Lenovo ThinkPad X60 and X60s Revealed (pics, specs)

January 5, 2006 -- Las Vegas, NV,USA

LenovoX60 on the left, Lenovo X60s on the right (view larger image)

Lenovo has today announced the availability of the ThinkPad X60 and ThinkPad X60s ultraportable class of notebooks. The X60 will feature the latest Intel mobileprocessors, the ThinkPad X60 replaces the ThinkPad X32 while the ThinkPad X60s (slim) replaces the Thinkpad X41.

The X60s is slimmer than the X60, so basically what Lenovo has doneis merge their former X30 and X40 line of notebooks into the X60 seriesandthe slimmer style isnow distinguished by a letter on the end of the model number (X60s). The X30 series always had a 2.5" hard drive while the X40 series had a 1.8" hard drive, the X60 simply adopts the more popular and easier to upgrade 2.5" hard drive choice.

Lenovo X60 left side view (view larger image)

Lenovo X60 right side view (view larger image)

Here are the specs for the newThinkPad X60 and X60s:

• Processor Choices:
  The X60 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) The X60s will contain the ultra low voltage Intel processors.
• Display Choices:
  12" XGA 1024 x 768
• Hard Disk Drive Choices: (2.5" size): 40, 60, 80, 100GB 5400RPM or 100GB 7200RPM
• Optical Drive Choices: CD-RW/DVD Combo, Multi-burner DVD recordable (must use the X6 Ultra Base to have an optical drive)
• Video Graphics Choices:
  Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Memory: 256MB or 512MB/1GB PC2--5300/667MHz or 3GB PC2--4200/533MHz
• 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 4-cell, 8-cellextra life (up to 7.9 hours of life, 31% longer than the X41 and X32)
• Ports: 3 USB 2.0; IEEE 1394 (FireWire);expansion bus (for optional ThinkPad X6 UltraBase or ThinkPad X60 series extended life battery); monitor-out; AC adapter power jack; RJ-11; RJ-45; audio headphone/line-out, external microphone
• Slots: 1 Type II PC Card slot with 34mm Express Card via adapter, 1 Secure Digital card slot
• Dimensions:
  X60: 10.5" x 8.3" x .83 - 1.39" (width x depth x thickness)
  X60s: 10.5" x 8.3" x .83 - 1.11" (width x depth x thickness)
• Weight with 6-cell battery(without optical drive/with optical drive):
  X60 - starting at3.22lbs (11% lighter than X32)
  X60s-starting at 2.54lbs (Japan) or2.69lbs (rest of world) (7% lighter than X41)
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Active Protection System / ThinkPad Shock Mounted Hard Drive: Yes (both X60 and X60s)

Lenovo X60s keyboard view with Windows key and Menu key included! (view larger image)

The X60 improves on the X41 by offering 3 USB 2.0 ports instead of 2, FireWire is now offered as a port, the 1.8" proprietary non-upgradeable X41 hard drive is replaced by a 2.5" hard drive with up to a 100GB 7200RPM configuration, 31% longer battery life (up to 7.9 hours with an8-cell battery)and much improved performance via the new Intelprocessors. All of this power is packed into a very durable body with a weight of around 3lbs. The X60 and X60s offer a truly ultra mobile, ultra tough and ultra powerful ultraportable notebook!

Lenovo ThinkPad X60 (view larger image)

 

Wow. Those specs are awesome.

I'm a broken record, I know, but I wish notebook manufacturers would cut it out with the forward tilt! That, and the battery sticking so far out of the back don't jive with me.

Oh, and what's with the bright blue enter key? Now I'm just nit-picking so I don't run out and buy one....

 

They moved Vegas?

 

Looks mighty cool!

 

31% longer battery life (up to 7.9 hours with an 8-cell battery)

this is my reason for yonah lol and even if u say the manufacture isnt right, even if your laptop now gets 3 hours of batt 31% longer is nearly 4 hours

 

What is that door panel on the right side of the X60?

I can see that the keyboard layout has been changed, including the Windows button as well as "Thinkvantage" button (formerly Access IBM).

 

they're pretty adamant about the fact that battery life is better and they claim they can get 8 hours with the 8-cell and 11 hours when you included the extended life battery with that too. those are great battery life numbers, no doubt!

 

it's a ThinkPad thing, they've always used the blue enter key to make it stand out -- a usability thing they claim helps. i like it they used to have blue and red stripes on the mouse buttons but dropped that

 

oops, fixed that

 

Hard Drive

 

wow 3 usb ports and a windows key!!

 

I don't get why the X60 gets a firewire but not the T60.

 

I too dislike that they droped the blue and red stripes on the mouse buttons. Additionally I've always the feeling that their changed power and quick access buttons look somehow cheap in contrast to the former used Thinkpad buttons.

Let's hope that the overall build quality, keyboard and the case etc. are still sturdy and don't flex at some regions.

Fom the mixed announcement text it's somehow not obviously for me (...I'am no native english speaker) to discover if there are some port differences etc. between the two updated series models, so let me explicitly ask ...

...is the X60 (x32 replacement) now also commonly available with fingerprint readers?

Does the X60s (X41 replacement) now too have 3 x USB 2.0, a firewire port and makes use of 2,5" HDDs (instead of those crampy 1,8" HDDs)?

 

the X60 & X60s seem exactly the same.. why would someone want to ge tthe X60 when the X60s is the same thing but just slimmer?

I'm assuming both models are getting the dual-core processor

 

x60t coming anytime soon?

 

X60 and X60s have the same screen quality and brightness as the X41?

 

same screen!

 

nope, we asked, they have a roadmap but no release before the summer at least.

 

No 1.8" drive in either model -- as in the 1.8" is dead in the X series, gone, finis.

There are no port differences between the two updated models. The X60 will offer faster processors than the X60s which will only offer ULV processors -- so the X60 will offer faster configs and the Core Duo (the X60s will offer only Core Solo).

Both will offer EVDO and both will offer fingerprint reader.

 

@abaxter

Thank's for the clarification!

Fine they completely dropped those lame 1,8" HDDs (...let's see what happens here with a future X41 Tablet PC replacement).

So it's a tough, not easy to make decision, for possible future X60/X60s users, which one to choose finally. E.g. should they go for more performance/endpower or instead for maybe slightly longer battery runtimes and a little bit less weight.

I believe we have to wait and see how both models will be in comparison to each other when they are available for testings.

 

I don't think the battery sticking out is so bad...definitely worth the extra battery life. It looks bad in the picture, but in reality it isn't . When I got my 700m the battery in person didn't look nearly as big as it did in the pictures...I guess it was because I wasn't used to smaller notebooks. Point is, the battery isn't that bad, it just looks big because the image is pretty zoomed in. Over 7 hrs of battery life is insane!

 

I'll take a X60 non-S (for more performance, lower price, etc.) with the slowest dual core CPU you can give me (again, for price). Thanks!

 

When i look at the X60, X60s or T60 then compare with X40,X41, n T43, i m wondering, if lenovo's quality going sort of reduce from IBM's Quality. It seems like the gaps, design of it doesnt look rigid, the design of their buttons and the quality of the plastic they use, are out of my expections. I hope they still retain the same quality or even better than IBM.

Abaxter, since u encounter X60 n T60 on the first hand, What do u think of its quality from what you see and compare it to X41 or T43? Sometimes pictures doesnt tell us the real fact, right? hehe.. I just hope Lenovo doesnt disappoint IBM's long term fans out there. I m expecting for another IBM breed laptop in near future for myself again...

 

they're still using the same materials and the build quality is the same (well, hopefully they fix the loose battery fit problem I have on my X41) the change of the buttons is really just cosmetic although I do agree the smaller style power button somehow does not feel as sturdy. I met the guy that refines ThinkPad keyboards and apparently they continue to work to make the keyboard better on the X-series even though in my opinion they shouldn't change a thing! Honestly, the addition of the Windows key helps me not at all, and I'd sort of rather not have it, but it doesn't affect the quality -- that's all still the same and the lead product designer for the X60 (named Jeff who's a really nice guy) is the same as they've had for a long time. So really, nothing has changed with ThinkPads yet except for the name of the company making it, the people making and designing them are all the same.

 

since you mentioned the windows key, I have to ask you: Do you think the addition of the windows key has made control and alt buttons on the left (and, secondarily, on the right) too small? I can't live without shortcuts and I am concerned that this new keyboard is going to make using shortcuts difficult. Many thanks for any tips. -Victor

 

Can't you decide from the pictures? To me it seems that they are smaller (and they'd have to be, wouldn't they?) On the T60 keyboard they are still not smaller than the normal keys, so there should be no problem. Don't know how comfortable it's gonna be on the X60 keyboards. All depends on how big your fingers are...

And I understand you completely, I'm a shortcut person myself. Every app I frequently use has a Ctrl+Alt+something bound to it. Except Total Commander. That's too important, so it just has Ctrl+F12.

 

I'm having a problem with this information from the beginning of the thread when resolved against the lenovo website

Weight with 6-cell battery (without optical drive/with optical drive):
X60 - starting at 3.22lbs (11% lighter than X32)
X60s - starting at 2.54lbs (Japan) or 2.69lbs (rest of world) (7% lighter than X41)

These numbers seem consistent with the CES announcement

On the lenovo website though, the x60s they have listed already ( http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/s...yId=2059153&dualCurrId=1000073&catalogId=-840)

they have that configured with:
Battery Types 8 Cell Lithium-Ion
Battery Voltage 14.4 V

and the weight as Weight[2] 3.51 lbs

and they've got a x60 with the same battery at 3.66 lbs

I'm confused. This really doesn't jive with the numbers quoted above even if you account. i don't think even the 4 cell vs. 8 would get you that increase in weight.

 

Would i void warranty if wanted to change hard drive (to 7200 rpm) ?
I must change harddrive (doing music) and add more ram.

I'm considering getting this laptop, i really think i'm getting this one at the end.

Regards
Raptor