Please talk me out of it! Help, I'm about to pull the trig..

[visitor]

Hey Makai and everyone. Let me give a very quick feedback aboyut the x60s that I bought used. Tme notebook looks like new and came in the original Lenovo box. I've been having a hard time getting everything to work since the seller did a hard reformat and some features of the machine were not functional. I was able to install most drivers, except for:
- Intel 950 integrated graphics (in the Lenovo model downloads I find no reference for 950, only 960)
- can't make "Standby" to show as a working option in XP. Installed the IBMPM driver without luck.
- audio wasn't working but that one I finally figured out, it needed an HD audio file from Microsoft
- couldn't yet test the wi-fi connection

I don't know if this model has or doesn't have a WWan adapter.
I don't even know if the hard disk inside is IDE or SATA (Device Manager shows IDE references)

Very early impressions:
- It very much resembles my old X31. with the 8-cell protuding battery, it feels very much equivalent in size and weight despite the different shape. Maybe when I get a slim 4-cell I may feel a more perceptible difference.

- Keyboard is not identical to the one in the X31 but if feels good as well. It's interesting that there is more flex in the X60s than in the X31 but the keys on the x60s have a more immediate springy return which somehow masks the flex. It's really a pleasant keyboard, different than the X31's but also very good. And anyway I like to use a typewriter sounding software which feels like I am typing on those venerable old IBM electronic machines, so with the kbd on the x60s I am in total nirvana and safe from any discomfort.

- I liked the X31 form-factor better, square all around, felt more balanced and with the back free to outboard connections. With the x60s you have to hold the front edge which is thinner when you open up the lid.

- I liked the dedicated physical swith for the wireless radio, no more fussyng with F5 like in the X31.

- Since I still don't have power management accurately installed I can't make a definitive judgement about heat and noise. In my environment which is not totally silent the fan noise hasn't quite caught my attention. The right palm rest does get warm. How much warm ? If I switch off the wireless radio, it gets apparently a littles less warm than my X31. I still haven't done the "belly" test. With the radio switched on, it gets as warm if not a little warmer than my X31.

Will add more when having a chance.

[makai]

Hello visitor! Thank you so much for the writeup! I'm still visiting ebay every few days eyeing the X61, X61s, and X60s (not too many of these). I'm just trying to get a feel for the market.

Did the seller really wipe the drive, including the recovery partition? If MyComputer doesn't show C drive as the full 80gigs it might still be there.

What kinds of problems are you getting installing all the drivers? Errors, or are they just not taking? Sounds a bit weird. I'll have to keep this in mind... so thanks for mentioning it.

According to the model number, the laptop wasn't equipped from the factory with WWAN.

Hmmm... I have read about having to hold down the bottom when you open the computer lid, but on the X31, it's also a two-hand job so it must not be too bad.

Please enjoy your new toy, and I look forward to hearing more about your experiences.

Thanks!!!

[visitor]

Seems like everything that I can think of is working now. A phone call to Lenovo's support took care of all as I was gently led to a step-by-step update of the missing drivers. Like good old IBM days. As a bonus I was informed that my x60s warranty is good till August 2011. I was also told that I can get the original system load in discs for the cost of the media. Ironic or not, the x60s still carries the "IBM Thinkpad" logo (it's only "Thinkpad" on the x61s). Anyway I'm quite happy back on a true portable notebook (my Mac will stay out of the road now), and I'm glad I did not chose a netbook as I feel I would be missing a lot that I have for a similar price with the x60s (speed, keyboard, firewire, to name the key ones). It feels like I'm back on my dear X31, only swifter. Also, I could well have chosen an x61s as I don't believe the difference is that much to be noticed. In my case the x60s being offered was in much better shape than the x61s and came with RAM maxed out so that's basically why I chose it though also taking in account the precious experiences reported in this thread.
In the future I don't see a problem moving up to a wide-aspect display, so long as without the current annoying bezel of the x200 (pity, since it's a great system in all other respects for which I'd happily pay extra).

[archer6]

<snip>
- Keyboard is not identical to the one in the X31 but if feels good as well. It's interesting that there is more flex in the X60s than in the X31 but the keys on the x60s have a more immediate springy return which somehow masks the flex. It's really a pleasant keyboard, different than the X31's but also very good.

I find the keyboard on my X60s just as solid and free of flex as my X3x and X4x models. I'm wondering if yours is not secured in place properly as it should not display any flex. Just a thought.
.
Cheers...

[makai]

Couldn't stand it any longer... so I pulled the trigger!

Bought a used x61s off ebay. It looks like I'll have to upgrade the ram as it only has 1gb. It does have the WWAN antenna, but not sure if it has the card installed. I didn't ask, but wanted the installed antenna just in case. If it does have the card, I'll probably turn it off (or remove it) until I find I need it, to avoid heat problems. I also don't think I'll purchase the X6 base and just opt for an external USB burner.

Thanks to all for your contributions to this thread! I appreciate it!

By the way, eventhough I was asking for someone to talk me out of it... I knew it wouldn't happen! Once you're addicted to Thinkpads, there's no hope for you! I know this all too well!

makai

[visitor]

Congrats Makai, I'm glad you got yours. Everyday I feel more relieved for not having fallen for a netbook, I guess you'll feel likewise.

Archer8, my broken X31 is still at a service place and still don't have it back to compare keyboards side by side, but I am very positive that they are not equal. As I recall, in the X31 there was a very noticeable flex on keys "tab", "capsLock" and "shift" while the rest was quite stiff. On the x60s it feels like all keys are more balance with a very slight flex except for the more central area (keys F,G,H,J and those in neighboring rows) whish is quite stiff. But as I said the keys on the x60s spring back quicker or so and in actual use no flex is perceived.
What I definitely liked better on the X31 was the lack of the Windows key, which I never use and kind of gets in the way of the CTRL and ALT.

Another aspect that is better on the x60s is the heat dissipation. With the X31 at intensive use, I would feel a strong flow of hot air when using an external mouse, no such annoyance now.

Archer8, when you installed an SSD, did you to the cloning process from the internal HD to an external enclosure with the SSD in, or was it the other way around (original HD outside, being cloned to an SSD already inside) ?
Would be the same procedure for cloning to just another HD ?

all the best

[makai]

Thanks visitor! Yah, I couldn't take it! I'm quite anxious to get the new/used x61s, but right now it's in transit.

In reference to your X31 keyboard. I own two X31s and on one of them, the keyboard flexes on the left side... cap lock, tab, shift, etc, while everywhere else is stiff. On the other one, everything is dead flat and stiff everywhere. I've tried "forming" the keyboard on the rocky one with little/no success. I even have a brand new spare keyboard that also rocks. I've promised myself to look more into the problem, but since the rocky one is just a spare, I haven't done so. Maybe I'll mess with it today! Like you, I'm not too thrilled with the "Winkey" on the x6x laptops.

[dr_st]

On my girlfriend's X32 I experienced the same syndrome of flex on the left side. I guess that it's a characteristic issue of the series, which may or may not be experienced on a specific model due to differences in the assembly, e.g., how tight the keyboard is fit, how tight the screws are, etc.

[uux]

On my girlfriend's X32 I experienced the same syndrome of flex on the left side. I guess that it's a characteristic issue of the series, which may or may not be experienced on a specific model due to differences in the assembly, e.g., how tight the keyboard is fit, how tight the screws are, etc.

IIRC, there are no keyboard screws on that side of the X31/X32.

[dr_st]

I wasn't necessarily talking about keyboard screws. Chassis screws can determine how tight the whole assembly sits, and this in turn can affect how well the keyboard/palmrest/bezel fit. It's a tricky business.