buy Macbook vs thinkpad x61?

I have never used a mac before.
Which is a better choice? (preferably someone who has used x61 as well)
I will be going to graduate school, and I need something light within 1000$

How is Macbook for typical MSOffice work like excel, presentation and word?
I won't be doing anything intense, just browsing internet and such

 

Well they both will do fine for that sort of thing. I think it all comes down to which OS you want. If you can decide that, you can decide which notebook to go with. >.<

 

Double Post!

You ask the same question @ "Which notebook to buy section."

 

go to the store and try the mac out before you make your decision... i would get a mac, it's less buggy, boots faster, less problems with it, except that you cant play video games on it, but other than that, it's awesome...

 

That's true. If you aren't looking for specialty software or gaming a mac could be a good choice. But if you have a chance go to a few stores and try out some models (including the ones you have listed above). I think trying them out firsthand would do you more good than anyone on this forum could trying to help you with your decision. Hope this helps!

 

sry, its just that everyone in that section answered x61, i wanted to hear from the other side. wont do it again

 

I think he love or like MB.Coz everyone on the "Which notebook to buy" section said X61 is better (including me ) ,but he still asking the same question.Users saying M$ Office08 is not good on OS X .He need M$ Office for his works

 

the mac MS office is perfectly fine. the OP has to get used to osx first though. wont take long.

 

lol, i just want to make sure. i guess the best way is to look at the laptops.. I've played with macbook at bestbuy and it is pretty nice, but I can't seem to find x61 or similar thinkpads in any local stores...

know any physical stores that carry thinkpads?

 

I have a macbook, and my dad's got a thinkpad R61.

I love my macbook, but i respect thinkpads, they are so solid, built like tanks.

and personally, i think the macbook keyboard sucks. if you type a lot, then you can't beat the thinkpad's keyboard, they are simply the best in business.

although i can't stand windows vista, and think OSX is a far superior OS.

as for the office suite, i have office mac 2004, it's pretty much the same as the windows version (pre the latest office), the only difference is entourage-the mac version of outlook.

 

my local office depot and circuit city carry some thinkpad R models.

 

get the x61. the macbook is a budget laptop while the x61 is a business laptop

 

apple's ongoing deal would offset a bit price disadvantage.

 

I have been using ThinkPads for about 10 years. Currently on my desk are an A31p, X31 and T61, I use the latter two frequently. Obviously, I'm a fan, or should say, was a fan. The T61 is a disappointment. Lenovo's service hasn't been good from when I placed the order, there was delay after delay and missed dates in shipping. Then when I received it, the notebook flexes/rocks sitting on my desk where I need to keep a CD under the right front corner. This is the second one as I returned the first for the same problem. The keyboard isn't bad, but not as good as on the earlier models. Screen isn't great, passable. Battery life is passable. Had the new Dell's been available at that time, I would have returned it for a refund.

When the MacBook Air came out, I thought it would be perfect to cart around the city when I only needed to go to job sites for meetings rather than support, so I went for it. Forgetting the design limitations, either you can live with it or you can't (I have no problems and it meets my expectations for the purchase) but here are my comments.

Apple isn't any better than dealing with MS, Lenovo, Dell or another manufacturer. The power adapter is proprietary so you can't get an igo/targus/whatever adapter. Want to use it in the car, buy another $80 Apple adapter and a 120Vac car adapter. In an airplane, I guess you're out of luck. Really just dumb. The battery can't be changed (knew that going in so I can live with it), the hard drive can't easily be changed.

Where I'm disappointed mostly: the wireless on the Air is poor. The bluetooth audio and PAN just don't work; tech support confirmed it. Wifi is unreliable in many cases. These issues really changed my view of Apple as I bought the MBA based on years of top notch use of my iPod, seeing how well designed the iPhone and the cool portable of the MBA. How do you sell a "connected" notebook with poor wireless?

On the upside, I have no problems with the design. One USB port, "slow/small" hard drive and no optical drive aren't issues for me. The SSD would be nice, but it wasn't worth $1000 as the speed and battery life weren't boosted significantly (from reading reviews). The recharge time is a slow, but doesn't present a real problem for my use. VMWare fusion runs great so I can use a few PC programs I need, mostly VPN. No virus protection to slow things down and the web browing is fast. Screen is very good as is the keyboard.

All said, the T61 does work doing everthing I need while the MBA has issues and "proprietary limitations". Not sure what problems the MBP has, but the X61 received excellent reviews (I think it was the last IBM design); I'd probably give the X61 the edge based on my experience.

Regards-Michael G.

 

Not to mention that all around the MBA just runs SLOW even running OSX.

 

lol, thanks for the feedback
No money for Air anyways.

 

I personally would recommend a Thinkpad to anyone looking for a PC laptop. I know some people like mgerbasio have had similar experiences with Lenovo, however these experiences are few and far between. For the most part.

In case of the x61 it would depend which model you want to go with. If your looking for a tablet the x61 tablet has by far the most responsive screen to interact with that i have ever worked with. But if your just looking for a little bang for your buck, go with either an r61, or the 14.1" t-61.


Or, buy a macbook. Also a great choice, plus you can run windows as well if you feel the filthy, unnatural urge to.