What's your favorite X61-series model and why?

[vkyr]

The X-series with it's three X61, X61s and X61T models should usually offer enough choices to find an optimal mobile computer.

However, since it's not always easy to choose individually the right one here, which might best fit all the needs, I would like to get some common individual opinions and criterias from people, why they would prefer or choose one of those models in favor of the other models.

Criterias might be here some usability scenarios, common pro and cons of the different X-series models, like display resolution, display brightness+quality, performance, versatileness, weight/size, battery runtimes, heat/noise, specific options or the price factor etc.

[GomJabbar]

X61s would be my first choice with the Ultralight display and slim 4-cell battery, such as model: 7669-7DU L7300 LV 1.40 1GB 12.1" UL XGA 80GB 5400 *Intel 11a/b/g Finger Slim-4 Business 32. Although the model: 7666-43U L7500 LV 1.60 1GB 12.1" XGA 120G 5400 DVD±RW UltraBase *Intel 11a/b/g AT&T Finger 8 Ultimate 32 is also tempting with the Ultrabase and DVD±RW drive and AT&T WWAN built in.

X61 would be my second choice.

X61 Tablet would be my third choice. I do not think I would make much use of the tablet features. The extra size and weight would be a burden.

[kengetz]

Personally, I would prefer the X61s, but I really require the 1400x1050 screen resolution while on the road. So although I would totally opt for the lighter weight of the X61s, because of the screen resolution requirements and the fact that I'm not about to break a nearly 15-year involvment with Thinkpads at this point, and the fact that I really wanted a smaller/lighter laptop this time, I felt that the X61t was the only real option available. Of course, I might actually even like the tablet thing -- on airplanes where there's not much room to work, it could be a real benefit!

[yogibear]

I would prefer the X61s that have UltraLight screen.
X61 is my second option.
I don't need to use Tablet device. so X61T is out.

[vkyr]

I've forgotten initially to mention some of my own personal criterias and thoughts so far, even it is (as always) a hard decision one has to make here.

Ok, let's start with the plain X61. This one is of course available with the most powerful CPUs and thus might be the strongest performer of all X-series models. I could live with it's slightly bigger weight and maybe (?) slightly lesser battery runtime in contrast to the X61s model. However since there is no more luminant UltraLight or any higher resolution SXGA+ screen available for it, I actually don't take it into my descision. Further the plain X61 might finally also get a bit warmer and noisier (due to bigger stronger CPUs) than the other two X-series models. - In sum-up the X61 is for sure the performance hero here with >= 2GHz C2D CPUs, but as said before my main concern is that it sadly lacks a better display.

Next lets talk about the X61T, which offers some more flexibility, but also has -at least for me- some cons. Pen or inking is, as a former long time Newton user, nothing really new to me. But as some other people too, I don't actually see so much advantages in using a Tablet PC just for inking around. I've always could type quicker with a good keyboard than writing small notes with a pen. Thus the only advantages I see in using a X61T are, that you can get one with a better higher res SXGA+ display, which you can also use in portrait mode for reading. Of course you can with a tablet also control the computer's user interface (UI) in a let's say slighly more natural way by using the pen, which might be also comfortable when working in Photoshop and the like or other apps which support the pen. However, just for text input I don't see so much advantages here at all, since you usually won't use a pen to write longer texts or programs etc. IMO the pen is just good for making short remarks, sketches and to use it instead of a mouse for operating/controlling the UIs etc. The disadvantages or cons of a X61T tablet are, that it is sized bigger, and also weights and costs more than the other two X-serie models. Further there is always also some amount of pen abberation, meaning that what you draw on the surface of the tablet is on certain areas of the surface 2-3 mm away from where you have exactly placed the pen on, even the tablets pen etc. have been optimal calibrated. This is especially easy to see the nearer you reach the display borders. Another point is, that the X61T tablet seems not to be well out-balanced in tablet mode, due it it's uneven center of gravity. I also somehow fear, that it's rotation-hinge will wear out over the time. - In sum-up the X61T would so far only be the second choice for me after a X61s model, if I don't change later my opinion.

The X61s with an UltraLight panel would actually be my prefered choice, since this model is the most lightweight, offers a slightly more luminant display and all in all has a good to perfect size for road warriers and people which want to be much mobile. I somehow believe and hope that a 1.66 GHz LV C2D CPU will still give it enough power for some none trivial programming and develpment tasks and thus that it can handle most things too, when compared with the plain X61 model which is available with stronger CPUs. - Of course I would wish, that the X61s series would be offered with a little bit more CPU power and/or an enhanced SXGA+ display resolution too, but here are the compromises one sadly has to make related to the other two X-series models. - So in sum-up I actually would probably go with a X61s UL model, even there is no higher res SXGA+ display offered for it, which I would sooner or later eventually hardly miss.

But who knows, maybe some arguments of other people here in the TP forum will be such convincing and unbeatable, that I may still change my mind later in favor for one of the other X-series models?