x60 or x60s Please Help

[rval]

Hi,

I'm about to purchase either a x60 or x60s. Can you kindly help in my assessment?

1. How significant is the processing power improvement with the Core 2 Duo (x60) vs. the Core Duo (x60s)? Other than the usual MS office stuff, I plan to run Photoshop CS and who knows what other processor intensive apps in the future.

2. I'm getting the 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM). Would you do the same?

3. I'm looking to get the 100GB 7200rpm drive. Am I better off with the 120GB 5400rpm drive? How significant is the shorter battery life on a 7200rpm vs. the improvement in performance due to faster access time? Which would you get?

4. Wireless choice. There are two choices, Intel Pro Wireless and the ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe. Which one would you get and why?

5. What's the difference between Warranty and Protection? If I get the 'Protection Services' will that also cover warranty? Also, I travel overseas a lot and if someting goes wrong, I have to use the local country thinkpad service center. Am I wasting my money getting the Protection Services (I assume this only works in the US).

6. If I get the x60 and an 8 cell battery, am I correct that the weight is just 0.3 lbs more than an x60s with an 8 cell battery?

7. Final question. Am I correct that an x60 Core 2 Duo with 8 cell battery is just 30 minutes less in batt life than an x60s Core Duo also with an 8 cell battery?

If an x60 Core 2 Duo w/ an 8 cell batt delivers better performance and is JUST 0.3 lbs heavier and 30 minutes less in Batt life, then it looks like I'm better off with an X60. Do you agree?

Thanks for your advice and help.

[pianowizard]

Welcome to the forum!

2. I'm getting the 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM). Would you do the same?

I would just get the smallest RAM available and buy 2x1GB PC2-5300 from newegg.com or frys.com separately, to save money.

6. If I get the x60 and an 8 cell battery, am I correct that the weight is just 0.3 lbs more than an x60s with an 8 cell battery?

X60 with 8-cell = 3.61 lbs
X60s with Ultralight LCD and 8-cell = 3.26 lbs

If an x60 Core 2 Duo w/ an 8 cell batt delivers better performance and is JUST 0.3 lbs heavier and 30 minutes less in Batt life, then it looks like I'm better off with an X60. Do you agree?

I suspect that in real life, Core 2 Duo would only be barely faster than Core Duo and the difference may not be noticeable at all. I would definitely go for an X60s with the Ultralight LCD and 4-cell slim line battery, so that I have the brightest and lightest (2.69 lbs) Thinkpad ever made. The X60 LCD is dimmer and almost a full pound heavier.

[smvp6459]

2. I'm getting the 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM). Would you do the same?

Figure out if it's cheaper to buy it from someone else (and get the lowest amount of memory from Lenovo possible).

3. I'm looking to get the 100GB 7200rpm drive. Am I better off with the 120GB 5400rpm drive? How significant is the shorter battery life on a 7200rpm vs. the improvement in performance due to faster access time? Which would you get?

I prefer faster access times, but you may prefer a slightly longer battery life:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/storage25 ... &chart=157

4. Wireless choice. There are two choices, Intel Pro Wireless and the ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe. Which one would you get and why?

Atheros - it gets better reception and maintains better connections than Intel. It draws a little more power and runs a little warmer

5. What's the difference between Warranty and Protection? If I get the 'Protection Services' will that also cover warranty? Also, I travel overseas a lot and if someting goes wrong, I have to use the local country thinkpad service center. Am I wasting my money getting the Protection Services (I assume this only works in the US).

Warranty=manufacturer defects v. Protection=accidental damage

If an x60 Core 2 Duo w/ an 8 cell batt delivers better performance and is JUST 0.3 lbs heavier and 30 minutes less in Batt life, then it looks like I'm better off with an X60. Do you agree?

The X60 can't use the slimline battery and the x60 is slightly bigger than the X60s.

[EOMtp]

If an x60 Core 2 Duo w/ an 8 cell batt delivers better performance and is JUST 0.3 lbs heavier and 30 minutes less in Batt life, then it looks like I'm better off with an X60. Do you agree?

Get the X60s with the 4-cell cylindrical battery and you'll have the best of both worlds.

The X60s can take all three X60 batteries: the 4-cell prismatic (slim), the 4-cell cylindrical, and the 8-cell cylindrical. The X60 can take only the cylindrical 4-cell and 8-cell. Setting aside the issue of UL vs. non-UL LCD screen, the X60 and X60s are identical sizes and weights if they have the same component configuration (memory, hard drive, etc.) -- it's the battery that makes the dimensions/weights different.

[pianowizard]

Setting aside the issue of UL vs. non-UL LCD screen, the X60 and X60s are identical sizes and weights given similar configurations -- it's the battery that makes the dimensions/weights different.

Actually, even with identical screen and battery, the X60 is still 0.15 lbs heavier than the X60s.

[EOMtp]

Actually, even with identical screen and battery, the X60 is still 0.15 lbs heavier than the X60s.

I don't wish to debate a few grams, but you should know that that's physically impossible regardless of what the specs state. Part for part, component for component, the two machines are identical except for the processors, which weight the same, and the bottom cases, which also weigh the same.

[pianowizard]

That's physically impossible regardless of what the specs state. Part for part, component for component, the two machines are identical

The 4-cell Slim Line batter can't fit the X60 because of structural differences between the X60 and X60s. Part of it, I believe, is the X60 has a bigger fan and/or heat sink. There might be other differences as well.

For me, 0.15 lbs is a huge difference. If you look at my signature, you'd realize that I care a lot about the exact weights of my laptops.

[EOMtp]

Of course one machine will be heavier if you use a heavier battery! The point is that with the same components, the two machines weight he same.

[pianowizard]

Of course one machine will be heavier if you use a heavier battery! The point is that with the same components, the two machines weight he same.

No, I was saying even if you remove the battery, and even if the X60s has a non-UL display, the X60 is still 0.15 lbs heavier because of its larger fan/heat sink, and perhaps other components.

I am a scientist and know very well how many variables I am dealing with here.

[EOMtp]

For me, 0.15 lbs is a huge difference.

Just curious: that's 2.4 oz., the weight of 3 or 4 sheets of good paper. How can anyone tell that difference without a scale and by what metric do you, as a scientist, characterize that as a "huge difference"?

BTW: You are correct about the larger fan on the X60, and that accounts for the difference.

[pianowizard]

How can anyone tell that difference without a scale and why would you characterize that as a "huge difference"?

I once owned a 2.78-lb X40 and a 2.94-lb TP240 at the same time, and I could feel the 0.16-lb difference just by lifting each laptop with one hand for several seconds. The difference would become many times more obvious after carrying the laptop for hours everyday.

I know I am unusually picky, but I also know I am not alone.

[gunston]

well,
as the longer time i'm using my X60s. There are a few unsatisfactory point that i dislike the most about the LCD.
1. When cleaning my LCD screen, upon touching the screen, it is "MOVEABLE". I did cross check other x60 units in the retail shops.
Unfixed LCD position seems like a standard.

2. Looking at the screen when turning on, the screen doesn't maximize to its edge. (you may observe a small horizontal gap along the hinge frame.

3. i did send in for Service, they said this is nothing wrong with the screen, return to me intact.

i like this machine very much because of its long battery life as well as the light weight portability. but, there were few saddest point to drag me down, and pushing me to go back to T43 with SXGA+ screen!!!

[solitude]

Take the X60.

1. Significant. The Core2Duo is 10-15% faster per clock cycle than the core duo. ie. a 2ghz core2 duo will be similar in performance to the 2.33ghz core duo AND do 64 bit
2. Good choice of ram, but dont buy it from IBM. Buy the smallest about, and upgrade yourself.
3. 7200rpm is better
4. Take the thinkpad one, better signals.
5. Don't bother with protection.
6. Yes.
7. Yes.

[Comage]

gunston: I have to agree with your point #1. I was also shocked the first time when I was cleaning the LCD, and it began to slide around the bezel.

Perhaps it's an engineering design to absorb the shock by giving it room to move around when you drop the laptop?

[EOMtp]

I was also shocked the first time when I was cleaning the LCD, and it began to slide around the bezel.

This is nonsense. I believe that you fellows had this situation, but there is something wrong with the assembly of your machines. What you describe is by no means normal.

Both the non-UL screen in its casing and the UL screen in its casing fit perfectly when assembled properly and nothing slides around anywhere. The only situations that would result in what you describe are if the UL screen were placed in the non-UL casing or if the hinges were not screwed into the LCD panels before the bezels were installed.

[macuser]

Sigh..... I'm looking at a x60s w/ultralight for mobile / school use. Maybe I shouldnt?
I love the T60p but as a desktop replacement not an everyday mobile business machine.

Please turn my frown upside down =

[pianowizard]

I was also shocked the first time when I was cleaning the LCD, and it began to slide around the bezel.

What you describe is by no means normal.

Exactly. And even if it was normal, it sounds to me like an extremely minor flaw.

Sigh..... I'm looking at a x60s w/ultralight for mobile / school use. Maybe I shouldnt?

Just because someone else got unlucky and received a blemished unit? Try doing a search for any other Thinkpad model and you'll find many people having problems with each model.

And you haven't even ordered an X60s yet, and you're frowning already!

[macuser]

And you haven't even ordered an X60s yet, and you're frowning already!

No Im trying to hold out for a sxga x61s!

Im a slave to resolution / portability also!!

[pianowizard]

No Im trying to hold out for a sxga x61s!

Ah, I see. I am actually hoping there won't be an SXGA+ X61s, because I would have a hard time deciding whether to get that or the 14" WSXGA+ T61! Hmmm, I guess I would get the latter if it weighs under 4 lbs with a a travel bezel. Otherwise, the X61s.