x60(s) vs. macbook , and why I wouldn't switch hardware-wise

[tomh009]

Indeed! I see the difference now ... 1706-AVU (X60 1.66 GHz, 1 GB, 80 GB) is C$2249 on standard web site, C$1686 through visaperks.ca. Wow.

Thanks very much!

If your considering the system you listed.. look at the (170686U). It goes for 1400 and better spec'd

No, wasn;t actually considering that (would probably go for something like 17006-B8U instead, though that doesn't have Bluetooth). The AVU was just a convenient comparison -- the first system I found on both lists!

[em500]

The cheapest X60 is more expensive than the most expensive MacBook, has very different strengths and weaknesses and generally is aimed at a completely different user.

Not to detract from your general point, but this is of course demonstrably false. The most expensive (non-BTO) MB is $1500, while the cheapest X60 is currently $1370. IIRC, a few months ago Lenovo even had some for sale for $1300 or less.

[asiafish]

Add XP Professional and it goes up to $1440, and you MUST add XP professional or your wonderful dual core CPU will be wasted on XP Home's lack of multiple CPU awareness.

[tomh009]

Add XP Professional and it goes up to $1440, and you MUST add XP professional or your wonderful dual core CPU will be wasted on XP Home's lack of multiple CPU awareness.

Incorrect. Windows XP Home does not support multiple CPUs but it does support multiple cores.

See here:
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Weblets/0,,783 ... 64,00.html

[TP60]

I actually have been using Macs principally for a few years now, and I really prefer the Mac OS X system for many reasons. However, the limited hardware choices have always been a bother of sorts. For awhile, I was using a 12" PowerBook, which at 4.6 pounds was a little too heavy but tolerable.

Over the last few months, I have been using a MacBook mostly as a desktop (connected to a 23" monitor) and a Thinkpad X60 as a portable. I keep going back to the Mac because of the software, but am gravitating towards the Thinkpad more consistently. The main reason is weight. The Mac weighs 5.2 pounds, although it has a built-in optical drive, while the Thinkpad (with the four-cell battery) weighs only 3.15 pounds, or two pounds less. Apple makes no lighter notebook anymore, so they have apparently abandoned the market.

Here are some comparisons:

Screen: Mac is nicer than the TP, even with the reflections. Vista makes things better on the TP and one can move the screen to get better aspect. But the Mac is brighter and clearer.

Keyboard: Both are good, but the TP is more solid feeling. Either one works well for me.

Trackpad v. Trackpoint: Both are good. I like the Mac trackpad better as my finger tends to cramp with the trackpoint.

Fan noise: The MacBook fan rarely runs, so it is a very quiet computer. The ThinkPad goes on and off, and with Vista stays on more. It has not shut off this morning at all (on AC power).

Battery life: The 4-cell battery gets poor life compared with the Mac's battery. I can get 4+ working with the MacBook, using wireless.

Connections: Mac has 6-pin firewire port which provides power to external devices, TP has 4-pin port which does not. Three USB ports on the TP, 2 on MacBook. Mac requires video adapter for external monitor or projector and external modem as well as AC power. It has no PC card slot, and no SD, Compact Flash, etc. slot. Wireless range seems better in the Mac by a small amount.

Memory upgrade: Easier on the TP, and it is less sensitive to the memory specs. Macs are pretty sensitive to memory tolerances, it seems.

So, I am basically a Mac person who prefers the ThinkPad hardware. I really need/want a 3 to 4 pound notebook and the TP fills that well. Apple apparently does not care about professionals who need a portable machine. Because they will not discuss future products, one can only guess at whether they will ever deliver a truly lightweight machine.

[dfumento]

So, I am basically a Mac person who prefers the ThinkPad hardware. I really need/want a 3 to 4 pound notebook and the TP fills that well. Apple apparently does not care about professionals who need a portable machine. Because they will not discuss future products, one can only guess at whether they will ever deliver a truly lightweight machine.

You can buy a copy of OS X for about $130 and dual boot install (or single boot) on a Thinkpad X60(s).
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=28966

[tomh009]

Fan noise: The MacBook fan rarely runs, so it is a very quiet computer. The ThinkPad goes on and off, and with Vista stays on more. It has not shut off this morning at all (on AC power).

You really should run NHC ... it will make your X60 run cooler and thus your fan should rarely go on. (My fan only switches on when running extended Photoshop actions.) Batteries will last longer, too!

[apbudha]

So, I am basically a Mac person who prefers the ThinkPad hardware. I really need/want a 3 to 4 pound notebook and the TP fills that well. Apple apparently does not care about professionals who need a portable machine. Because they will not discuss future products, one can only guess at whether they will ever deliver a truly lightweight machine.

thanks for sharing your post, i think in many ways that sums it up for many of us. people that like good hardware, quality keyboards, good battery and easy of mobility, etc, naturally gravitate towards the thinkpads and xseries.

same goes for macosx but in the software/interface space, although I am making this inference based on surveyed opinions.

I do not understand why there is not a line, as there was before, that had a light notebook with a 12" screen. If innovation and the future is apart of apple's vision, do they not realize the future is thinner, lighter laptops with amazing speed and battery life. I believe the new Intel cpus and the introduction of hard drives with flash memory is a obvious step in that direction.

I wonder how satisfied people running osx on their x60 or x60s are with the results, because obviously this seems like a perfect combination, compatibility issues aside.

[TP60]

Does NHC run on Vista? That sounds good to make it run cooler and without as much fan activity.


[quote="tomh009"][quote="TP60"]Fan noise: The MacBook fan rarely runs, so it is a very quiet computer. The ThinkPad goes on and off, and with Vista stays on more. It has not shut off this morning at all (on AC power).[/quote]

You really should run NHC ... it will make your X60 run cooler and thus your fan should rarely go on. (My fan only switches on when running extended Photoshop actions.) Batteries will last longer, too![/quote]

[CyberSeb]

Hello,

I'm in the same boat. I somehow have to decide between the MacBook and the X60s. What's more important - hardware or software?

I'm a computer science student and really need a new computer. I have been using an iBook G4 800 for the last 3 years, but my demands are getting higher and the display backlight is starting to fail.

I really like Mac OS X. It's easy to use, runs really nice applications and I really need the Unix-functionality. I can't live without a shell and the gcc compiler... I like that it "just works". I'm in front of a computer almost the whole day, so I don't want to spend a lot of time maintaining them. I also love iMovie (I use that a lot) and EyeTV (the iBook is also used as a videorecorder).

However, I really don't like the new MacBooks. IMHO they have a cheap case-design and the whole machine is everything but not ergonomic. I hate the glossy screen, the keyboard (looks like a cheap calculator to me) and the sharp edges. Besides that it's really big and heavy. In my opinion the machine ist not an improvement over my old iBook, besides speed.

The ThinkPad would be perfekt hardware-wise. It's so [censored] sexy and cool ... But I don't want to use Windows (ugh!) nor Linux. Linux would be OK somehow - it gives me the functionality I need, but I fear it doesn't really work well (VGA-out, for example) and that it takes to much time to maintain.

OS X on the thinkpad would not be a perfect solution, as probably some stuff isn't working.

I need the computer for both home and uni. Maybe it would be the best to buy the thinkpad and a Mac Mini later when they are more powerful ... Money isn't really the issue - I just want to buy something good, but also don't waste the money.

Three years ago this was an easy decission. I saw that iBook and it was perfect.

Ugh. This is really making me mad. I've been looking for a new notebook for about 1 year. I should spend my time different.

Sebastian

[dfumento]

OS X on the thinkpad would not be a perfect solution, as probably some stuff isn't working.

People have been running OS-X on X60. Ask them how well it works.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewforum.php?f=32