z60m?

[jronald]

I think Im in the market for a Wide Screen version of a TP. After years with my trusting T30's its about time. What do I need to know? This will be my everyday machine so No gaming, Some videos, Lots of interwebs and generally abused.

Suggestions?
Ron

[ajkula66]

I'd say Z61m or Z61t, depending on whether you'd prefer 15.4" or 14".

Z60m is essentially a widescreen T43p with a SATA drive, when it comes to its construction. Some do have the nice Ti lid, though...

Z61m can be found as a much nicer version of T60 with webcam and card reader...

Z61t is a great (sometimes very well-spec'd) all-rounder with Intel graphics.

These are mostly Core Duo machines, but will take a Core 2 Duo CPU if you have a need for that upgrade.

Good luck.

[dr_st]

There is currently a very nice Z61t for sale by Thinkpad Lover in the Marketplace.

Z61t is by far my favorite in the early widescreens of Lenovo. A very pretty machine, and sufficiently powerful still (akin a T60).

One thing about them - you need one of the later "Napa Refresh" models (which originally came with Core 2 Duo CPUs) if you want a motherboard that supports DVI out through the docking station.

[jronald]

$300.00 is out of the question right now.

Ron

[emtee3511]

I have this: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=99987
ThinkPad T60 (8741-4BU)
T7200(2GHz), 1GB RAM, 100GB 7200rpm HD, 15.4in 1680x1050 LCD, 128MB ATI Radeon X1400,
CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav,
Fingerprint reader, 9c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro
I've listed at $235 shipped, but PM me if you're interested as I'm very negotiable.
(I put a 256gb SSD in a nearly identical T60 for my son last Christmas -- he travels with the Army, and it's been to Afghanistan and Korea with him -- still going strong.)

Thinkpad Lover has this: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=99601
ThinkPad T60 (1952-C55). Original Description: Based on 1952-45U:
ThinkPad T60 (1952-C55). Original Description: Based on 1952-45U:
T2400(1.83GHz) Intel Centrino Duo, Intel 950 graphics
512MB RAM---> Now upgraded to 2GB memory installed
60GB 5400 RPM HD -----> Now upgraded to 100GB 7200RPM hard drive
14.1 inch 1024x768 4:3 standard aspect ratio LCD ----> Nice bright and spotless, with hinges tight
CDRW/DVD----> Now DVD Rom drive (Play software and music CD's, play software DVD's, watch DVD movies)
Intel 802.11abg built-in WIFI for Internet access
Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader
Windows XP Professional installed, updated to SP3 with all the latest Lenovo drivers. XP COA on back of laptop.
Battery lasts about 2 hours under normal use. 65 watt AC adapter included
Price: $175 shipped anywhere in the U.S.
It's 14.1" (not widescreen) but you can't beat the price.
(My other son just recently inherited my old 14.1" T60 (very similar to ThinkPad Lover's listed machine) and he and I both love it. It has a beautiful screen, which I actually prefer over the widescreen.

[schen]

$300.00 is out of the question right now.

You can probably tell by my posts, as well as my sig that I'm a pretty big fan of the Z Series machines. That mostly has to do with their capabilities vs. the price-point that they can be found at. Like you, just shelling $300 "out-of-pocket" is typically out of the question as well. From my experience of purchasing and working on several of them over the last year or so, I've found that the price for them can vary wildly. I attribute that to the fact that they are relatively rare and was never a "corporate standard", and therefore there seems to be no established market price for them. So, if you are patient and willing to wait for a target of opportunity to come along, then they can often represent tremendous value, if you are willing to buy a low-spec'd unit and slowly upgrade over time.

I did this with all of our machines. My wife's Z61m (9457-E7U), low-end machine, but in nice shape. I already had a 320Gb HDD, and picked up a T5600 C2D processor cheap on eBay. Added some DDR2 RAM which was cheap and I had her going. I paid around $175 for it shipped. I know that all the upgrades I did put me at a total close to $300, but some parts were on hand already and I certainly didn't take a hit all at once on it. Now, it's a C2D 1.83 with 3Gb of RAM, and a 320Gb/7200rpm machine.

You can look over at this topic if you want to see what I'm doing to my personal Z61m:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=100309

I'm about to change my son from his T42 to a Z60t that was picked up locally for $40 on Craig's List, which needed a reload and a new battery. So you can see that they can be picked up cheap and upgraded to pretty respectable levels for not a lot of money invested. Of course I'd have to say that T60 looks like a pretty good deal to me as well! I just like unique machines that you don't see everywhere....but they have to be cheap though!

[jronald]

Im interested in the Wide Screen, and I think the 14 inch so the Z60t. I know that puts me in a corner as far as interchangeable parts go. Looks like they are going for under $100.00 on the Fleabay, less the Hdd. They all seem to run up at the last few minutes, but who knows.

Ron

[schen]

Im interested in the Wide Screen, and I think the 14 inch so the Z60t. I know that puts me in a corner as far as interchangeable parts go. Looks like they are going for under $100.00 on the Fleabay, less the Hdd. They all seem to run up at the last few minutes, but who knows.

Ron

I'd say that if you can get into one of those at or less than $100, it'd be a good deal. The form-factor is very nice and easy to carry. It compares favorably to my X300. But the main thing is that it'll allow you to get into the DDR2 and SATA drive so that you aren't paying through the nose on RAM and HDD space. As far as parts are concerned, the critical items seem to be plentiful, so I'd say that it's pretty much a non-issue. Things that can and do go wrong like screens, keyboards, and drives are pretty interchangeable with other machines.

[jronald]

I got a "donation" of a most unusual sort, while I was waiting for my wife to return from surgery today. To say it was unexpected is probably the biggest understatement of this year. I was given a Z60t from a fellow Thinkpader. I don't really think they want credit, or to be acknowledged here, but in doing my part in paying it forward I will be donating my trusty SXGA T30 to a partially blind student. I have repeatedly told this Thinkpader that I could not repay their generosity.

If you have not given your family a squeeze, do so.
Make a donation not because you want to.. but because you can.
Pay it forward
Share a smile and a laugh

Thank you once again "G"
Ron

[schen]

I got a "donation" of a most unusual sort, while I was waiting for my wife to return from surgery today. To say it was unexpected is probably the biggest understatement of this year. I was given a Z60t from a fellow Thinkpader. I don't really think they want credit, or to be acknowledged here, but in doing my part in paying it forward I will be donating my trusty SXGA T30 to a partially blind student. I have repeatedly told this Thinkpader that I could not repay their generosity.

If you have not given your family a squeeze, do so.
Make a donation not because you want to.. but because you can.
Pay it forward
Share a smile and a laugh

Thank you once again "G"
Ron

Very nice of this unnamed TP'er, and great for you! What's the type number and specs if you don't mind me asking?

[jronald]

Sorry for the late reply, I was up numerous times during the night to make sure everyone else was snug (and drugged!).
In reference to your type question, its a (2511-FEU).

Thanks Ron

[schen]

Sorry for the late reply, I was up numerous times during the night to make sure everyone else was snug (and drugged!).
In reference to your type question, its a (2511-FEU).

Thanks Ron

Those are still decent specs and will definitely made a nice "user" for you. My son's is very similar although without the WWAN. I just feel like the Z6xx machines are very overlooked and excellent values....as you can see by teh 3 in our household!