T6x Model Advice

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Shelby Griggs · #1 Post by **Shelby Griggs** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:29 pm

I am the owner of a T43 AND ThinkCentre A61 and use these PC's daily in my business. I now find my business in need of a second laptop AND I am about 99% sure it will be a NEW ThinkPad. The question of course is which one?

I have been perfectly happy with my T43, BUT of course I can't get another of those new, so I have been back here at the forum trying to sort though what is current. I do have the tabook and have skimmed over quite a few threads here, BUT am not a daily visitor here, so maybe the "regulars" can help me with a few questions and/or suggestions.

Question #1
Is the T60 still available OR am I only looking at T61's now?

Question #2
Are ALL ThinkPads glossy screens OR only if noted as VibrantView?

Question #3
My T43 has a standard 4×3 aspect ratio Flexview 1400X1050 display. I really am not a big wide screen fan, especially if it is glossy, to me it is like looking into a big mirror, too much glare and reflection. What is the "best" option to get something comparable to my existing T43 screen? I see I can get a 4X3 in a 14" version, BUT am concerned about the smaller screen size.

Any other key points to be aware of when looking at T6x models?

TIA

SHG

mgo · #2 Post by **mgo** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:26 pm

Shelby Griggs wrote:MOD Snipped

Not all screens are glossy. All of my ThinkPads have the non-glossy matte screen which I prefer.

T60s are good machines. Two of mine have fans that whine a bit, but TPFancontrol takes care of that. They do not run hot and are fast with 2 gig of RAM, even with Vista.

The keyboards are excellent. Ultra Bay is just excellent for a 2nd hard drive or DVD/CD unit. Due to hard drive passwords, I always turn off my machines when swapping ultra bay devices. There will be file corruption in the ultra bay hdd if I do not do that. Small matter, the machines boot up quickly anyway.

The machines run warm, but not hot. Can be used on lap without roasting that "vital family equipment".

Shelby Griggs · #3 Post by **Shelby Griggs** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:35 pm

No all screens are glossy. All of my ThinkPads have the non-glossy matte screen which I prefer.

Did you mean to say "Not all screens....."?

SHG

mgo · #4 Post by **mgo** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:46 pm

Shelby Griggs wrote:
No all screens are glossy. All of my ThinkPads have the non-glossy matte screen which I prefer.
Did you mean to say "Not all screens....."?

SHG

Correction made...thanks...

Padhead · #5 Post by **Padhead** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:19 pm

There are plenty of T60's left on the Market, Lenovo resellers and in the Lenovo outlet.

The T61 isn't just a faster verison of the T60. It has much faster and modern processor and chipset. I'd go that route if the couple hundred bucks doesn't really matter to you.

I was on the Lenovo site today. There were non-wide and wide 14" screens available, however I didn't see any non-wide XGA availalble. Which sucks for me because I prefer Non wide, since I have one blind eye, and I prefer XGA because my other eye's vision sucks.

I have never seen a glossy screened thinkpad. But, I only use T series.

Whatever you get, be sure to get at least 2GB RAM, preferably 3GB or higher for VISta

At least 4MB of L2 cache on the processor.

The fingerprint reader is cool since I don't have to remember all my passwords.

DVD RW is a must have these days.

Buy docking stations, extra batteries, spare power suplies, and the like on this site to save money.

7200RPM hard drives make a world of difference.

Intel Turbo RAM isn't worth much at this point since apps haven't been written to use it, but if you are going to keep it for a few years and migrate to Vista it might be worth it.

If you have never used SXGA or UXGA, you should go demo one (any brand ) first. The fonts are much much smaller.

And of course, everyone knows that Vista STILL sucks, I'd stick with XP.

Troels · #6 Post by **Troels** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:33 pm

Shelby Griggs wrote:MOD EDIT: Trim down your quoting, please

1) It may still be available, but usually only a few select T60 models are available from the Lenovo Outlet either as new or refurbished.

2)
Otherwise, as Mgo pointed out, not all screens are glossy - infact only certain R61i models have a glossy screen, at least possible to configure one with Vibrantview, but also the normal non-glossy is available.

3) Touchy subject. I'd say you've been spoiled by what you have now - everything you can get now is a downgrade in viewing angles, color rendition, and light homogenity. The latter problem is a hit-or-miss deal.
While flexviews don't substitute for a good external LCD (i.e. not gaming lcds), they do what they're supposed to do fine. Afterall, it's a laptop lcd.
So ideally a T60 and T60p with a flexview would substitute for what you have now. The 14.1" have a below average contrast ratio - some are very sensitive to this, others are not.

Other key points hmm - well, there's not much to say i think. If you have a port rep/dock or power supplies from the T43, they will not work with the T6x series.

Shelby Griggs · #7 Post by **Shelby Griggs** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:22 pm

All good comments. I went to the local Office Depot, they had two Lenovo machines, a R61i and a Y510, BOTH widescreen glossy displays. Glad to hear I don't have to go that route.

I will probably end up with a wide screen, going to be hard to go to a 14" after using the 15" for three years, AND it doesn't appear that I can get a NON wide screen 15" machine.

My T43 is SXGA+ so I am used to that type of resolution.

Lenovo shows the SXGA+ (4:3) screen as 1400X1050 and the WSXGA+ (16:9) screen as 1680X1050. The math works on the SXGA+ numbers BUT not on the WSXGA+ numbers. What am I missing? What is the resolution on the WSXGA+ screen?

I currently have most of the other options mentioned in the T43, will stick with XP, fingerprint reader, DVD writer etc. In the new ThinkPad.

One thing I am not sure about is the wireless, three choices, any preference?

Amazingly, I can configure a new T61 for about 1/2 of what I paid for the T43 in late 2005! Is the price of plastic that much less? LOL!

Padhead · #8 Post by **Padhead** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:37 pm

Regarding the disparity between sxga and the wsxga, the larger number is just the larger number of pixels. The resolution is the same. I might be misquoting the exact facts here, but you get the drift. They are both "SXGA" sized fonts and "resolution" albiet I might be using the wrong wording.

I'd go with the Thinkpad branded wifi card. They are often OEM'ed from Atheros which is better for reception and stability, but might use an extra 5 10 mins of battery life.

Be sure to pay attention to which processor that you are configuring.

Troels · #9 Post by **Troels** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:14 pm

Shelby Griggs wrote:Lenovo shows the SXGA+ (4:3) screen as 1400X1050 and the WSXGA+ (16:9) screen as 1680X1050. The math works on the SXGA+ numbers BUT not on the WSXGA+ numbers. What am I missing? What is the resolution on the WSXGA+ screen?

The missing link is that computer displays and laptop displays are either 4:3 (conventional) or 16:10 (widescreen). 16:9 is for TVs only, where the format was based on the proportioning the screen in relation to the eye field of view. 16:10 was probably chosen because of optimization in the LCD industry, because it probably just matches with the size of the larger lcd substrate, which is cut out into smaller sizes (15.4", 17" WS and so on).

On the other hand, TVs requires a large substrate because they are so large, so it's more affordable to make them in custom sizes, so 16:9 sizes is possible to get here.

Shelby Griggs · #10 Post by **Shelby Griggs** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:41 pm

Troels,

Thank you, very nice explanation, I was using the 16:9 ratio as that is what Lenovo lists on their web site. I learned something new today!

SHG

Shelby Griggs · #11 Post by **Shelby Griggs** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:38 pm

I have been reading reviews (mostly to see actual photos) of the T61. ALL have been of the 14" wide screen model which has the display offset in the frame.

Question:

Is that ONLY on 14" models OR ONLY on 14" WS models?

I have to say that based on "looks" my old T43 looks better, BUT I am a guy that likes everything to be square and symmetrical, I have been known to "plumb" the Christmas tree using a plumb bob, LOL.

The offset display aside, I am still trying to decide on 14" 4:3 or 15" 16:10 AND can make arguments for both, WITH the restocking charge these days I don't want to have to return a machine AND I can't view both side by side before I buy.

I want to order before the 17th of March when the current sale expires, PLUS I can get an AMEX discount AND a 10% e-coupon for a total savings of around $800, going to have to make up my mind soon!

SHG

Troels · #12 Post by **Troels** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:30 pm

Bad news, i'm afraid. All T61/T61p variants, either 14" 16:10 or 4:3, AND 15.4" 16:10 are asymmetric.
There also was a slight assymetry on T4x and T60, but not by very much (one mm or so)

Some say this really isn't a big deal, but that doesn't help in explaining why these changes must be done. In product phychology, the user is more interested in simple looking products which also includes symmetry. That's part of why Apple are as succesful as they are.

The X300 does look like it has a more symmetrical looking design, maybe that was something to consider?
But.. well, it's quite a bit more expensive than the T61.

pianowizard · #13 Post by **pianowizard** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:15 pm

Troels wrote:The missing link is that computer displays and laptop displays are either 4:3 (conventional) or 16:10 (widescreen). 16:9 is for TVs only

Actually, the Sony TZ series has an 11.1" 16:9 display, with 1366x768 resolution.

Padhead · #14 Post by **Padhead** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:12 pm

Looking for a thinkpads only , does the sony have a keyboard light?

Troels · #15 Post by **Troels** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:02 pm

pianowizard wrote:Actually, the Sony TZ series has an 11.1" 16:9 display, with 1366x768 resolution.

Yes you're right... I just found out today that Acer (eww) is releasing a 16" and 18.4" WS notebook in 16:9, the 18.4" which might be used is available with a 90% of NTSC color chromaticity reproduction according to Samsungs LCD pages:

..
But still a far cry from being portable

Shelby Griggs · #16 Post by **Shelby Griggs** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:21 am

I ordered a T61 (6459CTO) 15.4" WSXGA+ loaded with about everything.

For some reason 6459 doesn't show up in the TABOOK, but that is what the online Lenovo shopping cart shows as a part number?

Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 (2.5Ghz)
15.4" WSXGA+
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M (128Mb)
2 Gb PC2-5300 DDR2 667Mhz (single DIMM)
160Gb ATA 7200 RPM Drive
DVD Burner
Intel wireless 4965AGN
Bluetooth
3 year warranty
2nd removable hard drive (same as main)
Additional AC/DC adapter for truck
Leather carrying case

$1671 delivered.

I appreciate all of the input, the darned display size was the hardest choice, it would of been a no brainer had a 15" 4:3 display been available

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