What do I want?

[leezer3]

Looking for any thoughts on this

I've currently got a Z61m, which I've had from new. Done the usual upgrades (3gb RAM + SSD), but it's starting to feel slooww...

Possibly the last straw was the 4 hours taken to find and install Windows updates last night (I think this is actually a Windows Update bug mind....) at 100% CPU.
Even though it's got the X1400 128mb graphics option, I've also had trouble getting drivers that support OpenGL properly on Win 7.

It's been a wonderful machine for the last 10 years (Purchased Jan 06!), but would like something faster and lighter.

I suspect I'm almost certainly looking for a Thinkpad as a replacement, and am happy to buy refurbs of an model a couple of generations older.
IMHO I think I need a minimum of 4gb RAM, SSD (Or at least the ability to replace with one; The Z61m was rather fussy with SSDs, and I think I tried about 3 before finding one it was happy with) plus the trackpoint. Would like the trackpoint buttons below the keyboard, as opposed to one with a single set below the trackpad, but I suppose I could compromise if required.

Main use is light VS/ Notepad++ based coding, with a healthy dose of Office 2010. Some media usage, so I'd rather not have a 1366x 768 screen, but could compromise on that front.

Anyone contemplated a similar upgrade recently?

[brchan]

T420 with HD+ display or T520 with FHD display.

Or if you want something for less than $100:

SXGA+ Intel T61 with T9300 cpu.

Both of these options would be much faster than your current setup.

[ZaZ]

I've currently got a Z61m, which I've had from new.

Most impressive. Saying what you're looking to spend, might help your cause.

[FryPpy]

My vote for T410 / T410s. With nVidia GPU if you need more GPU power.
Or X201 if you need something light to work on the go.
Anyway X201 or T410 with i5 or i7 can outperform your current C2D. And even intel GPU works ok in W7.
It is have the same aspect ratio (16:10) screen like your Z61m, but reolution is limited with WXGA (WXGA+) (no WSXGA+ options).

[hhhd1]

Sounds like you want a T520 or if you want more performance, the W520.

the integrated graphics option in the T520 is far more powerful than your current ati, and have no drivers issues with windows.

[leezer3]

I've currently got a Z61m, which I've had from new.

Most impressive. Saying what you're looking to spend, might help your cause.

Thanks

Was purchased 6 months or so into my first year at university after an abortive flirt with the original Macbook Pro (Nice design, awful keyboard and no right-click.....), and has been used on and off ever since. I've also got a nasty little netbook and a Windows tablet, but neither can match the Thinkpad.

Budget sadly isn't what it was in those days, I'd guess approx £250 UK money. (I think that's ~$300?)

Rather like the look of the T410s, but they seem to be rather thin on the ground over here
Would rather go a little larger than 12", but I admit I have looked at the X220.

[ZaZ]

The benefit of the X220 being the much better screen if you don't mind the HD resolution. It's a terrific machine.

[rambo47]

Nobody has suggested the X1 Carbon. My buddy has a work-issued X1C and loves it. Any reason nobody suggested it?

[RealBlackStuff]

X1 Carbon is way beyond his budget, that's why it's not suggested.
Apart from that, stay away from the Gen 2, it got useless F-keys.
Gen 1 or Gen 3 is OK (with higher resolution LCDs).