Thinkpads Forum

I am pricing out a new machine but I am so confused..

ThinkPad T61 15 Widescreen - 1 Yr Depot Warranty
$1,002.60

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)[1]
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium[12]
15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/ WWAN
1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)[8]
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
80GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim[5]
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ[10]
6 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
6465: Express - 1 Yr Depot Warranty


ThinkPad T61 - 1 Yr Depot Warranty $1,084.50

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)[1]
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium[12]
14.1 SXGA+ TFT
Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/o WWAN
1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)[8]
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
80GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim[5]
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ[10]
6 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
8897: Express - 1 Yr Depot Warranty

Why is the 15" screen with everything else similar cheaper then the 14" screen? Also is this Intel integrated graphics OK? I do not plan to play up to date games on the machine but will I be able to watch a DVD?

Widescreens are cheaper since they don't want to make traditional 4:3 displays anymore. They claim the display manufacturers can get more widescreens out of a sheet of glass than they can get traditional 4:3 screens. Still no reason to get rid of the 4:3 displays IMO. At least they are still offering them - albiet at a premium price. A month or two ago you could not get a non-widescreen T61.

DVDs should be fine on the X3100. Widescreens are (unfortunately, to some) fast becoming the preferred standard, and are mass produced. I'm assuming this is why the screen on the 14.1" is a little more expensive.

The fact GomJabbar types faster may be another reason.

14.1 SXGA+ are less and less common. So TFT price goes up...