What is this talk of the T61's cheap plastic screen housing?

[Growly]

Sorry I haven't done an exhaustive search - been extremely busy (and if you don't know by now, getting a ThinkPad has turned into a daily routine of deliberation and stress for me).

I hear that the the T61s LCD housing is made from cheap plastic, and not the magnesium goodness I can feel on my T43?

Was this the case with the T60s? Is this the case with the T61p?

Will I care that much?

Thanks in advance.

[ronan_zj]

T61 has same material cover and base as R61.

T61: Top: Super-Elastic PolyCarconate (SEPC); Bottom: Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic.

R61(not R61e): Top: Super-Elastic PolyCarconate (SEPC); Bottom: Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic,

T60(wide scree): Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) in top/bottom

T60 non-wide screen: Magnesium composite top cover, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) bottom cover.

R60: Color: black; All: Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) plastic.

As you can see, R61 has better material than R60.

[Growly]

Well the R60 is just disgusting :p

Is the conclusion that the widescreen models have been [censored]?

PS. If you could please provide a source for this information (other than Google or your head, or the tabook) I'd greatly appreciate it, so I don't have to bother you fine chaps more.

/edit: Also, I was more looking for opinions than specs. Anyone been able to compare the difference?

[ZaZ]

As the owner of a R60, I resent that remark. It's probably not meant to be a road warrior like the T60, but mine is very well built and not everyone needs that.

[kelchm]

I hear that the the T61s LCD housing is made from cheap plastic, and not the magnesium goodness I can feel on my T43?

Quite simply... There is now an internal magnesium frame.

http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/22508.jpg

[carbon_unit]

I have a T60 non-wide screen: Magnesium composite top cover, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) bottom cover and an R61(not R61e): Top: Super-Elastic PolyCarconate (SEPC); Bottom: Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic.
I can tell you for sure that the R61 feels considerably more solid that the T60. The T60 top flexes when you take it out of a bag while the R61 does not. The internal magnesium frame covered by Super-Elastic PolyCarconate (SEPC) is a stronger design than the Magnesium composite top cover in both compression and twisting situations. It does make the unit thicker but it is stronger.

[Growly]

As the owner of a R60, I resent that remark.

Oh c'mon, I'm kidding. You know I love you.

I think I've heard enough. There are only two things stopping me from buying now... (that and the sudden reintroduction of the T43 design).