Buying an used X60s over a netbook?

I'm a happy MacBook Air user, after purchasing my first gen MBA I could confidently say I have found the perfect 'book.

However, I'm thinking about getting a secondary 'book, for occasions where size matters, like live posting at an event. Take a look around, none of netbooks currently available suit my needs, they look too toyish and their keyboard sucks.

Except one, the just-announced HP mini 5101 look kind of sick and I'm sure it won't make me look like a kid showing of his toy among working people, yeah, it's that important to me, also its keyboard looks like spacious enough.

The other choice is to buy an used X60s, having the tradition of being rugged I think I won't have to worry about it falling apart, or just wouldn't work anytime soon. Of course there are still chances, after all, used is used.

What do you think? I don't need processing power and an Atom is enough for my needs, I need a small and light weight one, a new 4-cell for the X60s will be enough for me to work. My working sessions don't normally last more than 3 hours.

Both of them I can buy for like $500 (with extra for new battery if I'm going the X60s way)

 

The biggest difference is going to be the keyboard.

The HP mini 5101 may have one of the better Netbook keyboards but it is still a Netbook keyboard. However, you may like it as it's the same chiclet style as you MBA.

The x60s has a superb keyboard and will beat any netbook hands down. You also have to weigh your opinion of the TrackPoint as it's the only device offered on the x60s. The x60s will also be substantially more powerful due to the dual core CPU.

 

I'm agreeing here. An "outdated" ultraportable like the X60s or the latitude D420 will still be more powerful and more importantly, have a real keyboard and at least 768 vertical pixels. I found that 600 pixels was just too restrictive to even surf the web normally.

 

Hi fRzzy,

For the same price or even less than a netbook, a pre-owned X60s clearly trumps a netbook in:

1. price/performance ratio.

2. build, engineering and design quality.

3. a infinitely more satisfying typing experience with full-sized main keys. (BEST keyboard EVER!)

4. a roomier, more comfortable matte screen display that won't blind you with reflections from bright lights.

5. an AC adaptor half the size of other bulky bricks.

6. a Core Duo processor that can do stuff an Atom processor can never hope to.

7. being able to run Win 7 or Vista 32/64 with just 2GB RAM comfortably.

8. being able to watch HD content without seizing up.

9. stainless steel hinges so strong you can lift if by the display corner with a firm grip without any screen flex (try THAT with any other business or consumer notebook!).

10. being assured of adequate & affordable spares for upgrades or repairs.

11. ... phew! someone please continue ...

 

I'd take a X60 over a laptot every time. The X60 has one of the best notebook keyboards, bar none.

 

wow... thank you very much for all your inputs, my first post here has received great helps, thank you.

I'll start looking around for an used X60s, just hope that I can find one that hasn't been abused. Bad habit of ThinkPad users I think, lol...

 

Post over in the Marketplace forum on ThinkPads.com that your looking for a X60. You may pay a bit more over there, but they tend to be much more honest. While there are some good deals on eBay, some of the sellers are purposefully vague and you got to know what you're doing or get lucky. It's sort of every man/woman for themselves.

 

X60s 's definitely better than any netbooks

 

definitely, I stopped using my Asus 1000HA almost immediately after getting an X61s. I had shopped for an X60s prior to that. 600px vertically wasn't enough, and the dual core CPU is much faster than the Atom.

 

Hi, I have a similar dilemma to this one; trying to choose between an Asus 1005HA and a Thinkpad x60(s)/61(s). However, the models that I am looking at only come with ABG wireless but I would like it to have wireless N capabilities. Forgive my lack of computer knowledge, but is upgrading the wireless as simple as popping out the old card and inserting a new one? How difficult would it be (on these models) and is it even worth upgrading?

 

Lenovo, and IBM before it, have had a tendency of white listing WLAN cards. As a result, you will need to buy the appropriate 802.11ABGN card that is IBM/Lenovo branded (can find them on eBay). Once you aquire the appropriate card you just remove the keyboard, pop out the old card, pop in the new one, and attach the antennas (assuming the x60/x61 in question has the 802.11N antennas pre-installed).


To your second question, the utility of 802.11N is arguable. If you have a NAS device or otherwise transfer large files frequently within your LOCAL NETWORK then 802.11N can be quite useful (about 5 times faster than G in my experience). However, if you are only concerned about connecting to the internet then 802.11N has little to no benefit over 802.11G because the vast majority of WAN connections are slower than 802.11G.

 

Thanks for the quick reply!

Hmm, upgrading the wireless seems to be too much of a hassle... so if I'm using my university's wireless network I won't see any improvement from G to N?

Also (slightly off topic) do you have any comments about the wireless range on Thinkpads? My current Vaio has trouble maintaining a full connection even though the router is only 1 room over. Will wireless N improve the range at all?

 

i would suspect something else, possibly change the channel your router operates on. no issues with the wireless here.

 

Your University's network is almost certainly 802.11G only anyway so upgrading to an 802.11N adapter would have no effect. Any improvements in range/speed for 802.11N would only be realized if the router is also 802.11N.

As far as your Vaio you may just have a substandard network card (some models have very poor range and some particular units cannot maintain a stable connection).

 

yea these older laptops are more bang for the buck than your standard netbook variety considering these can even cost more than the old laptops and are less powerful

 

So uh im in the same boat. Ive got a dell mini 10v with 2gb ram and a ocz vertex hard drive.
With the mini i get:
brand new
led backlit screen
2.25 lbs
1024x576 (16:9)
bluetooth for mouse
66% cpu when playing sd avi files
95% cpu when playing 720p mkv files
30-40 sec boot.
150 mark in futuremark 2006
$225 invested, not counting the vertex

With the x60 i get:
basicly an original style macbook with the same proc(t2400) and north bridge
used so needs new batt ($25-50)
3.3 lbs (est)
ccl backlit
1024x768 (4:3)
bluetooth add on usb nub (most dont come with it or cost an extra $100)
150 mark in futuremark 2006 (same gpu as mini)
$350-400 invested not counting the vertex

So is it really worth it for me to spend $200 and get a x60? Or would it be better for me to spend an extra $400 an get a dell e4300. Its the same weight, led backlit,2x faster cpu min, 4x faster gpu min.

 

You are aware the vertex won't work to it's full capacity on the X60?

 

If it works just as good in my netbook i will be happy. Define wont work to its full capacity? Its gotta be alot better then a 4200rpm disk.

 

The x60, x61, T60, T61, et. al. have a SATA interface that is limited to SATA I (1.5gbps) speeds. The OCZ vertex is capable of reads that would exceed this interface. As a result, sequential transfers of large files will be reduced because of the controller.

The SATA I controller has no effect on the fast random access and small random write speeds (the critical elements of a good SSD), so it's not much of a problem. Naturally any SSD (even a CF card with PATA adapter) will be A LOT better than a 4200RPM HDD (especially the 1.8" style).

 

Have a look at the gateway netbook. Has X1270 graphics

US$400 Gateway LT3103u 11.6" L110-1.2 2GB 250 X1270 VHBasic review thread