Hard time deciding between 15.4 and 14.1 T61

As many other people I'm heading to junior college for the first time in the fall (although it seems like more people are going to universities) and I'm trying to find out what Thinkpad would be best for my studies in IT, networking and some programming.

I have my own desktop pc at my house so I'm planning on sticking with a GMA graphics card (I'm glad I'm not waiting for the T61p ). So it comes down to what size I should get. I'm planning on carrying it around in a backpack so I'm not sure how much of a advantage the .9 lb lighter T61 14.1 would be (I'm thinking about a Swiss Wenger backpack).

I'm also not sure about the high resolution screens, the WSXGA+ might be annoying to blow up the text everyday to use. But I'm planning to do more testing with the T60p at bestbuy (I wish they allowed you to use the internet on some of those machines , but I have a flash drive with text stored on it so maybe they could let me load a page up).

I'm thinking about staying with the flush battery on both models, even though the 4 cell does seem small (about 2.5 hours on normal usage?). I'm the kind of person that prefers to seek out a outlet anytime I can so I don't know if I should worry to much. I'll probably just get a ultrabay battery if I decide I need more juice. The extended battery might be annoying taking it in and out of my pack.

I'm also planning on taking it easy on classes (maybe 4-5), so I might not have to many books the first (but down the line I don't know). It also seems like I may need to take some online classes so I don't know if that should effect my buying decision. Even if I do get a few online classes I'll probably take them on my notebook at the college anyways, since my desktop might be to much of a distraction (more of a chance to meet some hotties at the college anyways ).

Any advice would be appreciated, I'm just worried if I would buy the wrong size and regret it later on.

 

it mostly comes down to whether you prefers 15" wsxga+ or 14.1" wxga+. The former is smaller (128.6 ppi) than the 14" wxga+ (120.4 ppi) or wxga+ (107.1 ppi).

A pound doesn't sound like much, but it adds up if you have other stuff to carry. The bulk might be more of an issue even.

Because you have a desktop, and plan to carrry the laptop every day, i think this decision is a no-brainer. Get the 14". Some ppl would even suggest a 12" in your case. The 12" has a poor screen IMHO, so the 14" is probably the best compromise.

By the way, dont expect to get 2.5 hours on the 4-cell. Especially after you tack on a number of recharge cycles. I think thats about 20% optimistic, but maybe some owners can chime in better about that than I can.

 

I don't know if this will help but...

You'll probably find out that in college you will hardly ever need your text books in class. That's been my experience for most classes. So I wouldn't worry about a .9lb difference. Also, the Swiss Wenger backpack is great. That's what I have.

Other things to think about is that the 15.4" model has a built in memory card reader so you can have all three: PC card, express card, and memory card adapters. This is not possible to have them all built-in on the 14" model (to have all three you would have to get an express card/memory card adapter).

Also, I like that you can get a 9 cell battery for the 15.4" model and it only sticks out about 2cm vs. 7 cell max battery for the 14" model that sticks out further.

 

So I think you're more likely to regret the 15.4" ... Many laptop buyers get a smaller one next time.

 

well, there's 2 opposite opinions. LOL. good luck.

buy one of each

 

15.4 is massive on a desk. I dunno about you, but most desks i've sat in barely fit the 14.1. A 15.4 would probably stick out to the side, and that aint sexy

 

It's a tough call. Very good arguments for each size.

 

I've got the 14.1 along with the 7 cell, so its about 6 lb...i've been carrying it around in my backpack and its just tolerable, so if you get the 15.4 with the 4cell, the weight may balance out. The battery sticking out also doesn't prevent me from sliding in the backpack pouch.

My battery lasted about 3 and 1/2 hours...i didn't utilized the battery saver function.

I've also got the wsxga +, but I couldn't tell you how it would be different from the other version. I've got no qualms about it though.

All in all the machine is great, its just that I would also check out if you want Vista or XP.

 

I tried and used both a 14.1" and 15.4" widescreen notebook in the past and just could not get over the screen size difference between the two. For me, the extra screen height on the 15.4" model made it much more comfortable for me. It's very much a personal preference.

 

Sounds like the 14.1 would be better, 15.4 might take up to much desk space. There has to be reasons for the smaller ultra-portable notebooks and the 14.1 T61 seems more along those lines compared to the 15.4 inch T61.

But the 15.4 inch T61 does put up pretty vicious fight, just 10 dollars more, 2 more cells then the 14.1, bigger display and the bezel isn't off centered.

I was thinking since I would mostly be using it from my backpack it wouldn't matter but I think the 15.4 would be to bulky to take all over the place. Plus this notebook should last a minimum of 3 years and pack sizes and weight could vary during that time.

Now I just need to figure out what battery I should go for, the extended 7 cell seems like the obvious choice at first. But there is also the 4 cell battery and ultrabay battery. The ultrabay battery weighs in around .5lb so it would be slightly heavier to carry around with a 4 cell compared to a 7 cell extended (full laptop weight with 4 cell is 5.0lb, 7 cell is 5.3). The ultrabay also costs around $90 compared to $40 more dollars for the 7 cell extended but the ultrabay has the advantage of being left at home when not much battery life is needed...

This can make your head hurt if you think about it to much

 

Get the 14.1, I got a 15.4 T60P widescreen and was sorry I did.... Its HUUGE, I got an X61T and haven't used my T60P since. Its a pain to have to carry such a beast of a notebook, day in and day out.

If you are carrying it in a backpack you might not notice the extra weight, but I would go for something smaller....

 

Most people who bring their laptops to class don't do classwork on them. And of those who actually do classwork on their laptops in class, most find it unnecessary and more effort than its worth. You'll never find a class where its mandatory. It sounds like you're an undergrad. Maybe a freshman undergrad. Don't buy into the whole, "I'm going to buy a laptop and take it to class and I'll be all high tech and stuff". Trust me, a lot of people I know have been there done that. It sucks.

I had a friend who had a 12" tablet (he was a sophomore) that he brought to his classes everyday. About half way through the semester he discovered that taking notes on it and using it in class was just a pain and not worth it. He ended up going back to pen and paper and said it was just so much easier.

You know where my laptop sits all year? In my dorm on my desk with the occasional transport down the hall or across campus. I'd say if you don't have an absolutely concrete reason why you NEED to bring a laptop to your classes don't do it.

Also spread the word, a lot of freshman seem to have this same idea in mind. It's only half way into the year that they figure it out.

 

15.4". You know you want it.

 

^^ agreed - another reason why I say 15.4". You probably won't use this a little classroom chair/table. I will be carrying my laptop in my backpack, but I won't use it much in class. I'll be using it between classes and at hotels and places where I find a sufficient surface to rest it (just as I would if I got a 14".

Look up the demensions between the two. We've established a .9lb difference. I don't think the "bulk" of a 15.4" is much more than the 14". Probably about two inches wider and about 1 inch deeper (just a guess).

 

Yeah I understand where your going, if I was just doing the basic classes then I would skip out on buying one. I'll list some of the classes I'm gonna take and I'll let you decide.

A+ Hardware
A+ Software
Introduction to the UNIX OS
Networking +
Beginning Web Development
Security +
Database Concepts and SQL
Introduction to Programming

Some of these are online classes so I guess I can always come home and do it. But I think I'll be useful to have a notebook.

And yes I'm a freshman.

 

I don't know, I used to type out lecture notes and sell them to an oncampus distributor. It made bank and you can share the files with classmates. Plus, I'd rather have youtube in a boring lecture than notube at all, hehe

EDIT: Also, it is much more helpful nowadays with instant messaging. You can im classmates for clarification when theyre too far to talk to

 

Those seem like classes where you could possibly use it. I've taken several electrical engineering hardware and software design classes and I've never once brought my laptop to class. Mostly the professor lectures in class and there really isn't any time to code on your own and taking notes is a lost cause. I could see the advantage of taking it with you between classes. I've run into that before too where finding a computer lab is bothersome and going back to my dorm would take too long. Personally I've settled on finding something that doesn't require my computer between classes like math homework and saving computer stuff for when I go back.

Are you going to a university or a trade school? Those aren't usually classes a freshman might take at a university. Normally they would be gen. eds.

 

Instead...

the 14.1" tallscreen is a good compromise... it has a physically larger screen and more real estate than a 14.1" widescreen (tho less than a 15.4" ws), and yet the 14.1" tallscreen is the smallest of the 3, and has no protuding battery in 6-cell.

 

Hmm... sounds like what I may end up doing for the online classes, after taking my class at the school I can use it on one of those large tables. I'll have to go down to BestBuy tomorrow and check out their T60 again and handle it.

This is really annoying going back and forth between sizes, trying to make up my mind

Now I just need to worry about dpi scaling at 1680x1050. If I want to deal with zooming in and out all the time...

 

hehe... trying to sweet talk me into a standard screen notebook

I could probably work with one (I use a 19 inch CRT on my Unbuntu pc) but sorry, I prefer widescreen after using my vx2025wm.

I'm gonna take them at my local Community College of Southern Nevada then move to Nevada State College for the rest of my degrees (I live in Nevada if you haven't noticed )

 

haha, i went from a 13.3 to a 14.1, but thats only because I didnt have much of a choice with ibm. i would've jumped onto the X series if it had a touchpad.

 

Since you are young and energetic. Take 15.4''.

Buy WSXGA+ and it gives you more content space. IMHO, the font size is not too small to read as for many others. You don't have eye problems do you?

Have a good config and it will lasts long.

Best luck to your college study

 

Just another plus for the 15.4...probably doesn't matter at all to most but it matters if you are planning to have external speakers. The headjacks of the 15.4 are located on the side instead of the front like the 14.1.

 

It's all personal preference but I find it funny that Americans consider 14" laptops "thin and light". The 'T' in the TSeries ThinkPads is supposed to stand for "thin and light" and I think that most of the rest of the world would consider 14", let alone 15" to be full-sized. My T61 that is shipping right now is 14" and I'm worried that it'll be too big.

 

There's not much difference in the dimensions at all. The 15.4" is 14" in length and the 14.1 is 13.2" in length. That's only a difference of .8" of length for a much larger screen. The depth is 9.3" for the 14.1" and ~10" for the 15.4" model (no protruding battery for both).

How i decided upon the 15.4" model is that i would have purchased the extended cell battery on th 14.1" model anyways, which would have increased the overall depth by around 3/4", making it the same as the 15.4" model. Might as well get the extra screen real estate if the depths are the same-that's my thinking. Extra length is usually not a problem in a backpack. You are more concerned with overall depth.

 

prefer big screens, big cars, big tv's, and big boobs lol

 

I do wear glasses and I'm planning on getting some contact lenses when school starts. Theres a T60 with the same WSXGA+ res at the best buy near my house so I'm going down there and mess with the dpi scaling and see how that works out.

I think the 15.4 has another plus for the headphone jacks, the ones at the front of the 14.1 look like they'll get in the way in normal useage.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=133659

Thanks for the extra insight, with the extended battery it does seem like they would be close enough in size to take away any advantage the 14.1 had.

very true

 

Makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it?