Help me decide what to get - Please

[ian12345]

Hi all,

I currently have a T43 and want to buy a T60. I use it 90 % of time in a docking station with 1 or 2 external monitors and keyboard and mouse. I travel 10% of time. I am trying to decide between 14, 15 and 15.4. Obviously in docking station the screen size doesn't matter. How much lighter is 14 inch model and in actual usage is the screen size A LOT smaller. Unfortunately there are no dealers in my area to go to play with the machines. I love Thinkpads and will not consider anything else. I want the fastest beefiest machine I can get but can't decide on the size. My T43 is 15 inch. When I am using it bu itself I am glad it is not smaller, but when I am lugging it I wish it were smaller. When I am in a hotel room I wish it were bigger. Also I normally travel with 1 regular battery and 1 large battery. Any opinions would be great! I really just use it for email, word docs, some spreadsheets and surfing. Maybe an occasional movie.

[EOMtp]

Ask two people and you'll get three opinions. My unequivocal recommendation is for a 14.1" SXGA+ T60p, which is close to a perfect notebook. Depending on needs, I have the same opinion concerning the X60s.

[ian12345]

If I plug a WS external monitor to the non WS laptop or the docking station will it automatically adjust to the WS format

[pianowizard]

When I am using it bu itself I am glad it is not smaller, but when I am lugging it I wish it were smaller. When I am in a hotel room I wish it were bigger.

Lenovo stopped offering 1600x1200 resolution for their 15" models, so whether it's 14.1" or 15" you'll have the same resolution, 1400x1050. I say get a 14.1" model and just sit closer to the screen so it appears bigger (I'm sorry if this sounds like a joke but it's not).

If I plug a WS external monitor to the non WS laptop or the docking station will it automatically adjust to the WS format

Yes. I have done this with my T43, T60 and X60s.

[ian12345]

Thnaks for your reply. I am leaning towards the 14 inch model. With my current mini dock there is a analog and digital video output on the back. So with my new T60p I will get a docking station and will I be able to use dual screen monitors? 1 with the analog and 1 with the digital (DVI)?


DO you have a 14 or 15 inch model?

[pianowizard]

DO you have a 14 or 15 inch model?

I have owned one T20, one T21, two T23's, currently a T43 and a T60, and bought one T22 for a friend, and all of these were/are ~5.2lb 14.1" models. I would not want to lug around anything bigger or heavier than theses 14.1" laptops. My first laptop was an 8.1-lb , 2-inch-thick 15" Dell Inspiron 8200 and it was a big mistake. That notebook worked great; it's the size and weight that made me regret the purchase. It's Dell's counterpart to IBM's equally humongous A31.

[agarza]

Buy a 14.1" SXGA T60. My T42p looks like the perfect companion mate when I take it out with me. It's very practical to carry around and the perfect resolution just works for me. A biggest improvement over the XGA screens.

I would buy a Widescreen laptop just to use it on my home, but since at Uni I need to carry the laptop to make presentations the 14.1" size comes in handy

[NS]

I always travel with my 15\" R52 in a trolley bag and my T60 in a big backpack and travel around the whole of singapore, malaysia, Thailand and that time my military days: USA, CA.

I also brought their own AC adapters along.

To me, as long as when i travel, my thinkpad must to tag along. I cannot travel without my thinkpad. I am suffering from thinkpad addiction + internet connection to this forum.

Don\'t worry, i will take care of my own backbone and shoulders.

BTW: My clothings and my own personal stuffs is less than 3 kg.

*NS recommends the 15\" thinkpads\"

The x60 is 12.1 inch and i hated it (dimension) NOT the thinkpad itself.

[Nilonym]

I'll add another vote for the 14.1" SXGA+ screen. I've had a 14.1" T40p for almost 4 years now, and I was surprised at how much larger and bulkier some of my co-workers' 15" T60s felt. If you carry your notebook around all day like I do, that extra few pounds makes a big difference.