Final questions before ordering t61p

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StevenD · #1 Post by **StevenD** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:26 pm

Hi, all,

I've been lurking for a while. I'm currently ready to order a t61p to replace my t43p, but I've still got a couple questions that I haven't seen answers to yet:

Is it reasonable to order with 1-gig, 1 DIMM of memory, and immediately add my own 2nd DIMM with another 2-gig, for another $115 or so from Crucial, rather than another $300 or so from Lenovo?

I have a fingerprint reader on my t43p, but it didn't work consistently at all, so I disabled it. For only $30, is there any problem getting the new fingerprint reader if I think I'm still unlikely to use it? Are the new ones any better?

Do people still think it's reasonable to configure with whichever HDD I want, then do an immediate upgrade to the Hitachi 7k200? I need the 200Gigs. Also, does anyone know why, under storage accessories, the ThinkPad 100 GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA Hard Drive costs $439, given that the Hitachi 7k200 is only $255?

I don't understand the difference between the "pc card slot and express card slot", the "pc card slot and smart card slot", and the "4 in 1 media card reader", which is always selected, *in addition* to ONE of the other two. The main card that I'd like to read is the tiny SD card that comes in many digital cameras.

Is the Gemplus GemPC400 Compact Smart Card Reader/Writer really a *writer*, too, and is it yet another slot on the laptop?

Does anyone order the protections services, for drops and screen fractures, etc? Or the "Lenovo experts live services"?

Will I automatically get the third antenna if I order the agn card, or do I have to configure that somewhere that I haven't found yet?

Does anyone want to weigh in on the quality of the WUXGA screen on the t61p vs the Flexview display still available on the T60's?

Thanks in advance for advice on any of these questions.

#2 Post by **RonS** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:01 am

I'll give you what I know.

It does make sense to add your own memory if it saves money. I would add a 2GB DIMM rather than a 1GIG, for a total of 3GB. Later, you can swap out the remaining 1GIG for another 2 and get 4GB, which you'll be able to take advantage of if you use Vista.

I have no problems with the fingerprint reader on my T60p. I didn't have problems with it on my T42p, either.

I think it's reasonable to swap out for a larger hard drive of your own choosing. The Hitachi 7K200 is the best right now. If I were you, I would use Acronis to move the image from your factory-delivered system to the new drive. Make sure that the new drive is installed in the Thinkpad as you do this. You may want to buy a SATA drive caddy so you can have both drives (old and new) online at the same time.

The 15" T61p comes with a Multicard Reader in the front of the machine. This will read SD and xD memory (plus other variants), so you should be fine. On the side of the unit are PC Card and Express Card slots. You can swap out the ExpressCard slot for a Smart Card reader, but I would think twice about doing this. If you're not sure if you need this or not, then you almost certainly don't need it. Besides, if you ever have to add it in the future, you can add a SmartCard reader via USB and still preserve your high-bandwidth ExpressCard slot for more powerful devices.

Yes, you will automatically get the third antenna if you order the agn card.

o1001010 · #3 Post by **o1001010** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:13 am

StevenD wrote:

pianowizard · #4 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:21 am

StevenD wrote:Is it reasonable to order with 1-gig, 1 DIMM of memory, and immediately add my own 2nd DIMM with another 2-gig, for another $115 or so from Crucial, rather than another $300 or so from Lenovo?

Order with only 1x512MB installed. Sell that stick for $12 (or more if you're lucky), and get a matched pair of 1GB (2x1GB) for $70 from newegg.com or frys.com.

GarryF · #5 Post by **GarryF** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:32 am

First impressions on the T61P fingerprint reader are that's it's slightly better than my old T43P but I never had any problems with the old one.

T61P has a 4-1 card reader in the front of the machine, takes an SD card without any adaptor, not sure about others.
you can see it on this link right centre
http://oregon.smugmug.com/photos/173978807-S.jpg

So far I'm happy with the screen, I suspect that this is one of these issues that gets slightly blown out of proportion.

pianowizard · #6 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:37 am

GarryF wrote:So far I'm happy with the screen, I suspect that this is one of these issues that gets slightly blown out of proportion.

Well said. Since getting my R50p's almost two months ago, I've been using mainly Flexview displays everyday. But I don't have any difficulty switching back to other, supposedly "crappy" displays. The difference between Flexview and non is noticeable, but both are good enough for me.

NaT · #7 Post by **NaT** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:18 am

Is it reasonable to order with 1-gig, 1 DIMM of memory, and immediately add my own 2nd DIMM with another 2-gig, for another $115 or so from Crucial, rather than another $300 or so from Lenovo?

First, to answer your questions:

1) Upgrade RAM: Yes, it makes sense. I just checked out the local IT stores today. The 2GB stick for T61/T61p is just $117 but if you want a machine with full Lenovo warranty (not having to go to other vendors for RAM replacement), feel free to buy them from Lenovo.

2) Fingerprint: I don't have such problem on my T43p. The fingerprint reader have been working great. Actually I use it a lot such that now the black color paint of the fingerprint wear off and showing gleamering metal underneath. If you don't use it, you don't have to order it and can save some money.

3) HDD: DON'T order additional ones from Lenovo. If you want, upgrade the one for internal, to the one that is reasonalble for $/GB.

4) 5) about CardBus, Express card and Media, please see above

6) Protection services: Please read terms and conditions first. I read it before and they offer in some states only. It's more like buying a insurance from an insurance company. If you think you have reasonable 'risk factors' in your typical use, it might be justify to order it, otherwise you'd better save some buck here.

5) Third Attenna: Yes, it should. However, someone from another forum even mentioned that when he didn't order the 'n' card, Lenovo just didn't install the third attenna making upgrade to the 'n' card later requires buying the third attenna part.

6) UXGA vs FlexView: No comment, I want to know that too.

Pocket Aces · #8 Post by **Pocket Aces** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:41 pm

NaT wrote:GarryF, since you own both T43p and T61p, could you please tell me a little bit about performance difference between the old and the new one?

I'm in the same position as you were: Having a T43p 2.13GHz @ 533FSB, 2MB cache, 2GB RAM and a 15" UXGA FlexView, and shopping for T61p 2.2GHz @ 800FSB, 4MB cache, 2GB RAM and a WUXGA screen. I wonder do u notice processor performance improvement? How much?

My apps are typically coding and compiling, java web app servers, database app developments, some OpenGL developments, and watching HD movies. The reason I want to upgrade is I NEED MORE PERFORMANCE while still be able to mobile around customer sites (without hurting my shoulders much) (with this, I am even thinking about X61 tablet but afraid of its lower CPU performance), and I really love bigger real estate from the WUXGA.

Oh, and you said the new WUXGA is also good. How about when comparing your old 15" UXGA T43p FlexView and the new 15.4" WUXGA.

Any Thinkpad available will almost certainly blow away your T43p in processor performance. It's probably using a Pentium M processor, which is ancient technology when compared to the Core 2 Duos. Unless you really want the suped up graphics card in the T61p, you probably don't need one.

NaT · #9 Post by **NaT** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:10 pm

Pocket Aces, thanks for your response....but I'm a bit confused by your answer...hahaha.

So you mean the T61p, in terms of processor performance, would also blow away my T43p, but I probably don't need one ????

NaT

Pocket Aces · #10 Post by **Pocket Aces** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:31 pm

NaT wrote:Pocket Aces, thanks for your response....but I'm a bit confused by your answer...hahaha.

So you mean the T61p, in terms of processor performance, would also blow away my T43p, but I probably don't need one ????

NaT

Any laptop with a modern Core 2 Duo will suffice.

#11 Post by **tomh009** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:45 pm

Pocket Aces wrote:Unless you really want the suped up graphics card in the T61p, you probably don't need one.

But the T61p is the only way to get WUXGA ...

crg7 · #12 Post by **crg7** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:35 am

RonS wrote: The 15" T61p comes with a Multicard Reader in the front of the machine. This will read SD and xD memory (plus other variants), so you should be fine. On the side of the unit are PC Card and Express Card slots. You can swap out the ExpressCard slot for a Smart Card reader, but I would think twice about doing this. If you're not sure if you need this or not, then you almost certainly don't need it. Besides, if you ever have to add it in the future, you can add a SmartCard reader via USB and still preserve your high-bandwidth ExpressCard slot for more powerful devices.

Not clear to me---what does one get with the SmartCard reader and what does one give-up? Appreciate a quick reply,

Best
Reddy

SHoTTa35 · #13 Post by **SHoTTa35** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:01 am

as he said, if you don't know what a smartcard reader is then you don't need it. I'm sure if you googled "smartcards" then you'd find out what it is.

But since you're here, a smartcard is a security card issued by companies to get into certain systems. It's used to log into the system also if you have a smartcard reader. Since you probably DON'T have that (work at the NSA or something?) then you don't need a smartcard reader. Get the expresscard and carry on your merry way.

crg7 · #14 Post by **crg7** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:38 am

SHoTTa35 wrote:as he said, if you don't know what a smartcard reader is then you don't need it. I'm sure if you googled "smartcards" then you'd find out what it is.

But since you're here, a smartcard is a security card issued by companies to get into certain systems. It's used to log into the system also if you have a smartcard reader. Since you probably DON'T have that (work at the NSA or something?) then you don't need a smartcard reader. Get the expresscard and carry on your merry way.

I would rather decide for myself than have someone else do it for me

Final questions before ordering t61p

Final questions before ordering t61p

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