Thinkpads Forum

In my search for a light thinkpad (new or not) I have found an offer for an

X61s 7666-WKY for 320 euros

ThinkPad X61s (7666-WKY)
L7300(1.4GHz) 1GB RAM 120GB 5400rpm HD 12.1in 1024x768 LCD Intel X3100 Intel 802.11abg wireless Bluetooth Modem 1Gb Ethernet Secure Chip 4c Li-Ion WinXP Pro

with a total of 2Gb of Ram.

Is this a slow X61s (for the 5400rpm) disk installed, or it should be fast enough with the improved RAM?
The seller says it comes with license for both Vista Business and XP-Pro installation, which one would make it faster?

I came from a T41p with a 7200 rpm HD, 1Gb ram, XP-Pro.

I am even considering in the same price range to buy an X121e with OS (european version of the X120e), but I am worried about the very short palm rest of this model.

What I care more about laptop is not noisy fans and not hot surfaces.

Any opinion is well appreciated, thanks

A.

I have x61s with 5400RPM and it's fast.

But palm rest is hot because of WiFi card under it. Not hot enough to not touch but you feel. I think it's perfectly fine, doesn't bother me at all. It's warm but nice warm.


Don't get x120e I had it before and it's [censored] (all new Lenovo are [censored] quality). The screen is really bad and it's just cheap plastic. The short palm rest I don't think was a problem for me but I don't recommend x120e at all.

Only problem with X61s is battery. My 8 cell is only 4-5 hours (Win 7)

bugmn wrote:I have x61s with 5400RPM and it's fast.

But palm rest is hot because of WiFi card under it. Not hot enough to not touch but you feel. I think it's perfectly fine, doesn't bother me at all. It's warm but nice warm.

I was reading about this problems with X61s.
Would a solution like that I found in a discussion here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833315091

allows to disabilitate the internal wi-fi card and solve the problem?

A

The 8-cell battery in my X60s lasts between 9 and 9 1/2 hours!
Bought the battery 'refurbished' from the Lenovo Outlet.

I replaced the 4965 wifi card with the much cooler running 1/2-size Intel Advanced 6200N.
No more toasty feelings.

You can put up to 8GB RAM in that X61s.
If you don't need all that RAM, you could go for the X60s which handles ~3GB RAM, but is otherwise the same.
However, X61s can run at SATA II speed (after modded BIOS), which the X60s can not.

That would work, but you'd lose a USB port.

One of the crazy things (among many others...) of living in Italy is that if you are a thinkpad lover you can't:

a) customize your laptop in Lenovo online shop
b) have access to educational discount..
c) buy in the Lenovo Outlet..

anyway thanks for the suggestions, looks interesting.

I should definitely learn to open thinkpads and change things inside.
I was able to do this kind of things with desktop (funny for a girl, I know) but never tried with my thinkpads.
Adding ram yes, but nothing more..

A.

RealBlackStuff wrote:The 8-cell battery in my X60s lasts between 9 and 9 1/2 hours!
Bought the battery 'refurbished' from the Lenovo Outlet.

I replaced the 4965 wifi card with the much cooler running 1/2-size Intel Advanced 6200N.
No more toasty feelings.

You can put up to 8GB RAM in that X61s.
If you don't need all that RAM, you could go for the X60s which handles ~3GB RAM, but is otherwise the same.
However, X61s can run at SATA II speed (after modded BIOS), which the X60s can not.

But think of the fabulous food, wine, landscape and weather you have in most parts of Italy!
I'd move to Tuscany in a heartbeat, been there many times. I even understand and speak (some of) the language.
I'd happily give up the Lenovo Outlet for that!

PS: there's a Hardware Maintenance Manual for every type of Thinkpad, which comes complete with illustrated instructions and part numbers.
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... MIGR-39298

RealBlackStuff wrote: But think of the fabulous food, wine, landscape and weather you have in most parts of Italy!
I'd move to Tuscany in a heartbeat

Yes, actually here in Rome we have some interesting ancient things... and todays was about 35° Celsius but...
you may want to read this before to book your flight
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/inte ... nii&st=cse

or consider that I have a postdoc grant of 1200 euros each month which in Rome is the same of a monthly rent for a two rooms apartment...


A.

achat_2 wrote:
I was reading about this problems with X61s.
Would a solution like that I found in a discussion here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833315091

allows to disabilitate the internal wi-fi card and solve the problem?

A

I guess but it's really not very hot. I think it's fine

RealBlackStuff wrote:The 8-cell battery in my X60s lasts between 9 and 9 1/2 hours!
Bought the battery 'refurbished' from the Lenovo Outlet.

.

I get nowhere near that. I have a genuine 8 cell in my X61. I'd say in real world, 3-4 hours.

my X61s can get about 6.30 hr with L7500 CPU, and the X61 can get 6 to 5.30 hrs with a T8100 CPU with a brand new 8 cells Panasonic battery.

P.S. All with Battery Saver mode with 50% brightness and wifi on.

lead_org wrote:my X61s can get about 6.30 hr with L7500 CPU, and the X61 can get 6 to 5.30 hrs with a T8100 CPU with a brand new 8 cells Panasonic battery.

P.S. All with Battery Saver mode with 50% brightness and wifi on.

Oh that's cheating! 50% brightness is only usable in pitch black room

bugmn wrote:Oh that's cheating! 50% brightness is only usable in pitch black room

Heh. This custom-built IPS(FFS)-equipped X32 I'm using is so bright that the only way it's usable in pitch black room is on 0% brightness. And in normal conditions 50-60% is plenty. Which is good, since the panel itself eats more juice than the TN ones.

Sorry for small thread hijack.

bugmn wrote: Only problem with X61s is battery. My 8 cell is only 4-5 hours (Win 7)

the same with me, 4 hours without power saving or extedning featues (they dim the LCD too much)

achat_2 wrote: X61s 7666-WKY for 320 euros

ThinkPad X61s (7666-WKY)
L7300(1.4GHz) 1GB RAM 120GB 5400rpm HD 12.1in 1024x768 LCD Intel X3100 Intel 802.11abg wireless Bluetooth Modem 1Gb Ethernet Secure Chip 4c Li-Ion WinXP Pro

with a total of 2Gb of Ram.

Is this a slow X61s (for the 5400rpm) disk installed, or it should be fast enough with the improved RAM?
The seller says it comes with license for both Vista Business and XP-Pro installation, which one would make it faster?

320 euro is way too much, I acquired my X61 and X61s between 200-250 euro, docking station included. They are excellent machines, X61s sleeker thought slower than X61.

Have the price lowered significantly or it's not worth, with a bit more money you are on i3 level (see Acer 1830/Lenovo U160 or simili).

Ciao