First notebook purchase: Can you help me configure?

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Wolfie · #1 Post by **Wolfie** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:54 pm

Hi. I'm looking to purchase an X60s for graduate school and want some advice as to configuration. Essentially, if it's worth getting at the time of purchase, I might as well get it. Looking at the Lenovo website, they have a variety of X60s top seller program config that seems to have what I want.

Processor: L2400 for better battery life?
1G ram enough or should I go with 1.5g or even 2g?

I'm thinking 60g hard drive might be enough as I'm considering building a desktop and keep my notebook separate for school

Super Multi-Burner Ultrabay (having a dvd burner would be useful wouldn't it?) Should I get the curved bezel or flat bezel?

AC Adaptor. I have to buy one? If so which one?

Docking Station

Would having just one 8cell battery be enough or should I purchase a spare?

Any other accessories I should be looking at? Memory key?

I don't plan to sign up for the Verizon wireless service. But should I get the Verizon card for extra versatility? My campus is wired with WIFI. What is the Kensington wireless finder?

Anyone get the Computrace protection? lastly, should I purchase from the website? Call them up?

utgrad · #2 Post by **utgrad** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:43 pm

You can save money by getting RAM from other vendors and adding it yourself. I got the base 512meg and am just going to use that until I feel a RAM upgrade will be beneficial, RAM prices will get cheaper too.

Same thought on hard disk space.

Mine came with the ultrabay and CDBurner/DVDROM (not multi-burner)...if I need to burn DVDs then I'll get a USB external since I dont plan to carry the ultrabay with me everywhere.

Mine has the X6 ultrabay and it came with an AC adaptor-not sure if you get one if you only order a laptop though.

Ultrabay acts as docking station for my purposes.

I just have the 8-cell, but depends on how long you plan to go without a charge.

I didnt get the Verizon-dont plan to use it and the package that had it was a lot more $

I would be interested in hearing from people with the Computrace as well, but there are other aftermarket options available...Lo-Jack has a product.

Wolfie · #3 Post by **Wolfie** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:49 pm

Well looking at pricing, Lenovo's prices for ram again doesn't seem like a bad deal but then again, I haven't looked around all that much.

I'm a bit undecided about getting a multiburner. DVD burning is a useful feature but like you said, I could get an external.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

timendres · #4 Post by **timendres** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:50 pm

(Not sure if you made you purchase yet)

I have an X31, and I bought the media slice, and I NEVER use it.

Save the money for the media slice and drive, and spend it on more memory and an external USB DVD burner.

btorbik · #5 Post by **btorbik** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:53 pm

"...Processor: L2400 for better battery life?..."

Definitely. It should be available in one of the top-seller programs. Best overall combination of speed/performance.

"...1G ram enough or should I go with 1.5g or even 2g? ..."

I'd get 1GB initially and install a 3rd party option (Corsair, Kingston, Crucial) as and when you need it and when prices drop. Running XP with 512MB and some basic M$ Office programs chews up most of the 512MB, and if you want to take advantage of the Core-Duo technology, you'll need more than 512MB. For Vista, you'll want to have as much as possible.

"...I'm thinking 60g hard drive might be enough as I'm considering building a desktop and keep my notebook separate for school..."

It should be. You can always get a larger, cheaper 2.5" drive as an add-on.

"...Super Multi-Burner Ultrabay (having a dvd burner would be useful wouldn't it?)..."

You definitely want a DVD burner for future expandability. If you try to download Vista, it requires burning onto a DVD, for instance.

"...Should I get the curved bezel or flat bezel? ..."

Save your money and get the flat bezel. I've yet to figure out what use the curved one serves.

"...AC Adaptor. I have to buy one? If so which one? ..."

One is included with an X60s. Be advised that they are different than other ThinkPad adapters. My employers equips everyone with a TP, and I have several at home in different rooms. Unfortunately, none of them work with the X60s. My current unit is an X-31.

"...Docking Station ..."

You mean the Ultra Bay. Yes, you DEFINITELY want/need this. Get it as part of a package.

"....Would having just one 8cell battery be enough or should I purchase a spare? ..."

The 8-cell should be more than enough. I've heard some folks complain about its size, but I don't find it to be a problem. Given that it was included with the package, it was a great deal.

"...Any other accessories I should be looking at? Memory key? ..."

I would definitely get the Bluetooth card as part of any package. I use it for printing at home and use with my mobile phone. Saves having to play with a dongle. I don't think the memory key would be terribly useful/necessary.

"...I don't plan to sign up for the Verizon wireless service. But should I get the Verizon card for extra versatility?..."

Unless you particularly want EV-DO I'd wait and get a GSM/UMTS or HSDPA card when it's available from Cingular/T-Mo later this year.

"... My campus is wired with WIFI. What is the Kensington wireless finder? ..."

You don't need it. The in-built Intel program will find any available networks for you.

"...Anyone get the Computrace protection? lastly, should I purchase from the website? Call them up?..."

Don't know enough about it. Good luck with your purchase; the X60s is by far the best notebook I've ever had, and I've had several.

gandini · #6 Post by **gandini** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:22 pm

My 0.02 worth:
Get a bigger HD, and faster if possible. Try to spec the 80 or 100 Gb 7200rpm hd. Hard to get, but worth it.
I got 1Gb RAM and it came as 512 installed and a separate card. Dell installs it for you at time of build. Given this, spec 512 and buy your own.
Batteries. I found the Lenovo site hard to understand so I ended up with 4cell, 8 cell and extended add-on. Way too many batteries. I'd go for the 8 cell, period. It lasts forever and only adds 1" and 1/2lb to the very light weight x60s.
I didn't get WWAN, but maybe I should have...

good luck,

sugo · #7 Post by **sugo** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:55 pm

Regarding the ultrabase X6, I suggest OP to look at what ports it offers. Except serial and parallel ports, most other ports are available on the X60/s itself. Note that it doesn't even have a DVI port (what is Yamato Lab thinking?). It really depends on your usage at the end.

If I were to buy a new X60s, personally I would go for a powered USB 2.0 hub instead and connect external mouse/keyboard/optical drive/sound card to it. There are far more choices of USB optical drives out there. To hit the road, simply unplug one USB plug.

Bluetooth, WWAN card and fingerprint reader are very difficult or impossible to add after purchase.

As others have pointed out, RAM and HDD are easy to replace.

Wolfie · #8 Post by **Wolfie** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 6:52 pm

I think if I was to get an Ultrabase, I would get their multiburner. The biggest thing for me in terms of getting the ultrabase and multiburner is that lugging the Ultrabase with the drive along with my notebook is quite a bit more convenient than lugging an external DVD burner.

From reading the reviews and post here, docking and undocking isn't such an easy process. Is there a risk of scratching the notebook itself from frequent docking and undocking?

smvp6459 · #9 Post by **smvp6459** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:51 pm

A portable external DVD burner need not be enormous nor particularly expensive.

I bought this:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6827152069

and stuck it inside this:
http://www.thetechgeek.com/content/prod ... 44&cid=219

It's a little bit bigger than the slim drive but not a much bigger. It's not the fastest drive I've owned, but externals never are. It can play a DVD without the AC adapter but if the disk needs to spin at a faster rate then you need the AC. Otherwise, it does exactly what I need it to do.

dfumento · #10 Post by **dfumento** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:47 pm

1. Get 1 GB extra stick of RAM from www.newegg.com
2. I have the portable multiburner because I travel a lot and want to be able to easily take the CD/DVD with me. I would not get the dock.
3. the single 8-cell battery is fine.

Wolfie · #11 Post by **Wolfie** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:55 pm

So if I don't get the dock with the multiburner, there's no easy way for me to install software from CDs unless I get an external drive? Can I easily hook it up to a desktop and install software through my desktop?

NJ_IT · #12 Post by **NJ_IT** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:49 am

>Wolfie
Can I easily hook it up to a desktop and install software through my desktop?

You can connect X60 to desktop via LAN ,and share your cddrive in desktop after change desktop cddrive property to share.

BTW, I have been using X60 with X6 Ultrabase + super multi,because my main machine is T60 or T4x has ultraslim bay,so very easy to swap or transfer a drive(DVD/CD or harddrive) among ThinkPad.
I have a small and thin USB2 external CDRW drive,but many case in business trip ,I carry X60 with X6 ultrabase,because I need CDDrive and a few external Harddrive(with PATA adapter).
X6 base itself is very light,and it sometimes protected X60 body (at bottom side) from the shock ,ie, in the case of airport security check.
But in usual use ,you don't need X6 ultrabase......

#13 Post by **archer6** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 5:52 pm

I originally purchased the Ultrabase which is very high quality & works well. My decision was based on the fact that I already have a selection of Ultrabay Slim devices. I have no problems docking the computer to it, as some report here. However, I find that the combination of the X60 mounted on the Ultrabase is just too thick for my liking, especially for carrying. That said, I never use it!...

Why? because I also have a USB external DVD burner which is so much smaller, lighter, and easier to carry when I need it. Therefore, most of the time I end up taking just the computer and enjoying the fact that it's small, slim and less than 3 lbs...

Wolfie · #14 Post by **Wolfie** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:57 pm

Ya in terms of portability, getting an external USB2.0 drive is the lighter option, but I'm thinking that the Ultrabase but slim drive options is more convenient since it simply makes the X60 thicker and a little bit heavier. But still, I don't think I have too much use for the ultrabase. So if I was to get an external USB2.0 drive, is the Lenovo USB2.0 Multiburner the one to get?

#15 Post by **archer6** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:07 am

Wolfie wrote:Ya in terms of portability, getting an external USB2.0 drive is the lighter option, but I'm thinking that the Ultrabase but slim drive options is more convenient since it simply makes the X60 thicker and a little bit heavier. But still, I don't think I have too much use for the ultrabase. So if I was to get an external USB2.0 drive, is the Lenovo USB2.0 Multiburner the one to get?

Here is some more info, I have a very accurate small industrial scale that I used to weigh these two:

T60 w/dvd burner in Ultrabay = 5.8 lbs.
X60s docked in Ultrabase w/dvd burner = 5.3 lbs.
X60s w/ external dvd burner = 3.6 lbs.

Thickness is very close with the X60 w/ base being just a bit thicker. I really like this external drive as it's fast, well made, light, and seems nearly too good to be true, considering it's so inexpensive.

Investment: Ultrabase $199, Ultrabay slim DVD burner $259 = Total: $458 (vs.) External DVD burner: $98 Here is the burner

Cheers....

Wolfie · #16 Post by **Wolfie** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:43 pm

Thanks. Ya, I think I'm not going to go with the Ultrabase.

Now I just have to decide what hard drive to get. Should I get the 5400RPM or 7200RPM drive? And which wireless card to get. Intel or Thinkpad? Bluetooth just for the extra capability I would assume?

sugo · #17 Post by **sugo** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:09 pm

Wolfie wrote:Should I get the 5400RPM or 7200RPM drive? And which wireless card to get. Intel or Thinkpad?

Have you tried to help yourself by searching old posts? It's your money, you decide.

Wolfie · #18 Post by **Wolfie** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:14 pm

I actually did do a search but couldn't find anything on the Wireless card and for the HD, there seems to be different opinions, particularly when it applies to other thinkpad models.

Archer, I just looked deeper into the external DVD burner you linked. Do you know of one that draws its power from USB so it's fully mobile?

#19 Post by **archer6** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:13 pm

Wolfie wrote:Archer, I just looked deeper into the external DVD burner you linked. Do you know of one that draws its power from USB so it's fully mobile?

The same one the link points to. Like so many others, they also have a provision for a/c power in addition, but when used with a ThinkPad I find that not needed. About the only time I would suggest using external power is when you are viewing a DVD movie, which is something that I do not do.

When traveling my entertainment on the airplane is my PSP. For tray table work in the plane it's the X60s...

Wolfie · #20 Post by **Wolfie** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:23 pm

So the Lite-On drive can get its power from USB? I read a review that it can't.

#21 Post by **archer6** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:07 am

Wolfie wrote:So the Lite-On drive can get its power from USB? I read a review that it can't.

I can only speak from my personal experience. Mine is a few months old, perhaps there have been some changes. I do know that I now have an IBM/Lenovo model that is also powered by the USB port. It's a bit smaller, thinner and lighter than the Lite-On drive. It was my first choice but they were back ordered for 4 months, so I bought the Lite-On to get me by. When the Lenovo drive arrived I gave the Lite-On to my son. The main drawback to the Lenovo drive is it was nearly twice the price of the Lite-On. However it is black, has the ThinkPad logo, and therefore "matches" my ThinkPad which matters to my obsessive side...

First notebook purchase: Can you help me configure?

First notebook purchase: Can you help me configure?

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