Z61p WUXGA experiences?

[jeroenp]

I'm considering upgrading from my T42p UXGA Flexview systems to a new system with at least the same resolution.

Reading the latest tabook, I can find the below models that have larger resolutions.

How to these Z61p measure up to the T42p systems with regards to:
- display brightness and angle
- build quality
- general experience
- running with lots of RAM and 2 HDD's
(I'm planning to do most of my work in virtual machines)

My T42p systems have only failed me once (fan replacement), and it is going to be my day to day work machine.
Screen estate (I'm a software developer), and quality are my topmost priority.

Before the T42p's I had A20p and A21p systems from Bill Morrow that were very satisfactory too.

http://www5.pc.ibm.com/us/me.nsf/webdoc ... tabook.pdf

Personal Systems Reference
Lenovo ThinkPad Notebooks
June 2007 - Version 324

ThinkPad® Z61p (9450) - TopSeller, page 138

9450-3AU Black Core Duo T2500 2.00 1GB 15.4" WUXGA 256MB 100G DVD±RW ✶ Intel 11a/b/g32 None Blue Finger 6 No Jul 06
9450-A1U Black Core 2 Duo T7200 2.00 1GB 15.4" WUXGA 256MB 100G DVD±RW ThinkPad 11n28 None Blue Finger 9 CD No Oct 06

• These small and medium business (SMB) models are part of the US TopSeller ™ Program
• These models have a 1-year limited warranty12

ThinkPad® Z61p (9452), page 139

9452-JRU Black Core 2 Duo T7200 2.00 1GB 15.4" WUXGA 256MB 100G DVD±RW ✶ Intel 11a/b/g32 None Blue Finger 9 Pro W G Oct 06

• This model has a 3-year limited warranty


Thanks in advance,

--jeroen

[jkahng]

While the Z61p is a nice machine and it's performance is comparable to a T60p. However, pls note that the Z series is being phased out by lenovo.

If you want to future proof and can wait a little. the soon to be released T61p will have the same screen with a superior gpu and better cooling among other improvements.

Also, pls note that the Z series is slightly thicker and heavier than the T series.

[Pepa]

Hi jeroenp,

Z61p is all-around pretty nice machine. Excellent performance, quiet cooling, robust chassis - but from plastic (there are models with titanium LCD cover aswell, but thats all). T lineup has better chassis in mine opinion, also is thinner and lighter. In closed state is Z looking with impress of black brick

But i'm afrad that even superior TN TFT panel (LP154WU1-A1K6 in mine Z61p) with 600:1 contrast and 16ms (and 256K colors) is worse compared to IPS panel which can be found in some T6x machines, especially regarding to brightness and viewing angles. But yeah, screen in mine Z is much better than in standard notebook and far more better than common glare WXGA in Acer i had before - not counting impressive resolution.

Mine overall experience with Z61p is absolutly fantastic, but it depends from what machine you are swithcing. I had gamer-like Acer with crappy chassis and quality. When coming from absoulute laptop peak (T42p) i'm afraid of little disappointing, especially with IPS screen and massive chassis. But you have mine recommendations

[wakka2u]

Agree with Pepa, another alternative is the T61 - it's new for a little more $$, same spec. You might get a great price for the Z61, like I did. I just upgarded my T42 to the Z61 last month and enjoying it very much, changed over from T42 23734YU to the Z61m 9452.

You might also want to checkout the notebookreview.com on the Z61m, they compared the Z61 with the T42 side by side. I actually just did the same thing just now before posting this and the Z61 is brighter.

Let us know what you got for your laptop, always looking for deals.

[pianowizard]

You might also want to checkout the notebookreview.com on the Z61m

The Z61m doesn't have WUXGA. Only the Z61p does.

My Dell Inspiron 6000 has a 15.4" WUXGA screen. I upgraded from a Thinkpad A31p (15.0" UXGA Flexview just like the OP's T42p) and it wasn't too hard to adjust to it. The real estate is great, and things look big enough even with XP Pro's default font sizes.

[jeroenp]

Thanks for all the comments.

Basically the choice is between:
- get the Z61p now
- wait for the T61p

@pianowizard: how did you get that huge resolution in your R50p?
And would panels like that fit in anything younger than R50p?

I'm a screen real estate fan; my eyesight is way above average, so huge DPI's are no problem.

[pianowizard]

@pianowizard: how did you get that huge resolution in your R50p?

You can find the instructions in this 21 Feb 2005 post by jsfrank

And would panels like that fit in anything younger than R50p?

I don't think so. It's designed to be used only in the R50p.

[barrywohl]

Basically the choice is between:
- get the Z61p now
- wait for the T61p

I owned a Z61p T7600 2 gb ram 100 gb 7200 rpm WUXGA screen from February to May. It was a great machine.

I used Vista Upgrade Express to do a clean install of Vista on a second hard drive. I liked it with both XPsp2 and with Vista.

I was very happy with the screen. When I compared it to an R50p with a UXGA IPS screen (but a 3 year old one) the WUXGA had cleaner whites. The machine was great with either XPsp2 or VISTA BUSINESS.

Mine had a problem with occasionally locking up when I plugged in the AC adapter. It turned out to be a defect in electrostatic discharge protection, and quite possibly a design defect. The Lenovo engineers and Lenovo sales reps were fantastic at working with me. When the T61 came out with the Santa Rosa chip set, screen roll cage, Intel Turbo Memory, Vista preinstalled I decided to take Lenovo up on their offer to buy back my Z61p.

I'm planning to order a T61p WUXGA 2 or 3 gb ram Intel Turbo Memory, 4 year depot/TP protection warranty and HOPEFULLY (listening lenovo?) a 7K200 Travelstar hard drive.

[megalosaurus]

I bought a Z61P for my wife in October of last year. It's definitely a rock-solid system. It's made from many of the same components as the T60P I use at work, but hasn't had any of the quality problems that I've seen with the T60Ps. It came with a 6-cell battery and seems to run it down rather quickly. My major gripe is the weak volume from the speakers. A machine like this, with its widescreen and firewire adapter is likely to be used for multimedia applications and really should put out more volume. The lack of IPS is definitely noticeable. But at the time I bought it, the choice was a Z61P with a WUXGA display or a low-res toy, so the screen resolution was what swung the deal. If the T61P has a WUXGA display with IPS, then it would take a pretty steep discount to get me to go with a Z61P instead. If the T61P doesn't have WUXGA and IPS, then I'll likely break from my pattern of buying only ThinkPads and go for a ToughBook 52 model 7300.

[barrywohl]

If the T61P doesn't have WUXGA and IPS, then I'll likely break from my pattern of buying only ThinkPads.

Reportedly, the T61p will have an option for a WUXGA 15.4" NON-IPS screen. If it is the same screen as the Z61p, I'll be happy.

We should know tomorrow.

[RS_003]

I used the Z61P with the 1920x1200 but I found it being not very bright at all. Enough ... but one of the dimmest screens I have used so far.

Have some pix of it, comparing with a Z61m (WXGA+) and that one is much brighter.

[pianowizard]

I used the Z61P with the 1920x1200 but I found it being not very bright at all.

High-res displays are often dim. My Dell Inspiron 6000's WUXGA was relatively dim, and so are my R50p's QXGA and UXGA.

[RS_003]

I used the Z61P with the 1920x1200 but I found it being not very bright at all.

High-res displays are often dim. My Dell Inspiron 6000's WUXGA was relatively dim, and so are my R50p's QXGA and UXGA.

Oke, I can believe that, however... this is not my first WUXGA experience, and I have had brighter displays.


About UXGA flexview, I have had many side by side with SXGA+ flexviews. And the SXGA+ models where indeed brighter.

[FirstTimer]

When the T61 came out with the Santa Rosa chip set, screen roll cage, Intel Turbo Memory, Vista preinstalled I decided to take Lenovo up on their offer to buy back my Z61p.

barrywohl,
what sort of buy back offer did you get and how did you get it?

[barrywohl]

barrywohl,
what sort of buy back offer did you get and how did you get it?

My Z61p shipped 12 February 2007. I set it up and started using it 20 February 2007. After A GREAT DEAL OF MY TIME TROUBLE SHOOTING I determined that it would freeze up on plugging in an AC adapter (even an unpowered AC adapter) and it was hardware related. It would happen even with no operating system installed. Depot repair attempted to fix it but did not. Engineering in North Carolina improved but did not cure it. They did diagnose it as an ESB problem and they were able to replicate the problem on a similar machine.

In May, Lenovo took it as a return for full credit, no restocking fee, no "extra" freebies. I was happy. I got a check after about 3 weeks, which I've just MORE THAN spent on a T61p.