T61p build quality? Compared to T41p.

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dc81 · #1 Post by **dc81** » Mon May 19, 2008 12:20 am

It has been a long time since I have posted. I am a T41p owner and user, and it has become time for a new computer. I have been looking at the T61p and on paper it looks really nice, but my question is: has Lenovo kept up the Thinkpad quality? I really love my T41p, but I use my laptop for Computer Aided Drafting and the T41p is getting just a little on the slow side. Is the keyboard still as nice as the T41p? I pretty much would like a T41p but with T61p components. If that makes sense. Well if anybody can post their comparisons.

Thank you,
Daniel

pksw · #2 Post by **pksw** » Mon May 19, 2008 1:26 am

I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I am in exactly the same position - I have had my t41p since April 2004, and it has been a superb laptop. Unfortunately it doesn't look like I can find a t61 series with a 14.1" (non widescreen) with 1400x1050 screen resolution, as I currently have. I don't really want to go to 15.4" widescreen, due to the extra weight/size - but if I were I'd only consider the 1900x1200 screen size.

Does anyone know are there any high resolution 14" options in a t61p, or am I forced to go to 15.4" wide? Lenovo Australia won't give me any other options, and I'll consider getting one from the USA.

Also, is Lenovo USA providing international warranty as standard (Australian warranty already includes international cover)?

Thanks, and look forward to replies.

ninjaronin18 · #3 Post by **ninjaronin18** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:05 am

dc81 wrote:It has been a long time since I have posted. I am a T41p owner and user, and it has become time for a new computer. I have been looking at the T61p and on paper it looks really nice, but my question is: has Lenovo kept up the Thinkpad quality? I really love my T41p, but I use my laptop for Computer Aided Drafting and the T41p is getting just a little on the slow side. Is the keyboard still as nice as the T41p? I pretty much would like a T41p but with T61p components. If that makes sense. Well if anybody can post their comparisons.

Thank you,
Daniel

I have a t61p which I will be using for CAD next year. I love it! I have an a20p. I compared my t61p's keyboard to my a20p's and I found that they're basically identical! (except the t61p has a windows key which I find 2 b very useful). As far as build quality goes, the t61p is superb 2 other laptop brands. Comparing it with my a20p, the a20p feels a great deal more durable. Frankly, the only flaw I find with my particular t61p is the backlight bleeding at the bottom of the Samsung screen (i heard LG screens dont have this). I can definitely live with this as it is only noticeable when the screen is dark. Honestly, I would bet that if you bought a t61p, you would immediately fall in love with it.

ninjaronin18 · #4 Post by **ninjaronin18** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:13 am

pksw wrote:I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I am in exactly the same position - I have had my t41p since April 2004, and it has been a superb laptop. Unfortunately it doesn't look like I can find a t61 series with a 14.1" (non widescreen) with 1400x1050 screen resolution, as I currently have. I don't really want to go to 15.4" widescreen, due to the extra weight/size - but if I were I'd only consider the 1900x1200 screen size.

Does anyone know are there any high resolution 14" options in a t61p, or am I forced to go to 15.4" wide? Lenovo Australia won't give me any other options, and I'll consider getting one from the USA.

Also, is Lenovo USA providing international warranty as standard (Australian warranty already includes international cover)?

Thanks, and look forward to replies.

I heard non-widescreen thinkpads are available through a business purchase in the US. How u go about it, I have no idea. I agree with u that the 14" screen is the ideal size for laptops. However, I feel that the 15.4" widescreen is bearable. Why would u only consider WUXGA? I have a WSXGA+ 1680 by 1050 and I find it ideal for 15.4 inch. I don't know about the warranty.

Pascal_TTH · #5 Post by **Pascal_TTH** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:10 am

I will receive my T61p tomorrow. I still have a T41p, a T60p (14" 1400x150) and a T61 14" wide (1440x900). I'am also afraid by the 1920x1200 15,4'' screen but in past times, I already use an A21p (1600x1200 15'') and it was fine.

Perhaps 1680x1050 is a more conservative resolution because the DPI are close to 1400x1050 14".

I don't understand why so many manufacturer jump from 1440x900 to 1920x1200 with a very small offer with 1680x1050. It should be drive by the *Full HD marketing*.

pksw · #6 Post by **pksw** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:58 am

ninjaronin18 wrote:I heard non-widescreen thinkpads are available through a business purchase in the US. How u go about it, I have no idea. I agree with u that the 14" screen is the ideal size for laptops. However, I feel that the 15.4" widescreen is bearable. Why would u only consider WUXGA? I have a WSXGA+ 1680 by 1050 and I find it ideal for 15.4 inch. I don't know about the warranty.

I'm not sure I can access the business purchase program, as I'm in Australia. If I could get a 14" with 1400x1050 I'd choose that as the perfect size. Unfortunately I can only find a 14.1" widescreen, with a maximum of WXGA+ (1440x900) and NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M.

Going for the 15.4" widescreen adds about 500g extra weight.

With regards to international warranty - I found the site to lookup the machine types to see which countries the warranty will be provided in - so I'm not so concerned about that issue.

What I cannot understand is how a t41p with T9500 CPU, 4 gig ram, 200 gig HDD, WUXGA/nVIDIA Quadro FX 570M is $US2300 but $AUD4600. The Australian dollar is almost equal to the $US, which makes this huge difference ridiculous.

Interested if the build quality of the Lenovo badged machines matches the IBM t41p series - I love the thinkpad keyboards, mouse pointer, and warranty system that I currently have.

I may look at ordering direct from lenovo in China or USA, rather than the Australian site.

aiiee · #7 Post by **aiiee** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:31 am

ninjaronin18 wrote:
Frankly, the only flaw I find with my particular t61p is the backlight bleeding at the bottom of the Samsung screen (i heard LG screens dont have this).

LG screens have it too. My old X31 does not have this bleeding, but the T61p does. But it doesn't bother me as it is only apparent right after the machine is turned on before your desktop appears.

dc81 · #8 Post by **dc81** » Mon May 19, 2008 9:24 am

I am happy to hear that Lenovo kept up the Thinkpad quality. I am not due for a new laptop for a couple of months, but since I just started looking into a new laptop now, I am not aware as to how long the T61p has been out. Is it close to a newer model? Or is it pretty recently released. (I know from my T41p it will be a great upgrade but I am still curious).

Thank you,
Daniel

sktn77a · #9 Post by **sktn77a** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:25 am

Considering my recent T61p cost less than half my original T40, I can't really complain at the quality. The physical construction is on par with the T40 - better in some areas (case rigidity) not quite as good in others (the thin plastic palmrest is wavy, not completely flat). And the LCD is definitely inferior.

I just wish they were as good as my 600E!

dhave · #10 Post by **dhave** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:33 am

I own two T43s and one T61p. The build quality of the T61p is superior to both of the T43s. One of the T43s -- a 14" model -- is ever so slightly "creaky" when I pick it up. Also, the lid moves a bit too freely, and UltraBay devices don't fit as nicely as I'd like. On the other T43 -- a 15" model -- there's not much flex, but the lid moves a little too stiffly.

My T61p, which I've had just a month, has none of these problems. It has practically no flex at all, it has a very solid feel to it, and, to quote Goldilocks, the lid is just right.

This is my 4th T-series Thinkpad. The first two were branded IBM, and the last two are branded Lenovo. The oldest, a T21 branded IBM, and the newest, a T61p branded Lenovo, are both of very high quality workmanship.

ajkula66 · #11 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon May 19, 2008 12:09 pm

You'll miss the looks of T41p, and you may or may not miss the keyboard-that's the luck of the draw.

T61 is definitely a better built machine than any T4x, and most of the issues that people complain about are actually Vista issues...

Having said that, you may want to wait for the next generation of ThinkPads which seems to be just around the corner...because you will see the prices for T61 dropping further, and you may actually find a machine that you're going to like better within the new ones...

Just my $0.02...

ninjaronin18 · #12 Post by **ninjaronin18** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:56 pm

dc81 wrote:I am happy to hear that Lenovo kept up the Thinkpad quality. I am not due for a new laptop for a couple of months, but since I just started looking into a new laptop now, I am not aware as to how long the T61p has been out. Is it close to a newer model? Or is it pretty recently released. (I know from my T41p it will be a great upgrade but I am still curious).

Thank you,
Daniel

The T61p model has been out since the 2nd quarter of 2007. However, it's been revamped a couple times. I heard it was going to be revamped again within the next several months w/the new montevina platform. However, the prices of course will b more than if u bought a t61p now with current specs. Lenovo has a sale now. I ordered my t61p on april 30th and got apprx. 35% discount. So it depends on if you're willing 2 pay more for the new platform. If not, I would recommend buying now.

dc81 · #13 Post by **dc81** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:02 pm

How long has the sale been going on? So at sometime in the near future, the prices will go back to normal?

pksw · #14 Post by **pksw** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:23 pm

ninjaronin18 wrote:I heard it was going to be revamped again within the next several months w/the new montevina platform.

Could be interesting, and I can certainly wait a few months.

ninjaronin18 · #15 Post by **ninjaronin18** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:16 pm

dc81 wrote:How long has the sale been going on? So at sometime in the near future, the prices will go back to normal?

They've had different sale periods since early april (at least that's when i started paying attention 2 the prices). For example, they'd have 25% sale +10% from ecoupons for 2 weeks. Then, the price would go back 2 normal for 1-2 weeks. Then, they'd have another sale with a different name but usually around 35% off total. I'm speculating the sales will end for awhile when they get the t61p revamped, but after several months, they'll start having sales again - about the exact price, i have no idea.

beeblebrox · #16 Post by **beeblebrox** » Tue May 20, 2008 6:16 am

pksw wrote:I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I am in exactly the same position - I have had my t41p since April 2004, and it has been a superb laptop. Unfortunately it doesn't look like I can find a t61 series with a 14.1" (non widescreen) with 1400x1050 screen resolution, as I currently have. I don't really want to go to 15.4" widescreen, due to the extra weight/size - but if I were I'd only consider the 1900x1200 screen size.

Does anyone know are there any high resolution 14" options in a t61p, or am I forced to go to 15.4" wide? Lenovo Australia won't give me any other options, and I'll consider getting one from the USA.

Also, is Lenovo USA providing international warranty as standard (Australian warranty already includes international cover)?

Thanks, and look forward to replies.

Yesterday I was bidding on a T61 14.1" SXGA+, but I lost in the last 5 seconds (Grrr... FleaBay snipers, I hate them!). Sure, there are all types of 4:3 screens available, but they will die out by summer.
On the other hand I was in a Thinkpad store and checked the T61p with 1920x1050 and figured out it is just too much. The resolution is so high that it doesn't make sense because the eye can not resolve this anymore with a usual distance of an arm-length from the screen.
You would have to sit VERY close to read the fine print in windows. Do this 10h a day and after a few weeks you are tired. Increasing the font is useless because then you could simply buy the cheaper WSXGA+ version.
I am now looking for a T60/61 with Flexview SXGA+ that's what suits me best.

ajkula66 · #17 Post by **ajkula66** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:59 am

beeblebrox wrote:

I am now looking for a T60/61 with Flexview SXGA+ that's what suits me best.

There is no such thing as T61 with FlexView of any kind.

crashnburn · #18 Post by **crashnburn** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:41 pm

beeblebrox wrote:
pksw wrote:
Note from Admin: Snipped excessive, nested quoting.

Where did you get to see this ? I havent seen any stores here carry this laptop. Which city, country are you in?

kc7gr · #19 Post by **kc7gr** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:22 pm

pksw wrote:I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I am in exactly the same position - I have had my t41p since April 2004, and it has been a superb laptop. Unfortunately it doesn't look like I can find a t61 series with a 14.1" (non widescreen) with 1400x1050 screen resolution, as I currently have. I don't really want to go to 15.4" widescreen, due to the extra weight/size - but if I were I'd only consider the 1900x1200 screen size.

(snippage)

I can't speak to the purchase options in Australia, but I was able to buy a T61 with an SXGA+ 14.1" simply by speaking nicely to one of the Lenovo call center reps. He offered to sneak the purchase through what he called a "back end" web site that was, apparently, internal to Lenovo.

This was within the last couple of weeks. If I can do it, others probably could as well. Heck, you've got nothing to lose by trying!

Consider this as well: If enough people show enough interest in the 14.1 non-widescreen models, Lenovo may get the message and resurrect it as a standard purchase option. I think they should have done that to begin with, rather than trying to force widescreen down every new buyer's throat. Purchasing patterns would have clearly told them whether doing so was viable.

Oh, and to answer the original question the thread posed: The T61 is the first ThinkPad I've ever bought for myself. I am deeply impressed with its build quality, which is certainly higher than my old Dell and only a few rubber membranes away from a ToughBook or GETac.

Happy tweaking.

beeblebrox · #20 Post by **beeblebrox** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:22 pm

crashnburn wrote:
beeblebrox wrote:

I am currently on a consulting project in Europe. Munich/London to be exactly. There is a Notebook Center, which has mainly Thinkpads.
They have the T61p both in 14" SXGA+ and 15.4 WSXGA+ and WUXGA. Costs are much lower than Paris or London. Actually, the guy there told me that they stopped the clearance sale of the 4:3 14.1" Thinkpads because they sell really good. The 14" widescreen seems to be a dog, it also costs around $400 more.
Using WinXP and Lotus Notes, then WUXGA on 15.4" is too much for my eyes because some fonts are rendered super-tiny.
But he said that Lenovo confirmed that 4:3 is phased out and dead in summer this year. All new models are widescreen.

loches · #21 Post by **loches** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:41 pm

I love my t61p so far. I don't understand what everyone is saying about the screens -- this WUXGA panel is great. Renders colors properly, unlike the jaundiced tint of the T4x screens.

Still, I can't help but think my old T42 14.1 was in the perfect size. Really, perfect; it worked as my main computer at home, and was highly portable. Keyboard was amazing. The T61s is a little too stif

vtfootball · #22 Post by **vtfootball** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 2:30 pm

I think the build quality of my T61p is freaking awesome. My friend had an old T42 that was real nice, but this T61p will blow it out of the water any day. IMO the WSXGA wide screen is so nice. I agree with some of the other posts who don't understand why people are complaining about it so much. The carbon fiber reinforced plastic body is extremely strong. Another plus is that you cant dent the carbon fiber plastic. I'm always so scared that I am going to put a dent in the metal body of my Macbook Pro. Also, the body allows for better wireless reception than the old metal bodies. If you open the T61p up to add some ram you will see that the inside frame and build is very substantial. I feel like I have an extremely well built machine. Get one!

mattfromomaha · #23 Post by **mattfromomaha** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 8:05 pm

I guess I'm on the other end of the spectrum - I'm not impressed with my T61 14" widescreen. I've previously had T23, T30, T42, and now this.

My big fear was that Vista would give me issue after issue but really, once you disable UAC it's basically just XP with some more eye candy.

Among my gripes:
-the 4-cell battery is giving me about 1.5 hours of uptime max - it's down to 95% before it's even done booting. The 6-cell sticks out the back of the unit, so it won't fit in my bag or briefcase. Not the uptime you'd expect with the "perfect balance of performance and portability." I miss the 2.5+ hours on my T42.

-Horrible "electronic noise" when on battery. I don't know exactly what you call it, but that 'crrrr shhhhhhhh shhhhh mmmmmm" noise is unending (and un-nerving!).

-It feels like the base is warped - the front right end (under the fingerprint reader) is always up off the table surface anywhere I go, and you feel it flex when you put your wrists on the palm rest.

-The process of having to remove the entire palm rest to remove the keyboard is a big step back - I do appreciate that you can get to both memory slots right under the palm rest, but I think this is a lousy design.

-I'm being more subjective on this, but I hate the footprint of the widescreen. I always thought of the T-series as the "as portable as you can get without performance compromise," but this thing is freakin' big and bulky. Not horrible, but noticably bigger than a T4x series.

I hate to be the guy offering the bad news here, but overall I do not like this new widescreen model. I kick myself daily that I hadn't ordered a week before I did when the 3:4 models were still available - we have a couple at work and they seem to lack most of the issues I'm complaining about. I do agree with the post above that, with as much the cost of these have dropped it's hard to expect too much, but I would rather pay another $500 or so and have a truly capable machine.

beeblebrox · #24 Post by **beeblebrox** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:55 am

mattfromomaha wrote:MOD EDIT: PLEASE tone down your excessive quoting.

Yesterday I bought a new Thinkpad travel mouse in this Munich Thinkpad store. They have 14" SXGA+ T60p on display and I checked its screen. Much brighter and much better contrast than my on 4 year-old T40p.
They charge around EUR 1200 for the T60p and EUR 1450 for the same in widescreen 14".
I thought about getting me the SXGA version. But now, when all the new Thinkpads are round the corner I rather wait a few weeks...

exTPfan · #25 Post by **exTPfan** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:20 pm

beeblebrox wrote:
mattfromomaha wrote:They have 14" SXGA+ T60p on display and I checked its screen. Much brighter and much better contrast than my on 4 year-old T40p.

Your T40p, when new, also was "much brighter and much better contrast" than now.

beeblebrox · #26 Post by **beeblebrox** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:05 am

exTPfan wrote:
beeblebrox wrote: Your T40p, when new, also was "much brighter and much better contrast" than now.

Of course, you are right.

But I actually meant, the T40 SXGA display had 130 nits and 250:1 to 350:1 (IDTech or Samsung) contrast when I bought it.

The T61p SXGA has around 500:1 and 200 nits, which is way better and will keep it brighter and better for a few more years.

Besides what I figured out is that since 2004 the T-Series seems to use UV-cut backlight tubes which means that the LCD screen does not turn yellow anymore because UV rays are blocked from the light spectrum. I discovered this when 3 years ago I sent a T20 and T40 to IBM for LCD replacements. After 3 years the T20 LCD was in a poor state while the T40 is still white bright, also less bright a bit after 3 years.

phr · #27 Post by **phr** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:55 am

I never had a T4x but have an A20p, A21p, 770, etc. back down the line. I just got a T61 and its keyboard is as good as any of the others. Main annoyance is the mouse cursor kept jumping around until I disabled the touchpad. The screen (WSXGA+) is fine. I'd have preferred WUXGA but that wasn't available with the Intel graphics card. I didn't want the Nvidia card because of power consumption and proprietary-only Linux drivers.

T61p build quality? Compared to T41p.

T61p build quality? Compared to T41p.

Re: T61p build quality? Compared to T41p.

Re: T61p build quality? Compared to T41p.

14.1 SXGA+ -- Ask for it!

Build Quality is still awesome

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