Wireless reception is better on T41 than X60s..

[kim.weller]

I work in an IT department and we currently have about 75 laptops, 99% of them are Dells and most of them are have Intel wireless cards. I always thought that Intel or 3Com cards were good and I knew some Cisco cards were good although quite expensive.

This is the 1st ThinkPad I have ever owned and I was really surprised at how strong the wireless card is in this laptop. It is an Atheros and it is the best wireless card that I have ever used by far! I will definitely be trying out Atheros cards from now on. I have had instances where this card is getting 85% to 95% signal strenght and a laptop sitting right next to it is getting maybe 30%.

I am relly pleased with this laptop overall. I would have to say that this is the best laptop that I have ever used.

X60s 1704-69U
2 Gig ram
100 Gig HD
Verizon WWAN

Kim Weler

[asiafish]

ThinkPads tend to make converts out of users of other brands. Likewise, X-series ThinkPads tend to make converts out of users of other (larger) ThinkPads.

[snife]

The wireless antennas in thinkpads are generally better than any other notebook so the atheros card works great.

I have been testing the Intel cards though and there are some major stength issues (upto 60% lower than the atheros card in all *60 systems) - I would imagine that this is an Intel driver issue as drivers have never been the one of companies strong point.

[adam1314]

WLAN card from Atheros are much better than that from intel. Not only the signal but also the design. there is only one disadvantage that it always generates more hot.

[SkiBunny]

My X60 and T41 perform the same for WiFi.

They all have Atheros.

Atheros offers stronger and more reliable reception, but it does get hot on the X (not on the T however).

It seems counterproductive to get a low voltage X60s with an Atheros, because the Atheros really heats up the X laptop and draws more power, so the slight advantage of the low processor in terms of heat is lost/overwhelmed by the choice of WiFi.

So i think if you go for a low voltage processor, you'd want the intel coupled with an L-processor on the X60s.
Else for performance, get the stronger Atheros and the faster T2400 on the X60.

[asiafish]

Not necessarily. When I use wifi on my X41 its usually not the same time as when I try to squeeze out maximum battery life.

Two examples for me are transpacific flights (no internet anyway, just want long runtime) and legal seminars, where if I do need wifi, it will only be on for a few minutes at a time.

In both of those situations, I mainly want super-long runtimes, dim the screen as far as I can tollerate and slow the processor as much as I can. Intel and Atheros use the exact same amount of power when turned off, NONE!

[SkiBunny]

Not necessarily. When I use wifi on my X41 its usually not the same time as when I try to squeeze out maximum battery life.

Two examples for me are transpacific flights (no internet anyway, just want long runtime)

yeah but watching the dvd runs down the battery equally fast all x machines.

I think those days of flights with a laptop are very limited. In fact thinkpads are in the process right now of being banned from some airlines because of the two fires recently. It's only a matter of time before all laptops are banned on all flights.

[lev]

I think those days of flights with a laptop are very limited. In fact thinkpads are in the process right now of being banned from some airlines because of the two fires recently. It's only a matter of time before all laptops are banned on all flights.

Or airlines could just install the in-flight power sockets for all seats on all flights. Most airlines have them available in business/first, and many non-US airlines have them available for all seats on longer-haul flights. It's not an especially expensive retrofit for most aircraft, and then you'd avoid the problems with the lithium batteries.

Lev

[SkiBunny]

hmm... i suspect what they will do is charge a FEE to power the electrical outlet at your seat.

[asiafish]

Well with any luck, business travelers will vote with their wallets for airlines that don't make them leave laptop batteries behind. I'll pay more to fly on an airline that allows me to choose my own in-flight activities.

[ds]

Swapped the Intel 3945ABG to Atheros ThinkPad a/b/g adapter. The Intel adapter runs cooler but the Atheros has much better reception and "feels" faster.

For those interested. the IBM part number is:
39T5578 OR 41a4070

The card was $15 plus shipping. Pretty cheap if you ask me.