Anyone interested in consulting by phone?

I have pretty much decided on getting an X60 primarily because of the size/weight and because of some specific features.

I have been trying to customize online but am getting frustrated because the site isn't very user friendly and the descriptions in the "Help Me Decide" boxes don't always match up with the choices available.

I am a graduate student in a dual degree program coming into finals, so my time is very limited. I feel like every time I go on the Lenovo site I just end up getting more frustrated because I know enough about computers to have a sense of what I want but can't understand enough from the way the site is laid out and operates to make sure that I am getting what I want.

I've been lurking for the past 3 months and have read plenty of posts with Qs about specific options, but most are isolated rather than discussions about how the system as a whole will work together. I would rather take 30-60mins and go through each option with someone who can answer my Qs about the differences in consideration of the big picture, so I am sure I am getting what I want. My preference would be someone familiar with the x60 or x60s because I have a good number of Qs about docks and accessories.

I am willing to pay for your time, but being that I am living on financial aid - it would need to be modest.

I know that one of the great things about a forum is the multitude of opinions and discussion, but right now, I need to focus in on the details. I would be happy to post a recap of the conversation if anyone else would be interested in learning from it.

Let me know if you are interested - I would love to do this today or tomorrow if possible!

 

Why not just call 1-866-96-THINK. The Lenovo reps are very helpful.

 

We should be able to answer your questions without having to go on the phone.

List your questions, with numbers, be specific, be precise and I will try to answer as many as I can.

 

I learned more from this website and readings, than talking to the rep who it seems, could have used a lesson on Notebooks from me.

 

There's only a couple of docks available. Most common is the X6, and it's better value to get the dock bundled in a pre-configured package rather than to custom build and add-on a dock. You might not even need a dock. Some ppl dont even like it because it raises the height of the laptop. The major benefit of the dock, i find, is its ultrabay for the optical drive or extra HD, but even those can instead be easily attached to one of the X60's 3 USB ports.

What other accessories? AC adapter? AC/DC? Extra battery?

This isn't a complex purchase. Once you've decided the model, as you have, just pick a preconfigured unit that best fits your needs. That way you'll pay less and get it sooner than a custom build.

 

Sorry - I forgot to say that I had called and though the rep I spoke to was very helpful, I wasn't totally confident that the suggestions were unbiased being that almost all of the suggestions were to go the the biggest/fastest/most expensive. He may be right on the money, but I would prefer a "second opinion" from someone that has not incentive for me to get the most expensive.

 

In almost all cases, you DO NOT need the most expensive/fastest machine. The boost in performance from mainstream processors to the fastest, increases marginally, but the cost increases substantially.

 

yep what momo said

 

I disagree. In the future, even the best stuff will be slow, so put the money in the things that are not easily upgradeable and get the best there is of those. Get the best CPU and graphics card, and if that means skimping on the hard drive and ram so be it, because those take about 2 minutes to upgrade when the need should arise.

 

OK – well I don’t mind doing it on here, as long as I don’t get flamed for monopolizing!!

As far as use, I generally use my laptop for Office programs (mostly Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel) and Pdf programs. I’m not a gamer. I do a lot of research and other work online, so I often end up working back and forth between 4-7 windows with 3-4 programs simultaneously.

I want relative speed and decreased tendency to “freeze” because I accidentally told it to do too many things at once (yes I try not to do this, but I haven’t found a computer that works as quickly as my thoughts).

I keep a minimal amount of music, etc… on my laptop and opt for my iPod to be synced with desk top instead. I haven’t been syncing my laptop with my PDA, but would like to, so that does take up some memory. The majority of my memory is documents (Word and pdf, some Excel) and what can end up being a lot of pictures (at least while I am traveling). Another decent size application is the webcam, but that is generally used just for conferencing and I don’t do many captures on it.

So, now that you have a better idea of how I will be using it ...

I am looking at X60 with:
Processor:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 (2GHz, 4MB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB) rather than the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5500 (1.66GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB) because of the processing speed.

1 – Is the processing speed that much faster?
2 - Am I correct in my understanding that because I use multiple programs in multiple windows that I'm better off with the faster processor?
3 - Can I expect that the increased speed and utility is worth the $210 upgrade?

Hard drive:
2 – My understanding is that the RPMs have more to do with loading speed than speed of processing what I ask it to do. Is that correct?

3 – If that is correct – and being that the programs I use are relatively easy to load (even large pdfs) compared to a lot of other programs, that am I correct in going for the largest GB as priority rather than the largest RPM?
So a 120GB, 5400rpm SATA (adds $111) rather than a 100GB 7200rpm SATA (adds $180)?

Total memory:
Right now Lenovo has a sale that lets me upgrade to 1.5 GB for the same price as 1 GB (both are $99 over the standard 512) and I think that should be fine.

Docks:
I’m thinking I want the X6 UltraBase and will then get the 4X Max DVD Recordable Ultrabay Slim Drive. (Although I am hemming & hawing about spending the extra $80 over the DVD read and CD RW).

My thought was to go with the CD/DVD read/write as in the bay because I have an external hard drive (USB) already that I use for backing up (and storage if necessary) and of course a number of thumb/flash drives for anything I need to be more portable.

Other accessories:I am leaning towards getting the AC/DC combo adapter because of the amount of traveling I do. Also, the 8 cell battery.

I’m interested in any opinions!!

One more thing - the majority of this will be from my family as my birthday, holiday and graduation presents wrapped up in one. My family is being exceedingly generous in helping me with this but I still need to be conscious of the price. As it stands (including the warranty) it is currently looking to be about $2450. If I could trim that back, that would be great!!

 

Processor
1. It will be faster, but unnoticible during the programs you will be running, as the 5500 has 2 mb cache, while the 7200 has 4 mb cache.
2. You would be better off, but again, slighly.
3. If it was under ~$100, I may say yes, but in this case, NO.

Hard Drive
1. Yes, the faster spinning (RPM) speeds will load data faster.
2. If more space is a priority, I would go with the 120GB, but the 7200rpm one would be better / faster overall, plus, you can use your external HD for additional storage.

The 8-cell battery will be best for travelling.

 

Well, that's a very hot configuration. You're aware that on the Lenovo Education site you can get a pre-configured X60 with a Core Duo (not Core 2 Duo) for $1359, right? And that's with the three-year warranty included.

You'd have to pay a bit more to add RAM, but for the rest of it I'm hard pressed to see why you would need to spend the extra $1000. I'm not hard pressed to see why you would want to, though.

Chris

 

1. The processor speed is faster, but for the work you are doing it will not be perceptible because you will not be processor-bound. In other words, your "bottleneck" is not your processing speed. Which means, you are wasting your money in your case by upgrading the processor. In fact, for your purposes a Pentium M would be just fine.

Unless you anticipate using 64-bit applications (which won't be dominant for another few yars), I suggest you get a Core Duo on-sale instead, and use your money for other things like those options you want.

2. Wrong. If you run many of those types of programs/windows simultaneously, upgrading memory is what you want (to a point). Upgrading the processor won't help. That 1.5 meg of RAM is about the most you'll need. There comes a point where adding more RAM makes no perceptible difference.

3. Nope. all you will have helped is intel's bottom line.

About the hard drive... what Momo said.

About the optical... a DVD writer is nice to have unless you already have a DVD writer. Usually, I advise people that burning DVD's in a laptop is a crappy idea because the heat kills the laptop, but in your case (and mine) the burner is in the X6 base so it's okay.

About the battery... the 8-cell battery will give you a good 7 hours of life. But it weighs an extra half pound and sticks out the back. Me, i like the battery sticking out the back because it provides something with which to hold the laptop securely in one arm. Other people prefer the 4-cell because of the sleeker look and lighter weight. Still others prefer one of each type of battery. If you get one of each type of battery, bBear in mind, the battery will degrade with time whether or not it's used.

I'd say... get a discounted Core Duo like Eagle Devil advised. Save the $1000 and use it towards your next purchase. Even if you buy the best available today, it will be obsolete by next summer and worth only $600-$700.

 

One other thing.... be sure to get the atheros (thinkpad card) and NOT the intel 3945.

The atheros will make your wireless perform much better. Further, numerous ppl who own x60 and x60s have reported chronic wifi problems with the intel card.

 

I second the Atheros recommendation. ^

 

Where would I find that so that I can compare? Neither of my schools are listed under the school programs.

I'm looking at the Top Sellers and am only seeing the z60 options, no x60 (at least not for Higher Ed, California).

 

From Lenovo.com, click "Education." Under "PCs for Home," select "Students & Alumni," and click "Go." From the next screen, click "Featured notebooks." On that page (scroll down) is the X60, model #1706. It's not a full-boat model, but the discount is pretty good.

You could also wait until right after Thanksgiving and see if they do some big sale. But the education prices have looked pretty stable since I bought my T60 a few months ago.

Hope that helps.

Chris

 

Just to throw it out there, I've got a T60 with the T5500 and a gig of ram and it's done everything I've thrown at it. I've had 6+ word documents open, 10+ FF tabs, and a large Excel spreadsheet open with music playing and it didn't hiccup at all.