Lenovo ThinkPad Z61m, Z61t, Z61e and ThinkPad R60 Released (pics, specs)

Lenovo today has released an update to its Z-series widescreen ThinkPads in the form of the ThinkPad Z61m, Z61t and Z61e. The ThinkPad R-series budget ThinkPad notebook is also now updated with the ThinkPad R60 release. All three notebooks feature the Intel Core Duo processor as an option.

Lenovo will start taking orders for these machines starting May 16th and shipping andavailability will likely be the beginning of June.

ThinkPad Z61m

ThinkPad Z61m notebook (view large image)

The ThinkPadZ61m is the update to the widescreen Z60m 15.4" notebook. The Z61m can be configured with a Core Duo processor and an ATI X1400 128MB graphics card. The Z61m features the same highly sturdy build as the Z60m and is available with built-in EV-DO as was its predecessor. One extra feature is the fact a .3 MP web cam is now built-in. The Z61m will be offered with an optional titanium lid.

Some Z61m specs and available configurations (view large image)

ThinkPad Z61t

ThinkPad Z61t Core Duonotebook (view large image)

The ThinkPad Z61t is a 14.1" widescreen notebook that features the new Core Duo processor from Intel. The Z61t is much the same as its predecessor, the Z60t, but now offers a higher resolution screen, built-in .3 MP web camera and 3-in-1 media card reader. The Z61t will be offered with an optional titanium lid.

Some ThinkPad Z61t specs and availableconfigurations (view large image)

Lenovo ThinkPad Z61e

Lenovo ThinkPad Z61e notebook (view large image)

The ThinkPad Z61e is essentially a budget version of the Z61m 15.4" widescreen notebook. The Z61e is the same in build as the Z61m, featuring a sturdy magnesium-alloy lid and roll cage, but it does not offer a magnesium lid, no dedicated graphics and no built-in web-cam like the Z61m has. The Z61e will have prices starting well under $1,000 and pricing for a Z61e with a Celeron M processor configuration will be in the $700 range.

Some ThinkPad Z61e specs and available configurations(view large image)

Lenovo ThinkPad R60

ThinkPad R60e (view large image)

The ThinkPad R50 series has always been popular as a budget version of the ThinkPad thin-and-light T series and is especially geared towards education and small business customers, in other words those that are sensitive to price but still want a well built portable notebook with enterprise features.

ThinkPad R60 right side view (view large image)

Now the R60 will give those price conscious customers the ability to configure a Core Duo ThinkPad R-series notebook. The R60 even offers some of the higher-end features of the T60 such as built in WWAN (EV-DO via Verizon), BlueTooth and dedicated ATI graphics card.

Some ThinkPad R60 specs and available configurations (view large image)

 

what's the ati radeon m52/54?

 

R60..interesting, I wish R60 came with widescreen

 

I think that would be the Z61e.

 

Abaxter...are the Z61's going to be posted in the lenovo website tomorrow? So are we going to be able to buy them tommorrow?

 

wow they come with webcams now. they're so hard to make out too! too bad the z61t doesnt have a dedicated solution this time

 

So what happened to the touchpad on the z61e?

 

Probably akin to the R51e which lacked a touchpad as well.

 

Why can't they put an x1600 in there. That is not too much to ask for.

 

omg i've been waiting for this release

 

because only a gamer needs that much gpu and these machines aren't for gamers. A x1600 kills batteries and adds heat. Of course there are those who argue that a high end gpu will be used by a CAD program etc. BS. Any designer worth their salt is going to use a tube with real horsepower, not a notebook.

I would like to know when these guys are hitting lenovo's website.

 

they'll show up on the Lenovo site today (16th) although I've been told that shipping of these laptops might not happen until the beginning of June, I'll post in this thread once I hear more on that from Lenovo.

 

that's correct, notice that the R60e is pictured and lacks a touchpad as well.

 

Good luck on actually receiving these things. I got lucky with my z60m, took 20 days to ship, but came with 3+ stuck pixels. I returned it, waited over 1.5 months for my second z60m, never got it.

Now I'm a happy T60 owner. Took 2 weeks to ship (some people months, some people same day!). Granted, all machinese purchased were custom-built on EPP, maybe that's why the delay. Unfortunately, my T60 has one green stuck pixel, but the performance and weight and screen outweighs all the cons.

I do miss my z60m's widescreen, titanium lid, and card reader.

 

Yeah, I'll like to know their equivalents as well - anyone?

 

I'm guessing they are not going to be great.

 

Great machines. But I will wait for dual core 64 bit.

 

m52 - x1300, m54 - x1400

 

well the banners and demos are up for the z61's but no models to configure

 

Well, there is one z61m up, a T2500 with 1GB of ram for:
EPP: $1,759.20
Web Price: $2,199.00

Think I'll wait for the lower specs

 

So, does this make it fairly clear that the z60t will not have anything above the standard Intel graphics (i.e. no ATI card)?

If so, that's a pretty big disincentive to me. I'm in the market for a Thinkpad laptop. I do a lot of photoshopping stuff, but I'm also on the road a lot - for the heft of the z60m that I'd have to put up with, I'm inclined to just get myself a nice T60.

The built-in webcams are nice, but honestly, I have in my cell phone and I don't use that, either.

Thoughts?

 

Only one new Z series model up on their website...they really do like to make their customers wait for everything....every chance they get.

 

for photoshopping, I'd get a T-series for the flexview screen. of course, that requires the 15" T model as well.

Z61e looks like it might be an even better budget option than the R series for some.

 

they havent shown the size and weight of the r60e...probably bigger and heavier than t60 for sure though...

 

new models are in the tabook now.

 

xzjn9p,

Link to the new tabook and the new models? I just see the April 25 one.

 

tabook:

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

I'm disappointed to see that none of the Z61t (31 models)
have bluetooth....

 

looks like the screen on the z61m is not going to be very bright.

Maxbright WXGA Z60M = 300 nits
Standard WXGA Z60M = 200 nits
Standard WXGA Z60T = 200 nits
Standard WXGA Z61T = 185 nits
Standard WXGA Z61M = 150 nits

what is going on here?

 

looks like pcmag got their hands on a Z61m.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1962609,00.asp

Z61m got 3.5 stars compared to the 4 stars they gave the Z60m.

 

Thanks martynas!

 

Anyone know when we can start ordering z61t online at lenovo.com? (As of early Wednesday morning, only z61m can be ordered through the internet..)

THANKS!

 

And only one model of the Z61m at that.

 

yeh i noticed that. Kinda dumb. that can't go on very long... or its a typo.

 

In response to an earlier statement on the nit values...

I am religiously watching the z61t models. Checking the tabook closer it seems like the WXGA is indeed 185 nits but the WXGA+ is 200 nits...if ur going for the z61t i'm sure you were gonna get the WXGA+ anyways. phew.

 

people often complained that the z60t screen was a little dim especially for 200nit. I think that perhaps they fudged the first time and in reality the screen is more like 185nit. It would be kinda dumb to use a different wxga screen between the z60 and z61

 

What kind of launch was that? R series model and ONE Z series. They should have waited until they had more models on the site to call it a launch. This isn't exactly new technology anymore. What is taking so long for a widescreen with core duo?

 

The customizable version of R60 is available. Starting at $1267.

 

Anyone have any idea or maybe super secret knowledge about the availability of customizable Z61m (the $2199 version is a little steep for me, but I just can't get over not having the widescreen to go for T60)?