Switch from A31 to X60t?

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hypno · #1 Post by **hypno** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:08 am

Hi folks,

I've been dwelling silently in the forum for a bit, and now I'm contemplating getting a new laptop. A Thinkpad, that is, of course!

Right now I have an A31, about 4-5 years old, 15" 1400x1050 Flexview, 40 GB HD, 768 MB RAM, running WinXP Pro. I do nearly everything on it despite the fact that I have a powerful desktop. Mostly coding and surfing the web. The Flexview is just excellent, the keyboard is probably better than most desktop keyboards.

What bugs me though is:

- The weight and the size: I hardly take the A31 somewhere else simply because it really is a chore to carry around.
- Battery life: I know after 4-5 years the battery is almost dead, but it wasn't as good as I wished right from the start. The P4 processor and the display drain the unit very fast, even stepped down.
- Outdoor readability: The Flexview doesn't cut it under the sunshade, it is really hard to read.
- USB 1.1
- No fingerprint recognition

I've always been interested in the X-series and when I realized that it would become available with SXGA+, I started to investigate a little closer. I'm unsure about the tablet version whether I need it or not, but since the SXGA+ resolution is only available for the tablet one, that decision I won't have to make. The ability to convert it into tablet mode is just a bonus for me, even though being able to use the fingers would have been even better I guess.

My questions are: Do you think the X60t would be the right choice for me? Is the 12,1" screen to small in order to be able to code for a longer period of time without too much eye strain (I have good eyes)? How is screen readability under a sunshade? Is it very difficult to type on the X60 keyboard even when you're used to it? Do you use the digitizer pen a lot or would you recommend rather waiting and hoping (maybe to no avail) for a SXGA+ multitouch screen?

All comments are appreciated as I don't have much of a chance laying hands on a demo laptop, Thinkpads are pretty hard to obtain in Germany, if you don't want to pay a ridiculously high price, that is.

smvp6459 · #2 Post by **smvp6459** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:27 am

I'm using an X60s so I can't answer your X60t questions.

The 12.1" screen is good for most uses. For sustained, constant reading (8+ hours) it can cause strain. When I'm at home I have an external LCD, which has eliminated the eye strain I experienced.

As for the keyboard: I love it. It took me a few weeks to get used to it and then it felt comfortable. I'd recommend only using the X60's keyboard once you start using it - moving to and from other keyboards causes me to make more mistakes. One proviso: I have smallish hands so it feels fine for me, but someone with large hands might not feel as comfortable.

I'm sure any X60 will correct the problems you have with your A31, except perhaps the outdoor readability. If that was your highest priority, the X60s with the ultralite screen might be a good option - unfortunately, it's XGA.

snife · #3 Post by **snife** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:41 am

I love both the A31 (i will keep wishing they will bring A series back) and the X60T but they are very very different machines and I fear that the things you like about the A31 will cause issues transitioning to the X60T.

In most development environments these days you need so many windows or panes open that coding in XGA is a nightmare so you really need the SXGA+ model which won't really be that much better at daylight visibility than your current system, no X series screens will look as good as your current flexview screen generally.

The keyboard is also smaller which might have a big impact on coding as the Ctrl and Alt keys are very small, I'm used to them but it is a concern for many users.

Fingerprint is nothing more than a gimmick - its not more secure as its still linked to a password (which you are more likely to forget) and, if you can type at a decent speed, it takes much longer to log in even if it recognises the print first time - forget about it (although most new models do have it).

I think you would probably be better going for a compromise such as the T60p which is much smaller and lighter that your current system but with the same sort of features.

cheeebs · #4 Post by **cheeebs** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:32 pm

hypno wrote: Do you use the digitizer pen a lot or would you recommend rather waiting and hoping (maybe to no avail) for a SXGA+ multitouch screen?

i don't know about Lenovo's plans, but 12.1" SXGA+ Multitouch displays are indeed manufactured and are available in the Motion LE1700WT slate tablet. it would indeed be great to have that in a convertible thinkpad with C2D, ABGN, WWN, 7200rpm etc etc... the question is how long are you willing to simply wait to see what happens.

i have an X41T and a T60P 15". i also love the keyboard on my tablet and have no complaints at all, it's great.

the fingerprint thing works really well for some people i've spoken with, and not at all for the rest of us, me included. i've tried over and over on 2 machines and can't get it to happen.

seems that if you do go with a tablet, though, getting SXGA+ is a must. it will be difficult to deal with such a real estate compromise as XGA on 12.1" after having your A31. i myself felt cramped on my SXGA+ on 15" and upgraded to UXGA on 15". i only use my tablet now for road time and would quite like SXGA+ on it.

proaudioguy · #5 Post by **proaudioguy** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:36 pm

I have 2 A31s and an X60 T is on the way. I'll let you know what I think if you like.

Curious how I can tell if my screens are flexview or not.

dr_st · #6 Post by **dr_st** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:52 pm

I think that 12.1" is good at XGA. At SXGA+ it's too much.

Typing on an X keyboard is quite comfortable most of the time, but sometimes I do hit wrong keys, coming from a T keyboard.

proaudioguy: telling whether a screen is Flexview is very easy - if you don't get color distortions at extreme viewing angles - it is.

hypno · #7 Post by **hypno** » Wed May 02, 2007 7:58 am

Thank you for your comments.

I feel that I have become very used to a Flexview display and hardly think about this when I look at notebook reviews on the internet. I've had the chance to look at some real life (XGA) T60s, Dell Inspirons and others, and I must say - yuck!!

If you compare the T60 XGA with the X60t XGA display - are they very similar? And in terms of quality, how different are the X60 XGA and the SXGA+ display (not talking about the resolution itself here)?

@proaudioguy: Yes please, I'd love to hear from someone who actually has both the A31 and the X60t.

dr_st · #8 Post by **dr_st** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:12 am

The displays on the X60T (both XGA and SXGA+) are Flexview, which means that they are better quality than T60, and similar to you A31p displays.

proaudioguy · #9 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat May 05, 2007 1:41 am

OK here are some pics to compare the two.

http://picasaweb.google.com/HBrillJr/NewTablet

A31 with 32MB 1400x1050 NON-IPS

X60T with ???MB 1400x1050 (I'm told FFS a variant of IPS)

The X screen looks incredible. I still feel a lot more comfortable using my A31. There are just many situations where I can't use it. The battery life is nil, and it's really heavy. My number one reason for the Tablet is to take control of the A31 so I can roam at work. The A31 is usually severely tethered. I need my ears to hear in places where the A31 cannot go. The A31 is measuring the system (sound if you didn't guess), and controlling the electronics that manipulate the operation of the system. The other bonus is I'll be able to watch movies on the airplane! I can even get some other work done. I do regret not having XP, but if I had it, I would regret not having Vista (for when it's ready). I have spent a lot of time tonight trying to get familiar with Vista behind the scenes and it's really tough. I'm really getting sick of being asked if I can run a program too. The upside is when you change resolution from the native it still looks pretty decent.

OK well have fun with the pictures.

#10 Post by **ryengineer** » Sat May 05, 2007 2:07 am

Thanks for doing a great comparison.

I must be missing something, some major point perhaps about you saying "At this angle you can really see how much warmer the A31 screen is." for the last snap's comment. I like to know, how can you tell that?

hypno · #11 Post by **hypno** » Sat May 05, 2007 2:23 am

Yeah indeed, thanks for the pictures, they sure help a lot.

I have come to the conclusion that I will wait until there is a SXGA+ multitouch version of the X - if ever. My A31 still does its job pretty well so I can wait.

proaudioguy · #12 Post by **proaudioguy** » Sat May 05, 2007 3:00 am

ryengineer wrote:Thanks for doing a great comparison.

I must be missing something, some major point perhaps about you saying "At this angle you can really see how much warmer the A31 screen is." for the last snap's comment. I like to know, how can you tell that?

I was referring to color temperature. Sorry for the confusion.

I also just realized the X6Ot's bios for Brightness was set to normal. The tired A3l was set to high.

The X60t is actually hotter to the touch, but neither of the screens are warm.

Switch from A31 to X60t?

Switch from A31 to X60t?

Re: Switch from A31 to X60t?

Pics but not actually IN the post.

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