Help with T60p Configuration

I found this configuration of a T60p offered through my college that I'm considering purchasing, but I am not sure what kind of discount, if any, are applied here. Perhaps some of you may be able to help me in this regard.

This is the configuration:
Processor Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2600 2.16GHz, 2MB Internal L2 cache memory
Operating System Windows® XP Professional
Display size, type & resolution 14.1" SXGA+ (1400x1050)
Wireless Networking Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
Wired Networking Card Integrated Intel PRO/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
Bluetooth Wireless Yes
Modem 56K V.92 designed modem
Memory (installed/max) 1GB / 4GB
Memory slots (total/available) 2 SODIMM / 1 SODIMM
Hard Drive (size/speed) 100GB / 7200RPM
Oprtical Drive Super Multi-Burner Drive
Graphics/Video Card ATI Mobility FireGL V5200, 256MB video RAM
Fingerprint Reader Yes
Security Chip Embedded Security Subsystem 2.0
Pointing Devices ThinkPad UltraNav™
USB/Firewire 3 USB 2.0 ports
PCMCIA Slots 1 STD, 1 Express
Battery 9 Cell Lithium-Ion
Battery Average Run Time Up to 5.4 hours
Weight 5.5 lbs with 9 cell battery
Warranty 3 years system; 1 year battery

The ordering page claims the normal price of this system to be $3,538.00, and the discounted price is $2,016.00. However I am not able to find this model on Lenovo's website (it seems the T60p's only go up to 2.0GHz there?), nor do any models there run remotely as high as the claimed original price. So my questions are, is this model offered anywhere else? If so, what should the price be, and based on that, what kind of discount would I be getting?

 

Seem like a pretty good price for the machine. The ones with the GL cards are high end. If you can find the machine type, you might want to google it and see what comes up.

 

Thanks for bringing that up, I didn't pay attention to the model number before. After looking again I found it to be "2007B49". I tried googling it to no avail. Perhaps that means this model number is just used for this model offered through my college? In that case, do you know of a reseller that has a more comprehensive list of ThinkPads then those offered through Lenovo's own website? Perhaps I'll have some luck finding a similar specced model.

 

The tabook is a list of ThinkPad models, but some models sold by colleges and others are not listed in it. You could look for a similar model, but prices can vary widely on what seems to be a small difference.

Tabook

 

Thanks, that's exactly what I had been looking for. I found several similar models and searched for their prices on CDW, and they are indeed in the $3200-3800 range. Looks like the price they are quoting me is indeed a great deal.

 

I just ordered this model. Thanks very much for the help, zazonz.

 

Chirality, may I ask which college are you from? You got a very sweet deal there for a top-notch configuration.

 

You are welcome. Be sure to write back once you have had it a bit and spread some knowledge.

 

Thanks, I'll be sure to do that. Has anyone on these forums received a 14.1inch T60p yet? I checked for a review and the only one is for a 15inch T60p.

bigbigsky, I sent you a PM.

 

Thanks Chirality. It's a pity that my university only has T43 and Z60 models available. Maybe there will be T60 available soon.

 

$2016? WOW... Incredible deal!

 

Woohoo, I just picked up the package from UPS. Maybe I ought to write a short post with my impressions and how it's different from the 15inch IPS T60p, since that's the only T60p review we have on this site right now...

 

yes, that would be good. I'd really like to find out how good the screen on the 14" is. Looking forward to it.

 

About 2 weeks.. not bad. Lenovo said they are waiting for my T60 to come into stock then it's 3 or 4 days til it ships.

ETA 6/16/2006

$2016? Ugh that's a sick deal. Lucky you.

 

Some initial impressions...

The screen is about the same quality as other matte sceens I've experienced. Mediocre and acceptable is how I would describe it.

The build quality is not the same in all areas. While it is generally good, the palm rest area has jagged edges and the battery and screen latches are somewhat loose.

3312 3dmarks05 out-of-the-box (66 processes running in the background). Not bad at all.

I feel the size and weight are perfect for carrying. It is much more portable than a 15.4inch widescreen laptop I've owned and it is slightly lighter than a 14inch compaq business notebook I have for comparisons.

 

Would you be able to elaborate on the screen quality? How about comparing it to older Thinkpad screens (i.e. on the T42? T30?) How's the horizontal/vertical viewing angles? Is it bright compared to other screens? Any light leakage, even-lighting/contrast?

 

Yeah that description of the screen is a bit disturbing. What matte finish display is better?

 

The quality of the screen is average. I would say it is undiscernable from the quality of the other matte screens I have experience with, which include a friend's old thinkpad (I think it's a T32), my father's Compaq Evo N620c, and a generic 15.4inch widescreen notebook I've owned. The horizontal viewing angle is good (near 180deg), but the vertical viewing angle is very narrow. There's a lot of light leakage along the bottom edge, but not more than the other matte screens I've seen. Brightness, contrast, and color gamut are all average. Overall the screen is unremarkable compared to other screens of this type, and low quality compared to glossy screens based on TN+Film, MVA, or IPS technology.

 

When you mention the vertical viewing angle is narrow, does it mean you need to constantly adjust the screen when you're using it, or does the image just looks washed out if you look at the screen from extreme angles? Thanks!

If the screen is as good as the old Thinkpad screens, I think I'll be ok with it. Although I'm coming from a Fujitsu notebook, the screens on my parents' Thinkpads T30 and T42 are quite good in my opinion.

 

My desktop LCD (Viewsonic) washes out a little when I stand up (not looking straight-on) and I don't mind that. It does it somewhat as well on the sides, but not to the point I wouldn't buy it.

The E1705 (Dell) I sent back... looking at it straight-on... only 1/3 horizontally looked correct. Horrible display. Super laptop.. except for the display...

 

The vertical angle is narrow in that even looking straight onto the screen, either the top or bottom edge would still appear washed out/faded. The angle is narrow enough such that the entire screen is never in perfect contrast.

 

Really? I never thought it'd be that bad. The other 2 ThinkPad screens I've seen (T30 and T42) don't have this problem. I think I'll be going down to check out some ThinkPads today. Will see for myself how bad they really are.

Edit:
The 14" screen for the T60 is indeed quite bad. I can't imagine how anyone would be able to use this properly, without getting a headache from the bad contrast or a neckache from craning their neck to read text on the screen.

Looks like I'm running out of choices... Now, it's down to the 15" T60 and the E8210.

While there weren't any 15" T60 models to compare with the 14" T60, the screen on the E8210 is absolutely gorgeous. It looks clear from almost any angle you look at it. And I don't even think it's got IPS.

Comparing the 14" T60 screen to that on my mom's T30 and my dad's T42, it pales in comparison. It doesn't make sense that the older screens were of higher quality than the newer ones. Between the T30 and the T42 at home, the T30 has the better screen; much better contrast and fantastic viewing angles. The T42 screen looks slightly muted, but still has reasonable good viewing angles; I don't need to bob up-and-down to be able to read stuff off the screen like I had to do with the 14" T60. Is there any chance that the IBM used an IPS screen on the T30? I can't think of any other reason to explain why a 4-year old Thinkpad can have a better screen than a brand new one.

 

There's no such thing as a 14 inch IPS screen, even in the past, AFAIK, so, no.

 

Hi all,

I am also thinking of getting a T60p after seeing the specs. However, after you mention the 15" screen is just average, I am starting to think twice.

I am currently using a TP A31p and am very happy with the 1600x1200 screen performance. It is one of the finest TFT screen I have ever seen. If the new T60p's screen can't match this, then which model should I go for? Can anyone advise please? How about Dell M65? Anyone heard of that?

Many thanks in advance!

-Lucas

 

The 14" screen is average comparing to a 2000fp, but is better than my dad's gateway screen (not that that's necessarily saying much but that is my standard of comparison). When I change positions significantly (from drastically slouching to sitting straight up), some adjustment is not amiss.

The screen I got is quite excellent in terms of dead/stuck pixels/subpixels- there are none (1400x1050). There is some backlight leakage along the bottom, but thankfully in normal operation the Windows taskbar covers it up. I haven't done enough tasks that get rid of the bar to decide if it's annoying, though, but overall it's pretty good.

 

I am thinking of asking Lenovo to exchange my laptop for an identical one, just in case the screen I received is actually defective.

masteraleph, when you are viewing some dark colors that covers the whole screen (say, a full screen of black) do you notice the brightness of the screen getting brighter from top to bottom? (That is, ignoring the light leakage at the bottom edge)

 

wow, its seems that all 14 inch screens blow, I just got a e1405, love the machine, absolutly hate screen. Returning it this week.

Dave

 

masteraleph, would you mind posting the FRU part number of the 14inch SXGA+ screen that was shipped with your T60? You can find that by going here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/s...peind=10&template=/partslookup/partsLookup.vm

According to this:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-62784
there are three different 14inch SXGA+ screens used on the ThinkPads, and the FRU number I found for mine indicates I received the TMD screen. I wonder if your panel is a different one from mine...