X6x a decent main laptop?

[iThinkiAmBen]

Hey all.

I am teetering on the brink of selling my Powerbook G4 for an X60 or X61, seeing as I love the form factor of my X41 so much.

Is this a feasible idea? It'd probably be hooked up to a keyboard and MX Revolution for the times I wasn't using it on my lap. Maybe with an external monitor, as well.

Any input you may have, please LMK.

I've also been looking at a $600 T43p 2.13GHz in eBay....

[pianowizard]

Whether it's powerful enough depends on what you'll use the computer for.

Definitely get an external monitor because the X6* only has 1024x768 resolution. An external keyboard would also be helpful because the laptop's palmrest can get quite warm.

[iThinkiAmBen]

Whether it's powerful enough depends on what you'll use the computer for.

Definitely get an external monitor because the X6* only has 1024x768 resolution. An external keyboard would also be helpful because the laptop's palmrest can get quite warm.

I'll probably be using it for Web, IM, email, and listening to music. A little bit of Web development for my mother's firm is not at all out of the question.

Unfortunately, all I have are CRTs right now, plus a POS Sceptre from the Cretaceous.

I do have an external keyboard. Do the X6x's get hotter than the X41? Mine's been slammed at 100% CPU for two days running BOINC sitting on a shag rug, and it's just a little warm.

Of course, if I were to discover a QXGA R50p on eBay, I would not say no...

[qviri]

Just a thought - using an external mouse is no biggie (congrats on the Revo, too), but if you're using an external keyboard, you'll probably want the display, and vice versa.

Using an external keyboard would probably place you too far from the laptop's screen, while using an external display would make for awkward typing if you do not place it directly above the laptop.

The X6* are pretty notorious for getting hot palmrests due to the wireless cards, but other than that, their keyboard is very comfortable and capable.

[iThinkiAmBen]

Thanks for your input, you two. Oh, this is going to be a tough one, for sure. It makes sense, but the PowerBook 9is so sexy...

Must... stop.... using.....

[pianowizard]

Using an external keyboard would probably place you too far from the laptop's screen

Because the screen has such a low resolution, pixel density is low enough so that things on the screen should still look pretty big. But then again, I am used to super-high-DPI screens. For most people, this is a fair warning.

while using an external display would make for awkward typing if you do not place it directly above the laptop.

I agree. Both of my R50p's are connected to external LCDs which are directly above the laptop screen. I hate to turn my head sideways.

The X6* are pretty notorious for getting hot palmrests due to the wireless cards

One solution is to turn off the built-in WiFi and use a USB or PCMCIA card.

[iThinkiAmBen]

snipped

Why in the name of all that is good and holy do you need external monitors with your QXGA ThinkPads????

MOD EDIT: Quoting five members at once isn't necessary, please trim down your excessive quoting, thanks!

[pianowizard]

Why in the name of all that is good and holy do you need external monitors with your QXGA ThinkPads????

Because I want to view many windows simultaneously LOL! Right now, I've four web browsers on a 20" 1600x1200 Samsung LCD, and two web browsers and one file folder on my R50p's QXGA screen. Each window is a little bigger than 1024x768, so they overlap a bit.

Some people like to maximize all windows and use ALT+TAB to switch among them. For me that's too inefficient. I like to see all windows simultaneously so it takes only a few nanoseconds to jump from one to another.

[aplusmiami]

I love my x61T - and yes I travel quite a bit so the form factor is excellent. I would STAY FAR from Vista though. My life was 1000% better once I blew out Vista and installed XP Tablet. Yes some of the bells and whistles Vista offers are nice... all the other issues you have make the x61t virtually worthless and slooooowwwww. Also install XP tablet edition with out the bloatware from IBM.

[iThinkiAmBen]

I love my x61T - and yes I travel quite a bit so the form factor is excellent. I would STAY FAR from Vista though. My life was 1000% better once I blew out Vista and installed XP Tablet. Yes some of the bells and whistles Vista offers are nice... all the other issues you have make the x61t virtually worthless and slooooowwwww. Also install XP tablet edition with out the bloatware from IBM.

Vista! Vista makes me whenever it's mentioned... I have to go myself to sleep now....

Thanks a lot.... Meanie.

[atlacatl]

I use my X60s for daily software development, and it's a great machine.

I run two IDEs (NetBeans and Eclipse), Tomcat, and a database server and it just keeps on going. I also run Macromedia Fireworks and Dreamweaver. I run MS Word, Excel, web browser, email. All of these programs at the same time.

I did upgrade my RAM to 2GBs and my hard drive to a 100GB 7200 rpms. From time to time, I use a dual monitor set up, but I got used to the screen size.

The right side of my palm rest gets warm (well, hot) with heave internet use, but I've learnt to live with it.

You can't go wrong with an X6x.

[donzoomik]

Well, i use it as my main computer.
When not on the road, my home configuration is:

UltraBase X6 without Ultrabay device (last on is outrageously expensive separately on this side of the globe).
Razer Copperhead @ UB
Logitech diNovo Cordless Desktop keyboard @ Bluetooth
External portable USB DVD writer @ UB
Sony Ericsson dock @ UB
Smart Card reader @ UB
Samsung 22" widescreen LCD @ UB via VGA

Works like charm. When docked, i use external monitor, keyboard and mouse only.

When on the road, just spare charger and Logitech V470 with me. Abovementioned USB DVD drive, when required.

Main scenarios are server administration, virtualization (VERY memory, processor and hard drive intensive), some old-school gaming, office work.

[iThinkiAmBen]

Does the video get all choppy when attached to the external display?

[ajkula66]

I don't know whether this helps, but you won't be able to use a 2.13 Ghz T43p on your lap, not for a long time anyway...unless you're intent on hurting yourself...

These are, in my not-so-modest experience, the hottest running ThinkPads ever. If you're looking for a desktop replacement, though, these babies are still tough to beat, especially at $600.

If you decide to go for a X6x machine, do yourself a favour and get a X61s, I've experienced some ridiculous battery life with one of these...

Just my $0.02

[edinburghphoto]

Hi
My G4 powerbook (12" Aluminium) gets much hotter than my X61.
The X61 definitely gets warm when using wireless.

You'll be impressed the performance on any modern X6 series compared to your Mac. Upgrading the hard drive to a 7200rpm model is inexpensive and easy as is maxing out the memory.

The keyboard on my X61 feels as good as the G4. Both have a good reputation in this respect. I touch-type and tend not to look at the keyboard or screen when I'm typing. I find both keyboards extremely accurate. I use an apple wireless keyboard with my X61 when I'm at my desk.

I tend to do serious work (e.g. programming, databases etc) on my X61 and less taxing work such as browsing the internet and word processing on my Mac. I'm a freelance developer and use the X61 and find the X61 fast, reliable and comfortable for prolonged use. The standard XGA screen may not appeal to those used to high resolutions, but it is very easy on the eye.

[iThinkiAmBen]

Those are kind of my thoughts on the matter too. However, I am NOT switching back to PC completely. Ever.

[Xtal]

If you need a higher resolution consider the X61 Tablet! It functions excellently in laptop mode and I can take notes in math & physics courses using the pen. The screen is SXGA+ (1400x1050), and is a TPS panel which has much better quality and viewing angle than the TN panels used on the regular X61. Apart from the swiveling screen (and a differently shaped battery) the internals are the same as the X61.

[iThinkiAmBen]

Meh, I think I'd break it.

[rhema83]

I replaced my aging T42 (14.1" SXGA+) with my current X61 in Nov 07. It has been my main computer ever since. For work, it works very well. I even use it to run simulations.

The XGA screen didn't take long to get used to, probably because the screen itself is smaller, so the absolute size of the text did not change drastically. I admit that I find it limiting when I work with AutoCAD and Photoshop on this screen, but that is what external monitors are for. The X3100 GPU is also not powerful enough to do 3D rendering quickly, but that is not the intended use of the unit. A T61p or a desktop would be more suitable for that purpose.

Good choice on the MX Revolution. I am using the slightly smaller VX, and it is a perfect fit. I heavily recommend it if you have not acquired the MX yet.