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    Body Construction T61 Vs T60

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by writehog, Jun 10, 2007.

  1. writehog

    writehog Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello!

    I have been reading about that the new T61 body construction is not as good as T60 cause of the missing Magnesium alloy and putting of roll cage , is this true ,Does the plam rest gets wammer during the running of the laptop.

    ThankYou
     
  2. Homer_Jay_Thompson

    Homer_Jay_Thompson blathering blatherskite

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    False. The T61 has a protected lid that provides more protection for the screen.
     
  3. vespoli

    vespoli 402 NBR Reviewer

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    I don't have a T61, but I can tell you that the construction of my T60 is top-notch. The right side of the palmrest does get warm after extended use.
     
  4. furrycute

    furrycute Notebook Evangelist

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    Both the T60 and the T61 use an internal magnesium alloy roll cage. The T61 goes a step further by deploying an LCD mag alloy roll cage.
     
  5. eskimochaos

    eskimochaos Notebook Evangelist

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    Which is better?
     
  6. SkiBunny

    SkiBunny Notebook Deity

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    Yep but I hear the T61 uses a cheaper all-plastic case instead of a plastic-magnesium alloy case.

    Also it seems the assembly for T61 has been moved to plants which either build the low-end lenovo series and/or the dell inspiron series.

    I too can vouch for the build quality of the T60. I dont own a T61 but I'm suspicious about its quality relative to its predecessors.

    The build of the X60 (which I also have) is the better than the T60
     
  7. Homer_Jay_Thompson

    Homer_Jay_Thompson blathering blatherskite

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    Everything I read says the T61 is far more durable than the T60.
     
  8. furrycute

    furrycute Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't think it's possible to infuse magnesium alloy into plastic. SkiBunny, I think you are referring to carbon fiber infused plastic.
     
  9. SkiBunny

    SkiBunny Notebook Deity

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    That's ridiculous. It's too new to assess assembly quality and how things will hold up over time.

    All I'm saying is that the plants to which lenovo moved their assembly for the T61 to slash costs are infamous for mediocre quality. Accordingly, I would be highly suspicious about the the T61.

    I'm not biased because it doesn't matter to me as I dont buy them for myself, I am given a new one every year at work.
     
  10. Dreamer

    Dreamer The Bad Boy

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    How many times are you planning on posting this nonsence? :rolleyes:

    Both the T60 and T61's cases are made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic, which is quite expensive material because it has unsurpassed strength/weight ratio. That's way the ThinkPad T60 was one of the lightest 15.4" notebooks.

    The magnesium alloy cases are cheaper and heavier...

    Asus also use carbon fiber for their high-end models, Sony use magnesium alloy cases for their regular models and carbor fiber for the premium models, which are lighter and more expensive...(for example: Sony SZ)

    Next time check out the facts before posting it's not that hard... :rolleyes:
     
  11. SkiBunny

    SkiBunny Notebook Deity

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    My bad i meant plastic over magnesium alloy (brain circuits criss-crossed with sunday morning hangover, lol)

    Per an ibm intranet doc, the carbon fiber in the T61 plastic composite has been significantly reduced or removed, depending on the model, for the the T61.

    Same source as for my post last week to Tholek that the thinkpad abgn ... which now has indeed disappeared.

    Dreamer, plz stop rolling your eyes repeatedly at me, it looks condescending or arrogant. Gawd!
     
  12. eskimochaos

    eskimochaos Notebook Evangelist

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    Can we see this doc?
     
  13. UltraCow

    UltraCow Notebook Consultant

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    Probably not, as he said it was an intranet document meaning it's most likely available only on the internal company intranet (intranet is a term for a large internal, private network for those that might be wondering).

    On topic though, as for the build quality of my T60 it's probably overall the most solid laptop I've used. Although some of the plastic parts, as strong as they may actually be, flex a little more than I'd like. However for the external feeling of a chassis to be perfect in my eyes, I'd probably have to buy a Toughbook or other non-consumer, non-business class notebook that doesn't exist. :p
     
  14. Tholek

    Tholek Notebook Consultant

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    From what I've been reading, it's the R61 that has a chassis that might be sub-par. I have confidence in the T61 case. It's the assembly by Compal, turbo memory and the future of the Atheros card that concern me.
     
  15. sapibobo

    sapibobo Notebook Evangelist

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    In T61 is there still flex between the power button and think vantage button? I notice many thinkpads have the most flex at the area.

    Considered that the interior of t61 still use the same design as the t60 - could it be the case?
     
  16. Dreamer

    Dreamer The Bad Boy

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    Thank you kindly for informing us. And, I guess that according to the same "reliable" document the T61 isn't as black as the T60, right?

    Do you have any "intranet docs" about the global conspiracy?

    Well, if you don't mind to base your post on facts that you can back up, I may stop, otherwise no. :no:
     
  17. Jimco

    Jimco Notebook Consultant

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    I'm typing this on my T61 and I don't notice any flex in that area. This is a very solid machine. It's been years since I've owned a ThinkPad, but the build quality far surpasses any of my Toshibas or Sony Vaio. I haven't seen a T60, but I'm very pleased with this T61.
     
  18. wb74160

    wb74160 Notebook Enthusiast

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    same thinking here, exept the plastic strange stuff on the left side of the palmrest as shown on the chinese review, looks weird, but should be ok over time being carefull not to destroy it
     
  19. Leon2245

    Leon2245 Notebook Deity

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    I wish you guys would quit pointing this crap ouT!

    Never realized there was flex at that spot until I PRESSED it just now! Just learned the wireless switch wobbles. Would have never thought to put a fingernail under the edge of the palmrest to flex the case; and never would have thought about viewing angles- for some reason my Z60m's lcd is just as clear from extreme angles, now when I upgrade to a t61 I know that I am downgrading in that respect (wtf btw- do Z series use a different kind of screen or something? Pseudo glossy to make it do that? Always thought this thing was matte- looks no where near as shiny as most of the stuff in best buy anyways).

    Anyways, alot of people get caught up in comparing thinkpads of generations past. But what does hold up to "how they used to make them", really? Refrigerators, trucks, watches; you have to judge vs current alternatives not previous generations.

    That said, in terms of build quality alone, I would still consider t60 over t61 right now, because I do still like the magnesium lid + composite case w/cage than composite all around w/cage in case and lid.
     
  20. eskimochaos

    eskimochaos Notebook Evangelist

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    the latter is 25% stronger tho
     
  21. unhooked

    unhooked Notebook Deity

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    All this arguing is quite pointless until someone here compares those models side by side.
     
  22. Dreamer

    Dreamer The Bad Boy

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    What arguing ? Where did you see that?
     
  23. CanadianDude

    CanadianDude Notebook Deity

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    back on topic, im sure that even though the the T61 has better prtection features, the T60 is extremely well built also. come on, i used a T30 for a bit and that thing was more solid than my macbook. my macbook is starting to creak a bit...surprising given that its made of metal.
     
  24. Dreamer

    Dreamer The Bad Boy

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    Basically, there is no topic, both are excellent notebooks in terms of build quality and keyboard.

    However, there are always people who like saying: "ThinkPads are not what they used to be..." or something similar...and they don't even know why they're saying that....probably that makes them happy dunno...
     
  25. UltraCow

    UltraCow Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, I started to notice a little bit of creaking on my previous MBP after a while too, just in the top-case but still noticeabe every once in a while. Kinda sad when any notebook that is in reality very well built does this. Just goes to show you that no notebook is perfect build-wise.

    That could probably be the motto for this thread. :p