Thinkpads Forum

My daughter needs a replacement for her T41p. Should I buy a new T60p?

It depends on the use of the laptop. T60p have a very powerful graphic card, getting a T60 with integrated graphics would give her a silent machine.
T61 seems like a good way to go to. People have complained about the offcentered LCD screen (which is only noticeable if you watch it from feet away).
On the other hand, the T60 with the X1400 seems to be a proven reliable laptop

JPOESQ, what will your daughter use the laptop for? Does she really need the most powerful Thinkpad currently available?

John,

If this is an option she can have your T43p and you get the T60p unless, of course, she is paying the bill.

Brad

xtr wrote:It depends on the use of the laptop. T60p have a very powerful graphic card, getting a T60 with integrated graphics would give her a silent machine.
T61 seems like a good way to go to. People have complained about the offcentered LCD screen (which is only noticeable if you watch it from feet away).
On the other hand, the T60 with the X1400 seems to be a proven reliable laptop

Thanks. I had considered the T61, but she doesn't want a larger footprint - the standard 14.1" screen gives her the largest notebook that she really wants to carry around.

Good suggestion about the integrated graphics - my X60s has integrated graphics and is virtually silent. My T43p, on the other hand, is loud.

With the T60, are you suggesting XGA instead of SXGA?

pianowizard wrote:JPOESQ, what will your daughter use the laptop for? Does she really need the most powerful Thinkpad currently available?

She uses it primarily for word processing, spreadsheets, and financial/analytical software. I was considering the T60p since she was moving from a T41p and wanted to get her something comparable so that the shift would be barely noticeable.

Brad wrote:John,

If this is an option she can have your T43p and you get the T60p unless, of course, she is paying the bill.

Brad

Hi Brad,

I would give her the T43p, but it's a 15" model and just too large for her. I tried to convince her to go with an X60s because it's so portable (it's what I carry with me everywhere), but she decided that the screen was too small.

The T60p is OK to BUY, but bare in mind the machine would run with a hyperactive fan. I'm unsure if he likes the standard 4:3 form factor or the WideScreen. Apparently T60's WS run cool and quiet. In respect to the screen resolution, it all comes down to tastes, I do like the SXGA+ screen, since your daughter uses analytical software it might be a good choice to go for the Widescreen.

If you're still considering getting a performance Thinkpad, you should wait a few more and decide whether or not to get the newest T61p, for sure the fan would turn on less often.

xtr wrote:The T60p is OK to BUY, but bare in mind the machine would run with a hyperactive fan. I'm unsure if he likes the standard 4:3 form factor or the WideScreen. Apparently T60's WS run cool and quiet. In respect to the screen resolution, it all comes down to tastes, I do like the SXGA+ screen, since your daughter uses analytical software it might be a good choice to go for the Widescreen.

If you're still considering getting a performance Thinkpad, you should wait a few more and decide whether or not to get the newest T61p, for sure the fan would turn on less often.

Hmmm. So the T60p must have the same fan on a sugar high that that is in the T43p - it's enough to drive you nuts at times if you are in a quiet room.

The WS version would be great for spreadsheets, but my daughter doesn't want the additional bulk - I know that it's only about an inch wider, but that's still larger.

Do we know for certain that a T61p will be quieter?

xtr wrote:The T60p is OK to BUY, but bare in mind the machine would run with a hyperactive fan. I'm unsure if he likes the standard 4:3 form factor or the WideScreen. Apparently T60's WS run cool and quiet. In respect to the screen resolution, it all comes down to tastes, I do like the SXGA+ screen, since your daughter uses analytical software it might be a good choice to go for the Widescreen.

If you're still considering getting a performance Thinkpad, you should wait a few more and decide whether or not to get the newest T61p, for sure the fan would turn on less often.

FWIW, my T60p WS runs cool and quiet. 8743-CTO. Purchased direct from Lenovo.

It appears the T60p price is dropping fast at Lenovo retailers. I have been watching the 8744J2U drop over the last couple of weeks from $1,920 to $1,850 to the current price of $1,747 on Euclid Computer's site.

I have a T61 on order, but am starting to wonder if I should cancel and get a T60p. There is no shipping fee or sales tax and it would ship next day. Hmmmm....

JPOESQ wrote: Do we know for certain that a T61p will be quieter?

I would bet you the T61p would be quieter than T60's

brrmax wrote:It appears the T60p price is dropping fast at Lenovo retailers. I have been watching the 8744J2U drop over the last couple of weeks from $1,920 to $1,850 to the current price of $1,747 on Euclid Computer's site.

I have a T61 on order, but am starting to wonder if I should cancel and get a T60p. There is no shipping fee or sales tax and it would ship next day. Hmmmm....

Too bad that I didn't know this site before. I bought an 8744-J2U about a month ago and I paid 2,085 with express shipping.

JPOESQ wrote:She uses it primarily for word processing, spreadsheets, and financial/analytical software. I was considering the T60p since she was moving from a T41p and wanted to get her something comparable so that the shift would be barely noticeable.

To be quite honest, I think a T60p would be complete overkill. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like your daughter is not really into computers. If she is primarily concerned what the computer looks like and feels like, rather than what's in it, a T60p is the last thing on earth she needs.

Of course I might be missing some information here...

brrmax wrote:It appears the T60p price is dropping fast at Lenovo retailers. I have been watching the 8744J2U drop over the last couple of weeks from $1,920 to $1,850 to the current price of $1,747 on Euclid Computer's site.

I have a T61 on order, but am starting to wonder if I should cancel and get a T60p. There is no shipping fee or sales tax and it would ship next day. Hmmmm....

Ok, so I bit the bullet and ordered a loaded T60p (2613CTO) with the fast processor, 2gig of memory, 100gig 7200 rpm drive, a/b/g/n atheros wireless, dvd burner, etc. Lenovo had their 25% off sale for Memorial Day and I got another 5% off through the ABA. The price came to $1803.91, which includes a 3-year depot repair and damage protection updgrade.

Jan_Hoho wrote:If she is primarily concerned what the computer looks like and feels like, rather than what's in it, a T60p is the last thing on earth she needs...

Agreed. For an adequate laptop that looks nice, feels nice, is solid and quite portable, the Dell Latitude D620 would be a much better choice.

Jan_Hoho wrote:

JPOESQ wrote:She uses it primarily for word processing, spreadsheets, and financial/analytical software. I was considering the T60p since she was moving from a T41p and wanted to get her something comparable so that the shift would be barely noticeable.

To be quite honest, I think a T60p would be complete overkill. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like your daughter is not really into computers. If she is primarily concerned what the computer looks like and feels like, rather than what's in it, a T60p is the last thing on earth she needs.

Of course I might be missing some information here...

Hi Jan,

My daughter is definitely not a techie, but a "computer user" (although she can replace a hard drive, memory, etc. in a TP). I have always bought her the latest Txxp version, and given the same machine that I would buy for myself (that's how I have two T41p's at present). Yes, it's probably overkill, but heck, it seems that the price differential is nominal.

Besides, if she doesn't like it for some reason, I get a new computer!

JPOESQ wrote:My daughter is definitely not a techie, but a "computer user" (although she can replace a hard drive, memory, etc. in a TP). I have always bought her the latest Txxp version, and given the same machine that I would buy for myself (that's how I have two T41p's at present). Yes, it's probably overkill, but heck, it seems that the price differential is nominal.

Well, I see what you mean. I, too, like to make sure getting the best hardware available, not because I need it but because it is available.

But wouldn't a T60p even be a worse choice than some other TP's available? I've never had a T60p so it's quite possible I have no idea what I'm talking about, but it appears that for someone primarily doing office applications, a 256MB FireGL is a poor choice (in terms of battery life etc.). A super silent T61 with Intel graphics seems much more appropriate to me.

Besides, if she doesn't like it for some reason, I get a new computer!

Ah, THIS reasoning I understand perfectly...

Jan_Hoho wrote:

JPOESQ wrote:My daughter is definitely not a techie, but a "computer user" (although she can replace a hard drive, memory, etc. in a TP). I have always bought her the latest Txxp version, and given the same machine that I would buy for myself (that's how I have two T41p's at present). Yes, it's probably overkill, but heck, it seems that the price differential is nominal.

Well, I see what you mean. I, too, like to make sure getting the best hardware available, not because I need it but because it is available.

But wouldn't a T60p even be a worse choice than some other TP's available? I've never had a T60p so it's quite possible I have no idea what I'm talking about, but it appears that for someone primarily doing office applications, a 256MB FireGL is a poor choice (in terms of battery life etc.). A super silent T61 with Intel graphics seems much more appropriate to me.

Besides, if she doesn't like it for some reason, I get a new computer!

Ah, THIS reasoning I understand perfectly...

It's a difficult decision to make; that's a certainty. I always seem to migrate toward the "top of the line" product offering, whether it's cars, computers, or the like. My daughter isn't terribly concerned about battery life because AC power is usually available, and I've haven't experienced any fan noise coming from 2 T60p's that business associates use.