T61 refugee with Specific Questions to D630 users...

After reading almost every D630 v T61 v 1420 posts, I have the following questions:

I'm a 3x Dell owner (3200/CsX/700m) who just took delivery of a T61. Alas, the T61 is no T41.

The plastic over the roll cage doesn't exude durability and the build quality reminds me of my old Inspiron 3200. The notebook does not close completely (i.e. noticeable gaps between lid/body) when the computer is closed and latch is engaged.

Nit-picking: The reversal of the Fn/Ctrl key is driving me nuts! Nit-picking 2: the arrow keys are half-sized, which also drives me nuts as I work with lots of spreadsheets and use the arrow keys constantly. Nit-picking 3: one of the nice things of the old T-series was that the bezel had an edging that ran down and over the sides of the computer to protect the computer. The T61 no longer has that. Nit-picking 4: Vista is driving me crazy and though I can install XP on T61, it doesn't hurt that Dell sells the D630 w/XP pre-installed.

Bottom line: the keyboard is NICE but I don't trust that the T61 will last 3+ years. For the same price of a T61, I can get an equally equipped D630 AND the 3-yr warranty versus T61's one-year warranty. And in 3 years, replace my computer with an LED screen notebook.

I'm considering returning the T61 (minus restocking fee) and getting the D630. I have the following questions:

1. The review state that the casing D630 is magnesium. So this means that it's "pure/solid" magnesium, not plastic over roll cage? Is the quality just as good as the reviews/forums say?

2. As a biz computer, the speakers aren't the main priority, but generally is it fine for listening to music/watching videos in a quiet room? The D630 isn't WORSE than prior Inspirons, right?

3. For anyone who's tried the D630 and Inspiron 1420....is the D630 more like the 1420 keyboard? Or is the D630 keyboard more like the old Latitude 640m/Inspiron 1505?

Thanks in advance.

Sincerely, I should have known better when a Thinkpad was being sold for $1040.

 

Sorry I can't respond to your questions, but you can probably return your notebook without the restocking fee. You mention noticeable gaps in the build--I would call up and complain about it, and say you want your money back. If your reasons for returning are "I don't like it," they'll make you pay I'm sure. But I bet you could return it without a fee if the build quality is poor.

 

As someone who has owned a lot of notebooks, I gladly say that the D630 is the best notebook I've had the pleasure of owning. And yes, it is full magnesium body. Sturdy as hell.

 

1) The exterior is mostly magnesium and supports the internals. Structurally this is weaker than the plastic skin over an internal frame, however you probably need to slam the notebook pretty hard to break either one.
2) The speakers on the one I heard were not noticeably horrible. Past being usable, I look for little else in Notebook speakers.
3) No idea since the 630 is at work and not a system I use a lot.

 

I second Sirius. I really like this machine. I have had it about 3 weeks, and only used it on occasion so far, but I am fussy and I really like it. I also notice a HUGE LACK of posts about this machine on this board. That can only be A GOOD THING

A pound too heavy, and lack of vertical viewing angle are my only real minor complaints I would recommend the fingerprint scanner even though it is in between the 2 mouse buttons. Sure do wish it was off the the side, but like I said, I am damn fussy

You will love it, GET IT! Dave

 

All things considered its not likely worth you eating a 15% restocking fee + shipping to try the Dell. I would say the PCs are comparable, and you may find just as many things to hate about the Dell.

Also Lenovo has said that the lid should have slight gaps in the lid when closed away from the corners and hinges. When pressure is applied the rollcage has a tiny amount of give and flattens into its strongest form (like a bridge or flatbed 18 wheeler). Now that could be total BS, I am just tossing it out there.

 

Thanks for all the replies so far...

my thoughts are along the lines of ocellaris....the devil that I know (T61) may be better than the devil that I don't (D630). I may just have to tolerae it. Or pester some customer service guy to fix the gaps. (I'd crazy glue the loose palm rests, but that would probably cause more hassles in the future than it's worth. And nothing much I can do to fix the warped bezel/lid).

The biggest con of the D630: laptop (6-cell) + charger supposedly run 0.5 to 1.0 pounds heavier than T61 (4-cell) + charger. Even though it's only 1 pound, combined with all of the papers, books, etc. in my laptop bag, it'll make a noticeable difference. The T61 + bag is noticeably heavier (obviously) than the 700m its supposed to replace.

My biggest gripe with PC makers is that in their rush to gain market share through cutting retail prices (ex. Dell w/Vostro, Lenovo w/current T61 fire sale), it seems from hearsay some corners are being cut like quality control.

Though my build quality issues are cosmetic (though highly annoying such as the keyboard light that only illuminates the keyboard when the display is literally at a 90-degree angle to the plane of the keyboard), it's still unacceptable for something that costs $1000.

At least w/my old Dells the build quailty issues (frayed power adapters, loose panels, grinding cooling fan) didn't appear until my computer was brutalized for 2+ years.

Except for the Latitude CsX, that computer was built rock-solid, but then again it did cost almost $2000 in 2000.

PS, as most of you understand....sadly as I'll spend more time with my laptop than any human or object for the next 2+ years, I want everything to be perfect. haha.

 

Hi there.

I am a proud owner of a D630. Hands down this laptop is built, and built to last (from the looks of it).

While it is slightly heavier than the T61, as you mentioned above, it does have better battery life. You were comparing it with a 6 cell D630 and a 4 cell T61. If you get the Airplane/Car/65W adapter, it is slim and lighter than the regular power adapter.

The keyboard feels excellent. The system is very responsive, and extremely quiet with the fans on.

 

You may already have an idea of what the D630 is like, but i'll jump in anyway with a couple more thoughts.

1. The body may indeed be wrapped in a magnesium shell, but what really gets your attention is that it feels solid. There are no squeaks or creaks, no play in the hinges or the panels that come together and make up the notebook. No biggie for some, but it's a personal pleasure to have a nice, solid device.

2. I do not have a "prior Inspiron" to reference, as such cannot compare to. However I will say that the speakers are more than adequate, and much better than the D600 speakers that I am used to at work.

3. The keyboard, ah the keyboard. Pleasure. I started using laptops "hard" with the D600, and boy did that keyboard ever feel cheap. Although that keyboard never failed and is still in service today, the D630's is certainly an improvement. No flex, and just the right feedback.

Other thoughts -

Hardware and software are responsive and reliable. Synthetic stress tests, bad drivers, the occasional Counter-Strike session, and overall just messing with Vista have proved (to me) that the system is stable. For an initial-release OS, that's quite impressive.

The fans are inaudible during browsing and running Office apps. Only when stressed do you hear it, but all you really hear is the rush of air going through the radiator fins. For my application, it stays on idle most of the time.

The screen is brighter than I need, and during most of the day is set one setting lower from maximum. When my screen is backlit with the morning sun I set it to maximum, and that "fights" the brightness good. For my application, it's definitely a matte screen for me. 1440 x 900 is a nice balanced size with DPI set to 120.

I will likewise have more contact with this machine than any other human being other than my wife, so it's good to know that I have a reliable friend with me.

I am picky with devices (seriously drives me nuts when everything is not perfect for 99.99% of the time), but surpisingly this computer has met every one of my expectations. Well, it did look smaller in the pictures.

Good luck. And as most have said, your expectations will be met.

Regards,
Paolo