The perfect laptop for a writer

[sinartus]

Hi guys. I am new on this forum and this is first post. I have a dilemma that I am hoping you guys can help me with.

My wife is a professional freelance corporate writer and she has been using her Thinkpad X60s for more than 4 years. Apart from using Microsoft Word, she reviews PDFs, PowerPoints from her clients before compiling them together into her piece. She is interested in upgrading her X60s with the hope of having more vertical screen real estate while also wishing for a light computer.

Searching the newer line of Thinkpads, she just can't find a model that gives her the screen ratio of the X60s. We came across the T60 and think it might be a good upgrade from the X60s despite that it's also an older Thinkpad. We found someone who is selling used T60 model 2007-CG6 with 1024x768 screen resolution for about $230 dollars and seems to be in good condition. We know that this is not a light computer but she is willing to sacrifice the weight in order to have a comfortable computer to work on.

The question is whether the 14.1 screen size on 1024x768 resolution will give enough real estate space or should she find a T60 with the SXGA+(1400x1050)? She did mentioned before owning the X60s, she used a Toshiba with a higher screen resolution and she ended lowering down because it was too small for her to edit her documents.

Also, if any of you can recommend other models that might be suitable for her work, please let us know. Many thanks!

[BillMorrow]

hello and welcome to the forum..

the age of both the X60 and T60 series is the same..

a T60 with 1024x768 is not what i would seek..
a better example would be either a T60 or T61 with the 1050x1400 (SXGA+) display..
finding one in good shape in a T61 might be a bit of a challenge, though..

there is also the T60p with 1920x1200 display BUT your wife would need good eyesight..

same for the T60p 1200x1600 which is an EXCELLENT thinkpad..

sure, these don't have all the refinements of nbewer thinkpads but they are hardy and serviceable and offer good value for the money, in my opinion..

[miro_gt]

for a writer, T61 14" wide at the standard 1280x800 is what you need

[dasein13]

I pretty much concur with what has been said about the T60. It might be older but it is still a very solid machine.

I have bad eyesight and I prefer to do a lot of reading (and some writing). I thus love the 1024X768 screen resolution. I also prefer the 4:3 aspect ratio display since I value vertical space.

I think that a 14 inch model would fit your needs i.e. not too big, not too small.

[RealBlackStuff]

I would keep the X60 for its portability, and buy an external monitor, which can rotate 90 degrees, i.e. short side up, and comes with the proper software.
That way, on say a rotated 1400x1050 (SXGA+) screen you have a width of 1050, but a height of 1400.
[Corrected resolution]
That would be almost twice as high as her current 1024x768 (XGA) screen.

Personally I use a HP LP1965 monitor, which has a 19" screen with a 5:4 ratio resolution of 1280x1024 (SXGA).
I sit almost 3 feet away, and can read everything perfectly.
That has still 25% more vertical space than the X60 with 1024x768.
Perfect for a writer IMHO.

[Raceboy]

Small correction: SXGA+ is 1400x1050 not 1440x1050.

[taichi]

I would absolutely go along with what Bill Morrow suggested...the T60p 1200x1600.

The keyboard is phenomenal, and your wife will thank you for the Flexview screen.

[miro_gt]

I think you all should actually read the OP's post before suggesting screens with higher resolution, and/or other manipulations

... She did mentioned before owning the X60s, she used a Toshiba with a higher screen resolution and she ended lowering down because it was too small for her to edit her documents.

personally I had to go with large fonts on my 14" 1400x1050 in order to read fine without putting some effort. This pretty much relates to equal space with any standard screen regarding the fonts. Note that I dont have any eyesight issues.

as far as T61 vs T60 - you want to be able to use faster computer anyways, and you cant fit Penryn CPU in T60, nor you can install W7 64bit in case it's needed, so can't use more than 3GB RAM top (in a T60)

[taichi]

The virtue of the T60P with the Flexview screen is the sheer clarity of the screen, which is easier on the eyes than any LCD screen I have seen. The UXGA screen is lovely, and I have set my DPI high so there is no problem with reading text. Of course she can always get a lower res Flexview if she doesn't want to adjust DPI. Additionaly the ATI FireGL is adequate for most video purposes when needed.

A writer does not, in my opinion, need more than the processor in the T60P. I was humming along just fine with my old UXGA A21P before picking up a T60P.

[ajkula66]

I would absolutely go along with what Bill Morrow suggested...the T60p 1200x1600.

The keyboard is phenomenal, and your wife will thank you for the Flexview screen.

+ 1

The virtue of the T60P with the Flexview screen is the sheer clarity of the screen, which is easier on the eyes than any LCD screen I have seen.

+ 1 and then some. My eyesight is *very* bad and I get headaches from conventional TN panels very quickly. IPS/AFFS panels - regardless od resolution - have no ill effect.

If the lady in question is willing to handle a 15" ThinkPad, I believe that she would most likely find 15" SXGA+ T60/p very comfortable to use when it comes to screen resolution.

[RealBlackStuff]

I'd really be interested in reaction(s) from the OP.

[hoax32]

I would suggest following setup:

Model: T61
Screen: 14.1" widescreen 1280x800
CPU: Dual core any
GPU: Intel GMA950
RAM: 1GB for XP - 2GB for Windows 7
HDD: your choice

[pianowizard]

Apart from using Microsoft Word, she reviews PDFs, PowerPoints from her clients before compiling them together into her piece.

Do you think she would find it helpful to view the PDF/PPT side by side with the Word document? In that case, definitely get a laptop that's higher res than 1024x768.

She is interested in upgrading her X60s with the hope of having more vertical screen real estate while also wishing for a light computer...We found someone who is selling used T60 model 2007-CG6 with 1024x768 screen resolution

I am not sure you are using the correct terminology. "Real estate" refers to resolution, but the fact that you are considering a 14.1" laptop with the same resolution as the X60s suggests that perhaps you just want a taller screen.

She did mentioned before owning the X60s, she used a Toshiba with a higher screen resolution and she ended lowering down

Was that Toshiba 12.1" 1400x1050 or 14.1" 1400x1050?

A laptop that's worth looking into is the Z61t, with 14.1" 1440x900 and weighing about 4.7 lbs. If you remove the optical drive, it would become 4.3 lbs.

[sinartus]

Hi folks. This is the reason why I love this forum. All of the advice given are wonderful. Our sincere thanks for the time and effort.

In regards to pianowizard's comment about the terminalogy of "real estate", yes, I am a bit confused. Here is my perception and please do correct me if I am wrong.

If I were to take the X220 as an example, I am guessing that her X60s set on the highest resolution will give her more vertical area than the X220 set on the same resolution setting. My guess is that if the X220 is set on its highest resolution, the font would be much smaller and because the physical screen of the X220 is smaller than the X60s, she will have to scroll more often to view the document.

It was based on this assumption that I thought a T60 would be better than the newer model as she would like to view vertically as much as possible on the document.

We have thought about what RealBlackStuff wrote regarding the external screen. We are considering this because she loves the way the X60s can fit into her day bag without taking too much space.

My wife is not too sure of her former Toshiba's screen resolution and I only saw it briefly before she changed to the X60s.

I am interested in reading if there are others like dasein13 who think that the T60 with the 1024x768 screen resolution is the way to go. My wife is not complaining about her current screen resolution so I am now wondering whether I am thinking too much about this. I guess a T60 with a higher resolution would be good but perhaps the 1024 x 768 a 14" screen should be good enough (of course she will not be able to view documents side by side).

In the meantime, I will try to explore and find the models that Bill and the others have suggested.

[dsvochak]

Like every question without an answer that can be determined with mathematical precision, the answer to a screen resolution question is “it depends”. While there is a strong bias toward high resolution and/or flexview screen here, it may not be the best solution for your spouse.

I spend 30-40 hours per week drafting and editing pleading and briefs, reading cases, etc. on a 14” T61 or Z61t 1280x800 screen and before than on a 14” 1024x768 Tx screens. As a matter of choice I do not use an external monitor, keyboard or mouse. As a matter of choice, I keep the screen resolution and font size at their native levels.

My productivity level is not a function of screen “real estate” but is a function of comprehension and typing speed. A font that is too small to read comfortably or, when editing, to instantly place the cursor adversely impacts my productivity. A comfortably size font and a good keyboard increase my productivity. When a brief with exhibits may be 150-200 pages (or more) reviewing and editing involves a lot of scrolling. A few additional lines per screen is significantly less important than one’s level of comprehension, which is related to how quickly one can read, which is related to how well one can see the screen.

I’ve used X machines with 12” 1024 x 768 in the past. I switched entirely to 14” machines as the 12” font is simply too small to be comfortable for me. The same would be true of a high res 14” or 15” machine. In addition, while the x series keyboards are excellent, the 14” and 15” T & Z keyboards are better.

After the long answer, the short answer requires your spouse look at the T60 screen. If she’s comfortable, then that may be the way to go. Is she comfortable if she pulls up a word document and reduces the view from 100% to say 75%? If the answer is yes, perhaps a higher res screen is the way to go. Only you and she can know.

[pianowizard]

We have thought about what RealBlackStuff wrote regarding the external screen. We are considering this because she loves the way the X60s can fit into her day bag without taking too much space.

I am glad to hear that you are considering this route, because it really is the best. Desktop monitors give you a lot more working area (both physical area and resolution), and text and images look much bigger so the user experiences much less eye strain.

I highly recommend getting a 24" monitor with 1920x1200 resolution, which allows you to easily view two documents side by side, with each doc at full-page, 100% magnification. If you wife often needs to transfer info from the PDF/PPT to the Word doc, side-by-side viewing would dramatically increase productivity. Do NOT settle for a 1920x1080 monitor. Those extra 120 pixel rows make a huge difference.

[underclocker]

I think the OP has enough to go on, but I'll mention one thing, which has certainly been hinted at via all the IPS panel recommendations. Quality may be more important than resolution, but many people prefer both, as in the UXGA IPS panel.

My most used ThinkPad has an LG WSXGA+ LCD (1680 x 1050), which is just right for my research, writing and spreadsheets. I actually tried two or three other same resolution, but with different manufacturer or manufacture date panels, before finding this one by LG. (However, swapping LCD panels isn't for everyone.)

My MacBook 15 also has a (non-glare) WSXGA+ panel, which is superb quality.

Even with XGA panels, there are significant differences between panel makes and models.

Without question, comfort improves with quality. I'd rather take a lower resolution quality panel over a higher resolution average (or worse) panel. The safest bet is either an SXGA+ or UXGA IPS panel, but there are good quality alternatives.

[Bminus]

Have you considered a dock with an external monitor? I have a close friend who's a freelance translator who does this and it suits him very well.

Also, no one else pointed out that $230 is a bit pricey for a T60 in today's market. I personally bought my T61P equipped with a T7700 for $250 a while back.

I'd rather take a lower resolution quality panel over a higher resolution average (or worse) panel. The safest bet is either an SXGA+ or UXGA IPS panel, but there are good quality alternatives.

This doesn't quite make sense to me. Personally, I like having options. If in case a higher resolution panel is too much for my eyes to handle, I can always adjust it down to a lower resolution.

[sinartus]

We have decided! Went out today and bought an external monitor. After seeing several laptops and reviewing the size of the T60, she was just not comfortable with letting go of her X60s.

She ended up with a Dell 23" monitor C2P41 that can be vertically rotated, adjustable height and with the base that swivels for about US$280. Regarding pianowizard's latest advise about not getting the 1920x1080, the next one up was the 24" monitor which I believe has the 1920x1200 pixel dimension mentioned but was selling about $500. I guess prices may be different in the US but we felt $500 was a bit expensive.

The funny thing after worrying about the resolution and all, she is now on the 1920x1080 setting and not even feel the difference. Perhaps it was all about how big the monitor is. The fact that she now can view documents side-by-side is really making the difference for her. In the end, I marvel at the X60s. It was purchased in 2007 and it keeps on going and going. With this external screen, I can see this little laptop go on for some more years.

Many thanks to all for the suggestions. They certainly have helped us making the right decision. We really appreciate all the help.

[pianowizard]

She ended up with a Dell 23" monitor C2P41 that can be vertically rotated, adjustable height and with the base that swivels for about US$280.

I had never heard of C2P41, so I Googled it up and found that the model is actually the P2311H. It should be Dell's second best line of monitors, right behind the "UltraSharp" series. Have you tried rotating your monitor into portrait mode yet? Three of my 24" 1920x1200 monitors are in portrait mode and I love it!

Regarding pianowizard's latest advise about not getting the 1920x1080, the next one up was the 24" monitor which I believe has the 1920x1200 pixel dimension mentioned but was selling about $500. I guess prices may be different in the US but we felt $500 was a bit expensive.

Indeed, prices in the U.S. are about 30% lower than those in Asia or Europe. And I tend to buy used, which further saves me money. I have one 1920x1080 monitor and think it's okay, but 1920x1200 is much better. Nonetheless, since your wife is used to 1024x768, 1920x1080 is still a MAJOR upgrade.

[sinartus]

Yes you are right. It is the P2311H model. It was only scribbled on the box instead of printed out on the label hence why I didn't catch it the first time. We have tried rotating the monitor in portrait view and it is indeed gorgeous! Unfortunately for now, her desk does not have enough space for vertical rotation as there are shelves directly above her desk. But even on the landscape mode, there is more than enough space for her to work on and she is definitely loving it. This is our first Dell monitor and so far it is money well spent. Many thanks again for the advice!