x60s questions

[richarddd]

Do I understand correctly that an x60s would be much faster than an x31 with a 1.4 ghz processor?

Would the x60s run hotter than the x31?

Which is a better wireless card, the thinkpad a/b/g or the intel version?

If I wanted very low weight for day to day use and long battery life for travel, would I get a 4 cell slimline and an 8 cell high capacity battery?

Anything I should know about replacing an x31 with an x60s?

[pianowizard]

"Yes" to questions #1, 2 and 4. I'll leave #3 and 5 to others.

[EOMtp]

Which is a better wireless card, the thinkpad a/b/g or the intel version?

The unequivocal answer is that the Thinkpad a/b/g card is better IF by "better" one means greater sensitivity and more reliable connectivity to access points which are not within 10 feet of the Thinkpad.

[torgo]

I have both an X31 and an X60 (not the "s", but it is very similar--just a bit thicker and available with higher speed processors).

SPEED- Yes, the processors available for the X60s are faster than the X31. What do you use your laptop for? Depending on what you use the laptop for you may not notice a big speed increase between the two, but processor intensive tasks should be much quicker.

If the best overall performance is of concern to you then you'll want to make sure you have plenty of RAM and one of the 7200 RPM hard drives. If you're willing to go for a bit more weight, then the X60 (non "s") has faster processors available and ends up being about the same size and weight than the X31. (I can explain the differences in weight/size or show you comparison pictures of the X31 vs the X60 if that would be helpful).

Also, I haven't tested it, but the X31 might have better graphics performance because of the ATI mobility chipset. Anybody know for sure?

HEAT- Most folks around here will say the X60 is hotter. I don't think so. The processor heat seems to be better vented with my X60, plus if you are getting the X60s, you'll have the low voltage processor in there which runs cooler under load than your X31's processor would have (TDP of 15 watts vs 22 watts).

The right palm rest is an area that some people report getting too hot when using WiFi. Mine does not. See this thread where Ken Fox did some great testing. At first he received one that got uncomfortably warm, but the replacement shipped to him was better. His card is the Intel a/b/g. Mine is the Thikpad (Atheros) a/b/g/n.

WIFI CARD- I haven't seen objective measurements, but the consensus seems to be that the Atheros is better. An Atheros a/b/g/n card is also available (draft n anyway), and that has worked well for me. It seems more reliable than the Samsung (?) a/b card in my X31.

WEIGHT- Sounds like a fine plan if the 4-cell slim provides enough power for your day-to-day use. If weight is your primary concern, you could go with the ultralight screen (only available on the X60s) which is also brighter than the standard screen. I don't know how if affects battery life.

OTHER- The X60 and X31 are quite similar machines and I'm happy with both of them--the biggest plus of the X60 for me is the integrated WWAN and core duo processors.

[thibouille27]

Too soon to say how reliable my Thinkpad a/b/g adapter is.
Sure is: it is MUCH more sensible. Just no comparison even possible. And it is compatible with OSX

[pimlottc]

When you say the Atheros wifi card, do you mean the "Thinkpad" (non-Intel) one?

According to the customizations page, it's just a/b/g card. I don't see an option for an a/b/g/n card, where do you find that?

[thibouille27]

Mine is a/b/g card (Thinkpad a/b/g based on Atheros chipset) but an a/b/g/n version exists as well.

Was horrible price to pay as FRU part so I decided to get the a/b/g instead.

[rek]

I've recently (in the last month or so) upgraded from a PM 1.4Ghz X31, to a Core Duo 1.66GHz X60s. I'm happy to say that they (both of them) have been the two best ThinkPads I've ever owned

Do I understand correctly that an x60s would be much faster than an x31 with a 1.4 ghz processor?

Yes, definitely, especially if you tend to multitask fairly actively (i.e. have more than one program actually doing something at once)

In general replying-to-email, browsing the web type tasks, there is little difference. (Perhaps the only one being that Flash-heavy web pages don't affect system responsiveness on the X60s, like they sometimes did on the X31)

Would the x60s run hotter than the x31?

I never compared temperatures, but the fan does seem to turn on more often. With the X31, the fan never turned on unless it was pegged on 100% CPU for an extended period of time. With the X60s on AC, the fan does occasionally turn onto its lowest state (which is quieter than the hard drive)

I found out the hard way the fan behaviour is different when on an UltraBase -- when the fan is needed, it goes straight to a louder fan state. So if quiet computing is a priority do not buy an Ultrabase. (The other X models may well do the same thing when they are docked in an Ultrabase, I don't know -- I never had one with my X31, and only used it with an A/R/T/X series Port Replicator.)

Which is a better wireless card, the thinkpad a/b/g or the intel version?

I have the Intel one in my X60s which works just fine, but I have heard pretty much unaminously that the Atheros (ThinkPad) one is the better card. Better reception, more compatible with non-Windows OSes, and the like.

If I wanted very low weight for day to day use and long battery life for travel, would I get a 4 cell slimline and an 8 cell high capacity battery?

Following threads here about batteries, that seems to be the sweet-spot that many have chosen.

I have just an 8-cell battery at the moment, and it does provide long battery life; but it makes the the laptop feel unbalanced (the rear is much heavier than the front).

I have ordered a 4-cell slim battery and once it arrives, I'm not sure if I'll end up keeping the 8-cell.

Anything I should know about replacing an x31 with an x60s?

I assume you love the X31 (mine was a fantastic little machine) and you might have a feeling in the back of your head saying the X60s may not be quite as good in some aspect or another. Don't worry, the X60s is a nice (and significant) incremental step in every metric, with no drawbacks

The ONLY bug-bear I have with the X60 series is that the only true docking option available is the Ultrabase; unlike the X31, which could use any A/R/T/X series docking system or port replicator. If it wasn't for the Ultrabase fan thing, I wouldn't even bother bringing this up though.

[torgo]

When you say the Atheros wifi card, do you mean the "Thinkpad" (non-Intel) one?

According to the customizations page, it's just a/b/g card. I don't see an option for an a/b/g/n card, where do you find that?

Yes, the "ThinkPad a/b/g" and the "ThinkPad a/b/g/n" both use Atheros chipsets in it and those are the ones I'm referring to. The IBM tabook document lists all the options that are available for the various ThinkPad models, whether or not they are listed on the website. You may have better luck calling Lenovo when ordering if you don't see it on the website. The "ThinkPad a/b/g/n" card cost $25.50 more to get than the "ThinkPad a/b/g" card when I ordered my X60 last month. As thibouille27 mentioned, if you don't order the a/b/g/n card right away it will cost a LOT more than $25 to upgrade to it later.

[richarddd]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful responses.

I do some amount of work with Photoshop and video processing software, which tend to be processor intensive. Faster is always better. I'd get at least 2gb RAM and a 5400 or possibly 7200 drive. Most day to day use is web browsing, email, MS office and the like.

Lighter weight would be good for day to day use and longer battery life would be helpful for travel, especially if power is not working on a long flight.

I have an Atheros a/b/g in my x31 and would get it for the x60s.

I'm very fond of the x31. I don't use a docking station.

I use a fan control program to keep the x31 cool. I can live with a touch of fan noise.

[pimlottc]

Mine is a/b/g card (Thinkpad a/b/g based on Atheros chipset) but an a/b/g/n version exists as well.

Do you have a part number for the a/b/g/n version? I can find the a/b/g part in accessories as 40Y7026 but not the a/b/g/n.

[sugo]

FRU 42T0825 for a/b/g/n atheros US