T-series vs X-series - The epic doubt!

[rzl]

Hello there!

I'm a student, i've ownes an Asus A8Jc-H006H for nearly four years now, and i'd like to switch to a Thinkpad.
I need a new laptop anyway, since my current one is about to die.

So, my main doubt is between X60 and T60. They're both valuable laptops.
I'll go for a second-hand one.

The X60 would be nice to carry in the bag, and i may leave the dedicate laptop bag at home. That would be comfortable but less powerful.
The T60 would be *powerful*, and would be worth of carrying the laptop bag. But that would be not comfortable but powerful.

Since someone will surely tend to ask, here's what i use computer for:

+ Programming, web-development
+ email, internet browsing
+ writing (latex and things like that)

I'd like something durable to use in the next 3-4 years (i'll probably have to use sw like matlab and things like that)

I seldom play 3d-games, like Tremulous, UrbanTerror, Armagetron-Advanced.
At the moment, i only use GNU/Linux, but if i had a larger hard drive, i'd like to use windows.


Since i write code, having a large screen would be nice, if not great.
But since i'm a student and spend most of my time outside home, having a little mate with me would be great too. I'm used to spend often more than 10 (seldom even 12 or 13) hours far from home. I know no battery lasts so long, but as i spend most of the time at school, i may be allowed to charge the battery.

It's a great doubt for me since I won't be possible for me to get another laptop before some years. Say, I have only one bullet


So, what are your advice given theese "inputs" ?


Thanks in advance,
rzl

[jdhurst]

My instinct say T series. Comes with an optical drive and that has saved my bacon more than one. If you *know* you just won't need an optical drive, then an X series should do well. Otherwise an X series should be as durable as a T and just as good as a T.

Get a 64-bit machine (I think X series come in 64-bit) and put Windows 7 Pro 64-bit on it. Get the largest and fastest drive you can get. Recent X I think are still limited to 5400 rpm, but I am not certain. Get at least 4Gb of memory.

I use a T61p and look for my thread in Off-Topic on a complete travelling office in a carry bag. With T series, power, large battery, mouse and paper, the bag is heavy (18 pounds). An X would save on this. .. JDH

[dr_st]

Strictly speaking, when looking at a T60 vs X60 (not X60s), both use the same CPU, RAM and hard drives, so not necessarily the T60 will be more powerful than the X60. With that said, the T60 series did offer more high-end configuration, and in any case the CPU is upgradeable to a T7600 (2.33GHz C2D), whereas with the X60 the highest you could get (I believe) was T7200, and even that was rare, non-upgradeable (soldered CPU), and possibly too hot for such a small case.

Also, T60 has the option for an ATI video card (X1300/X1400/V5200), which will be noticeably powerful for 3D games, even though it still won't handle the newest and greatest.

On the other hand, the X60 wins in portability. Weighing about 1.4kg with the 4-cell and 1.65kg with the 8-cell, it is far lighter than even the 14" T60 (2.3kg with 6cell, 2.45kg with 9cell battery). The 15" T60 is even bigger and heavier - 2.6/2.8kg respectively - not anything I would consider for serious portability.

Regarding battery life, though - the T60's 6cell will provide better battery life than the 4cell on the X60. With extended 9cell and 8cell respectively, they should be approximately equal.

Like JDH, I believe, that considering all your requirements, the T will be overall a slightly better choice. You have the option of a larger screen (and what may be more important, higher resolution), a slightly more comfortable keyboard and possibly a small performance edge. If you are willing to carry a 2.3kg laptop with you (not including power cord), that is.

[AMATX]

If you wanna go portable, but have the goodies:

* buy an external DVD drive. Bootable, usable, etc.

* use external monitor when stationary and doing heavy duty eyeball work.

X-series would do well, with above considerations.

Otoh, if you're going to out & about a lot when doing the development work, etc.,
you may wanna consider the T-series.

It's really all about the work location & workload characteristics. You could probably
configure the X-series with enough stuff to be a good location/desk box, or drag along
a T-series wherever you go. Just depends upon where you gonna be located most of the
time when using the pc.

[RealBlackStuff]

You wouldn't be happy with the X60 small 12.5" LCD with 1024x768 resolution.
Some people have put in an SXGA+ (1400x1050) LCD, but then the screen is getting almost unreadable (characters too small).
14" T60 with SXGA+ would be ideal.

[Tasurinchi]

As others have pointed above, there is a huge difference in screen resolution. With the X6* series you will have to stick to 1024x768 pixels, while you can get 1400x1050 with a T6* or choose a widescreen model with (I think) even higher resolution. IMHO you have to think about how much important is the resolution to your daily work. Performance wise both are quite similar (but T6* has the edge) and you can compensate the lack of optical drive with an external one or an ultrabase.

The T6* keyboard will be also larger than the X6* one (in case it matters to you)

I have an X40, an X41 and a 14" T43p with SXGA+. I love both formats. But I wouldn't like to work with a 12" screen, and on the other side I don't like to carry the heavier 14" model around.

Hope this helps you to find a decision...

Cheers!

[rzl]

Uhm... All your replies make sense. What a problem, i have even more doubts!

Buying a computer which will fit my needs makes sense, after all.
But buying a computer that will fit (almost) any need i may have in the near future makes sense too.

I'm also thinking that my problem could be solved by buying a bag that would allow me carry both computer and books.
That's the main problem: i use a rucksack [a backpack] which is tipically full of books and school things (in particular, the SantoBook, of which I'll write some day). I'm a student after all, I couldn't immagine a different situation.

But when I need the laptop (since i study computer science) i have to carry another bag, the computer bag.
This leads to one thing: i have to carry more and more weight OR i can't take the laptop with me.

A good bag (I like the Tucano Cobra - http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/4492 ... 549d84.jpg) may solve.

I should then go for a T60, but look for a sxga and ati-equipped one.

But i still have doubts. Actually, the risk of regretting my choice scares me totally.


Sorry for bothering,
rzl

[Tasurinchi]

What a problem, i have even more doubts!

Happens sometimes when you ask in forums like this

Another recommendation from my side will be to go to any shop where they have notebooks/netbooks on display and try playing around to see how it feels to type in smaller formats (like 11"/12") and in bigger ones (14"/15"). You can also compare the resolutions and see what fits your eyes better. I don't think you will find current models with XGA or SXGA+ resolutions, but at least you will get a general idea...

My 0.02 cents...

[Puppy]

+ Programming, web-development

Then you need a higher resolution for sure. The XGA X series (without mods) provides is useless for this task. Unfortunately current notebooks no longer provides reasonable vertical resolution (900 or 1080 pixels only versus 1050 or 1200 in the past) so a T60 SXGA+ or UXGA would be the best choice. T60 (and X60 as well) have also good old non-flexing keyboard. Something you can't get with latest Lenovo models.

[rzl]

I'm visiting eBay.co.uk since i live in europe and i'd like to buy form a certain seller.

Does anyone from U.K. knows about sellers to whom i should not give my moneys? I mean, seller you'd not advice to buy from? Bad experiences, with sellers from the U.K. ?


Thanks,
rzl

[j-dawg]

Some people have put in an SXGA+ (1400x1050) LCD, but then the screen is getting almost unreadable (characters too small).
14" T60 with SXGA+ would be ideal.

Disagree. I like my 1400 * 1050 X61 tablet.

I've never needed the optical drive when I didn't have access to an external, I've never needed the extra horsepower of the T-series, even when I was using Solidworks. I have wanted a little more 3D power but I rarely play any games so it's not that big a deal.

If you're going to play a lot of video games, you don't want an X-series. If you're doing 3D work, well....my tablet worked just fine with Solidworks, but that's with occasional usage. I usually have access to 3D workstations. If you're going to do a lot of 3D work, a T will be better.

For programming, I doubt you'll need more than an X-series can offer.