Lenovo ThinkPad T60 Revealed (pics, specs)

January 5, 2006 -- Las Vegas NV, USA

Lenovo today announced the availability of the new ThinkPad T60 thin-and-light class notebook. The ThinkPad T60 is the followup to the ThinkPad T43 and builds upon its design and success. The T60 will feature the latest Intel mobileprocessors.

Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (view larger image)

Here are the specs for the newThinkPad T60:

• Processor Choices:
  The T60 will contain the latest Intel processors as listed on the Intel site here:
  http://www.intel.com/intel/finance/pricelist/(dual core and single core mobile processors)
• Display Choices:
  14.1" TFT SXGA+/1400 x 1050
  14.1" TFT XGA/1024 x 768
  15" TFT SXGA+/1400 x 1050
  15" TFT XGA/1024 x 768
• Hard Disk Drive Choices: (2.5" size): 40, 60, 80, 100GB 5400RPM or 60, 100GB 7200RPM
• Memory: 256MB, 512MB or 1GB/4GB PC2 5300 / 667MHz
• Optical Drive Choices: CD-RW/DVD Combo, Multi-burner DVD recordable or 8X Max DVD
• Video Graphics Choices:
  Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
  ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 (64MB)
  ATI Mobility Radeon X1500 (128MB)
• Integrated Communications: Modem, Gigabit Ethernet, Verizon EVDO WWWAN (optional), Bluetooth (optional)
• Wi-Fi Choices: ThinkPad 11a/b/g II or Intel PRO Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection 802.11 a/b/g
• Battery Choices: standard 6-cell, 9-cell extra life, extended life battery
• Ports: 3 USB 2.0; S-video out; infrared; dock/port replicator; monitor-out; AC adapter power jack; RJ-11; RJ-45; audio headphone/line-out, external microphone
• Slots: 1 Type II PC Card slot and 1 Express Card 54 slot
• Dimensions:
  14.1" screen config: 12.2" x 10.0" x 1.0-1.2" (width x depth x thickness)
  15" screen config:13" x 10.6" x 1.2-1.4" (width x depth x thickness)
• Weight with 6-cell battery(without optical drive/with optical drive):
  14.1" - starting at 2.17kg/2.34kg (4.8 lb/5.2 lb)
  15" -starting at X.Xkg/X.Xkg (X.X lb/X.X lb)
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Protection: Active Protection System, ThinkPad Shock Mounted Hard Drive, ThinkPad Magneisum Roll Cage

Left side view of ThinkPad T60 (view larger image)

Right side view of the ThinkPad T60 (view larger image)

Two processor windows in Task Manager but one notebook machine= dual core processor! (view larger image)

Lenovo had thenew T60system on display at a pre-CES 2006 show in Las Vegas. The T60 improves upon the T43 by offering an extra USB 2.0 port, integrated WWAN via EVDO, a Windows key, improvedmagnesium roll cage for stronger overall build and protection and of course the latest Intel Core Duo dual core processors. The new Intel Core Duo processors promise to offer much improved performance over the previous generation of Intel Pentium M processors. The T60 will be available in high-end configurations ofup to a 2.13GHz Intel Core Duo,support for667MHz bus speed RAM, the new ATI Mobility Radeon X1500 (128MB)video graphics card and a 100GB 7200RPM hard drive -- all this power packed into a 4.8lb package.

ThinkPad T60 keyboard with a Windows key (view larger image)

No more parallel port on the T-series, it is replaced by a fan (view larger image)

 

I don't get why the X60 gets a firewire port and not the T60. And no more parallel, i guess it's good if it makes it cooler with the vent. Hope it's still there on their port replicator.

 

Doesn't look that different from the T43. Nice graphics cards options.

All in all, a worthy update.

 

Looks to be some mighty steep prices. Also makes me almost want to consider a switch from the z60 IF and ONLY IF there is no more of that crappy SATA> PATA stuff.

EDIT: YIKES! 2k gets you integrated video in the t60. Scared to think what a dedicated video one might be.

 

Hmm, no DVI port, no firewire port (?)...

...windows keyboard keys, droped blue and red stripes for the mouse buttons, those somehow cheap looking power and direct access buttons, I believe we have to become accustomed to those little but for long time Thinkpad users important optical design changes.

Let's wait and see how it will be finally in comparison to the older T series models, especially related to the overall build quality and things like heat and noise levels.

 

ibm designed a great notebook. from the reviewer's perspective, i wonder if there is any change in quality now that lenovo has taken over?

my only concern is the profits are going to a country that doesn't have a free trading currency, is not a democracy, doesn't respect or enforce our intellectual property, and is spending around 60B (DoD estimates) a year on military buildup and weapons systems.

 

Whoaaa, no kidding man !?!

 

AFAIK from those 4GB RAM are usually just 3GB addressable.

 

How does the Radeon Mobility X1300 and X1500 compare to the latest from the last generation, specifically, the 128mb FireGL V3100 and 64mb Radeon 9600 as found in the t43p and sxga/uxga t43, respectively?

I also notice from Lenovo's site that the t60p will have the "latest" ATI FireGL card with 256mb!

 

That's somewhat disappointing.

I like the Windows keys, but the overall look of the keyboard and ultranav is indeed cheaper - it's square with straight corners, instead of the nice rounded look of the previous T series models. I was hoping that this crappy look is going to be limited to the Z series... Guess I was wrong.

 

Overall build quality just looks lower.
A couple things to note:
-external antenna on the right side of the screen
-kept the keyboard layout the same, cept for the windows key
-rounded the ultranav keys (previously noted)
-the power button and the buttons next to the access button look like they're rubber (grey and no printing on them)
-it got thicker (1.0 to 1.2" compared to 1.0" flat)

The dedicated graphics are nice, but I'm glad I snagged my T43

 

Is the chasis bottom of the T60 still titanium based with the magnesium rollcage inside or is it a Z60t in Tseries form?

 

This is for busines/corp users. No use for firewire in business, and DVI is still too new.

 

Any indication when other models will be available? So far I just see that 1 on the Lenovo site.

 

The X31/32 and now the X60/X60s are also always meant first of all for business users and those had/have firewire ports.

Related to a DVI port, I have among others a two year old notebook here, which from the beginnings (longer than two years ago) of that series always had a DVI port. Also other brands top line notebooks, which are meant more for business users have DVI ports (for example some of the dearer Acer TravelMates etc.). - So Lenovo still assembles those weaky VGA ports, which don't offer good constant vga signal frequencies for external monitors and thus instead tend more to washed out clumsy vga signals.

 

external antenna on the right side of the screen


why did lenovo change the design to have an external atntenna? does it boost the signal strength? or is it simply for the sake of cutting cost?

 

For the external antenna, i don't think that's the wifi antenna but the Verizon EVDO WWWAN antenna.
Then again, I could be wrong, it could be an antenna for everything.

 

i heard autonomy with intel dual core was really poor... then i don't see why IBM and others big names support this technology

 

I heard it was improved compared to sonoma machines. Check out the specks of the acer travelmate 8200 that was posted just recently, it stated something great like 6 hours battery life. It's predecessor had a battery life of something like 3 hours. Maybe the Duo Core processor eats a bit more battery, but the chipset takes less than sonoma, so overall it's either equal or better. That's what i heard.

 

I already posted a separate thread on this, but the X1500 is a typo and doesn't exist. It should read X1600. Even better news if you ask me.

 

Right, same build as the T43 except they've added the "roll cage", shock absorbtion for the HD and an extra drainage hole for the keyboard. Btw, the same people I met 2 years ago designing the T series are still the same people that designed this T60, there have been NO major employee changes with the ThinkPad design team and no quality corner cutting with the ThinkPad series. Same old, same old.

 

it'll likely be next month before a discrete graphics solution for the T60 is offered. they always take this approach with the T...adding the discrete graphics options a little later. A T60p will be out during Feb. that offers the discrete.

 

I brought up the smaller ultra nav keys, it's really not a way for them to cut corners but instead they got feedback and did usability tests indicating that the buttons are too big and prone to accidental strikes. Never a problem for me, but I take their word. As far as the non-grey buttons on the Function keys, the taking away of the blue and red stripe on the mouse buttons and silver power button -- that was also a conscious design move as they said in surveys most business users preferred less color on the keyboard area, especially their European user base, who they said much preferred more black and grey and less of the different color tones. Honestly, they're doing everything for a reason with thought behind it and not just to save a $1 here and there.

 

Lenovo Had A Nice Suite At The Venetian Hotel On The Way To The Sands Exp Center. I Go My Hands On Both The T60 Dual Core And The X60s, The Super Light Weight .. Most Amazing Thing Is That Both Machines Had Been Running For A Couple Of Hours And Were Actually Cool To The Touch On The Bottom Where Usually It Is Quite Warm. I Spoke With One Of The Reps About The Key Boards Since Lenovo Took Over. Main Reason I Have Always Bought The Thinkpad Was The Superior Keyboard.. He Had No Comment.. No Idea When These Will Be Available In Quanitity.. Rich

 

Not Sure If I Was Clear Or Not... The X60s Was Also A Dual Core Machine...

 

Wait, the X60?

What was the hard drive size? 1.8"? 2.5"? If you couldn't find out, were there any with a 100GB or larger HDD?

Edit: Never mind, checked the X60s:

Hard disk size (GB)[4] 60 GB
Interface type Serial ATA
Hard drive speed (RPM) 5400

There's no 5400 RPM 1.8" drives. Therefore, the X60s is VERY nice. I suspect that the 60s is the 32's replacement, and the 60 is the 41's replacement.

 

Does anyone know what the screen brightness specs on the new T60 is? Maybe a T60 could get here before that z60m.

 

A quick preview of the T60 at Anandtech - they don't give specs, but they do say the screen is nothing to get excited about. I don't think its a FlexView panel.

 

There aren't any 14.1" IPS FlexView TFTs available (at least so far), those are actually only available in 15" sizes. - I also think that the majority of used/available TFT-panels for the T60 series will not change much or at all.

 

O, I wasn't saying all of those things were signs of build quality being poorer, just changes I noticed. My first comment about a lower build quality was just a by-the-looks-of-it. The old design just looks solid. I get the less color, but I'm just wondering of those volume keys are rubber, if they're not I don't see why their function is written above, maybe wear problems?

 

any news if the x16000 model will be the 15 or 14" model.. or both?

 

Freaken Amazing> After Lenovo Got Ibm Thinkpad They Freaken Chaning And Swayiing Towards Gamers... Most Ibm Had Built In Video... Dont U Think?

 

:::

Don't worry, Those key are hard pastic with metalic
Paint!



:::

 

Nah, they always had models with decent video cards. Of course, if it's really gonna be X1600, it will be more than decent.

 

yup yup, I think during the time the T42 came out, it had the Ati 9600, which was pretty good for a 14" thin and light, especially since the thicker Sagers and Compals back then, were usually using the 9700.

 

Those volume buttons aren't depressed into the base as they used to be. I'm afraid they might touch the screen if you press down on it.

 

nah, you can tell by the pic that it's going to touch the bezel as it's so far up.

 

T60 will be improved by next year and I want to see the change, though T60 is not completely perfect.
I think that there are smart things:
the number of usb is changed from 2 to 3
GPU is very strong and thinkpad will get the newest type of ATI,which is released several days ago.
Increase the win key;

 

So no release date? Looking at making a purchase within the month.

 

Lenovo sales rep said the T60 would be released 2/14.

 

Andrew - your spec list states that there's an S-video port, but I don't see one on the profile images you showed. I think that S-video is lacking, looks like they dropped it to make room for the extra USB port.

Not too sure how pleased I am with the decision to move the video port from back left to mid-ship left, either. The video cable attachement is always bulky and best made as unobtrusive as possible.

I appreciate my T42 all the more now

 

Yeah, I can feel you.

 

I'm not convinced the aesthetic changes on the keyboard were the right move. All the sort of marketing research mentioned by abaxter is often totally wrong. When you ask people questions like: "Do you like the black keyboard better?" They'll answer the question. But that doesn't mean they want their ThinkPads to look different. Or that they even think about how the keyboard might be different when they buy ThinkPads. (Remember New Coke? People said they liked the taste better in marketing research. But no one thought to ask them if they wanted their Coke changed.)

A big part of the ThinkPad's reputation is that it is a very solid, reliable laptop, which focuses on functionality, not flashy looks. The unchanging, conservative, image of the Thinkpad is part of this reputation. That's probably why people on these forums, myself included, think the new T60 looks cheap (without having actually handled one). Because it doesn't look like the old one.

I think Lenovo's making a mistake. Especially since there is so much concern about whether they will maintain the quality of the ThinkPads. Changing the image is not a good way for Lenovo to indicate that it's dedicated to the tried and true quality IBM long put into the ThinkPads.

 

I was comparing a current T43 with a Z60t at an Office Depot. The Z60t appears to have the same new keyboard (same layout, same new color scheme, new audio and power buttons, etc.) as the new T60.

The keyboard feel on the Z60t was definitely not the same as on the T43. The older keyboard had a softer firmer touch when depressing the keys. The Z60t felt more clicky-clacky, not as solid. It felt good. But there was an obvious difference from the T43.

I assume this will be the case as well with the T60, which is not confidence inspiring insofar as Lenovo claims to maintain the same quality as the old ThinkPads.

Layout and colors aside, I really don't understand why they would change the feel and apparent manufacturing quality of the keyboard.

 

In my opinion (and many others I'm sure), if there's anything about a ThinkPad that shouldn't be changed, it's the keyboard.

 

just wonderng, where did you find out it is the x1600? so far the models shown on Lenovo's site
14" T60 - x1300
15" T60 - x1400

 

The X1600 was a wild assumption, which, unfortunately, turned out to be false.

 

Hi,

Before some of you cancel your Z60t orders, ...

1. Z60t's aspect ratio allows for a comfortable fit on your lap, and on an airline tray.
2. Battery life with a video card will probably be less for a given battery size.
3. Firewire is pretty much a must these days.
4. Weight may be higher as you'll need the 9-cell battery, plus the video card and larger cooling fan.

However, if business use and portability is not your priority, then the T60 specs are pretty awesome - go for it.

I'm pretty excited with all this progress, as my oldest kid will be going to college in about 2 years time, and wants a 5lb.,
17" widescreen, cell-phone fast internet, 512MB Video card, 180Gb Harddrive, 3G RAM, .. you get the picture.... - and of course a dozen computer games.
Perhaps it may be a reality by then.

Pleasant Shopping.
KM

 

I'm surprised there is more hype on the new dell over this computer on this forum.................

 

Eh, no it isn't. And if it is, you can get a PCMCIA adapter. Which will have standard ports (not small ones) and more than one too.