X61t, still running like a charm

[Hurstbridge]

Somehow its incredible that these things still run so smoothly.

I bought my 7762 secondhand a couple of years ago. Upgraded it to 6gb ram and a Samsung 840 Pro SSD w/ Middleton bios, and got a new 8-cell battery off E-bay. With Windows 7 64-bit and an Adblocker extension in Chrome, it works perfectly for all my office needs. I've got a 4:3 screen, a a solid laptop, and a proper keyboard.

Just took it apart yesterday and replaced the fan, as it was dying. With a few tweaks, I expect it to use it for the next couple of years as well.

The only thing I am missing sometimes is a brigther screen, so that I would also be able to properly work outside in summer as well, but as far as I can tell, my monitor is a 185 nits monitor, so it doesn't get much better than this

[loyukfai]

The stock screen comes with CCFL backlight which dims gradually. You may replace the complete module (easier) or just the backlight (harder). There's also a LED backlight mod somewhere here, IIRC.

Mine is still okay though, IMO.

Cheers.

[WillAdams]

I've been pretty pleased w/ mine, though I always get a bit sad when contemplating using it outdoors, compared to my Fujitsu Stylistic ST-4121 which has a transflective, truly outdoor-viewable display.

Not that thrilled w/ the performance, currently using Vista 32-bit (Business if it makes a difference) w/ just 2GB --- wonder if upgrading to 3GB would help?

[axur-delmeria]

There's also a LED backlight mod somewhere here, IIRC.

That particular mod is difficult because the LED driver circuit was created by the modder himself.
Replicating it is difficult without a fair amount of skill in electronics.

Not that thrilled w/ the performance, currently using Vista 32-bit (Business if it makes a difference) w/ just 2GB --- wonder if upgrading to 3GB would help?

2GB is enough for basic use when running Vista, but more RAM is always better.

Upgrading to SSD is the real game-changer when it comes to speeding up a computer IMO.

[Cigarguy]

Yep, very happy with my T61 tablets. Upgraded all of mine to a SSD and 4 GB of RAM.

[WillAdams]

2GB is enough for basic use when running Vista, but more RAM is always better.

Upgrading to SSD is the real game-changer when it comes to speeding up a computer IMO.

Yep.

Did get an SSD and still contemplating the Middleton BIOS.

[pianowizard]

Not that thrilled w/ the performance, currently using Vista 32-bit (Business if it makes a difference) w/ just 2GB --- wonder if upgrading to 3GB would help?

This brings back some "fond" memories. I bought an X61 tablet in Dec 2007, brand new from Lenovo. It was 7764CTO, with 1.6GHz Core2 Duo L7500LV, 1GB RAM, an 80GB 5400rpm HDD, and the SXGA+ screen. Vista Business was impossibly slow on this thing. I powered it up literally just several times, and each time it was virtually unusable. Further, the grainy appearance of the screen bothered me, and I disliked the fact that even with the small battery, this "ultraportable" laptop weighed a whopping 3.84 lbs (yes, I weighed it, as I always do). I sold it just a couple weeks later, having used it (well, TRIED to use it) for no more than an hour total. After this experience, I avoided Vista like the plague for over 3 years, and also haven't bought any Thinkpad that's newer than the X61t.

But now, in 2014, Vista with all the updates should run very well on the X61t, especially if the RAM has been maxed out and if the HDD is 7200rpm or SSD. Nevertheless, I would never buy an X61t again. This and all other tablet-style laptops are simply way too heavy. It's no surprise that no matter how hard Microsoft pushed these devices, they never caught on.

[WillAdams]

Yeah, that's the other failing in comparison to the Stylistic, which is a slate.

It also won't fit in the leather envelope which I keep my machine in my laptop bag in.