x41 vs x60 vs x31 [ large pictures ]

[vladis]

Hello, this week I bought X60 ( non s version ) so here is comparsion.
As you can see X60 is slightly thicker and in hand havier than x41, but in other hand is running a lot faster.
- sorry images quality

x60 vs x41


x41 vs x60


x60


x41


x41 on the front


x41 on top


x41 on top


x41 on top

[Tasurinchi]

Very nice pictures! Thank you for posting. It's nice to see that the X60 is insignificantly bigger than the X4 series. I'm always lurking for one

[dr_st]

Great pics. Allows to see the silly design of the X60, with the raised back edge actually making the laptop thicker at the back than even a T-series.

[Temetka]

Great pics.

I love my X41T to death, but I will ditch it in a heartbeat for either an X60 or X6xT tablet series as I really enjoy the whole tablet experience.

[Eudoxus]

That's why I bought X61s. No big difference from a regular X61 with 8-cell battery though.

[vladis]

I think that x4 series are the slimmest of all, expect x300´s

[underclocker]

Nice pictures, but keep in mind that a more direct comparison would be an X60s/X61s to an X40/X41. All of those models used low voltage CPUs and therefore had very slim bases.

The base on the X60/X61 (non-s models) is thicker to accomodate a larger heastsink/fan assembly since they used non-low voltage Core Duo or Core 2 Duo CPUs. In the picture that shows the left side of the units, two levels of cooling vents can be seen. The lower level and extra base thickness is not present on the "s" models.

For a short time, I had both an X60s and an X40 on hand, they were nearly identical in all dimensions. In fact, the X60s with the UltraLight LCD option weighs exactly the same as an X40. As noted, the performance leap for the X6x platform is huge.

[dr_st]

The base on the X60/X61 (non-s models) is thicker to accomodate a larger heastsink/fan assembly since they used non-low voltage Core Duo or Core 2 Duo CPUs. In the picture that shows the left side of the units, two levels of cooling vents can be seen. The lower level and extra base thickness is not present on the "s" models.

Indeed you are right, however an X6Xs model will only be truly slim when using the prismatic slim 4-cell battery, which has very low capacity. Using the standard X6X 4/8-cell batteries with an s-model requires one to add an extra piece of plastic (battery extender) to the bottom of the base, which makes it just as thick as a non-s (or almost).

[Eudoxus]

Indeed you are right, however an X6Xs model will only be truly slim when using the prismatic slim 4-cell battery, which has very low capacity. Using the standard X6X 4/8-cell batteries with an s-model requires one to add an extra piece of plastic (battery extender) to the bottom of the base, which makes it just as thick as a non-s (or almost).

On the other hand, you can use 8-Cell battery for ThinkPad reserve edition. It still sticks out in the same way as normal 8-cell battery but as far as thickness is concerned the laptop is as thin as with slim 4-cell battery.

[dr_st]

On the other hand, you can use 8-Cell battery for ThinkPad reserve edition. It still sticks out in the same way as normal 8-cell battery but as far as thickness is concerned the laptop is as thin as with slim 4-cell battery.

Interesting. What is the FRU of this battery?

[Eudoxus]

FRU P/N 42T5260

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-68216

[dr_st]

Sweet! Capacity-wise it seems equal to the X6x Tablet 8-cell, which is somewhat less than the cylindrical 8-cell of the X6x, but if you wish to sacrifice capacity for slimness, this is a very nice option.

[Eudoxus]

Yes, capacity-wise the slim battery is a bit weaker. I have both of them and as far as I can say the difference is roughly about one hour. But you get a less bulky machine for that.

[vladis]

Hello, I am adding x31 comparision with x60. Sorry images quality.

[hunterman223]

Question for an X series user: do you miss the touchpad? I really love the X series, but I find myself terrible at using the trackpoint all the time. Been practicing though...

[Tasurinchi]

Question for an X series user: do you miss the touchpad? I really love the X series, but I find myself terrible at using the trackpoint all the time. Been practicing though...

Most of the time I'm carrying a mini mouse with me so I rarely use the trackpoint. I prefer touchpads, but I can survive using the TP in the cases I have to...

[hunterman223]

Oh, guess I never thought of that. That would definitely be a possibility. Thanks.

[jdrou]

I detest touchpads; I find them almost unusable except for the briefest use. Frankly I'd rather go back to the old trackball below the keyboard than have a touchpad there even with the maintenance/cleaning issues (I still have two old laptops with trackballs). The main thing that I like on a real mouse compared to the Trackpoint is the scrollwheel and in some cases the Trackpoint's center-button-scroll is actually easier than the scrollwheel. Mouse is certainly better for gaming though.

Best thing on the X31 compared to newer X-series is the battery being in the front allowing most of the ports to be in the back instead of sticking out the sides (frequently interfering with use of an external mouse). Also having most of the weight in the front makes it easier to open; I usually have to hold down the front of my X61 when I open it. Good thing it only has one latch instead of the X31's two. I also like the rectangular shape better than the 'wedge' of the newer X series.

[dr_st]

I agree - I like the X3x design a lot. The only thing I cannot understand is the triangular cut corner on the back left (also present on T30/A3x/R3x/R4x). Seems a strange concept to me.

[hunterman223]

The only thing I cannot understand is the triangular cut corner on the back left (also present on T30/A3x/R3x/R4x). Seems a strange concept to me.

Strange as it is, I love it. It makes those that have it stand out from the rest, and also adds to the clean black lines concept.

[automobus]

Strange as it is, I love it.

Me too! X30 is the best-looking laptop I have ever seen. I love that corner: to me, it makes the computer look like a great-big-memory card.

[spronkey]

Those X30-series do look awesome, I especially like the triangle cut myself. It really does just give... something - that tiny little accent - to the overall design.

I think the newer Thinkpads are lacking a bit when it comes to that - they just seem a bit square box for my liking. The X31 had a nice design, very simple lettering, great keyboard font etc.

[wgg]

Beutiful machines!

[granular]

Nice comparison pictures

I also admire the X3 series line.

[GpsPasSion]

Thanks for the pics. Got it here after looking up posts on upgrading from an x31 to an x61...something I'm looking into as my x31 is beginning to feel a bit slow, hard to check out a YouTube videos for instance, well they work but the CPU revs up and so does the fan

[granular]

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[GpsPasSion]

Well thanks for that long and detailed answer! In the meantime I got an x61 tablet on the cheap (1/5th of what I paid for my x31 in 2004) and guess what...YouTube and Hulu still don't play well, with some visible "banding", my 720p MP4s play fine with CCCP so that does point to the way the Flash plugin works.

I'm still reserving judgement on the x61 tablet, it's certainly well designed and there is a lot to like, but the fan comes on more than on the x31 (using TPFanControl, since it runs at all times by default...unlike on the x31) and the wrist pad gets very hot on the right (I understand the wireless card is just under that spot!). It opens webpages faster too and iTunes opens in less than 15 seconds. As much as I love the x31 the little slowdowns are starting to add up

[granular]

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[GpsPasSion]

That keyboard does look nice, a lot like those on the excellent IBM laptops eh Problem is that you still do a lot less with tablets than you do with even the most basic laptop. Try inserting a picture in a forum like this one for instance.

Good news on the fan noise front in the x61t, it was exchanged for me today and on the slowest speed it's certainly quite bearable now, nothing like the "thunder" of the x31 fan when it comes in!

The only remaining problem is the hot palmrest, guess I'll have to live with it, hope it doesn't develop a condition in my right wrist! Apparently the x61 models (maybe x61s too?) have a small auxiliary fan under the keyboard that helps with that.

[granular]

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