Thinkpad: Commando edition?

[wujstefan]

Hello,
I have gained some serious problem recently. My T60p is simply falling apart. It is getting hot, crashes frequently, hinges are almost dead, and screen looks worse than my mother-in-law.

What I do need is a little help in choosing a little better option for my needs (frequent choose-one post )

I am not really happy with my T60p (T7200, 4Gb, FireGL V5250), and so the second one with FireGL is rather not an option.

What I do require from my TP:
1. mobility - i travel with my notebook a lot working in train etc
2. good screen (best option is 14' SXGA)
3. enough power to use Autodesk's Inventor 11
4. RELIABILITY
5. good battery life
6. I do like to play some games time to time - although absolutely not the newest ones, being Blizzard's Warcraft 3 the most graphics-eating one

I was thinking about T43 or T60. There are lots of people here that handled more thinkpad problems that I've even heard of.
I've already bought a T43 here on a forum - Type 2668-VT1 (Dothan 1,86, 2Gb, X300 128mb). Is it already with new soldering or the old, defective one? If it won't fit my needs, I'll simply pass it to my father-in-law, he won't even move it from its docking

What I read from this forum was that the T60 was rather reliable, newer than the t43, with sata, c2d etc. at the cost of worst design, KB and look.

I wanted to ask you for some help choosing a system that will fit my needs. My wallet can't actually contain more than $500, so I think T410 is not an option, but still will listen to some good advice, also about them

[lukee]

T43's(p) are running hot too but it was and still it is the best of IBM's engineering. If you're looking for reliability, quality, performance and cool run I would recommend R61.

[ssd_thinkpad]

I'd take a panasonic y8.

[ThinkRob]

I'd vote for a T60 if you want to stick with 4:3 screens. They're cheap, reliable, (IMHO) stronger than the T4x series, and have some of the best keyboards ever put on a ThinkPad. Get one with an Intel GPU and you'll have a cool-running, long-lasting, dependable notebook for years to come.

A few tips if you do decide to go this route:

1) The T60, T61, R60, R61, Z60, and Z61 series all share the same keyboard FRUs. Use this to your advantage when purchasing a new keyboard on eBay.

2) The CPU is socketed, so you don't have to try to find the perfect T60 -- you can get one with a low-end Core Duo and upgrade.

3) IBM's Certified Used equipment page often has a fair number of T60s on sale. They're a little pricey for their age, but CUE units tend to be in great condition and do come with a 3 month warranty (extendable to 1 year). Plus there are sales from time to time (one going on now IIRC) and nice discounts for IBM shareholders.

[wujstefan]

I was actually considering getting T60 along with full advanced dock for PCI-E (RADEON HD 4550 for Inventor, some movies etc.)
Got T60p with FireGL V5250 and am simply mad at it. It gets hell hot after replacing the fan and simply drives me nuts.

I heard about T60 being cool, silent and efficient. I found one as you suggested at ibm CUE page. Nice config, refurbrished.
This one actually fits my needs, but its overview lacks information. It says as written:

Processor internal clock speed 2.33GHz
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™ Duo
Screen type TFT
Viewable image size 14.1"
Memory Std/Max 2048MB/2048MB
Hard Disk 100GB
Optical CD-RW/DVD-RW Combo
Modem 56K
Network card Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless Intel 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless
USB Port Yes
Warranty 3 months limited

It seems kind of blind shooting for me. How come they say nothing about display (xga? SXGA?), HDD (7200rpm? 5400?), graphics, battery, not to mention memory std/max 2gb/2gb, while hardware manual tells it is actually 4gb of ram at max.

Anyone bought anything there to share some experience?

[yak]

T60 is a very good model. Its biggest HW issue is probably the sub-par cooling system making the high end configs, such as yours, run hot. Mine has the Intel GMA950 integrated graphics and even after I upgraded the CPU to T7200 it is still running cool and quiet. And a lot of people actually think they look better than the T4x series. Much cleaner design.

If you're savvy with computer hardware, you could source a GMA950 system board and replace the one from your T60p. You could then sell off your current one on eBay (or Allegro ). This will also improve your battery life.

The system board should be the only part you need. Theoretically GMA950 boards use a different cooling fan but the main difference is lack of the part cooling the GPU, so if you use your current one, this part will just hang unused.

FYI, 14.1" and 15" (both 4:3) T60 use the same system board, the 15.4" widescreen model has a different one, make sure you don't get that one.

[ThinkRob]

It seems kind of blind shooting for me. How come they say nothing about display (xga? SXGA?), HDD (7200rpm? 5400?), graphics, battery, not to mention memory std/max 2gb/2gb, while hardware manual tells it is actually 4gb of ram at max.

Anyone bought anything there to share some experience?

I've bought a fair bit of stuff from IBM CUE, and I like them.

With regards to display: the model number/type will give you all the necessary information.

[wujstefan]

The one that is on IBM site is 2008-N22 type, so SXGA+ and (unfortunately) X1300. If you say T60 is fairly common to see there, I will wait my way to get a T60 I want. How often are there any sales?

About just changing mobo - a system of mine has some bad days with me bought it second-hand in not very good condition, so just changing the mobo is not very good for me.

Can I expect any other suggestions or everyone here is "pro T60"?

[goofyGAguy]

Nothing really wrong with the X1300. My T60 has this GPU. It idles in the high 40's Celsius.

[ThinkRob]

The one that is on IBM site is 2008-N22 type, so SXGA+ and (unfortunately) X1300. If you say T60 is fairly common to see there,

They are indeed common. BTW, IIRC model numbers starting with 19 have integrated GPUs...

I will wait my way to get a T60 I want. How often are there any sales?

Reasonably often. If you're an IBM stockholder, you can get a 20% discount all the time.

[crashnburn]

Thinkpads going commando.. lol..

[wujstefan]

I am wondering how will it work in high humidity and temperature? I dont mean "high humidity" as throwing system into the river, but 4example working outdoors in the fog?

I think T60 will work for me actually (graphics is a bit lame, but hope it will do)

[craigmontHunter]

IIRC, The t61 and newer T series were mil-spec tested for high humididity. The issue with that is not an immeidate effect, it is the "Jungle Rot" that occurs when the componets get wet and either stay wet or get wet again and again that will effect the long term durability, mostly because they corrode out. If it is going to be like that a lot, then a tough book may be a better idea, since they keep all the moisture out, saving internal components. (a fully rugged toughbook - semi rugged is simmilar to thinkpad, with unsealed internals)

[wujstefan]

Only from time to time (midterrain climate, working outside sometimes)

[ajkula66]

"Working outside" is a pretty broad term...

If you're sitting on a terrace and browsing with a cool beer by your side, that's one thing.

If you're actually *working* using a laptop for an extended period of time, ToughBooks are your friend...