Is Z60m good for programming

I want to buy a T43p, now I find that Z60m is a beauty. Does Z60m have good performance too? Any comparison between T43 and Z60m

Thanks

 

What type of programming? You might enjoy the widescren format of the higher resolution z60m for programming code going side to side, but they are both going to be prtty much the same in abilities.

 

Or for the object and solution explorer, properties boxes, etc.

 

Thanks, I can see that kinds of advantage from wide screen.

How about the performance? I will need to compile some huge C++ projects. I might have to put a DB server on it as well because I work on the whole application solution. Sometimes I play PC RTS games. Is Z60m good for games?

The T43p I am looking at is

ThinkPad T43p 2668PDU ($2400)
2.26GHz 14.1" 1400x1050 128MB ATI Mobility FireGL V3200
or
ThinkPad T43p (Think Express Program) 2687D5U ($2000)
2GHz 15.0" 1600x1200 128MB ATI Mobility FireGL V3200

The Z60m is

ThinkPad Z60m (Think Express Program) 2529EAU ($1800)
2GHz 15.4" 1680x1050 128MB ATI Mobility RADEON x600


The things that I like about Z60m are 1)wide screen, 2) more ports (1394) 3) 3-1 reader

Any suggestions regarding the performance? Are they the same?


Thanks

 

Yeah, performance is the same. After all, it's the same hardware, isn't it? The FireGL V3200 and the Radeon X600 are the same card basically, and will offer similar performance in games. Not best of the best, but enough to play even power-hungry 3D shooters. Definitely enough for RTS games.

 

Thanks. OK, they are the same. but why the T43 is more expensive than the Z60m? Is it because of the FlexView? or the Memory Bandwidth?

ThinkPad T43p (Think Express Program) 2687D5U ($2,599.00/$2000)
2GHz 15.0" 1600x1200 128MB ATI Mobility FireGL V3200 (Memory Bandwidth 12.8 GB/s )
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
512 MB RAM (PC2-4200)
80 GB(5400)
FlexView

ThinkPad Z60m (Think Express Program) 2529EAU ($2,229.00/$1800)
2GHz 15.4" 1680x1050 128MB ATI Mobility RADEON x600 (Memory Bandwidth 8.0 GB/s)
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
1 GB RAM (PC2-4200)
100 GB (5400)
Titanium

 

Just guessing . . . the T series are smaller than a Z60m, and cramming the equivalent power into a smaller box is not easy. Consider the cost of a relatively meagerly equipped ultraportable (Lenovo X41, Dell X1, etc.) compared to a similarly equipped "mainstream" notebook.

 

UXGA Flexview panels are indeed more expensive than standard WSXGA (even though the latter on the Z60m is said to be very good).

FireGL cards have always been grossly overpriced compared to the Radeon with an equivalent chip. Don't know why, but you pay more for that. I'd say it is the biggest factor in the price difference between a T4x and a T4xp.

The general build quality of the T series is a notch higher than that of the Z series. Like SpacemanSpiff said, the T series are thinner and lighter.

 

To be honest, I feel that the T43 is better for programming in regards to screen area. The widescreen on the Z60m would lead to more scrolling than desired. It is a minor annoyance, but if you intend to program quite a bit then it becomes a real hassle. Granted, I'm working with a lower res WXGA, the widescreen just leads to more scrolling and less uniform screen area as opposed to the more "boxy" T series screens. But price-wise, go for the Z60m, it will offer the same performance of the T43p, but with a slightly more bulky build. But if you plan to do quite a bit of programming the widescreen may annoy you quite a bit, I know it did me.

 

Thanks for the useful information. As the performance are the same, I can go either way. It is said that next week there will be an announcement for the new release. I will make the final decision then.

Happy New Year!

 

u only need a fast processor and ram in programming.

 

If you only care about the speed in which your applications compile and run, yes. But what about the actual process of programming? A good screen and keyboard are mandatory. And IBM laptops have them, oh yes.

 

Agree.

Twenty years ago, when I programmed Fortran in DOS, a 640 by 480 monochrome monitor was good enough.

But now, the programming environments are so sophisticated, have so incredibly much "stuff", and cover so much real estate, you really do need lots of resolution.

 

Not just resolution, also the general quality of the screen. If you are to spend hours in front of it, you want it to be as easy on your eyes as possible.

 

I have a new question though. I notice that z60m and T43p use different hardrive interfaces.

z60m (2529EAU) -- 100GB (5400RPM) Serial ATA ,
T43p (2687D5U) -- 80GB (5400RPM) ATA-100 (Enhanced IDE)
T43p (2668PDU) -- 100GB (7200RPM) ATA-100 (Enhanced IDE)

Do they have big impact on the performance? It is said Serial ATA is better than ATA-100. Can anyone provide the benchmark?

Maybe I shall open a new thread for this.

 

oh i was assuming that both models satisfied those points.

 

Which I think they do. There should be no real difference between the keyboards. As for the screen - I know how good Flexview is, and I've heard many good reviews on the WSXGA+ screen of the Z60m. The XGA/WXGA screens may not be as good.

 

Well, as a software engineer and developer I can tell you that mostly nearly all Thinkpads will do it here, so the widescreen Z60m should be pretty fine and right here for the job.

Also all Thinkpads have very good keyboards, even the smallest Thinkpads like the asian S30/31 series (see the last small images)...

http://29991.forum.onetwomax.de/topic=105681199494

And there are also even great external Thinkpad like keyboards available, which are a pleasure to use together with external TFT monitors...

http://29991.forum.onetwomax.de/topic=105681086120

For the Z60m TFT-panel offerings themself, I believe that the WXGA MaxBright from selected models will be the best, followed next by the WSXGA+ panel. - However, TFT resolution is mostly a personal matter of taste and thus also more related to the generell viewing quality of the individual eyes.