t61 for developer ?

[folwarczny]

Hello - that is my first post here so welcome everyone. Sorry for my english - Im from Poland.

My problem right now is - I want to buy t61 as my second workstation - I am developer and I have my stationary setup but I am also student and I am wasting lot of time with free time between lessons. Currently I have t42 sxga+ and standard battery (uptime to 2.5 h). I want to buy new Txx with core2duo - but what I see is wxga and sxga choose - I know that wxga models are poor with battery time which right now is very important for me. So ok - sxga 14'' for me - but problem is what about graphic - intel or nvidia - how much battery time I can save with intel graphic card ? Maybe here is some developer who is using vista business + visual studio 2008 / 2005 and sql always on, some WPF work will be done too - so I want this notebook for at least 1 year to fit my needs what will be better - wxga 7cell battery + ultrabay battery or sxga 9cell battery and ultrabay ? .. please give me advice about graphic card - i just cant figure out if it will be enought for my needs to have intel ..

Other thing is wwan - i cant find information if any of wwan card from lenovo have simlock or not and if it will work with european simcards ?

Thank you for all your advices.

[Volker]

I think the display resolution doesn't have much to do with the battery life, just the nvidia gpu uses more juice than the intel integrated graphics. I'm working on a scientific c++ app (64bit linux), and I'm happy with my T61 15.4" widescreen (1680x1050), 4GB ram, and intel graphics.

Battery life with the small (6-cell) battery is good enough for me, perhaps around 3h (although I haven't really timed it). I haven't felt the need for the large battery yet.

[folwarczny]

Most of test are saying that t61 widescreen cant hold more then 3 hours with 7 (max) cell battery. Maybe somebody who is working with vista and wpf can tell me if intel graphics is enought ?

[Volker]

T61 14" 4:3 and T61 14" widescreen have a choice between 4,6,7 cell battery. T61 15.4" widescreen has a choice between 6 and 9 cell.

3 hours is about max if you run at full power (dvd playback) with the 7-cell. You'll get >4h for e.g. web browsing.

[folwarczny]

t61 14'' 4:3 has the same battery choose like old t60 - 6 and 9 cell - for sure. Checked until writing this post. You made me feel better if i can have about 4 hours with 7 cell - webbrowsing or typing text. So problems that really matters me right now is if intel graphic can handle comfortable vista business and wpf. And WWAN in thinkpads bought in usa - anybody know if it works in europe with european simcards ??

[sugo]

And WWAN in thinkpads bought in usa - anybody know if it works in europe with european simcards ??

The US HSDPA models are locked to provider at&t in US. No they do not work with other non-at&t sim cards.

[Volker]

t61 14'' 4:3 has the same battery choose like old t60 - 6 and 9 cell - for sure.

Yes, you are right. It was too late when I wrote that

In any case, the intel graphics is fast enough for everything except new 3D games.