Z series quality

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Lukasz Glaz · #1 Post by **Lukasz Glaz** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:12 pm

I am considering to buy Z61m or T60. I have a couple of questions regarding the Z series:
1. Is the picture quality on the 1680x1050 displays comparable to the T series displays?
2. Are the Z series widescreen notebooks not too big and heavy?
3. Are the microphone and the camera built into the notebook a reasonable quality?
4. Are the Z series notebooks made with the same good quality and attention paid to details as the T series notebooks?

Thanks.

seeplus · #2 Post by **seeplus** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:08 pm

I am considering to buy Z61m or T60. I have a couple of questions regarding the Z series:
1. Is the picture quality on the 1680x1050 displays comparable to the T series displays?
2. Are the Z series widescreen notebooks not too big and heavy?
3. Are the microphone and the camera built into the notebook a reasonable quality?
4. Are the Z series notebooks made with the same good quality and attention paid to details as the T series notebooks?

1. Yes, I think that display is the same one used in the t60/p widescreen models.

2. I don't think the Z series are heavy or cumbersome at all; pictures online make them look bigger than they are. Flip side of that is that the t60 wides and 14"ers are SKINNY.

3. Mine doesn't have one.

4. Seems that this z61p is put together as well as t42's were. (thought the keyboard isn't quite as smooth..)

pianowizard · #3 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:49 pm

seeplus wrote:3. Mine doesn't have one.

The Z series doesn't have a built-in microphone? That can be a big problem for many people, including me. I can understand why some ultraportable laptops don't have one (to minimize weight), but it's insane to omit such an essential feature from a desktop replacement laptop.

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:08 pm

pianowizard wrote:
seeplus wrote:3. Mine doesn't have one.
The Z series doesn't have a built-in microphone?

From the tabook for the Z61m:

tabook wrote:High Definition (HD) Audio / AD1981HD codec / stereo speakers / 1 watt / volume up, down, mute buttons / GMA models: mono microphone; ATI graphics models: stereo microphone / microphone input jack / headphone jack

Some: camera on top of screen / 0.3-megapixel / fixed focus / USB 2.0

pianowizard · #5 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:19 pm

GomJabbar wrote:GMA models: mono microphone; ATI graphics models: stereo microphone / microphone input jack

Thanks for looking that up. It's good to know that Lenovo hasn't gone crazy. My Dell Inspiron 6000 is also a "multimedia-oriented" laptop like the Z series and it doesn't have a built-in microphone.

warder · #6 Post by **warder** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:20 pm

My z60m has a mic built in but it picks up too much fan and drive noise.

They should have put it in the screen not the base.

The general build quality is the best of any laptop I've had though.

sapibobo · #7 Post by **sapibobo** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:08 am

Mine is z61 9451a21, ati type model. It has a stereo microphone, three of them. Two located under the screen bezel, off center to the left. The other is in the left edge of palm rest, exactly under the "fn" button. I have not tried them though.

The cam is VGA (640 X 480) and surprisingly took a good image under the lowlight condition.

cj3209 · #8 Post by **cj3209** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:00 am

1. Is the picture quality on the 1680x1050 displays comparable to the T series displays?

I own and use a T43p, X60s, and T40. My z61t has a comparable LCD. Very bright and zero dead pixels.

2. Are the Z series widescreen notebooks not too big and heavy?

They feel similar to a 14" T43 or T60 in both size and weight.

3. Are the microphone and the camera built into the notebook a reasonable quality?

Yes. The camera is surprisingly decent. I haven't tested the microphone.

4. Are the Z series notebooks made with the same good quality and attention paid to details as the T series notebooks?

I believe so. It's just as solid (maybe more so) than my 'old' T43p.

All-in-all, I'm impressed with my Z61t. It is VERY solid. The titanium LCD lid is the most solid lid I've ever used. Everything is tight on this machine with the exception of the hard drive cover which feels a bit loose and there is a tiny gap. Other than that, ZERO creaking - unlike the T43p which creaked a lot.

I'd say overall, this notebook feels sturdier than my t43p.

CJ

Thanks.[/quote]

#9 Post by **ryengineer** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:04 am

Lukasz Glaz wrote:I am considering to buy Z61m or T60. I have a couple of questions regarding the Z series:
1. Is the picture quality on the 1680x1050 displays comparable to the T series displays?
2. Are the Z series widescreen notebooks not too big and heavy?
3. Are the microphone and the camera built into the notebook a reasonable quality?
4. Are the Z series notebooks made with the same good quality and attention paid to details as the T series notebooks?

Thanks.

If you are making a longterm investment then I would say you should go with thinkpad T60.

I own a Z61m and my husband a T60 notebook, we swap them occasionally and I find Z61m more bulkier and a bit heavier than T60. Also, T60 appears more portable and sleek to me. If you travel alot then T60 is a better notebook for you.

But again its me.

Mary.

gearguy · #10 Post by **gearguy** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:10 am

pianowizard wrote:
seeplus wrote:3. Mine doesn't have one.
The Z series doesn't have a built-in microphone? That can be a big problem for many people, including me. I can understand why some ultraportable laptops don't have one (to minimize weight), but it's insane to omit such an essential feature from a desktop replacement laptop.

I wouldn't really class the Z series as a Desktop replacement... =/ None of the THinkpads really out match a lot of Desktops.

pianowizard · #11 Post by **pianowizard** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:15 am

gearguy wrote:I wouldn't really class the Z series as a Desktop replacement... =/ None of the THinkpads really out match a lot of Desktops.

If we go by your definition, then there are VERY few desktop replacement laptops out there. IMO, "desktop replacement" doesn't mean these laptops outperform most desktop computers, but instead they have most of the basic features that desktop computers have, e.g. big screen, built-in optical drive, big keyboard, dedicated graphics card (usually). To have all these features, these laptops also tend to be pretty big and heavy (to me that means >6 lbs). People would rather buy these desktop replacement laptops not because they are more powerful than desktops, but because they are portable. In other words, these laptops replace desktops not in the sense that they supercede them, but in the sense that they allow people to get by without a desktop computer.

seeplus · #12 Post by **seeplus** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:40 pm

One last word from me on z61p quality/suitability.

In my opinion; very nearly the perfect notebook computer. Build quality, styling, features, and performance are all ideal, and it's reasonably priced. With one exception. A 1920x1200 resolution 15.4" widescreen LCD needs a BRIGHT backlight, and this panel doesn't have one. 175nits is more than enough to see 1680x1050 @15.4", but falls a little short for my eyes @wuxga resolution.

Hope this helps some others considering the same system.. I know there isn't a lot of info around

Manarius · #13 Post by **Manarius** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:34 am

I'd hardly call 6lb heavy. It may be heavy by laptop standards, but 6lb isn't that much unless you can't carry a lot of weight.

My Z60m has performed basically flawlessly. Now, granted, I have the MaxBright 300nit screen which can light up rooms with a single glow, but the quality of the equipment is superb compared to some sub-standard Dell laptop.

electric_monk · #14 Post by **electric_monk** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:56 am

seeplus wrote:One last word from me on z61p quality/suitability.

In my opinion; very nearly the perfect notebook computer. Build quality, styling, features, and performance are all ideal, and it's reasonably priced. With one exception. A 1920x1200 resolution 15.4" widescreen LCD needs a BRIGHT backlight, and this panel doesn't have one. 175nits is more than enough to see 1680x1050 @15.4", but falls a little short for my eyes @wuxga resolution.

Hope this helps some others considering the same system.. I know there isn't a lot of info around

Are you running a z61p at 1680x1050? If so, how does it look? I am considering one, but the text at 1920x1200 is too small for me.

thanks,
Dan

pianowizard · #15 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:55 am

electric_monk wrote:Are you running a z61p at 1680x1050? If so, how does it look?

It's 128.6 dots per inch, i.e. about the same text size as for 12.1" widescreen @ 1280x800 (124.7 DPI) or 14.1" 4:3 screen @ 1400x1050 (124.1 DPI). By contrast, a 15.4" widescreen @ 1920x1200 gives you 147.0.

seeplus · #16 Post by **seeplus** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:13 am

Are you running a z61p at 1680x1050?

No (it looks crappy at non-native resolutions) but I tried it just to compare the brightness/viewability.
I feel like if the z61p could somehow muster two more bars of brightness, it would be in business. Maybe it's just my vision :)
It becomes much more comfortable to look at when you up the DPI in Windows Display settings. This will hopefully be a non-issue in Vista, though!

Tips for optimizing viewing on z61p w/1920x1200 WUXGA:

-Adjust brightness setting in BIOS to "High" to get that top level of brightness without plugging it in.

-Download, Install, and CRANK UP Microsoft ClearType.

-Adjust DPI Settings in Windows Display Panel to 110%, a nice balance between readability and not-screwing-up-the-way-things are-arranged (too much.)

-Return the notebook (like I did) and order a T60p w/ Flexview :( Hard decision, just found myself sitting really close to the z61p all the time..

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