x61 tablet optimization + purchase opinion

[frontspice]

Hello thinkpads community,
Glad to jump on board to be a proud Thinkpad owner.

I wanted to touch base and ask for your opinion and your suggesion to optimize my upcoming x61t:

The first x61t I found was equipped with 1.6 ghz, 2g ram, 65GB HDD, with dock and stylus pen, for $130.
The second one is 1.8 ghz, 4g ram, 80GB HDD, with dock and stylus pen, two batteries, for 220.

I would like to optimize it to it's fullest potential, and I have faith that x61t can be very competitive with today's technology. I am thinking about upgrade it to a SSD at some point, but the price is too high, $250 for 250 GB.

This machine is simply for office use, such as writing papers, powerpoint, excel, taking notes (one note).

Please let me know your opinion if you could. Which one should I choose? What should I do to make it fastest possible?

Thank you for your time,
Ken

[ZaZ]

I'd take the one that's in the best shape and toss in a SSD. The CPUs won't make any difference. The X61t should be fine for your uses.

[frontspice]

I'd take the one that's in the best shape and toss in a SSD. The CPUs won't make any difference. The X61t should be fine for your uses.

Hi Zaz,
Thanks for the advice. It's hard to tell from the pictures as to which has a better shape. One thing I do know is that the 1.6 ghz machine has a refurbished keycover. The 1.8 ghz just look goods as new. Does the refurbished key covers tell about how the previous owner have used the machine? I am not too sure what key covers are.

[frontspice]

I'd take the one that's in the best shape and toss in a SSD. The CPUs won't make any difference. The X61t should be fine for your uses.

This is the one with 1.6ghz. Do you think it is in a good condition? http://www.ebay.com/itm/LenovoThinkpad- ... 9187102%26

Thank you!

[RealBlackStuff]

That keyboard with 'key covers' is a piece of junk!
They put stickers on the (most likely worn) keys, meaning the keyboard is also most likely rather old.
I wouldn't touch it.

[frontspice]

That keyboard with 'key covers' is a piece of junk!
They put stickers on the (most likely worn) keys, meaning the keyboard is also most likely rather old.
I wouldn't touch it.

Thank you. That helps a lot. It made me feel much better.

[Cigarguy]

I love my X61 and X61 tablets. I upgraded all of mine to 4GB RAM, SXGA+ screen, Win 7 and SSDs. One a 1 of my X61 tablet I installed a 500 GB hybrid drive which is much faster than a HDD but not as fast as a SSD. Hybrid, in certain circumstance, is a good comprise between performance and speed.

An upgraded X61 tablet is still a very viable computing platform.

[ajkula66]

@frontspice:

Take a look here as well:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=110061

This forum's Marketplace beats feebay in both quality and honesty any day of the week...

Happy shopping...