T61. 15.4" or the 14.1"? I'm torn... (Large PIC)

[CRSO]

I read almost every post and review on the T61 and I am ready to pull the trigger. I know what I want as far as configuration (Hard Drive, etc...) except for the darn display.

I am currently using a T43 2687 DTU 15". I believe that it is the Flexview screen which is great and I like it a lot. I run the 1400X1050 which is perfect for me. Now I'm thrown off on which T61 to get.

I do a lot of music production and photography so I am constantly editing pics, etc.. I would like a "little" wider screen and a notebook to be a "little" thinner. I don't mind how big and thick my T43 is but I would like it a little smaller if I didn't have to sacrifice too much screen space.

I have the following concerns:

T61 14.1" compared to my 15" T43 - I know the T61 14.1 will be smaller but how much screen space will I be losing? I like the 14.1 option if I can have a "similar" amount of screen real estate as my T43.

T61 15.4" compared to my 15" T43 - I know that this screen will be fine for me but will this T61 15.4 be a lot bigger or slightly smaller? A different aspect ratio means that the overall dimensions will be different. If this T61 is a similar size to my T43 and thinner, i'd go with that.

To end my insanity, if the 14.1 will give me relatively the same (or just a little less) screen real estate, I will get that one.

If these were in stores, my decision would be much easier. I've been reading so much about the T61 that I am dizzy... Please help me out.

Thanks ahead...

[pianowizard]

"Real estate" corresponds to the number of pixels. You have 1400x1050 (SXGA) = 1,470,000. The 14.1" WS T61 has the WXGA+ option, which is 1440x900 = 1,296,000, i.e. a little less than what you have. The 15.4" WS T61 has the WSXGA+ option, which is 1680x1050 = 1,764,000, which is more than what you have.

[CRSO]

"Real estate" corresponds to the number of pixels. You have 1400x1050 (SXGA) = 1,470,000. The 14.1" WS T61 has the WXGA+ option, which is 1440x900 = 1,296,000, i.e. a little less than what you have. The 15.4" WS T61 has the WSXGA+ option, which is 1680x1050 = 1,764,000, which is more than what you have.

Ah, that sheds a little light, so:

T61 14.1" WS WXGA+ will only be a little wider and a little shorter. I'm sure it is thinner and will be smaller. I think I can do this one because height real estate is never an issue. The extra screen width will be welcomed.

T61 15.4" WS WSXGA+ will be much a wider screen and the same height. That meand a bigger notebook.. Not sure I want that.

This sound right? The T61 15.4" will be a bigger overall Notebook?

[smd.smd]

The battery was the deciding factor for me. I liked the idea of the 14.1" widescreen, it would be slightly smaller laptop then my current using a 14" T42. However, I did not want to sacrifice battery life, so I would get the 6-cell battery, which sticks out the back of the 14" T61.

The 15.4" widescreen has the option of a 6-cell or 9-cell battery, so I'm assuming the 6-cell does not stick out at all.

My thinking was, although the 14" T61 is technically smaller, if the battery is going to be sticking out the back, I might as well go with a slightly larger screen where the same size battery is even with the back of the laptop.

[JHEM]

If it helps you visualize the choice, here's my 14.1" T41p next to my new 14.1" T61:



Reversed positions:



James

[ryengineer]

Generally, looks can be deceiving but alas that's how most people in the world base their choices on.

[neednotebook]

JHEM, what is the resolution of each of those notebooks??

[Tholek]

JHEM, great pics. It's too bad you didn't get all of the T61 in that second pic, though. I'd have liked to have seen the screen offset. Yeah, some other pics show that, but yours having the T41p there at its side gives a better reference point.

[gator]

JHEM, great pics. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Is the new T61's screen really that bright compared to the T4x? What brightness setting did you have on the machines on the pics?

[ryengineer]

Is the new T61's screen really that bright compared to the T4x?

I would be surprised if James would say one of them is not running on the power supply and I think it's pretty obvious which one is. I'm preparing myself for shocks though.

[XIII]

On the picture above the last, he plugs the T61 in while the T60 is not plugged in.
So no surprise there.

[ryengineer]

On the picture above the last, he plugs the T61 in while the T60 is not plugged in.

There is no T60.

[Tholek]

On the picture above the last, he plugs the T61 in while the T60 is not plugged in.

There is no T60.

Maybe he was referring to the T60p just at the edge there? (Still, I think he meant the T41p).

[SkiBunny]

Great pics... wow the T61 has terribly wide plastic surrounding the LCD - that looks like thinkpads from a dozen years ago!

I think the 15.4" T61 is awfully bulky. Even the 14.1" T61 is a bulkier than its predecessor. The extra bulk and thickness is one reason many longtime thinkpad fans dislike the T61

14.1" T60 tallscreen with 6 cell = 122 cubic inches
14.1" T61 widescreen with c cell = 148 cubic inches (bulkier than T60 even tho the physical screen size is smaller)
15" T60 = 168 cubic inches

I dont know whether you will be happy with the poorer quality screen on the T61 compared to your T43 flexview IPS. For one thing, the color reproduction will be way off, which I'd think is important for your work.

[snessiram]

I'm asking myself why there is such an enormous space around the screen. It's not just the T61, acers, macbooks,... Can't they fit all the hardware in a smaller (thicker if necessairly) case?
Except for some more battery life, why wouldn't one then prefer the exact same machine with a little bigger screen? (as there seems room for it)
The macbook pro for example has a thin border, as do "classic" T4*.

[sb37]

there are a lot more antennas to fit now, between the 3 needed for n and the WWAN antennae. Also, they're making room for the integrated webcam, even if your particular machine doesn't have that option.

[gjg]

is it just me....or does the T41 screen appear to be off centered to the right as well??? (never seen one in real life) albeit not a dramatic as the 61 but it sure appears to be shifted right.....

[sb37]

yes, the t4x has an offset, as does the t6x. it's where the wifi antenna is, although it's far more pronounced in the t61 than any previous model.

[pae77]

The screen on my T42p is slightly off center to the right. I never even noticed it before until the considerably larger offset on the T61 was discussed.

[Puppy]

Indeed. But the T61 looks really bad comparing to other ones because the display frame is toooooo thick, especially on the top

Could you make more pictures of the T61 display ? Especially regarding contrast and backlight uniformity (black color). Thanks.

[danny_isr]

yeah it does look think. bet hey this is not going to change my decision on getting one or not.
i really hope that this is the only issue with it. it's really minor and something that you won't notice quicker then you think.

[dsfinley]

I've looked at screen size issues, too. Here are the options:

Code: Select all

Diag  Wpix Hpix   Width   Height  PPI     ratio  area    rows   cols  Resol
15.40 1680 1050   13.06    8.16  128.65   1.600  106.6   44.9   24.3  WSXGA+
14.10 1440  900   11.96    7.47  120.43   1.600   89.4   39.8   22.1   WXGA+
14.10 1400 1050   11.28    8.46  124.11   1.333   95.4   47.1   20.8   SXGA+

Only the high-res versions are included in the listing. Width and height are in inches. Area is total screen area in square inches. PPI is pixels per inch. "rows" and "columns" are a what-if for spreadsheet cells of uniform physical size (inches, not pixels).

Taking the information on the 14.1 standard screen version (14.1N) and the 15.4W from the European website,
http://www5.pc.ibm.com/europe/products. ... enDocument
http://www5.pc.ibm.com/europe/products. ... enDocument
the overall dimensions are:

14.1N 12.30 x 10.04 x 1.09 5.1 lb (with 6-cell battery)
14.1W 13.2 x 10.2 x 1.09-­1.26" 5.3 lb (with 6-cell)
15.4W 14.07 x 10.04 x 1.17 5.5 lb (6-cell)

Interestingly, the depths are all the same, because the 6 or 7-cell battery extends beyond the rear of the 14.1W case.

Each step, 14.1N --> 14.1W --> 15.4W gains just under an inch in width for the case.

For someone who doesn't need the real estate provided by the 15.4W (nor is hankering for the forthcoming WUXGA (1920x1200) version), and wants a more compact laptop to carry around, the smallest package, for the 14.1" standard screen, actually has 7% more usable screen area and 13% more pixels than the 14.1W version, and could be a good way to go if there isn't some overriding need for the wider aspect ratio.

P.S. I've omitted the forthcoming R60 15" 4:3 because its proposed max resolution is only SXGA+ - seems like a "why bother" if there is a 14.1" SXGA+ option, and UXGA (1600X1200) is not available.

P.P.S. CRSO - your 15" SXGA+ screen is 108 sq. in., very nearly the same as the 15.4W. However, for photos, the total square inches does not matter as much as the physical width of the screen, assuming you have sufficient resolution, and you view the photo in a full-width window. Your current 15" 4:3 screen is 12" wide. Compare that with the widths of the other options. The 14.1W is nearly exactly the same width as your current screen, and your photos would be exactly the same size on both in a full-screen-width window.

[pianowizard]

the smallest package, for the 14.1" standard screen, actually has 7% more usable screen area and 13% more pixels than the 14.1W version

And when both models use a 6-cell battery, the 14.1" standard model weighs less than the 14.1WS model. Smaller screen, less real estate, and heavier. What are these people at Lenovo thinking?

[ryengineer]

What are these people at Lenovo thinking?

Thinking? they are not thinking at all.

[khtse]

thinking about the pad

[gator]

I have no clue being the logic of disturbing the 14" SXGA+ T series ... it was the most desirable thinkpad.

[tomh009]

Taking the information on the 14.1 standard screen version (14.1N) and the 15.4W from the European website,
http://www5.pc.ibm.com/europe/products. ... enDocument
http://www5.pc.ibm.com/europe/products. ... enDocument
the overall dimensions are:

14.1N 12.30 x 10.04 x 1.09 5.1 lb (with 6-cell battery)
14.1W 13.2 x 10.2 x 1.09-­1.26" 5.3 lb (with 6-cell)
15.4W 14.07 x 10.04 x 1.17 5.5 lb (6-cell)

I understand the increased width, but how on earth is a widescreen version deeper than the 4:3 model? I would have expected a depth under 10 inches for that one, but it actually got bigger in every dimension.

[Dead1nside]

Jhem, what were those screen brightnesses at, if you remember. I too have a T41p and am wondering if the T61's screen is actually any brighter. It certainly looks brighter than my max setting. The T41p doesn't look as if it is on it's maximum setting, as well as High in the Thinkpad Configuration.

Thanks in advance.

[SkiBunny]

Great pics... wow the T61 has terribly wide plastic surrounding the LCD - that looks like thinkpads from a dozen years ago!

I think the 15.4" T61 is awfully bulky. Even the 14.1" T61 is a bulkier than its predecessor. The extra bulk and thickness is one reason many longtime thinkpad fans dislike the T61

14.1" T60 tallscreen with 6 cell = 122 cubic inches
14.1" T61 widescreen with 6 cell = 148 cubic inches (bulkier than T60 even tho the physical screen size is smaller)
15" T60 = 168 cubic inches

To correct myself, actually the T61 15.4" widescreen is only very slightly bulkier than the T60 15.4" widescreen: just 1 mm higher and same width and depth.
And it weights 0.15 kg less.

15.4" T61 with 6 cell = 159.5 cubic inches

[SkiBunny]

dfinsley, i believe those are the travel weights you posted.

the T61 in 15.4 weighs 2.75 or 2.72 kg with 6-cell, depending on which (ibm) north american site you look at. Travel weight is listed at 2.5 kg.