Thinkpads Forum

you cannot order a t61p with 14.1 SXGA+ on lenovo's website , i suppose that they will introduce W-series with 14.1wide 1440x900 in the near future.

oh yes, lenovo will be one of the last manufacturers discontinuing 4:3 LCD.

Yep, I saw that today too! I ordered mine with a 4x3 display 10 days ago and it was still available yesterday. I'm wondering if this is just a parts supply issue or if they truly are discontinuing the 4x3 format. Widescreen is great for watching movies on but the WWW and most productivity software is still probably better on 4x3.

Hmmm ... interesting. I am reading this on my T61p with 14 inch SXGA+ screen. ... JDH

I am looking forward to see what Lenovo has to offer to replace the current notebook line. It is unfortunate that the new W series is rumored to have 15.4" WS and 17" WS models. But the T series is going to have 14.1" WS models with 256MB or 512MB graphics. That's exciting!

En.....sounds that's a bad news for me, I don't think my eyes would get used to wide screens quite well.

EricRC wrote:

En.....sounds that's a bad news for me, I don't think my eyes would get used to wide screens quite well.

I second this. And it's not that I haven't tried...

So anyone upgrading to those fancy new WS machines, I'll gladly pay for shipping and rid you of any old, useless, decrepit IPS FlexView-equipped ThinkPad that you might have, at no charge, because I'm such an altruist...

If Lenovo really discontinued the 14' standard aspect ratio on the T series, then that's the end of the journey for me - my current T61 14" 4:3 will be my last IBM/Lenovo. Unless the X series keeps coming out in in standard... then it's an option for me - not as powerful machines, but nonetheless.

I don't use the laptop as a gaming rig nor do I use the machine as a personal "mobile movie theater" - so no need for Widescreen. I need and want a computer that is for business use, not a vogue or trendy statement. If I wanted that, I'd get a widescreen Mac or something silly like that.

well if i could get a 14" WSXGA+ i'd be EXTREMELY happy but i only see WXGA+ which is ok but the extra 150 pixels would come in handy. They have that in the 15.4 but that's too big for me. Normally i'm all about the 14" SXGA+ screen (since a T22 or and even a Dell Latitude C610 i had) It's my favorite resolution.

Can't really blame Lenovo though as all the rage these days is WS. I have a 55" Plasma and of-course it's WS and all that and i love it. It's partly that reason though why 4:3 screens are less and less produced. Assembly plants are all setup for WS glass cuts so they have to make special arrangements for SS.

So while i'm not so big into movies i like the hire resolution of my laptop compared to some of the TVs here so even just to watch a TV episode is nicer in WS (i hate black bars!!) hehe

I don't own any wide screen Thinkpads..don't like them. This is sad.

icantux wrote:

I need and want a computer that is for business use, not a vogue or trendy statement.

Very well put. I could see myself converting to a ToughBook if Lenovo ever decided to completely kill the 4:3 aspect...

ajkula66 wrote:Very well put. I could see myself converting to a ToughBook if Lenovo ever decided to completely kill the 4:3 aspect...

Maybe it's time to pick up a 4:3 T61 or T61p while they are still available at some places? I told my friends who are long time IBM users about this, and they were all dismayed that the good ol' 4:3 format is no more on the workstation models. Ouch.

I love my T42 14.1" SXGA+ display. Even my X61 12.1" XGA is not bad. Never liked widescreen laptops, although they are all the rage now, and are the lightest ones in the T series.

Latest discovery: 14.1" standard T61 is no longer available!

I don't like widescreen sither ... I find them very uncomfortable to use. I am not buying newer thinkpads if I can't get them in 4:3 ... the 14.1" SXGA+ is the best form factor to use and carry around.

Hope Lenovo will soon find out that stop producing 4:3 models is a wrong decision.
I'll keep my T60 with 14.1 SXGA+ as a classical collection rather than selling it if Lenovo no longer provide any 4:3 models in the future.

Oh brother it's the FlexView debacle all over again, but now taken to the next level...in plain English, unless you shop at the outlet, you can't buy a new 4:3 ThinkPad from Lenovo anymore...very, very scary...

Some of the machines that I had previously intended to dispose of have suddenly gotten a "not for sale" sign tonight...

Sometimes Lenovo takes a product off the site for a few hours or even days, for one reason or another. So I think it may be premature to conclude that Lenovo is discontinuing the 4:3 screen in the T6Xp series. At least, I hope so.

Like many here, I like the 4:3 SXGA+ screen because for me they are a good compromise between portability and a decent amount of screen real estate. I really like the height of the standard non wide 14" screen. The 14" WS's are just too short and the 15" WS's are a little bigger than I want to be lugging around, although I do like their screens. It will be a shame if they really are discontinuing the standard screen models.

very easy to understand that LCD 4:3 producer will discontinue 4:3 products, lenovo do not produce them so they cannot offer 4:3 lcd on their laptop excepting they can make 4:3 LCD themself .

is that true ?

lenovo not only discontinued T61p with 14.1 but also discontinued t61 with 14.1 4:3

incvn03 wrote:lenovo not only discontinued T61p with 14.1 but also discontinued t61 with 14.1 4:3

Too bad, it was the only one that was at least somewhat not-ugly.

When viewing text, the height of the screen determines how much of the page you can see.
The height of a widescreen (16:10) 14.1in screen is about that of a "standard" (4:3) 12.5in screen, and even the height of a widescreen 15.4in screen is a little less than that of a standard 14.1in screen.
If Lenovo has truly stopped selling standard screens, this will truly be the end of the road.
Fortunately, I've just bought a 14.1in SXGA+ T61 (with XP) to add to my two similar T42s.

This only good thing about this is that it will save me money because it will significantly reduce my interest in upgrading. I'm glad I got the 4:3 T61 when I did.

G

It's now been more than 48 hours since the original poster, and no return of a 14.1" T61p.

WHOA! The one arriving in the mail tomorrow might be the very last SXGA+ 4:3 14.1" T61p ever shipped!!

I agree with another poster, that unless either SXGA+ or better yet WSXGA+ returns on a 14" I will not be considering the T series anymore.

This could however be a cleaning of inventory in anticipation of the new T series in early June -- which is more than 6 weeks away -- and a sign of a slowing Thinkpad economy reflecting of the bad economy in general.

exTPfan wrote:When viewing text, the height of the screen determines how much of the page you can see.
The height of a widescreen (16:10) 14.1in screen is about that of a "standard" (4:3) 12.5in screen, and even the height of a widescreen 15.4in screen is a little less than that of a standard 14.1in screen.
If Lenovo has truly stopped selling standard screens, this will truly be the end of the road.
Fortunately, I've just bought a 14.1in SXGA+ T61 (with XP) to add to my two similar T42s.

Well not exactly but sorta... the LCD resolution is what matters most. A 12" X61T SXGA+ and a 14" SXGA+ will display the same amount of information, only difference is the 12" will have much smaller text to compensate. A 14.1" WS WSXGA+ will have the same vertical "space" as the 4:3 one but just about 220 more pixels wider. As of right now there isn't a WSXGA+ 14.1 screen so we're stuck with WXGA+ which is definitely better than the WXGA my GF has.

If it came down to it, i would be "OK" with a 14.1" WXGA+ but i certainly would bikker about it sometimes. HEHE

Sigh... I've always prefered the 4:3 models. Would have gotten the 14"1 4:3 if they didnt nerf the 3D performance... That was one of the worst move they made

I am glad I made my move to Vista when I did. The T61p is a smidgen larger than my T41, but the new power brick is not as wide as my 72-watt power brick. So the assembly (machine plus adapter) will still fit in my bag.

On another note (I am very bad for thread drift), my leather bag is somewhat unique, soft, pliable, and (most important), expandable as much as needed. It's eight years old and I am reluctant to give it up. I got a new handle for it in 2006 (custom made and to die for), and the same guy is putting on a new heavy-duty bead of leather on the front flap. So it will look great with that special patina that says it has been everywhere (and it has).

So getting a laptop that fits was very important. Widescreen T's are too wide for my bag.
... JDH

well i guess everyone got our pickings but is the 14.1 WS that much wider?

I couldn't find any pics after a quick search but i got this:

14.1" 4:3 Screen:
* Width: 313mm (12.3 in)
* Depth: 255mm (10.0 in)
* Height: 27.5-32.4mm (1.1 in to 1.3 in)
* Weight: Starting at 2.28 kg (5.0 lb)

14.1" 16:10 Screen:
* Width: 335.5 mm (13.2 in)
* Depth: 237 mm (9.3 in)
* Height: 30.0 to 34.9 mm (1.20 to 1.37 in)
* Weight: Starting at 2.4 kg (5.3 lb)

Granted i'm not saying those specs make it better but 1" bigger or smaller here and there.

(shocked tho to see it's starting off at .3lbs heavier, i thought they would be lighter somewhat)

jd, what bag do you have? I am curious to know

gator wrote:jd, what bag do you have? I am curious to know

I don't know. I saw it in a store, purchased it, and never wanted to give it up. All leather, front pocket for stuff, middle padded pocket, back pocket for papers, front flap that goes over the handle and buckles to the front. Magnetic latche (weak point).
... JDH

It would seem official:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/leno ... nkpad-t61/

jdhurst wrote: I don't know. I saw it in a store, purchased it, and never wanted to give it up. All leather, front pocket for stuff, middle padded pocket, back pocket for papers, front flap that goes over the handle and buckles to the front. Magnetic latche (weak point).

Aww. I have been looking for a good carrying case for my thinkpads but haven't found a satisfactory one yet. I have tried the thinkpad backpack (don't like backpacks anymore) and the nylon carrying case (very uncomfortable). I have read many posts where you talk about your bag and was hoping to have a peek.

I have been looking at some leather cases but most of the nice ones at out of my budget. I don't want to buy the college standards (though I am still in grad school) like crumpler/timbuk2/north face etc etc, they are not my style. I don't mind spending a little bit on a good bag, but I want a GOOD one. I'll keep looking ...

Sorry for the BIG thread drift.

Alas, I had to deal with this pain at the start of last year. Lenovo Australia had already axed 14.1" 4:3 screens from the T60p, then the T61p didn't even feature them. I called them over and over again, and despite being told on numerous occasions that widescreen was better for humanity, I eventually saw new T61s with 4:3 screens in the wild. Still, they would never give me my 4:3 T61p, and it made me very sad.

I think I may have cried.

On the bright side, having loathed the look of the T61p and having read too many stories suggesting that I dread owning one, I must say I'm more than pleasantly surprised. I have the 15.4" WUXGA T61p, and I love it to bits. Absolute bits. It's so purdy. A bit heavy, and has one irritating fault, but otherwise it's absolute gold. Wouldn't trade it for anything but a new T61p. Wouldn't trade it all actually, I'd frame it and put it on the wall.

Incidentally I bought three T43s just to satisfy the craving (don't ask... silliest $5k I ever spent).

I guess I'm saying it's not all bad. Sure they're not as pretty as their 4:3 counterparts, but they're still the best gosh darned laptops my money can buy. Gosh darn it.