First laptop considering R61 or T61 - question on differences & options

I'm considering my first laptop purchase. It will be used as a general machine for a combination of business applications (e.g. Word, Excel, ACCESS,or maybe Open Office), playing with some Web development tools, web surfing that might include streaming audio/video, mobile DVD watching, CD/DVD ripping & burning, an occasional FPS game or two, etc

I'm a little familiar with previous generations of Thinkpads and I like the ability to use the TrackPoint instead of the touchpad which has nudged me in the Lenovo direction. I have a few questions for the knowlegdable people here after coming up with this config:

ThinkPad T61 15 Widescreen - 1 Yr Depot Warranty
System Processor: Intel? Core? 2 Duo processor T8300 (2.4GHz 800MHz 3MBL2)
Operating System: Genuine Windows XP Professional
Operating System Language: Genuine Windows XP Professional - US English
Display Panel: 15.4 WXGA TFT
System graphics: NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M (128MB)
Total memory: 3 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboards: Keyboard US English
Pointing Device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Hard Drive: 100GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device: DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim
System expansion slots: PC Card Slot & Express Card Slot
Card Reader: 4 in 1 Media Card Reader
Wireless cards: Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (supporting Centrino Pro)
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery
Power cord : Country Pack North America
Language Pack: Language Pack US English

-A similarly configured R61 is less expensive. What's different--screen? components? Anything? Is the T61 built more sturdy and worth the few extra dollars?

-Should I consider a T61P over a T61?

-Is there any reason not to get a widescreen if the larger size doesn't hamper the mobility of the machine for me? I usually run my desktop at 1024x768 (or sometimes 1280x1024) so I thought I should stay with the WXGA display.

-Since I might do occasional graphics or gaming, I figured the discrete graphics would be a better performer. Is that correct or is there anything else to consider in this choice?

-Is there a general recommendation on the warranty/service options? I generally avoid those on most of my other electronics, but I think the notebook will be a bit more challenging to do home tinkering with so I'm not sure. If recommended, is there a general consensus for how long to extend and which type?

-Is quality control pretty good for the current product line - e.g. dead pixels?

-Are there any red flags or other recommendations with the options I've selected? I am considering bumping the HDD to 160GB 7200 just because I might want to partition and also install Linux to play with but I'll leave those questions for a separate post.


Thanks much for your assistance.

 

I too was wondering the same thing.

However, I went ahead and purchased an R61 yesterday since I figured the differences can't be that big of a deal.

As far as I know the only differences will be maybe thickness and the construction of the cage.

I know the T61 configured around the same specs was ~200 usd more.

 

I just recently purchased an R61 system myself. Considering I asked nearly all the same questions, I found all my answers by searching the forum. It seems that these same questions get asked several times a week.

 

I also was researching whether to get a R61 or T61. At first, I was going to get the R61, being cheaper overall for generally the same specs. I heard somewhere, though, that the 15" R61's don't come with the magesium roll cage in the lid, though that might have been changed since then.
Still, I specced a T61 the same and it only came to about an $80 difference. It is ~1lb lighter, with TFT instead of BT (still haven't figured out what that means), is slightly thinner, and has a built in 4-in-1 media card reader. Besides those things, there's no real difference, so if those don't matter to you get a R61.
I chose the T61 because I liked the built in media card reader and the slimmer/lighter build didnt hurt.

 

I believe the 14" widescreen R61 and T61 models are closer to each other than are the 15 inch models. There is very little difference in the 14" models.

 

I got my R61 last Friday and I am very happy about it. The major reason to get R61 for me though is that couple weeks ago, R61 is 15% off vs T61 10% off. Now there are 20% off coupon for both, so if I choose now, I might go with T61.

However I am very happy with my R61, except the DVD driver tends to get noisy. R61 runs very quiet and very cool. I have the default X3100 graphics card, but I can play MTW2 with no problem and the battle scenes are actually faster than I expected from an integrated graphics card.

 

Im in teh same position, first laptop, dont know what to choose, Ive also heard about the R61 not good 15.4", thats why Im considering the T61-14" and the R61-14"

ThinkPad T61 15 Widescreen
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T8100 (2.1GHz 800MHz 3MBL2)
Genuine Windows XP Professional1
15.4 WXGA TFT
Intel GMA X3100 GM965
2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
US$910

ThinkPad R61 14 inch
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T8100 (2.1GHz 800MHz 3MBL2)1
Genuine Windows XP Professional12
14.1 WXGA+ TFT
Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/ 1394
2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)8
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
US$826.

 

The R61 is actually US$780 (-15%)

maybe I upgrade to a 2.4GHz?
Or thow in a discrete video card?

 

What new coupon for 20% off is there?

 

I just got that price with the 10% may coupon

 

There is a setting in the BIOS to quiet the DVD drive down.