Lenovo ThinkPad T60 Widescreen Review

From the EPP site, just go to the ThinkPads and then T series. Narrow it down to just 15.4"s... I think there are about 7 or so different configurations listed.

Otherwise, go to annoucement letters from Lenovo, they show the different widescreen models there.

 

I was also impressed by the 400 or so 3DMarks picked up by switching from Yonah to Merom. Nice pickup!

 

I recommend the machines listed on this page: http://www-306.ibm.com/common/ssi/fcgi-bin/ssialias?infotype=an&subtype=ca&htmlfid=897/ENUS106-871&appname=lenovous&language=en

I also strongly encourage anyone interested in buying one to call Lenovo (since that's the only way to buy them right now). Insist on the holiday sale discount and free shipping. Mention FatWallet's 7% cash-back offer if need be. I managed to snag a 87414BU for less than a similarly spec'd 4:3 15" T60 (wound up being about $700 off list)! There's a HUGE difference in pricing across the model numbers, for some very small differences in specs. For example, the 4BU is the same as the 4SU but with a 9-cell battery, at the same price. A similar system with a CDRW and a smaller and slower hard drive would've run me an extra $300 just because of the model number. I think the 8741 series is the cheapest to buy, so start with that.

The 8741-4BU was pretty much my dream config: WSXGA+, T7200, ATI X1400, 100GB/7200RPM, DVDR, 1GB RAM, Intel PRO/Wireless, Bluetooth, Fingerprint reader, WinXP Pro, 9-cell battery, 3 year warranty. w00t!

 

Mine has been shipped! After waiting for my Z61m for almost a month. This was a nice change.

 

At first I was pretty bummed - my Z61m is so much bigger than my MacBookPro. I was shocked when I opened the box - this thing is a beast. It's a big as my sisters 1000 HP notebook. Maybe a little thinner but not much. I just wanted Thinkpad build quality with a wide screen.

The T60 wide seems to be pretty close to the Apple spec. It's .1 lb heaver and .13 inches taller and a little deeper. But I bet it's a huge improvement over what I have. (I think this laptop is what has been causing my back problems. )

Folks saying how the T60 will hit the Z sales may not have noticed something - the Z series has been watered down. My Z61m was not a "P" version, but it came with the X1400 (not the X1300) graphics adapter and the wireless WAN. Options that seem to be unavailable now. If you go with the P version you can do better but it looks like you can't get the P with the wireless WAN.

It doesn't look like you can get the T60 widescreen with wireless WAN but I hope they fix that soon. If they do then the next guy we hire will get this Z61m and I'll upgrade.

 

can anybody verify if there is an option in the bios to turn on virtualization?

if so i'm ordering a 8741-4BU.
thank you,
scott

 

Widescreens are up on the website now.
No holiday discounts

 

I just ordered 8741-49U for a very nice price. I'll let you know what I think. I hope that it will be similar to the T41 that I had before.
Scott

 

is anyone able to get one of these for anything cheaper than the standard EPP price??? I know the 8741-49U goes for $1494. Any way to get it cheaper? I know it is a great price.

Matt

 

$1494? That's a little over $100 less than I paid, and it even took me an hour on the phone to get that.

 

I'm waiting for t60 of 15.4 wsxga+ or wuxga with IPS.
It is possible?

 

i believe the 8741-49U is a wsxga

 

what stinks is that the 8741-49U does not have the new wireless n capability... you really think that 3 year warranty is worth it?

 

widescreen+IPS will be sweet if it comes out. Though unless I win the lotto I won't be buying another laptop for a few years.

 

You really think you'll see wireless N in wide use in the next couple years? Wireless G is already faster than most broadband connections, so for most people it shouldn't matter (though yeah, I wish it had N just because).

What I really wish it had is S-video, Firewire, an ATI x1600, and DVI (though it's not THAT much better than VGA, and VGA is in wider use).

 

I wish much stronger GPU, too. I think now the V5250 of T60W is similar with 256M x1600

 

ARG! The widescreen costs about $500 more than an identically configured 4:3. Does anyone know if they're going to open it up to the holiday sale and T7200 processor discount?

The part # it shows after I configure is 8743CTO, and that number doesn't seem to exist on the epp site.

 

Look through each and every one of their announcements to find pre-configured part #s. Alternatively, call them up (seriously), talk to them and find one you like, then ask for EPP pricing.

 

I sent our contacts an email asking this question but never heard back, it's been a few days now

 

mikemi,
I have been thinking of pulling the trigger on this model also. I noticed you listed Bluetooth as a feature. I saw no Bluetooth option or when I added the item to my cart it didn't show any Bluetooth line item. Are you sure it includes Bluetooth? I know I could just call but you don't always get the true answer .

Thanks, Don

 

If you settle for the 8741-4BU (or 49U) with a 100GB 7200RPM hard drive (both include bluetooth), you'll save yourself up to $180. Call them.

 

I am a retired IBM employee therefore I can get the 8744 model on the EPP site. I believe the 8741 models you mentioned are priced on the student education plans. If I am not a student how do I get the student prices? Just ask for them?

 

Here is the Annoucement letter, search for the model number (it's toward the buttom, and you will see bluetooth listed in the config.

 

Have the battery life been tested yet?

 

What is the highest graphics card available for this model?

 

this model appears to have the 256mb fire gl

8744C9U

 

I must confess that I have absolutely no idea how IBM/Lenovo's pricing model works, or what any of the model numbers mean. But now that I look at the announcement letter found here, I see that the 8741 and 8742 lines are intended for the education market only. But you can always call and try.

 

lots of new widescreen models up... the tabook.pdf on

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitute/psref/

let me know your thoughts... there is even wireless N on the 2 8744 models....

 

I ordered the 8741-4BU model through the Academic EPP pricing promotion for $1495.35. I think that is a pretty sweet deal considering the hardware and the fact that the widescreen T60 was just released. Would be nice if it had 2 gigs of RAM at that price but I can add another 1GB DIMM later if needed.

 

burninggrave101 - there was also another model that had the wireless N and a 120 gb hd.... for $100 more.... the model you ordered is still wireless a/b/g but it has a 7200 rpm hd....

question is if it is worth it to get wireless N and sacrifice hd speed...

 

I tried to order the 8741-4BU model but I could not. The system would not let the rep place the order. So I ended up with the 8741-49U which is the same but a 6 cell battery instead of the 9 cell. To me I could care less about N so I choose a/b/g and the faster hard drive over N and 120 5400 hard drive. my b router works fine for me. I can't wait to get it. My MSI 1029 is really dragging with VMWare server.
Scott

 

Are there any model numbers that have the FireGL GPU with a the 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo? All the Merom chips are blazingly fast, so I am just looking for the cheapest setup with a FireGL that is possible!

 

there is a link in this thread to the TAbook. http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=34025&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60
it will have all the models and you can see if there is one like you are looking for.
Scott

 

Thanks guys... I ordered 8741-49U (the 6-cell version of 8741-4BU).

 

I looked through the rest of the posts and didn't see a response for this. The S-Video port has been listed on the Lenovo specs for the regular T60 for a while now, I think someone edited the old T43 spec sheet and forgot to take that out. To date, and I have done quite a bit of research on this, I have not heard about a single T60 model with an S-Video port.

 

I've got a question on the Display.

I can choose either a 15.4 WXGA TFT or the 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT for $50 more. The "+" allows the greater viewing angle right? But I was thinking that this isn't that good for me because I'm usually working (I'm a professional, not a student) especially on planes and would actually prefer for people to not so easily see my work (or the movie I'm watching). Is there any other feature in this that the "+" comes with that I should know about or is this it?

 

oops, nevermind. The difference between these two is the resolution that they offer, right? If that's right, then I'll definately get the WSXGA. Is there any other consideration?