Lenovo ThinkPad T61 7658-18U Laptop (2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive) | List Price: $1,249.00
Discount Price: $1,105.00
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Brand: Lenovo
Binding: Personal Computers
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - Box Contents - ThinkPad T61 7658-18U Notebook, Lithium-ion Battery Pack, AC power adapter, Power Cord, Software Bundle - Windows XP Professional, Norton Internet Security 90-Day Subscription, 1-Year Limited Warranty
- Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz Processor
- 4MB L2 Cache, 800MHz Bus speed
- 1024MB DDR2 (PC2-5300) RAM Max - 4GB
- 160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
Best Laptop on the Market -- Worth the extra money [Posted on 2008-07-26]
I reviewed the Lenovo 3000 N200 Lenovo 3000 N200 0769 - Celeron M 540 / 1.86 GHz - RAM 512 MB - HDD 80 GB - CD-RW / DVD - GMA X3100 - WLAN : 802.11b/g - TPM - fingerprint reader - Vista Home Basic - 15.4" Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) - Microsoft Office Ready when I bought it earlier this year after my HP died. I had always been a big fan of the IBM Thinkpads and hoped that the 3000 N200 would be an economical replacement. Proving that you get what you pay for, I was very disappointed. I have subsequently wiped the N200 clean of Vista, installed Windows XP and gave it to my son. It works MUCH better under XP -- much faster.
I had always wanted to get the T61 because... well, I like thinkpads. I like the feel of the keyboard. Their displays are crisp and beautiful and the build is solid and durable. But at the time, my budget just wouldn't allow it. But after a few months, I was finally in a position to upgrade.
I was a little hesitant since all my experience with Thinkpads had been while they were still being made by IBM. After my disappointment with the 3000 N200, I was concerned that the poor quality was indicative of Lenovo rather than just the model. But I decided to give the T61 a shot because frankly, all of the other brands out there (...cough... HP.... cough) are known failures that I had to try.
I'm VERY happy to say that the T61 is NEARLY as good as the IBM Thinkpad counterparts. The look and feel are still nearly the same. The display is probably the most similar to the old IBM thinkpads. The speed and all the Lenovo support features are excellent making recovery in the case of catastrophic virus infestation etc a breeze.
What isn't QUITE the same (and the reason I knocked a star off my rating) are a few relatively minor quibbles compared to the old Thinkpads. The keyboard doesn't feel quite as solid as I would like. The touchpad is smaller than usual -- even smaller than the 3000 N200 (the one feature of that model that I actually prefer). In addition, the edge of the touchpad is very "prominent" so it is annoying when your finger is constantly bumping up against it. The case isn't quite as pleasing from a "tactile" perspective -- it feels more plasticy. And finally, the finger print reader is not as good as the 3000 N200.
However, I can tell that the build quality of this system is substantially better than the lower priced models. In addition, it doesn't have the annoying "shiney" display which the 3000 N200 has and it runs MUCH quieter and cooler than the 3000 N200.
All in all, this isn't IBM's thinkpad but it is far superior to any laptop on the market today in terms of quality and it is truly worth the money.
BTW, my T61 came preloaded with Vista. I have subsequently come to the conclusion that XP is truly a better OS in terms of speed and reliability. Unless you can afford the extra 300-500 for 3gb of memory, "downgrade" to XP. Otherwise, you might as well stick with a used T41.
I WISH I liked this computer [Posted on 2008-08-14]
After much research, I chose the T-61 based on favorable reviews from Consumer Reports and others. I've been very disappointed with my purchase.
+ The speakers are worthless -- can't raise volume enough to hear downloaded files from my voice recorder.
+ The screen is so-so, not crisp and bright like many newer screens.
+ I hate the touchpad and the whole scrolling function because I never know what it is going to do. You have to touch the pad in exactly the right position with exactly the right amount of pressure to get it to scroll. Then, for no reason I can find, sometimes it scrolls quickly to the top of the document and back to the bottom until I stop it by touching the pad. Then I have to find where I was in the document. At other times, I'll scroll to a particular place and stop it, then it suddenly "jumps" up or down so that it is no longer where I wanted it.
+ Problems with "hibernation."
All in all, if you love Thinkpads, maybe you'll like this laptop. If you're not familiar with them, seriously consider your decision. If possible, try one out at a retail store before ordering online. I wish I had....
Bobbi
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