Another one of those tricky decisions (T60p vs T61p)

[Growly]

Right, I'll be quick.

Is there any more news on the T61p 4:3 14.1" model?

I've wanted to get a T6xp for some time, but have been putting it off until the T61p surfaces. The T60p has been discontinued by Lenovo Australia, and I can't order from the U.S. or any other Lenovo store, so my last hope is a warehouse in Australia that may still have stock.

Here are my concerns - if you own either of these machines please advise, as first hand experience is worth infinitely more than all the tech articles and low res pictures I have to read over and over.

T60p:

• Truer to the original T43 design I love so dearly.
• Has the IBM logo
• Is 4:3, SXGA+ (FlexView is but a pipedream now)
• They haven't rounded as many corners... BUT
• Older tech (not Santa Rosa, not Turbo Memory, no T7700, no 800MHz FSB, no nVidia Quadro as opposed to ATI FireGL - all of which have questionable performance improvements anyway)

T61p:

• Newer tech - has the roll cage, Santa Rosa, all that nonsense I just mentioned...
• It has a roll cage and is designed quite ruggedly... BUT
• [censored] original T43 design
• Logo is pot luck (or, rather, I'm not sure what the story is down here)
• Has more curves

I'm going mad. Should I just go for the T60p? If I bought one tomorrow for 90% the price of the T61p, would you call be a fool? Why? Why not?

The T60p in question is the 20078JM.

ThinkPad T60p Notebook, Intel® Core Duo processor T7600 2.33GHz, 1GB, 100GB, 14.1" 1400 x 1050, DVD Recordable, Bluetooth, Fingerprint Reader, Client Security Solution, Genuine Windows XP Professional There

The T61p is the 646074M. (There isn't much nicely formatted info about this one around.)

* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7700 (2.40 GHz)
* Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate
* 15.4" WUXGA TFT
* 2 GB / 4 GB, DDR2 SDRAM
* 160 GB, Serial ATA
* DVD Recordable (Dual Layer), 24X Max
* Bluetooth Version 2.0 + EDR / PAN
* NVIDIA NB8P-GL
* 1.72 Kgs
* Integrated Intel® PRO/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

Bearing in mind that if I were purchasing based on specs alone, I wouldn't be buying a ThinkPad.

I want something I can be happy using. I know some out there find it silly that so much attention is paid to cosmetics - but I'm still a petulant, immature, naive, and misguided child.

[Pascal_TTH]

Just ask you some questions :
- What do you prefer : 4/3 ou 16/10 aspect ?
- Do you want Windows Vista or not ?
- Do you care about battery life ?
- Do you need 3D power ?

There are T61p with 14" SXGA+ screen and Quadro graphic (128 MB) :

ThinkPad T61p 8889-39A [change]


Operating system: All [change]

Original description: T7700(2.4GHz), 1GB RAM, 160GB 5400rpm HD, 14.1in 1400x1050 LCD, 128MB nVIDIA Quadro FX 570M, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, WinVista Ultimate

[RonS]

The 15" T60p should come with Flexview with SXGA+ and UXGA resolutions. That's my vote.

edited to add the 15" qualifier.

[Kel Ghu]

If you need 3D power like I do, go for the T61p. The graphic card is way more powerful than the weak V5250. No match here.

[Pascal_TTH]

What about battery life with FX570m ?

[Growly]

Thanks very much for your replies!

Unfortunately I cannot configure a 4:3 SXGA+ model T61p here in New Zealand. I can't get the flexview or UXGA either. Lenovo Australia denies a place in the market for them (which I'll admit is fair enough). I prefer them because of their size (I already carry a lot of books to uni), vertical resolution (for coding), and general old-school true-to-IBM-design-factor.

A thinkpad is more of a childhood obsession for me than anything else, hence I am infatuated with the T43 design. This is why the difference between the T60p and T61p in terms of looks are quite important for me. I suppose I could always get one later... But I digress.

Battery life need not be exceptional. I normally have a power plug around, but that doesn't excuse something pathetic like 1 hour (but I haven't heard of the new models being _that_ bad).

I'm quite the power user, so 3D graphics would be very nice - but I don't do CAD heavily nor am I a full blown ninjadeer (yet), so I shouldn't be too greedy.

Operating system is trivial as I'll be replacing it anyway.

Thanks for the advice guys! The more I think about it, the more I realise that the only thing holding me back is the design. I know I'm probably supremely childish, but I had my heart absolutely dead set on those T60ps for months before they discontinued them! Hold me.

Should I just get a T43p?

[sugo]

Go with 14.1" 4:3 T60p then since it's what you like. I sold a X60s and went back to my 3 year old T42 since I like the design/look and the fact that it runs much cooler, despite much lower performance.

As the last resort, you should be able to order a T60p from US. There are still many available on the market.

[GarryF]

Hi Growly,

I was curious what worries you had about the T61P design, I've now played with it over the weekend and there's really nothing I can think of that makes me wish to go back to the T43P.

images are here
http://oregon.smugmug.com/gallery/3164140/1/173978807
I got an IBM logo btw

Few things I've noticed so far that I like
1. Firewire is included (wasn't on T43P)
2. 3 USB sockets (2 on t43P sucked)
3. T61P noise is a big improvement
4. One handed lid opening works better, hinges feel improved.
5. Ultranav feels better
6. Wireless switch is nice, but I'd prefer 2, 1 for bt and 1 for wireless.
7. Front lip of the lid seems squarer, I think I like it compared to the sloping T43P front.
8. Keyboard light is brighter
9. finger print reader feels more responsive (probably an os issue)
10. OSD has improved, volume bar looks better with steps 1-50 etc.
11. Heat is improved,

These are just my initial thoughts but I'm pretty pleased so far

[NaT]

Actually, if you choose T60p and want to go all out on the performance, I think you can replace the CPU with the new Core 2 Duo, like 2.2 or 2.4GHz from eBay.

[Growly]

Thanks again for the replies guys.

The only thing stopping me from getting the T60p is the fact that it costs only slightly less than a brand new T61p, if not more, and is a generation older.

Thanks very much for the pictures GarryF - they're just what I need, short of using both in person (I wonder where I can organise that...) *Assuming* I can wrangle an IBM logo, what do you think of the front of the unit - where you'd rest your palms? Is it much more curvy than the T43? You mentioned the flat front - both are squarish so appeal to me greatly.

How about the off centre screen? I suppose it doesn't really matter after you use it. Does the WUXGA resolution render text far too tiny for my potentially weakening eyes?

Oh how I wish I could buy both :p

NaT - I thought that upgrading wouldn't be so easy, given that the T60p chipset will not run at 800MHz FSB? I'll check that out shortly, but it's an alternative at least!

[erik]

Actually, if you choose T60p and want to go all out on the performance, I think you can replace the CPU with the new Core 2 Duo, like 2.2 or 2.4GHz from eBay.

the T60p he's looking at has the T7600 2.33 GHz.   that's the best chip he'll be able to install.

another debate between the T60/T61 is that the T60 is limited to 3GB total ram where the T61 can use up to 4GB.   that was a big consideration for me when i decided to order a T61p over a T60p.