Will an X61s be sufficient?

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Clerk · #1 Post by **Clerk** » Wed May 30, 2007 8:53 am

Hey users of ThinkPad.com.

I just registrered for this website after looking at all the possibilities this forum has.

Thing is, I'm going to buy myself a ThinkPad computer, but I'm uncertain which one would be sufficient for me. First of all my goal is to have a very portable laptop that i can bring with me to school. That's why my eyes fell on the new x61s. With a dockingstation it seems more than perfect for those needs. Although i would like to have a laptop that i can bring with me on vacations and such, and be able to open up a game or watch a movie. Would the new GXF that came with Santa Rosa be able to give me that?

Besides that, can anyone tell me if the construction on the x61s is worth aiming for? If it can stand the challenge of being transported along side with books and all?(Of course in a laptop sleeve)

Thanks in advance
Clerk

(Would be great if you have a suggestion for the specifications. Cause I'm a bit confused on how much i ought to spend on it. Money is not the problem)

#2 Post by **tomh009** » Wed May 30, 2007 9:44 am

Yes, the X61s can easily do that -- even my X31 (with a single-core 1.6 GHz Pentium M) is capable of what you are looking to do. Pretty much any X60/X61(s) configuration will meet your requirements. Personally the good things to consider are a sufficient battery, the ultralight display (only on the "s" models) and the 7200 rpm disks (for performance). And of course sufficient memory ...

From a transportation point of view, you will be fine, but if you are expecting it to be under books (or between a stack of books and your back, in a backpack), I would advise keeping a microfibre cloth or similar between the keyboard and the display, to avoid scratching the screen when the weight of the book is compressing the laptop.

EOMtp · #3 Post by **EOMtp** » Wed May 30, 2007 12:31 pm

tomh009 wrote:I would advise keeping a microfibre cloth or similar between the keyboard and the display

Absolutely do this since, at the very least, the Trackpoint will definitely leave a mark on the screen.

Clerk · #4 Post by **Clerk** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:23 pm

Ok. I'll take it then that the laptop will be able to run games. And thanks for the advice about the cloth.

Guess my desk will be seeing an x61s as fast as it can be delivered

qviri · #5 Post by **qviri** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:28 pm

Clerk wrote:Ok. I'll take it then that the laptop will be able to run games.

What kind of games?

F.EA.R. on a 1900x1200 external screen...? no
FIFA '98...? yes

#6 Post by **tomh009** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:35 pm

Good point -- I completely missed the "game" bit in the original post. The X60s has decent (Intel GMA 950) integrated graphics that can handle a lot of games, with reasonable frame rates on the built-in display.

If you are looking to play relatively intense modern games, you might consider the X61/X61s instead, as these now include the integrated GMA X3000 graphics, with DirectX 10 support.

Clerk · #7 Post by **Clerk** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:42 pm

Yeah, i am aiming for the x61s as the thread is called.

And i've been told that the new graphicscard that came with Santa Rosa is a lot better. And since it's the same for all of the new TP's (From what i've noticed) i might as well choose the x61s.
Btw could you explain to me exactly where the difference between the x61 and the x61s?

#8 Post by **tomh009** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:53 pm

The most important difference is that the X61s uses the ULV (ultra-low voltage) CPUs -- the L series rather than the T series. These use less power and so extend the battery life, though at the cost of some performance.

Similarly configured, the X61s is also slightly lighter than the X61s.

And, finally, X61s should have as an option the very nice "ultralight" LCD, which is not only lighter but also significantly brighter than the standard LCD panel.

Clerk · #9 Post by **Clerk** » Wed May 30, 2007 4:09 pm

Would you by any chance know how much longer the batteri will last with the s-version.

And do you have a link, where i can see how big of a difference there is between the ultralight panel and the other used panels for the x-series?

Thanks

Clerk · #10 Post by **Clerk** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:36 am

Now with the new release i've tried to put together a resonable spec for a new x61s:

Intel Core 2 Duo L7500 (1.6GHz, 4MB, 800MHz)
Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate 64
12.1” UltraLight XGA (1024×768, 180 nit)
100GB 7200rpm
2GB PC2-5300/667MHz
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (256MB)
Bluetooth™
Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Integrated Fingerprint Reader
ThinkPad X6 UltraBase (Multi-Burner Plus DVD Dual Layer Recordable)

Does that seem resonable to you guys?
Though there's a thing i don't understand. This http://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-santa-r ... 305510.php says nothing about the Intel Turbo Memory which i was kinda aiming for. 1 question remains. How good will the WWAN be for me as a student using my laptop primarily at school and at home. All i've understood about WWAN is that it's some kind of wide area network, but how does it work exactly. Imo the old way of creating a network would still be efficient wouldn't it?

gdavis · #11 Post by **gdavis** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:57 am

Clerk wrote:
Does that seem resonable to you guys?
Though there's a thing i don't understand. This http://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-santa-r ... 305510.php says nothing about the Intel Turbo Memory which i was kinda aiming for. 1 question remains. How good will the WWAN be for me as a student using my laptop primarily at school and at home. All i've understood about WWAN is that it's some kind of wide area network, but how does it work exactly. Imo the old way of creating a network would still be efficient wouldn't it?

The turbo memory is supposed to be included in this new x61. But there is some issue about the possibility of it not being able to be placed into a machine with the WWAN as well since they use the same internal slot to be installed.

The WWAN is not a close proximity internet connection like WIFI is. It is for use with cell towers and cell providers systems, like vodafone in parts of Europe or ATT or Verizon in the US. You also have to pay monthly around US $60-80 in the US for these services, you can do the math for Euros, etc. But it is expensive unless you work for a company who pays it for you....

#12 Post by **tomh009** » Thu May 31, 2007 7:45 am

Turbo memory is available on the US site at least in some CTO configurations.

Clerk, from the European perspective, WWAN is basically a mobile UMTS or HSDPA data connection (though in North America half the carriers use CDMA EV-DO instead).

Clerk · #13 Post by **Clerk** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:17 am

I take it then, that the WWAN is useless for me, as a student without any specific needs of a secondary phone, no?

Will an X61s be sufficient?

Will an X61s be sufficient?

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