New X61s - Thoughts and Questions.

[phillyd2]

7668CTO ThinkPad X61s
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo L7500 LV (1.6GHz, 4MB L2, 800MHz FSB)
Windows XP Professional
12.1" UltraLight XGA TFT, 2x3 UltraConnect II antenna
2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
TrackPoint with Fingerprint Reader
160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm Serial ATA (2.5")
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
ThinkPad X60s Series 8 cell High Capacity Battery
Mobile media base ThinkPad X6 UltraBase
Media base bay device CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim
Bluetooth Integrated Bluetooth PAN

Order was placed on line on 7/30/07 and arrived from China on 8/6/07. Not bad! This baby joins the growing family of two X31 and a X20. I thought I would post some general thoughts and also ask some questions.

Machine is labeled with Lenovo under the display screen and IBM Thinkpad under the keyboard and on the outside cover. There is also a Energy Star label on the outside cover.

Bottom left under the keyboard is the usual Windows XP & Intel stickers, which I hate. I tried taking them off one of my X31 but with not so great results. Is their a preferred method of removal?

The X61s is the same size as the X31 but it is slimmer. Weight with the 8 cell High Capacity Battery is about the same as the X31. I'm getting use to the battery extension in the back and the battery life so far as been great. Will run a run down test for actual life later but its already much better than the X31. I intend on getting a smaller battery for short travels. Any recommendations?

The overall feel of the X61s is slightly different than previous Thinkpads. I want to say that it feels "cheaper" but I'm not sure its the right word. The outside case does not feel as sturdy and the keyboard, while still great, has a sort of hollower feel to it. Its way too early to tell if this translates into a less sturdy body but I tend to doubt it. Guess I'm just use to the tank like feel of older models.

The keyboard is the same size as the X31 but the Letter and Number stickers are larger - nice improvement which gives the impression of larger buttons. Keyboard also has a Windows button on the left and a Right Click button on the right so the CTR and ALT buttons are smaller. No big deal.

The UltraLight XGA TFT is great but does take getting use to after so many years with previous Thinkpads. No doubt its much brighter and well worth it.

They have changed the Power Connector type so previous power cords will not work. This sucks as I have a few older types that can not be used. Not sure why this was changed but its a negative for me. Also, instead of being at the back the power cord attaches on the right side of the machine. Not a fan of this new location.

The fingerprint reader is beyond cool. It took a few tries to get it set up and sometimes I still need to swipe a few times but its very James Bond.

Set up was as usual. They have way too many things preloaded at startup but this is true for all computers these days. I was surprised that XP already had 58 updates to download on such a newly build machine. Again, no big deal.

I did notice that the machines has two MAC addresses. One is for the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG and the other is labeled "Lan Mac Address". Is this for the Ethernet?

No Recovery CD came with the system. Can one still call them to get them free on new systems? If so, who do we contact?

The 160 GB 5400rpm HD is very quite and does not get hot at all. I upgraded a X31 from 40 GB 5400rpm to 100 GB 7200rpm and it was noticeably faster but also noticeably hotter. For now I think I'll say with the 5400rpm.

The loaded Thinkpad software seems more extensive than on previous models but I have not yet really explored them all. Anybody have any thoughts on the installed Diskeeper? Seems to be just a glorified Defrag but I have not yet played with it.

I was glad that XP was still available, unlike with my new Dell desktop XPS. Still not loving Vista.

Well, these are my initials thoughts and impressions. The X61s is now my main computer and I'm pleased with it. I just hope it serves me as perfectly as did the other models.

[Antioch]

When I first saw the X60 and T60 machines at the school store a little over a year ago I thought the same thing as you: they feel cheap. I don't know why, but coming from the "old school" design of rounded mouse buttons with red and blue highlight, as well as gray function keys, to the new Lenovo style does indeed feel strange and I attribute the cheap feel to that change. I say this with confidence as I have since purchased a T60 and come to feel that it is just as sturdy as my old T42, if not sturdier. So, rest assured!

Lenovo changed the power connector type as well as the battery shape for the sole purpose of forcing people to buy new accessories from *them* once they took control of the Think* line. I do feel that the new power cable is stupid - you don't need to make the connector so [censored] big, Lenovo!

I'm glad you're enjoying your machine. I ordered my X61s 2 days after you and my estimated shipping date is 8/22... I should have ordered 2 days earlier!

[phillyd2]

When I first saw the X60 and T60 machines at the school store a little over a year ago I thought the same thing as you: they feel cheap. I don't know why, but coming from the "old school" design of rounded mouse buttons with red and blue highlight, as well as gray function keys, to the new Lenovo style does indeed feel strange and I attribute the cheap feel to that change. I say this with confidence as I have since purchased a T60 and come to feel that it is just as sturdy as my old T42, if not sturdier. So, rest assured!

Lenovo changed the power connector type as well as the battery shape for the sole purpose of forcing people to buy new accessories from *them* once they took control of the Think* line. I do feel that the new power cable is stupid - you don't need to make the connector so [censored] big, Lenovo!

I'm glad you're enjoying your machine. I ordered my X61s 2 days after you and my estimated shipping date is 8/22... I should have ordered 2 days earlier!

Resting assured, thanks! I'm sure you are right and am glad I'm not the only one who thinks they "feel" different.

I ordered when I did because they were having a sale that ended 7/30 which they claim that I save over $ 400. My total was $ 1808. My partner also ordered the same day a X60 but without the screen, only a 80 GB HD. His just shipped Aug 9. Both also showed a estimated shipping date of 8/22. Go figure.

[Antioch]

Yes. I decided to risk it and wait for the sale to end. I did so because I was confident that they would be having another "sale" as they have been doing for the entire summer. My logic is that the "sale" isn't really a sale so much as a marketing tactic to make the customer think they need to quickly. Anyways, I really wanted to wait to see what the new bonus would be. With each sale they offer discount pricing on a different component - when I ordered it was a DVD burner -_-

Heh, I should have just ordered it earlier since the DVD Burner discount doesn't help!

[spune]

How loose does your 8 cell battery feel? Mine wiggles about 1mm.

Also, which power adapter did they send you? Mine came with a 65W adapter but it made a high pitched noise. Lenovo then sent me a new adapter but it is a 90W version. I called Lenovo/IBM support a couple times and they said that their 65W adapters are out of stock. They also told me that I can't specifically order the 65W under warranty. They send whatever they have in stock at the time.

[Antioch]

spune - Wow, that sounds like a junk response. Just wait a few weeks till it is back in stock, call up, and say the 90W adapter is buzzing and get the 65W replacement.

phillyd2 - I forgot to mention, it is still possible to get free Recovery disks if you call up tech support and ask for them. However, some techs will charge you, others wont, so you need to cleverly ask in the right way - or just call back and get a different rep.

About battery wiggle: Just use the good ol' "T42 battery mod." Take a small rectangle of paper, fold it in half a few times, put it between the battery and the case, then slide the battery in. You can also tape the folded paper directly to the battery of case. This mod works wonders. My t42 battery went from slight wiggle, to solid.

[ryengineer]

They have changed the Power Connector type ......snip................ Not sure why this was changed but its a negative for me. snip........

This is why lenovo changed it.

One is for the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG and the other is labeled "Lan Mac Address". Is this for the Ethernet?

Yes.

No Recovery CD came with the system. Can one still call them to get them free on new systems? If so, who do we contact?

You can create one yourself. The policy of sending it free under 30 days from your purchase is no longer in practice now. If you hear some people getting it free then that is merely due to the generosity of a rep. A rep can send it free if asked politely and more importantly depends on the factors like how his day is going on, mood etc. Keep this support number 1-800-426-7378 (24/7) handy and call if in case you ever encounter a problem.

Anybody have any thoughts on the installed Diskeeper? Seems to be just a glorified Defrag but I have not yet played with it.

Search around the forum, there are many threads available on this topic.

[phillyd2]

How loose does your 8 cell battery feel? Mine wiggles about 1mm.

Also, which power adapter did they send you? Mine came with a 65W adapter but it made a high pitched noise. Lenovo then sent me a new adapter but it is a 90W version. I called Lenovo/IBM support a couple times and they said that their 65W adapters are out of stock. They also told me that I can't specifically order the 65W under warranty. They send whatever they have in stock at the time.

No wiggle whatsoever. After reading your message I tried to move it around. Tight as a duck's @$$.

The adapter is 65W. I actually never took it out of the box since I have one set up at home, at the office and in the living room. Only when I got to the office did I notice the new connector I have tried looking on ebay for some extra newer types but no luck so far. Guess I need to order at least one extra directly. Anyway, the one that came with the system does not have make a peep. Sorry to hear about yours.

[phillyd2]

ryengineer, thanks for the reply and great link. Good to know.

[roblim]

To remove the stickers use a razor blade to lift a corner of the sticker and then pull it off. Then use the sticker itself to dab up the remaining gooey residue. Do this now as opposed to later. If you are careful the blade will not need to touch (damage) the plastic.

Also, I am using a 7200 RPM 160 GB hard drive w/o any heat problems. You can get it for $116 from Dell right now:
http://www.fatwallet.com/t/18/755832/

I agree with the feels different/cheaper assessment. I noticed it immediately. It feels more plasticky than my x32. But it is also ridiculously lighter than all my previous thinkpads so maybe that is why I think it doesn't feel as sturdy.

The ultralight LCD on my x61s has a narrower vertical viewing area than my x32. If you lean the LCD back too far it washes out badly. Otherwise it is extremely bright and has excellent contrast.

I also got a noisy power supply. Lenovo replaced it with a 90w unit. Called in and we are doing another exchange. They called me today and said they are backordered on the 65 watt unit but when they get them in they will send it. These power supplies have different FRU P/N's so they absolutely can send the 65 watt one instead of the 90 watt one.

[Antioch]

The razor blade method works - that's how I removed the stickers from my T42. Afterwards I used a bit of mineral spirits (or rubbing alcohol if that's all you've got) to clean any remaining residue up.

[JaneL]

Bottom left under the keyboard is the usual Windows XP & Intel stickers, which I hate. I tried taking them off one of my X31 but with not so great results. Is their a preferred method of removal?

I always just grab a corner of them and peel them off. If there's any glue left, I use the sticker itself or a finger to get it off. Never had a problem.

[egnatius]

This tutorial has several methods for removing the Windows sticker and dealing with the sticky residue it leaves behind. It's from a Linux user website so you might want to skip the anti-Microsoft introductory paragraph if that's not your particular cup of tea.

[Antioch]

I never can seem to grab a corner, which is why I use the razor (actually, an exacto knife) - to peel a bit of a corner up so I can then grab it.

[proaudioguy]

They have changed the Power Connector type ......snip................ Not sure why this was changed but its a negative for me. snip........

This is why lenovo changed it.

A watt is a watt. If they needed to provide 90 watts at 16 Volts it would have worked fine with all the older machines.

The new machines that require 90 watts may not like the 72 watt adapters too much, but that is debatable.

The more likely answer is at the end of his post. The non-ThinkPad Lenovos were already using the other style adapter.

[Antioch]

I agree. Especially since it seems that this post came months and months after the first T60/X60/Zwhatever releases with the new plugs.

But whatever, there's nothing that can be done.

[mfbernstein]

While I agree this is annoying for the most part, it is nice that the new 65W adapters are considerably smaller that the older ones. The downside is that they can't power and charge (at least simultaneously) the larger ThinkPads. Tradeoffs...

[tomh009]

A watt is a watt. If they needed to provide 90 watts at 16 Volts it would have worked fine with all the older machines.

For power, a watt is indeed a watt. But a watt is really volts x amperes (ie voltage multiplied by current). Using the same amount of power at 20V rather than at 16V reduces the current (which tends to produce heat) by 25%.