2005-built T60p DEMO 2007-OVU

[H-Atkinson]

I recently picked up a T60p prototype on eBay with a production date of 2005. The model number is "Type 2007-OVU," which according to Lenovo (and google) does not exist. It arrives on Tuesday, so Ill post an update then, but does anyone know anything about it?

At first glance, it looks like a normal 15" T60, however the seller stated it measures and fits the dimensions of a 14.1" T60. Upon closed inspection, the screw pater on the bottom case, and the screw pattern on the side of the screen don't match any production T60s either. The gap between the hole for the ultrabay and the drive in it is also larger than it is on my 15 or 14 inch T60ps that I have here. The bottom labels state "DEMO" and "NOT A CONSUMER SHIP LEVEL SYSTEM." Does anyone have a unit marked like this, or know about T60s from 2005?

If it matters, the seller resells things repoed in estate abandonments, and it was stated this laptop came from a town in Massachusetts not too far from an IBM office.

Any info that people have about this would be appreciated. I will post an update when it gets here. For now, Ive put all the eBay photos up for people to see if they want.

Album: https://imgur.com/a/3e8A4dY

[theterminator93]

There is an entry for that MTM in the database: T2600(2.16GHz), 3GB RAM, 100GB 7200rpm HD, 15in 1600x1200 LCD, 256MB ATI FireGL V5200, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Verizon WWAN, Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 9c Li-Ion, WinXP Pro

I wonder if it was an early limited-run model sent to a reviewer or something?

[H-Atkinson]

Which database did you find this in? I coulnt find any reference to it on Lenovo's serial number lookup tool, or the P/N lookup tool. Also, when comparing the battery gap to other 15" T60s, it seems smaller.

Im wondering if this may have been one of the demo units for something like CES.

[ajkula66]

Which database did you find this in?

Click on the MTM link on the top of the page.

I coulnt find any reference to it on Lenovo's serial number lookup tool, or the P/N lookup tool. Also, when comparing the battery gap to other 15" T60s, it seems smaller.

T60 generation was purged out of the serial number system lookup at at least five years ago.

Im wondering if this may have been one of the demo units for something like CES.

It's possible, but far more likely that it was a testbed system given to reviewers etc. A very loaded machine for its day and age, no questions asked.

Enjoy that oldie!

[H-Atkinson]

Ill enjoy it fore sure (especially if it really is a FlexView 1600x1200), however I dont think Ill use it daily (bulding a new T601 14.1 for that, board gets here today), and Ill try to preserve/document it if there is anything interesting about it.

I checked some photos of the bottom of some 15" 4:3 T60s, and the screw patters still don't match. The drive door also matches that of a widescreen 15" T60p. The longer I look at the photos the more stuff seems off about it. Will post another update when it arrives (monday-tuesday)

[ajkula66]

Will post another update when it arrives (monday-tuesday)

Looking forward to that...

[H-Atkinson]

It got here yesterday afternoon. I tried using rescue and recovery to back up and then reset the drive, but rescue and recovery doesnt seem to actually work on this system, and is unfinished (cant recognize drives other than the HDD, not even ultrabay). When I get back from work Ill post pictures, and try to bypass the password (administrator password in XP is set).

[H-Atkinson]

Ok, got it unlocked.

Its registered to ATI, so it was probably a unit for them to test on.

Photos: https://m.imgur.com/a/PmdS5oD

Its perfectly clean inside, and the battery has had fewer than 50 cycles since 1st use in 2006. Thermal paste shouldnt need changing as it runs cool right now. The screen is fantastic, and seems to be either barely used, or LED-lit (will check PN to verify).

[Thinkpad4by3]

Ok, got it unlocked.

Its registered to ATI, so it was probably a unit for them to test on.

Photos: https://m.imgur.com/a/PmdS5oD

Its perfectly clean inside, and the battery has had fewer than 50 cycles since 1st use in 2006. Thermal paste shouldnt need changing as it runs cool right now. The screen is fantastic, and seems to be either barely used, or LED-lit (will check PN to verify).

Nice find...I was eyeing it on eBay but glossed over the DEMO part.

LED in 2005? Ha...no. A good bright CCFL can fool you for an LED panel...I know my MaxBright W700 panel did!

[ajkula66]

Thermal paste shouldnt need changing as it runs cool right now. The screen is fantastic, and seems to be either barely used, or LED-lit (will check PN to verify).

Please re-paste the system ASAP. Pretty please...

As for the panel, it's either an ID Tech or Hydis. A little utility called Moninfo will reveal it.

[H-Atkinson]

Will repaste as soon as I have time (hopefully tomorrow). Wont need to use it between now and then, so it should be a nonissue.

As for the panel, Ill check the ID after I repaste it.

[theterminator93]

Very nice specimen indeed. Definitely the 15" model.

If you want an LED panel, there is one that is almost a drop-in replacement... the LCD cable and inverter needs some modification to work with the panel though, and the panels (HV150UX2-100) are pretty hard to find nowadays at a reasonable price (they are actually used as the PFD on some airliners). It's a pretty big bump in brightness and there's a very noticeable battery life improvement as well.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Very nice specimen indeed. Definitely the 15" model.

If you want an LED panel, there is one that is almost a drop-in replacement... the LCD cable and inverter needs some modification to work with the panel though, and the panels (HV150UX2-100) are pretty hard to find nowadays at a reasonable price (they are actually used as the PFD on some airliners). It's a pretty big bump in brightness and there's a very noticeable battery life improvement as well.

Wouldn't recommend destroying a prototype for an LED mod. Go find yourself a regular old production model T60 for that.

[H-Atkinson]

Very nice specimen indeed. Definitely the 15" model.

If you want an LED panel, there is one that is almost a drop-in replacement... the LCD cable and inverter needs some modification to work with the panel though, and the panels (HV150UX2-100) are pretty hard to find nowadays at a reasonable price (they are actually used as the PFD on some airliners). It's a pretty big bump in brightness and there's a very noticeable battery life improvement as well.

If I need to make a 15" Frankenpad Ill pick one of those up, along with a cheap/dead T60/p.

This thing was built almost a year before T60 entered full production, so I dont want to mess with it.

[ajkula66]

This thing was built almost a year before T60 entered full production, so I dont want to mess with it.

Fair enough. I wouldn't either.

One question: is the BIOS stock or some pre-production version ? Can you post a screenshot of the BIOS page ?

[H-Atkinson]

Unfortunately, the BIOS had been updated since the board was built (January 23 2006, so about 2 months after) and while this is still pre-production, all options are identical to those found on my other T60s, except that the order of the parallel and serial ports in the list are switched.

[ajkula66]

Unfortunately, the BIOS had been updated since the board was built (January 23 2006, so about 2 months after) and while this is still pre-production, all options are identical to those found on my other T60s, except that the order of the parallel and serial ports in the list are switched.

Count yourself lucky.

I've owned systems with pre-production BIOS versions that could not be updated.

[H-Atkinson]

Honestly was hoping it would be something interesting in the BIOS. Since I dont plan on using the machine as a daily-use PC, its not a big deal to me if I cant update it.

Another interesting thing, which I failed to mention earlier, is the sticker on the top edge of the lid, to the left side. It looks like they used the name "Davinci" at some point to identify it either within ATI, or IBM.