-Series models. If memory serves, the T4x Series models only came with XP Professional. I went to Lenovo's site just now and saw that indeed, the T60 Series can be had with either XP Home or XP Professional, however with the T43, one can only get XP Professional.

My 2-cents worth is that XP Home is not worthy to belong in a T-Series ThinkPad. Others here may have a different opinion, but I have never liked XP Home. While Windows 2000 Pro is a fine operating system, it is dated, and I would not normally consider it for a new model computer. So to sum up; I would not scrimp on the operating system by getting XP Home unless you plan to run Linux or some other non-Windows operating system.

I went to Lenovo's site just now to try and view the OP's model, the ThinkPad T60 2613ECU. All I really saw for the T60 was Customize & buy, and one Top Seller model. Where are all the pre-configured models that I used to see?

If I remember correctly, there were some T4X Series Systems that could be had with Windows XP Home on them before. Although, to me, it makes little sense as the difference between XP Pro and XP Home are only enough to barely justify more cost in *most* cases....but in this case the differences, a major few of which, actually *do* matter.

XP Pro can support two processor cores while XP Home can only support a one-core CPU; and, if you are getting a T60, you had *better* be able to use both cores at the same time, otherwise you end up shooting yourself in the foot for no reason. Another important one is the whole slew of networking features you get in XP Pro that you don't get in XP Home (SNMP, Simple TCP/IP control services, SAP services, network monitor, etc). They become important when you want to maintain good performance across a vast array of networks you will run across; i.e. a "mobile professional" rather than a static "home user."

The other features that XP Pro has over XP home are either trivial, and many of the "value added" features fall under just that classification (I.e Dynamic Disks which can't be used on laptops and only make sense on Windows 2000 or Windows XP as they work with nothing else; LDM is only included in XP Pro but should be included for both Pro and Home), or made redundant by IBM/Lenovo software; a good example of the latter would encryption and security settings, which are only available in XP Pro, such as EFS and C2 as well as the ASR system restoration utility. In most, and probably almost all cases, the IBM/Lenovo ThinkVantage software handles everything in efficient, smooth, and professional manner without the need of extra Windows services.

markgreene:

I would not worry about "overkill". You will be absolutely in love with it when it gets there trust me.

It's an amazing machine, built like no other. I start grinning from ear to ear everytime I get to talking about it (total geek).

What markgreene said!

Guess I overkilled too, but I'm lovin evey minute of it!!!

T60: 2623D7U - T2500(2GHz)(667MhzFSB), 1.5GB RAM, 100GB 5400rpm HD, 14" SXGA+, 128MB ATI X1400, 9 cell battery, Intel 802.11abg, Verizon Sierra CDMA2000,ExpressCard, bluetooth,DVD recordable

They have offered the t60 with XP home, quite a waste but maybe some people like it, it is cheaper.T60

I wouldn't mind about "overkill" too. Its always nice to have a more powerful computer. I would have bought a similar T60p specs myself if only I have an option to choose a different GPU.

What's important I think is just to make sure that we can comfortably spend for what we want

Kyocera wrote:markgreene:

I would not worry about "overkill". You will be absolutely in love with it when it gets there trust me.

It's an amazing machine, built like no other. I start grinning from ear to ear everytime I get to talking about it (total geek).

What markgreene said!

Guess I overkilled too, but I'm lovin evey minute of it!!!

Three Cheers for Overkill... I'll call it future proofing, as you can never have too many resources (or not) when you plan on keeping the computer for some time. There is simply nothing like having the right tool for the job.

Why use a small hammer when you can....uh.... well you know...

All of you - stop including entire messages in your quotes. Just snip out enough to identify which message you're replying to.

christopher_wolf wrote:If I remember correctly, there were some T4X Series Systems that could be had with Windows XP Home on them before.

It turns out you are correct (I know, why did I ever doubt you). I checked a couple of versions of Tabook that I have. The T41's and T42's I see did not come with any XP Home models. I could find (2) models of the T43 with XP Home. When I bought my T42, which was before the T43's came out, all I remember seeing being offered was XP Pro.

Tabook wrote:1871-13U Pentium M 730 1.60 256MB 14.1" XGA GMA 900 40HS Combo ✳ Intel 11b/g Modem Finger Yes XP Home Entry Feb 05

1871-33U Pentium M 740 1.73 256MB 14.1" XGA GMA 900 40HS Combo ✳ Intel 11b/g Modem Finger Yes XP Home Entry Aug 05

nonny wrote: Just snip out enough

Oops.....I'm busted....

We're all busted!

archer you are so right, hadn't thought about the future proofing aspect, i just like spending my hard earned money

thanks guys for all your comments, you are all knowledgeable on the subject ...

yes, i'm gonna sign my creditcard numbers on the dotted line tonight (online of course) and yes, this may be overkill but i will keep this long term, in fact my old one Dell Inspiron 3000 lasted me 9 years ~~~ yes siiirrreee, it's very much outdated the very first pentium version and it's still running but very very slow

T60 here i come

Good luck, report back!

brutus wrote:thanks guys for all your comments, you are all knowledgeable on the subject ...

yes, i'm gonna sign my creditcard numbers on the dotted line tonight (online of course) and yes, this may be overkill but i will keep this long term, in fact my old one Dell Inspiron 3000 lasted me 9 years ~~~ yes siiirrreee, it's very much outdated the very first pentium version and it's still running but very very slow

T60 here i come

Given that you made that Dell last that long, you could probably make the T60p hold out until the T101.

It is certainly possible because it will be compatible with Merom as well as the SATA HDDs.

i took the plunge, i'm more than 2k poorer now

but i'm T60p richer

yep, i move it up to T60p code 2613ETU

can't wait !

When you get your conformation E-mail I'd be interested in knowing your estimated ship date. My 2613 has been pushed out a total of 9 weeks and counting

i checked my order status & shows 7/7/06 as the estimated ship date

rvacha -- when did you ordered yours?

Shipping discussions belong in the shipping sticky.

Yes, shipping discussions do go in this, http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21451 , thread.

got it thanks

Kyocera wrote:markgreene:

I would not worry about "overkill". You will be absolutely in love with it when it gets there trust me.

It's an amazing machine, built like no other. I start grinning from ear to ear everytime I get to talking about it (total geek).

What markgreene said!

Guess I overkilled too, but I'm lovin evey minute of it!!!

T60: 2623D7U - T2500(2GHz)(667MhzFSB), 1.5GB RAM, 100GB 5400rpm HD, 14" SXGA+, 128MB ATI X1400, 9 cell battery, Intel 802.11abg, Verizon Sierra CDMA2000,ExpressCard, bluetooth,DVD recordable

They have offered the t60 with XP home, quite a waste but maybe some people like it, it is cheaper.T60

overkill is not a bad thing...