X60s Review

[fbrdphreak]

http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/detail.php?id=127

Who can argue with 8-9 hours of battery life, dual core, and 3.46lbs? I decided the screen size isn't right for me though, maybe a Z61t WXGA+ will fit the bill

[lophiomys]

Interesting that the std/slim 4cell battery is repored to give power
for only about 3h.
http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/deta ... 2e3&page=5

I was considering to get a X60s, but what prevents me from
buying it right away is, that
IMO there is room for improvement on the std battery of the X60s.
From a low voltage laptop I would expect more battery live
than from my R51 (in the std configuration for both of them).
I dont want to buy an ultra mobile laptop for a premium price
with vulnerable or clumsy batteries sticking out at the back
or the bottom in order to get more than 3h.

[thibouille27]

It is because most X60s come with the slim battery but you can order some with the Normal 4cells battery (4 hours) or directly with the 8cells battery (8hours).

You can only choose

[lophiomys]

OK one can choose.
My point simply was, that I personally do not want basic parts, like a battery,
sticking out of an expensive ultra-mobile unit. I just would want
significantly more battery life with the std/slim battery, which as
the only option fits the outher casing. Just by (esthetic) principle,
especially in relation to the premium price.

http://www5.pc.ibm.com/at/products.nsf/ ... enDocument
Original equipment specifications for correct fit and capabilities:
- The 4 Cell Slim Line Battery conforms to the exact shape (footprint)
of Thinkpad X60 Series notebooks. The 4 Cell Enhanced
Capacity Battery provides longer computing time than the Slim Line
Battery, but is larger and extends beyond the rear of the notebook

[gandini]

I ordered my x60s with all the batteries: the slim 4 cell (about 3 hours), the super 8 cell (about 7 hours ) and the extended under-carriage battery (about 3 hours). It's a bit of a monster with the 8 + under battery, but it seems to last forever and is still compact and much lighter than any other laptop I've ever seen.
But as said, Lenovo gives you many choices. Btw, the slim 4 cell is pretty small, so I'm not surprised it only gives 3 hours life.

cheers,

[fbrdphreak]

I understand wanting more out of the standard battery, but its all about space. The larger the battery, the more run time you can get. Battery technology is not moving anywhere near as quickly as computing technology, so we're relying more on computers becoming more power thrifty than we are battery power density increasing.

Dell's Latitude X1 weighs a bit above 2.5lbs, with the 3-cell battery that has 2400mAh capacity. Even with its 4800mAh 6-cell the battery life is pretty atrocious on it for an ultraportable, 3-4 hours.

Dell just introduced its D420 ultraportable claiming 7 hours of battery life; but that's using a ULV Core Solo. Slower performance, 1.8" hard drive, and no optical as well. I didn't read the dimensions, but I doubt it is noticeably smaller than an X60s. I just don't think you can beat the X60s right now...hence why I gave it the Editor's Choice

EDIT Maybe if Lenovo hasn't locked the BIOS down tight (which they likely have), you can put a ULV Core Duo in there
Personally I'd love to put a LV L2400 in a T60 or Z61t *drool*

[smvp6459]

From a low voltage laptop I would expect more battery live
than from my R51 (in the std configuration for both of them).

I have two questions:
How many cells are in your R51's battery?
How much does your R51 weigh with the battery?

[EDIT]
The Answers:
6 cells are in the R51's smallest battery.
The lighteset R51 configuration is 6.1 pounds.

[sugo]

Looking forward to a Merom LV X61s with 10 hours battery life from an 8 cell ...

[snife]

Great review - my only complaint is your emphasis on the lack of a touchpad - that is not a negative point of the machine, anyone using a touchpad needs to be assimilated by the TrackPoint and realise that with a bit of practice will speed up laptop usage no end (UltraNav is the collective name for both TrackPoint and touchpad btw). I don't know anyone who gave the TrackPoint a fair chance and preferred the touchpad and I always have a little giggle when I see all the touchpad users bring out their USB mice.

I don't know how folks can complain about the battery life on the X60 at all - you are given all the options you could possibly ask for so you can decide what you need. A 4 cell battery will be one size and give a certain battery life, an 8 cell battery will be another size and give more battery life - there is no getting round this with current battery technology but the way the X60 has been designed gives you the choice. I would personally use the the 4 cell and carry a spare 4 cell but I don't think the 8 cell could be described as unsightly when on the system.

[thibouille27]

Absolutely.
The only drawback of the Trackpoint is when I have to select pultiple e.g. icons, it is not as natural as on a touchpad.

Except that.. it is far better. Even WOW plays very nice with my Trackpoint.

[archer6]

From a low voltage laptop I would expect more battery livethan from my R51 (in the std configuration for both of them).

I dont want to buy an ultra mobile laptop for a premium price
with vulnerable or clumsy batteries sticking out at the back
or the bottom in order to get more than 3h.

Comparing the R51 vs. X60s is like comparing a Hummer to a Porsche. Yes they both have 4 wheels but that is where the similarity ends.

The price factor proves the X60s to be less expensive as compared to the competition. ThinkPads have a proven track record of excellence. Dell and the others are precarious at best. Taking into consideration the lifespan of the X series, and amortize the price over that timeline and suddenly the X60s becomes a bargain.

I have all three batteries for my X60s and find that they each return very good run time. They fit well and the protrusion of the longer life batteries is modest. The computer remains well balanced no matter which battery is in place.

Overall a very high quality, well engineered notebook computer....

[christopher_wolf]

From a low voltage laptop I would expect more battery livethan from my R51 (in the std configuration for both of them).

I dont want to buy an ultra mobile laptop for a premium price
with vulnerable or clumsy batteries sticking out at the back
or the bottom in order to get more than 3h.

Comparing the R51 vs. X60s is like comparing a Hummer to a Porsche. Yes they both have 4 wheels but that is where the similarity ends.

The price factor proves the X60s to be less expensive as compared to the competition. ThinkPads have a proven track record of excellence. Dell and the others are precarious at best. Taking into consideration the lifespan of the X series, and amortize the price over that timeline and suddenly the X60s becomes a bargain.

I have all three batteries for my X60s and find that they each return very good run time. They fit well and the protrusion of the longer life batteries is modest. The computer remains well balanced no matter which battery is in place.

Overall a very high quality, well engineered notebook computer....

But you forgot the main factor of all of this; the jealously of the Hummer driver when the Porsche smokes him from a standstill at a stoplight and keeps going.

[christopher_wolf]

From a low voltage laptop I would expect more battery livethan from my R51 (in the std configuration for both of them).

I dont want to buy an ultra mobile laptop for a premium price
with vulnerable or clumsy batteries sticking out at the back
or the bottom in order to get more than 3h.

Comparing the R51 vs. X60s is like comparing a Hummer to a Porsche. Yes they both have 4 wheels but that is where the similarity ends.

The price factor proves the X60s to be less expensive as compared to the competition. ThinkPads have a proven track record of excellence. Dell and the others are precarious at best. Taking into consideration the lifespan of the X series, and amortize the price over that timeline and suddenly the X60s becomes a bargain.

I have all three batteries for my X60s and find that they each return very good run time. They fit well and the protrusion of the longer life batteries is modest. The computer remains well balanced no matter which battery is in place.

Overall a very high quality, well engineered notebook computer....

But you forgot the main factor of all of this; the jealously of the Hummer driver when the Porsche smokes him from a standstill at a stoplight and keeps going (8-cell or no 8-cell).

[archer6]

Comparing the R51 vs. X60s is like comparing a Hummer to a Porsche. Yes they both have 4 wheels but that is where the similarity ends.

The price factor proves the X60s to be less expensive as compared to the competition. ThinkPads have a proven track record of excellence. Dell and the others are precarious at best. Taking into consideration the lifespan of the X series, and amortize the price over that timeline and suddenly the X60s becomes a bargain.

I have all three batteries for my X60s and find that they each return very good run time. They fit well and the protrusion of the longer life batteries is modest. The computer remains well balanced no matter which battery is in place.

Overall a very high quality, well engineered notebook computer....

But you forgot the main factor of all of this; the jealously of the Hummer driver when the Porsche smokes him from a standstill at a stoplight and keeps going (8-cell or no 8-cell).

Especially since the Hummer has room for more batteries than the Porsche...

[lophiomys]

As this thread seems to drift into directions quite
distant from my original intentions, coming back to
my point of comparing my R51 to an X60s.
My reasoning is concerning battery live only:

The "old" R51 has compared to the "new X60s"
* a more energy consuming CPU
* a more energy consuming 15" SXGA+/IPS screen
* a bigger 6-cell battery
... which results in about 3h battery life.

The X60s has
* a modern ultra low voltage CPU and design
* a smaller 12" XGA screen
* a smaller 4-cell std/slim battery
... which also results in about 3h battery life.

(I'm not comparing TCO or form factor here.)

IMO even with a smaller 4-cell battery, a new ULV design
should be more energy-efficient without specialist
batteries protuding, in the same way no Porsche owner
would accept exernally mounted auxiliary fuel tanks,
spoiling the outher esthetic appearance.

[lophiomys]

...comparing Hummer and Porsche ...

I'm impatiently awaiting the first Hummers and Porsches
"Made in China" .
SCNR

[thibouille27]

(I'm not comparing TCO or form factor here.)

Then you compare what shouldn't be compared. Period.

[lophiomys]

(I'm not comparing TCO or form factor here.)

Then you compare what shouldn't be compared. Period.

Why not!?
I'm just trying to to improve from my excellent R51 to an
even better X60s, for approx 3000 bugs incl. extras. And I
definitely do compare the features I'm interested in! Which
are battery life with std. form factor, the annoying Windows
Keys in the new keyboard(even no option kbd available),
and the heat in the right palm rest reported for some models.
Despite the mostly excellent features as layed out in the
OP's review, the before mentioned
are the grains of salt in an otherwise great package.

[Brave_turtle]

I'd say, if you don't think you won't be happy because of the reason above then don't buy it. You did your homework and you found out that x60s doesn't fit you.

But keep in mind that you are comparing a 14''+ to a 12'' which is totally unfair. You seem to forget about the ultraportability of the x60s when you compare it to the R51. Not only it is lighter and smaller, it is also faster. x60s is pretty much the best 12'' business notebook available right now. Many people who's been using it knows what I'm talking about.


As far as I know, there are no 12'' notebook right now that has a slim fitted battery with 8 hours like you wanted to have. Room for improvement you say?

There will always be room for improvement. But as long as you keep comparing apple and orange you are constantly going off track.

[thibouille27]

But keep in mind that you are comparing a 14''+ to a 12'' which is totally unfair. You seem to forget about the ultraportability of the x60s when you compare it to the R51. Not only it is lighter and smaller, it is also faster. x60s is pretty much the best 12'' business notebook available right now. Many people who's been using it knows what I'm talking about.


As far as I know, there are no 12'' notebook right now that has a slim fitted battery with 8 hours like you wanted to have. Room for improvement you say?

There will always be room for improvement. But as long as you keep comparing apple and orange you are constantly going off track.

Exactly, go get a T60p if you wanna play 3D or a Z61t. Ultraportability is no 3D. Or wait for R60. This is it.

[archer6]

x60s is pretty much the best 12'' business notebook available right now. Many people who's been using it knows what I'm talking about.

There will always be room for improvement. But as long as you keep comparing apple and orange you are constantly going off track.

Well said....

Perhaps that's why the comment in an earlier post here mentions "As this thread seems to drift into directions quite distant from my original intentions"
There is no continuity when one brings two dissimilar products to the table for "comparison". Therefore "drifting" is the byproduct.

[trentblase]

But you forgot the main factor of all of this; the jealously of the Hummer driver when the Porsche smokes him from a standstill at a stoplight and keeps going (8-cell or no 8-cell).

I think the OP is arguing that the Porche driver will be jealous when he can't follow the Hummer over a small stream. Not that the Porche driver would want to anyways, I mean he just waxed that thing!

[atlacatl]

Another review: http://www.josesandoval.com/2006/05/thi ... eview.html

[asiafish]

Flexibility in power does go a long way. I recently took my X32 to a legal conference and enjoyed 10+ hour battery life between the standard 6 cell and the auxiliary 4 cell undercarriage battery. WIth the screen dimmed and the processor set to slowest in IBM's power manager utility (I created a special ultra-long-life profile) I routinely get 10-12 hours from this combination, well above the 8 hours claimed by IBM.

If the X60s can be similarly slowed, it would make for the ultimate all-day outfit.

By the way, my X32 returned that awesome battery life with a 7200 RPM hard drive installed.