Thinkpads Forum

Even in price($91 more than 15.4'' T61P)?
The 14.1'' T61P has less powerful graphic adapters, smaller screen and resolution, worse radiating(actually still better than many other brands)
Besides personal preference, maybe just because 14.1'' T61P is more demanded, especially many guys here:-)

What you think?

Supply and demand ?

4:3 screens are in short supply but in demand

desto - Market Forces

A 15.4" screen is bigger and heavier. Many consider those bad qualities in a laptop.

whizkid wrote:A 15.4" screen is bigger and heavier. Many consider those bad qualities in a laptop.

Exactly, the widescreen T60's feel huge to me - and I am used to using 15" R50's!

Does the 14.1" T61p use the same 150 nits SXGA+ screen that was used in the T60?
I like my 14.1" T60, but personally I think the screen isn't bright enough, the 15" SXGA+ screens on T60 is much better than the 14.1".

As was previously mentioned, a lot of us don't like the widescreen laptops because of the added weight and size. My T61p 14.1" arrived today and it is replacing a T60p 15.4" model. I think I might finally be satisfied!

Was the original question earnestly real ? A 14 inch screen is smalller and lighter. I am halfway through my life and I will be dead of old age before I ever accept anything larger or heavier than I have now (14 inch 5 pound T41). ... JDH

Eric Giles wrote:As was previously mentioned, a lot of us don't like the widescreen laptops because of the added weight and size. My T61p 14.1" arrived today and it is replacing a T60p 15.4" model. I think I might finally be satisfied!

Same here, although it's replacing a T60 15.4" WS and it didn't arrive yet . The 15.4" LCDs/machines are huge.

The 14.1" 4:3 and the 15.4" wide serve different purposes. The former is more mobile, whereas the latter is more of a desktop replacement that spends most of its time on a desk. I guess the 14.1" is more popular because most people want to carry their laptops around.

Another (more trivial) explanation: The 20% coupon available last week was only for the 14.1" 4:3 T61p, not for the 15.4" widescreen. So, many more people bought the former last week!

The reasons:
1. I hate widescreens on laptops.
2. I won't accept any laptop larger than 14" no matter how good it is because of the weight and size.

My dream screen on 14" standard (4:3) T61p is UXGA with IPS and a lower price !!

luning wrote:My dream screen on 14" standard (4:3) T61p is UXGA with ISP and a lower price !!

There aren't any 14.1" UXGA-ISP screens but there are 14.1" UXGA screens, and I've found that it works on a 14.1" T42. Why don't you try it on a 14.1" T61p?

I know there is no 14" (4:3) UXGA wish IPS, maybe forever . That's why I said it's my dream screen. Dream means something will never come true.

I will buy a 14" (4:3) T61p. I'm waiting for the Lenovo's Thanksgiving sale + extra coupon.

luning wrote:My dream screen on 14" standard (4:3) T61p is UXGA with ISP and a lower price !!

ISP is your Internet Service Provider, IPS is the In-Plane Switching technology of a FlexView display.

I think everyone was actually referring to the latter

I, too, love the FlexViews.

I agree with pianowizard opinion. Sometimes I need to carry my laptop to college and the 14.1" form factor makes the laptop very portable.

I would buy a 15.4" T61p if it were to stay at home ONLY. A shame the 14.1" only have 128MB Quadro 570M.

Thanks, underclocker. It's my typing fault, just changed it.

i had a debate about 15.4" Vs the 14.1" . the 15.4" offers more performance and features. but after checking a 15.4" machine.
there is no way that i'm going that way . its huge. and that the most important feature for me .

For me 14.1" T60p represents the maximum performance in the minimum space. Add to this 9cell battery and you have also the maximum battery life. The 14.1" + 9cell is almost as heavy as 15.4" with 6cell but battery life is different.

If you want to turn a laptop in a workstation, the docking station is the way, that's why I purchased a ThinkPad, I wanted great punch in small package and with a dock connector.

For me the 15.4" are too bulky to mess with, although movie watching on 14.1" isn't the best experience. For some the 15.4" justifies, for me not.

I work CAD and I customized my applications in such way that I use minimum icons and toolbars. For serious CAD you need 2 (big) displays and in this case 14.1" or 15.4" are out of questions. For CAD you need your laptop to go somewhere give a presentation, fix something, the real work is in the office with 2x22" in front of you.

One of my friends has a 15.4" T60 and often we got 'em side by side, 14.1" is much sexy even with the 9cell protruding at the back.

To sum up it's a matter of taste, if you need something portable 14.1", if you need something not so portable and want to watch movies 15.4".

ThinkPads are all about portability, vesatility and durability.

It's always hard to pick a laptop, and by the day it's getting harder since the manufacturers add more and more otions to customize the machines.

Happy laptop picking,
v.

Having checked out both, and gone with a T60p, I would go with the 14.1" screen as well.

Corporately, we're now issuing T60 15.4" laptops to field guys, and I don't want one. Having checked out the 15.4" beside my 14.1", I'll take the smaller form factor of the 14.1" anyday.

That being said, I don't mind widescreen on a laptop, just not for everyday travel. I also carry (on rare occasions) my Dell XPS M1710. It's great for presentations and tradeshows, as the display is big and bright and good for showing things off.

But it's not much fun to travel with, whereas my T60p is virtually seamless. It's light enough that I really don't know it's there when it's slung over my shoulder.

To me, the 15.4" just looks odd as well, though I can't put my finger on why, exactly.


Patrick

xtr wrote:I agree with pianowizard opinion. Sometimes I need to carry my laptop to college and the 14.1" form factor makes the laptop very portable.

I would buy a 15.4" T61p if it were to stay at home ONLY. A shame the 14.1" only have 128MB Quadro 570M.

Exactly! That was what stopped me from getting a 14.1" T61p during the 25% labor day + 20% discount coupon sale. If the 14.1" came with the 256MB Quadro 570M driving a SXGA+ screen, I'd jump on it.

Now I am even considering a Dell XPS1330. Small and lightweight, with relatively powerful graphics (GeForce Go 8600GS 128MB) and a LED-lit ultralight screen. Dell really hit the bull's eye on that one. It will be a college / grad school favorite.

rhema83 wrote:

xtr wrote:

Not sure I understand your thinking-you didn't go with the 14.1" T61p because it only offers 128MB of video ram, so instead you consider a Dell that has the same amount of video ram? The 128MB of video ram is more than adequate for the 1400x1050 resolution of the 14.1" screen, although I guess that maybe the GeForce 8600GS might be a bit more powerful than the Nvidia Quadro 570M.

whizkid wrote:A 15.4" screen is bigger and heavier. Many consider those bad qualities in a laptop.

When I see a 15,4 inch laptop, I can't help thinking about an aircraft carrier !

Eric Giles wrote:Not sure I understand your thinking-you didn't go with the 14.1" T61p because it only offers 128MB of video ram, so instead you consider a Dell that has the same amount of video ram? The 128MB of video ram is more than adequate for the 1400x1050 resolution of the 14.1" screen, although I guess that maybe the GeForce 8600GS might be a bit more powerful than the Nvidia Quadro 570M.

My rationale is power-to-weight ratio. When two computers are comparable in every other way, weight becomes paramount. That is especially true for those of us who are getting tired of carrying 5-lb T42's.

T61p:
Quadro FX 570M 128MB
14.1" 1400x1050
3DMark2006 - ?
5.6 lbs

XPS M1330:
GeForce Go 8400 GS 128MB (not 8600, my mistake)
13.3" 1280x800
3DMark2006 - 1408
4.0 lbs

Clearly, the Quadro is optimized for 3D CAD work and the GeForce Go is optimized for multimedia and gaming. It may not be fair to compare their 3DMark2006 results. Assuming (might be a bad one) that the graphics power are comparable, with the Dell, I am getting the same power in a smaller form factor that I can take with me and comfortably fit on my coach class airline tray table, on my lab bench and in my arms when I'm out in the field.

Honestly, I don't like Dell at all due to previous bad experience. However the XPS M1330 is a huge leap forward. The only other comparable laptop is a Sony SZ640, which costs much more.

Let's get back on topic... Any chance the 570M will be released on 14.1" with 256MB?

Gotcha-now it makes sense to me, and I can definitely understand the power to weight issue. People have been talking highly of that particular Dell model, but my personal experience with Dell laptops in general has not been that great.

rhema83 wrote:

Eric Giles wrote:

More then 77% in 3D power and you also forget that Dell got a crappy small 1280x800 desktop while T61p is 1400x1050 so +43,5% working space. Quadro NVS 140m have the same power then GeForce 8400m GS.

Also 3D Mark 2006 must be run in 1280x1024 witich is NOT possible with XPS M1330. Running it in only 1280x800 leads to compute nearly 22% pixels less !!!

Vali wrote:(...)
For CAD you need your laptop to go somewhere give a presentation, fix something, the real work is in the office with 2x22" in front of you.
(...)

I then hope you mean two 22" CRT?

Pascal_TTH wrote: More then 77% in 3D power and you also forget that Dell got a crappy small 1280x800 desktop while T61p is 1400x1050 so +43,5% working space. Quadro NVS 140m have the same power then GeForce 8400m GS.

Also 3D Mark 2006 must be run in 1280x1024 witich is NOT possible with XPS M1330. Running it in only 1280x800 leads to compute nearly 22% pixels less !!!

Care to explain more on the 77%?

Are you sure that the NVS 140M is comparable to the 8400M GS? If they are, then I should stop looking at get the 14.1" T61p since the FX 570M is supposed to be much faster than the NVS!

The working space is a tradeoff with weight, as we have discussed before. I could live with a smaller screen out in the field, and dock the laptop to two big LCD screens in my office.

rhema83 wrote:Dell really hit the bull's eye on that one.

Dell has been putting a lot more thought into their laptop designs in the last year or two, especially their Latitude and XPS lines (I've noticed less dramatic improvements in the Inspiron line). I guess after being bumped to 2nd place by HP, Dell started working harder at improving their laptop quality.

Those of you who had bad lucky with Dell laptops a few years ago should give them another chance.

rhema83 wrote:

Eric Giles wrote:

I get that same 3DMark06 score on my 140M (~1400) so I think the 570M will be a bit higher

rhema83 wrote: Let's get back on topic... Any chance the 570M will be released on 14.1" with 256MB?

Same question here.

3dmark06 on a 128mb 570 puts out ~2300 3d marks.