Buying X61(s) - questions on cpu,lightweight screen,security

[SteveDC]

I am now over 4 years on my T40 and have decided to go the X route. Looking at the Lenovo "customize" page leads me to the following questions. I would be grateful for your advice.

X61 versus X61s -- which one? Lightweight screen on X61s, versus higher CPU speeds on the X61. I like the higher CPU speed but would I rather have a lightweight screen? (Or, is the web site off -- as has happened to me before -- and I should order by phone?)

Hard Disk Encryption -- What does this entail in practice? Do I have to enter an additional password for the disk or something?

Fingerprint security -- Sounds good, but is it any trouble? Passwords seem to work fine for me.

Thank you for considering my questions.

[iamdmc]

I am now over 4 years on my T40 and have decided to go the X route. Looking at the Lenovo "customize" page leads me to the following questions. I would be grateful for your advice.

X61 versus X61s -- which one? Lightweight screen on X61s, versus higher CPU speeds on the X61. I like the higher CPU speed but would I rather have a lightweight screen? (Or, is the web site off -- as has happened to me before -- and I should order by phone?)

Hard Disk Encryption -- What does this entail in practice? Do I have to enter an additional password for the disk or something?

Fingerprint security -- Sounds good, but is it any trouble? Passwords seem to work fine for me.

Thank you for considering my questions.

X61s is a little lighter than the X61, has a smaller more quiet heat assembly (ie fan and heatsink), and will heat less than the T7xxx C2D cpu's. The Ultralight screen is also brighter.

The HDD encryption should be on all newer thinkpads. The security chip is involved in this, I think. All that changes is that you will have a startup (boot) password for the hard drive. I just set mine to 4 numbers I use regularly.

The fingerprint reader never seemed like a great idea to me. Sure it's cool, but it would also take up valuable palmrest space (space that my hand constantly rests on when I use the keyboard and trackpoint.

My vote is for X61s, but it depends how processor-heavy your day to day computing is. In some tests, the L7xxx processor scores similarly to the T7xxx processor, but the T7xxx is still a better performer.

[smvp6459]

Fingerprint security -- Sounds good, but is it any trouble? Passwords seem to work fine for me.

It's not much trouble at all. I like that I can have password protection for boot the machine, using the harddrive, logging into Windows, and accessing the BIOS without ever having to enter a password. I prefer security and ease of use, which I feel the fingerprint reader gives me.

[thaug]

I have an x61s and I am satisfied with the speed. Unless you perform demanding tasks, you really shouldn't notice the difference. Just make sure you're running with at least 2 GB. For additional speed, upgrade to a 7200 RPM drive. Given the battery life I get with the slim line battery, I wouldn't want to see it with the more powerful higher voltage processor.

Personally I love the fingerprint reader. In fact, I've been contemplating getting one for my desktop. It is so much easier logging in with it. And if you are like me and like to have a more complex password, the fingerprint reader makes it much easier.

[SteveDC]

Thank you for the helpful comments. I am placing an order.

I am getting Windows XP instead of Vista because of some software compatibility concerns I have.

Lenovo Sales says the Intel Turbo Memory is only implemented with Vista, and if I am sticking with XP don't bother getting it. I would not know that from the Lenovo web site.

[dr_st]

The fingerprint reader never seemed like a great idea to me. Sure it's cool, but it would also take up valuable palmrest space (space that my hand constantly rests on when I use the keyboard and trackpoint.

That's a strange thing to say. It's not like you cannot rest your palm on the fingerprint reader.

[iamdmc]

It's more comfortable to have a smooth surface rather than a surface with a dip in it.

[ryengineer]

It's more comfortable to have a smooth surface rather than a surface with a dip in it.

I sense a little bit confusion here.

Here is fingerprint reader on X60s and here is on X61s.

Now from my rough calculations, an average length of male human hand is approx. 19cm and unless one's hand is extreme below that average then one's hand will be resting on the fingerprint reader on X61s.

[iamdmc]

Yeah, that's what I was saying. I prefer to have a smooth surface to a surface with a dip. I like the position of the fingerprint reader on the X60s better - away from everything

[Mikis]

Having done the X60->X61->X61T circuit, I find the position of the X60, while indeed out-of-the-way, yielded more bad FP reads because sitting in front of the machine you'd need to twist either your finger or your wrist to read a print. Doing it with the finger would usually yield a bad read. Doing it with the wrist was unergonomic. Turning the machine sideways didn't always immediately occur to me.

The new position makes this much better.

The tablet position is best, allowing a completely natural-movement thumb read, but comes at a high price of a bigger and bulkier machine.