Have a T60 Widescreen. Just bought an R60. Will images work?

[mybellyisempty]

I have had a T60 WideScreen since February. Love it.

Unfortunately, the school is being stupid, and I am left with a few choices.
A: Keep my T60 running Vista 64, and use a virtual machine to run the VPN software.
-Cost? Nothing. But it doesn't work because the campus' networks are set up wierd. I can connect to 3 other wireless accounts just fine, but nothing on campus.

B: Reformat my T60 to run Vista 32, and have native support for the Cisco VPN.
-Cost? Time. I'm not using enough RAM to warrant 64 bit, I'm running it simply because I can.

C: Use my E1705 w/ a large ALICE pack.
-Cost? Nothing. Spare laptop bags that I won't be using, as the E1705 doesn't fit into my bags I use for school right now.

D: Use my E1705 w/ a new backpack
-Cost? new backpack, likely an Ogio around $65.

(C&D are both undesirable because I find them too large in a classroom setting; I can't have a PC + a large textbook side by side on some desks).

E: Buy a new used laptop to meet scholastic needs.
-Cost? price of new laptop. I just sold one of my old ones, so little to none out of pocket.

F: Buy a new new laptop to meet scholastic need.
-Cost? price of a new laptop. See above, but better chance of me getting a dual core based system.

(E&F both have the added benefit of being expendable in their ability to be experimental: I can reformat and reinstall at whim.)

E turned out to work. I snagged an R60 on ebay for $550 + shipping.

Original description: T2400(1.83GHz), 512MB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HD, 14.1in 1400x1050 LCD, Intel 950, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, IEEE 1394, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro, and EasyServ until August of 2009. It looks like the hdd was swapped out with a 40gb, but that's more than enough space for what I need to do.

Now, ignoring hardware thoughts I'm having (pull the T2400 and swap it with my E1705's T2300e)...I have some software thoughts.

XP will require a fresh format.
Vista though, I already have a 32 bit image made of the T60.

Can I use an image (Acronis TrueImage) made of my T60 on the R60?

1. The R60 lacks a finger print reader. Is this an issue, or will it simply be a matter of uninstalling it in safemode?
2. The R60 is intel graphics based rather than ATI. Non-issue.
3. Firewire is added, I see no problem with that.

[brainpicker]

I don't see a problem using a T60 image on that R60. On the initial boot the system will find the different hardware and try to install drivers for it. Run the System Update or Software Installer and make some small adjustments here and there for any slight differences between the machines and it will be fine. I've successfully put images on far different Thinkpads than those. I know many T-series owners (who have never owned an R-series, especially a non-"e" R-series) are a proud bunch and don't like to think that R's are pretty much the same parts in a different skin, but most are just that.

- Yak