Just Received My T61

Ordered 6/06 just received it today. First impressions: what a sharp-looking, classy machine! I admit I had assumed it would be very utilitarian (read: dull) but I've definitely been pleasantly surprised.

Note I had actually ordered one in early May (with the employee/shareholder discount code) but canceled when on the original ship date I received an email saying it would be delayed until August.

I immediately called Lenovo, and after a hour wait, I finally got a hold of a representative who canceled my order immediately (confirmed by checking my order status online right afterwards). Trust me, it may be hard to keep a non-confrontational attitude after an hour wait listening to the hideous waiting music Lenovo plays, but it really helps spur the call rep to cancel your order and do it right.

After canceling my original order, I was set on buying a Santa-Rosa Macbook Pro - before being underwhelmed at it's launch specs. Hence a re-order of the Thinkpad on 6/06 (this time using the Visa cardholder discount)

Anyway back to the present, I turned the T61 on once to copy down the Vista product code (got Home Basic) and then began clean-formatting and installing my own copy of Vista Business. And here I am...

 

lol congrats...sounds exactly what i did when i got it...reformatted =l

 

You like it, how is the build quality, is this the 14.1 or 15.4? Finally, can you comment on the thinklight and its brightness, does it suffice? How does the top cover feel with the new Super-Elastic Polycarbonate, does it feel cheap? THanks man and enjoy your thinkpad! Can't wait for mine to get here!

 

The build quality is absolutely excellent. Perhaps a bad comparison, but I use a Dell Latitude at work and it pales in comparison. The Thinkpad body is rigid, the keyboard amazing, and the overall fit and finish is superb.

14.1

I would say if you are used to the very high brightness setting that many LCD monitors come out of the factory with, you may be disappointed. For my home desktop, I use two calibrated Samsung LCD monitors and being calibrated, they are actually dimmer than the T61 on stock settings.

The top actually feels pretty nice, and not cheap at all. It's a slightly textured material that I think would resist/conceal scratches fairly well.

 

Thanks CookieFactory for your through responses!

 

is your screen centered?

 

none of the 14.1 LCD's are centred

 

Screens are slightly offset because up to five antennae can be in place around the left and top lip of the screen....and with the magnesium frame in the top, they are run around the edge, so as not to be blocked from broadcasting/receiving.

 

come on the hold music isnt that bad. they're playing a jazz classic now -- horace silver's "song for my father." but im still waiting. only 10 mins so far. the august 9 ship date is pretty ridiculous.

 

Yes it is. After an hour and half of "It's like an airbag for your PC, the active protection system ensures that..." I wanted to scream.

 

Here's some pics of the T61...

http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r20/edification94/

 

Thanks.