I'm on the fence :T61 vs T400

I think I've narrowed down my selections to either a T61 or a T400. I asked in the "What Notebook Should I Buy?" forum but i did not get much feedback.

I'm just wanting some opinions.
Does the newer technology justifies the price difference?
Also is the T400 is that much more future proof then the T61?

Here are the configurations im looking at :

• ThinkPad T61 with Integrated Graphics
• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T8300 (2.4GHz 800MHz 3MBL2)
• Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic
• 14.1 WXGA+ TFT
• Intel GMA X3100 GM965
• 1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
• UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
• 80GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim
• ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe
• No Bluetooth
• 6 cell Li-Ion Battery60
• 7658
  
• Price: $763.93

• ThinkPad T400
• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W
• Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
• 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 1 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
• 80 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
• Note WLAN
• 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
• 7417
  
• Price: $1,003.00

 

Go with the T400 if you can, and for the love of all that is holy... get the LED screen.

 

and atleast 2GB of ram.

 

i don't think so with the new ddr3 ram though, for some companies it is cheaper to upgrade directly, no?

 

I think that ddr3 ram from lenovo.com is cheaper. I suggest buy a T61 if you don't mind a mediocre screen and need to save money, or buy the T400, and put a 2 gb ddr3 ram on that laptop.

 

Upgrade T400 from 1GB to 3GB at Lenovo via CPP: $93.50
Buying a 2GB DDR3 DIMM at Newegg: $122.98

Looks like you save nearly $30 just ordering the system with 3GB from Lenovo.

 

Thanx to everyone for the advice ,opinions and info.
I'm leaning towards the T400 now. I was thinking getting the min RAm from lenovo and upgrading from a thirdparty but it looks like lenovo has better pricing right now. I will probably get 2GB for one slot so that one when the price drops i can upgrade later.

Here's what im looking at now :

• ThinkPad T400
• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W
• Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic
• 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
• 80 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
• Note WLAN
• 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
• 7417
• Price: $1,063.35

 

Jesus, sounds like the t500 brightness will be disappointing.

 

Go with the T400 and you won't regret it...only about 240$ difference....but you should definitely go with the LED backlit....going to give you a lot more brightness and a bit more battery life....Intel 4500HD in the T400 also perform twice as better as the x3100 in the T61....and the 4500HD is capable for watching full HD 1080 films....processor is also newer.....definitely the T400

A few suggestion....if you are going to have 4GB ram....make sure the VISTA is 64-bit....or else it's better you have 1GB RAM for now and then add 2GB later when price drop to make it 3GB total of RAM which is the maximum in which the 32-bit VISTA like HOME BASIC can use.

 

With the hybrid graphics I'd really suggest going for the discrete option. Gets you the best of both worlds.

Also, unless you're having to pinch every penny, go with the DVD writer. Costs a lot less to equip the system with it from the start than to change your mind later.

 

which graphic card is better for gaming? the t61p or the new T models?

 

Definitely the new T400, with th ATI 3470. Hands down.

 

Im in the same boat:

T61 15.4"

Processor1 Intel Core 2 Duo processor T8300 (2.4GHz 800MHz 3MBL2)
Operating system12 Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Operating system Language Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium - English
Display type 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
System graphics Intel GMA X3100 GM965
Total memory8 1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 (1 DIMM)
Keyboard Language US English Keyboard
Pointing device UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Hard drive4 160GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device5 DVD Recordable, Ultrabay Slim
System expansion slots PC Card & Express Card Slots
Card Reader 4 in 1 Media Card Reader
WiFi wireless LAN adapters10 Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN S/CAN/LA/AP)
Wireless USB Adapter None
Wireless WAN accessories65 None
Battery60 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
Power cord 65W AC Adapter; NA, LA, (2pin)
Publication Language English US Publication for Vista

$1021.36


T400

Processor1 Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8600 (2.40GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2)
Operating system12 Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Operating system language Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium - English
Display type 14.1 WXGA+ TFT w/ LED BL
System graphics Intel GMA X4500
Total memory 3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 (2 DIMM)
Keyboard language US English Keyboard
Hard drive 160GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device5 DVD Recordable, Ultrabay Slim
System expansion slots Express Card & PC Card Slots
Bluetooth Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters Intel WiFi Link 5100
Modem Yes - AMoM
Battery60 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
Power cord 65W AC Adapter; NA, LA, (2pin)
Language pack English US Publication

$1099.74


With the T400 I get the better, albeit smaller, screen, Bluetooth, don't need to upgrade RAM myself and a slightly better processor for roughly the same price (after I upgrade the T61 to 3GB RAM).

Only thing is I think I want a 15.4" screen and the LED isn't available on the T500 yet and I'm still undecided on glossy vs. matte.

Opinions?

 

The RAM in the T400 is ddr3, I think is cheaper to upgrade it from lenovo directly. Also, the processor on the T400 is faster. Get the T400.

(I though that T61 would muuuuch cheaper by now)

 

I agree that the DDR3 is alot better than the T61, however I disagree with you statement about the graphics. The ATI 3470 does not look to be better than the 8600gt and my overclocked NVS 140m *600/800* (8400m) ran 3dMark06 at 2700, which is around the stock mark for test in the link below if you look at 1280X1024 (the same resolution as my test). There could be other variables involved but from this link the ATI 3470 does not look that hot.

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/ati_hd_3470/12.htm

 

Thanx to everyone for the suggestions. I finally pulled the trigger today because of the price drop.

• ThinkPad T400
• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W
• Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic
• 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight
• ATI Mobility Radeon 3640 with 256MB
• 2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
• 80 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
• Note WLAN
• 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
• 2764
• Price: $861.25

I also picked up an ideapad S10 for $357.

 

Lol. Good choice. Please, make a review when your S10 ships.

 

I will , unfortunately i have an estimated shipping date of 9/23.

 

Okay guys, I am late to the party but don't reports of T400 having quality changes in keyboard bother the buyers? Why not stick with T61?

 

Oh please...the difference in the keyboard does not nearly justify loosing the performance gain that you get in the T400...thats a joke.

 

Don't mix up design change with quality change. The two are completely different. The design did change, and that change appears to result in some keyboard flex in at least the units Kevin's reviewed. This says nothing about any change in quality other than the possibility the design team felt some flex would be acceptable.

For me it isn't really a big deal. I like a good keyboard, but I'm not going to stomp my feet and have a hissy fit if my T400 arrives and has some flex. Since that is such a subjective area, I tend to take reports with a grain of salt. Especially reports on the internet where a report of "xyz isn't as good as it was on previous model" can turn into a kerfuffle of people hollering about why Lenovo doesn't do something about the xyz "issue", or posting that they're leaving Lenovo forever... all when they've not yet touched a production unit.

My choice of T61 vs T400 amounts to wanting the hybrid graphics, LED backlit display, lower power CPU & memory, and a couple other minor details. If the T400 keyboard does flex a little more than the T61 I don't really care, that's not the reason I'm buying a T400.

 

It is an area of some concern to me. It primarily depends on how bad it is and the overall quality of the laptop as a whole. I am thinking its probably not all that much and the overall quality and build of it will be good. I will be sure to review it and post in here when it arrives.

 

The keyboard is less rock solid to save on the additional weight.....I would say the increase in battery life and performance and price drops overweighs the option of getting a T61

 

Would someone mind explaining what "flex" is?

 

When you apply the pressure on one key....the keys beside it sink down a bit too.

 

Actually, right now, T400 is cheaper than the T61:

(via CPP)

ThinkPad T61 15.4''
From: $1,234.00*
Sale price: $786.65*

T400
From: $1,130.00*
Sale price: $720.37*

T500
From: $1,159.00*
Sale price: $738.86*

 

I ordered a t61 15.1" w/ integrated graphics about a week ago and am considering switching my CPP order to a t400 or 500 (leaning towards the t400 because of battery life and brighter screen).

Will the memory upgrade (Crucial 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-667 PC2-5300 ) I bought for the t61 work in the t400?

 

As far as I know, the memory will work. But you will be missing out on the brand new 1066 mhz speed RAM the T400 motherboard can support, which would be a significant performance loss (it will run in 667 mode instead).


Can someone clarify this?

 

dont forget the power saving advantage of the DDR3 over the DDR2

 

My thought is probably not. According to Newegg, DDR2 SO-DIMM's are 200 pins and DDR3 SO-DIMM's are 204 pins.

 

This is kind of frustrating... I ordered a T61 a few days ago for about $1150 (Canada)

Intel T9300 2.5GHz
15.4" WXGA+
Intel GMA X3100 GM965
3GB DDR2
160GB 7200rpm
Fingerprint reader
Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
9 cell battery

But now they are more expensive than the newer T4/500 series! I am probably going to cancel because everyone seems convinced the newer ones are the way to go. I don't think we get quite the same deals in Canada, but through visaperks I was able to configure a T400 or even T500 to similar specs as above (main difference is going from T9300 to P8400) for about $100 cheaper. Btw, is there going to be a huge difference? The T9300 has a bigger cache but the P8400 has a faster FSB (I think)...

Anyways, I was using a coupon code that trucks put up earlier and it seems to have run out. Can anyone point me in the direction of another one? I tried googling "lenovo canada cpp" but couldn't really find anything.

One final note, I find it weird that the upgrade to 3GB DDR3 on the T400 is $78.37 but for the T500 it is $39.19 (which is cheaper than their upgrade for 2GB DDR3 1 DIMM)... looks like some kind of mistake?

 

try this

CAEAUG19SALE

prev. discount saved me about $150, this one saved me $60, not worth it, but im strill trying to get my price lower

 

Hmm... weird, I just tried again with the CAXAUGUST16 one and it worked... might just be high traffic and it's getting near it's end?

 

Crap, I'm in the same situation! I ordered a T61, but the T400 prices dropped considerably in Canada and I can get a very similarly specced T400 for about the same price.

The only 2 upgrades that really interest me though are the LED screen, and the slightly lower weight.

Is the screen THAT much better then on the T61? i.e. is the T61 screen so bad you don't want to/cant use it for long periods of time?

I'm gonna be using this laptop to run Torq (A DJ program) and I really want a screen thats easy on the eyes.

Thanks!

 

I think the e-coupon with visaperks ran out this morning for the T4/500 this morning (it still works for the T61 I think)

With the coupon, it would have been about $100 cheaper to get a T400 for me, but now it would be more expensive, so I'm thinking of sticking with the T61. Pros are that it will arrive sooner and will have the old keyboard (although I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference). Also, 61 just happens to be the number I wear in sports... coincidence?