Looking to buy another thinkpad

[evforme]

I'm torn between waiting for Santa Rosa vs. buying a T60p for really cheap with the current discounts. Do you think it's worth waiting for the bigger FSB/cache or buy the current models for cheap now? Is it true that T61 and on will likely discontinue the use of IPS displays (I assume these are the same as FlexView)? Does the current widescreen T60p have an IPS screen? The most important thing for me now is having the largest resolution possible with the highest quality display. I also plan on running a few DBs around the size of 1 GB each, so I don't think the extra cache/FSB will be worth paying extra. Also, does it matter whether I get the Intel or Thinkpad wireless card? Thoughts?

(I'm buying through EEP + Amex Tailor Made.)

[inorv9]

All very relevant questions, I look forward to the responses....

[pianowizard]

Welcome to the forum!

The most important thing for me now is having the largest resolution possible with the highest quality display.

In that case, wait for the T61. I believe IPS/Flexview is already not available on Lenovo.com and will most likely never come back. Also, the highest resolution currently available is only 1680x1050 (WSXGA+). A forum member reported that there will be a 1920x1200 (WUXGA) option for the T61. I am using WUXGA on my Dell laptop and it's awesome. If you don't mind the high pixel density (147 dots per inch), you should definitely wait. Or, get a Z61p (which also has WUXGA but was recently discontinued) from non-Lenovo sources.

[kkposh]

Higher performance may lead to shorter battery life..

[pianowizard]

Higher performance may lead to shorter battery life..

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Santa Rosa platform is more energy-efficient than the current version of Core Duo. So, battery life might actually improve despite the increase in performance!

[Pirx]

It supposed to be so, but you will never know until you use it. I find it very difficult to predict, as even when I'm at various tasks the battery life varies quite significantly.

[dr_st]

Is it true that T61 and on will likely discontinue the use of IPS displays (I assume these are the same as FlexView)?

Seems to be true.

Does the current widescreen T60p have an IPS screen?

Nope. There was never any widescreen IPS.

The most important thing for me now is having the largest resolution possible with the highest quality display.

If you are lucky, you can still find some SXGA+ 1400x1050 IPS screens, although not directly from Lenovo. If you are VERY lucky, you might even still find a UXGA 1600x1200 IPS on a T60p. If you are willing to spend a lot of extra cash, you can probably still order the SXGA+/UXGA IPS screen as a spare part and install it yourself.

Also, does it matter whether I get the Intel or Thinkpad wireless card?

It probably doesn't really matter, as you will get by with both and won't feel the difference in normal conditions, but it's told that the Thinkpad card (which is based on the Atheros chipset) has better reception than the Intel card and is also less finicky. However, I wouldn't let this thing be the deal breaker. CPU, RAM, screen, hard drive are all more important.

[pianowizard]

If you are VERY lucky, you might even still find a UXGA 1600x1200 IPS on a T60p.

Four T60p's with UXGA IPS are currently available on eBay, two with BIN:

$2,000 BIN

$3,040 BIN

[newskin]

Yea, I had the same question earlier. I managed to configure a t60p for pretty cheap with the amex discount. At the end I cancelled my order. I figured no matter how good the deal is, you are buying a high end laptop now for a hefty price only for it to be outdated in about a month. The new t61 or santa rosa platform may or may not be worth it but when it comes out at least the t60p's prices will fall and you might be able to configure the same thing for cheaper. So there is a less chance of regret if you decide to wait. Hope that helps.

[inorv9]

Aren't they clearing out their stock of T60's now though? If this is so, once the T61's come out, I would think you would have less selection and longer wait times for a 60. Then again, maybe the parts other than the MB and processor are virtually interchangeable between 60's and 61's....

[gred]

I guess this has been on my mind as well. I placed an order on a T60p from the EPP last week and they are currently out of stock of the 8744-J2U. They indicated to me that they will be receiving 49 units at the end of the month, but I don't know if I want to wait that long.

I figure if I'm waiting for that period of time, I might as well wait for Santa Rosa, but I don't know how much longer I can make due with sharing this desktop with my bro.

In the past, have the 'p' models (T41p, T42p, T43p, T60p etc.) released the same times as their non-'p' counterparts? If anything I will wait for the Santa Rosa T61p if the release coincides with the regular T61

[evforme]

Can anyone confirm that the thinkpad based wireless cards use the Atheros chip?

Thanks for all the responses.