Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

I'm new to Thinkpads.com and a new user of IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads.
First things first: great website and forum!

I ordered a pre-configured Thinkpad T60 (2623KEU) three days ago via phone from Lenovo and felt I received a good deal, but because I'm a hardcore cheapskate (I'm a college student) I wanted to make sure that I did.

Here are the specs of my new Thinkpad:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83ghz
Screen: 14.1" TFT SXGA+
RAM: 1GB (1 DIMM) expandable to 3GB
Hard Drive: 80GB 5400 RPM
Security: Fingerprint reader, TPM 1.2 Security Chip
Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 -64MB
Optical Storage: DVDRW/DVD-RAM Ultrabay Slim (removable)
Battery: 6 cell (got it because of the 9 cell recalls)
OS: XP Professional
Other Stuff: Bluetooth, ThinkLight, Wireless LAN Antenna
Warranty: 3 Years (I also added a 3 year accidental damage plan on top of that)

Total Cost (excluding shipping): $1,397.50

A good deal?

Also, two other questions:

1. I wasn't planning on getting SXGA+ (I'd just as soon use XGA) because it's $50 more than XGA but I had no choice because of the fact that the Thinkpad I ordered was preconfigured. Some claim that SXGA+ sucks for everyday usage and it's only worth a [censored] if you use multimedia editing programs (I don't). What's the verdict?

2. For all Thinkpad T60 owners: how do you like your laptop overall?

Thanks a lot!

I'm no expert, but that looks like a very solid deal, particularly considering that it includes Thinkpad protection. It looks like you did well. Any haggling tips for the rest of us?

As to your questions:

1. I would absolutely disagree with the statement that SXGA is worthless; in fact, it's XGA that has no place on a modern laptop. If only they'd do away with it on the X-series, I might own one right now, but as long as those are XGA, no chance will I buy one. Well worth the $50, I'd say, and in this package you've priced out, it's a no-brainer.

2. I've owned my T60 for all of two days now, but I'm pretty impressed with it overall. Build quality seems better than my T42, though I'm having a little trouble adapting to the size. I got a widescreen model AND the nine-cell battery, so that's a double-whammy I haven't really adapted to yet. Also, I opted for a T60p with the FireGL card, and that may have been overkill for my purposes. I actually haven't noticed much of a difference over the Radeon 9600 in my T42. Still, all in all, I'm really coming to like the widescreen system. It's nice to have a full desktop in front of me, and my instant messenger program and the Vista gadgets off to the side.

excellent deal..!

you will find the T60 to be a superior product..

Nice specs in a good price.

14.1'' SXGA is beautiful.

socal531, welcome to the forum! What you got is a good deal. It would have been even nicer had you ordered it before March 15, when you would have gotten a free Vista upgrade disc, but it's too late to change that.

Who told you that XGA was better than SXGA+? Was it someone with poor vision? For people with relatively normal vision, XGA is crap, and for a 14.1" screen, SXGA+ is the minimum acceptable resolution for many people including myself. XGA is acceptable only for 10.4" or smaller screens. Thank God Lenovo is upgrading the X-series LCDs from XGA to WXGA and SXGA+.

pianowizard wrote:It would have been even nicer had you ordered it before March 15, when you would have gotten a free Vista upgrade disc, but it's too late to change that.

My ex used to say stuff like this to people after the fact. I didn't like it then either.

nonny wrote:My ex used to say stuff like this to people after the fact. I didn't like it then either.

She's going after me again, even when I am not breaking a forum rule! If I didn't enjoy the other members of this forum so much, I would have quitted a long time ago. Thanks guys for making this forum so fun and 99.23% pleasant!

The OP said he's a "hardcore cheapskate", and I was just assuring him that he had gotten a good deal, though not the best I've seen. That's all I was saying.