MB and T61 vs. Z-series, and N-series

I recently purchased a macbook, and before and even after making the purchase, I've been continuously comparing the MB with the T61, but I never stopped to consider the Z-series or N-series (14.1") lenovo laptops. Can someone please post the following information regarding those two laptops:

1. Heat
2. Battery Life
3. Weight
4. Resolution and screen brightness (I know the t60/61 are kind of dim).
5. Overall size and weight
6. Overall performance

And yes, I know all this information can be found in the database, but this is easier (and I've been on that database for too long now).

Thanks

PS. Please, no comments on me having to chill down and/or stop worrying and just try to enjoy my macbook. I'd like to gather as much information as I can.

 

Um let's see, I could do it myself, but I prefer have some else do it for me.

 

Well, the thing is, issues like heat, screen brightness, overall performance, these are not some things that I can grasp by looking at a couple of official reviews or reading the official information released by the manufacturer. A couple of comments here would be nice and appreciated.

Now if someone knows that information by heart and can type it in 2 minutes, then great. But if he/she doesn't know that information or thinks I'm asking too much, then why just not ignore my post?

Anyways, it's a free country/forum/world?, so I can ask what I want as long as I'm not breaking any rules, and I guess you're entitled to your unhelpful comments as well.

 

I would just say, dont buy a Macbook, cuz I had one and thats the stuff that annoys me:

- even though Mac OS X is way better than Vista, compatibility issues are just the most annoying thing. An example is the crappy Mac-MSN (adium) or the crappy Office Suite.
- the screen is too small. If you work on the Macbook for more than 2 hours, ur back starts to hurt. If u connect it to an external screen the picture isnt crisp anymore and the colors are messed up.
- You always have to worry about this little new scratch there and the white color so you always think your hands are dirty.

The weight is high for such a small size.

 

- Bootcamp or Parallels. NO more compatibility issues. Plus, there are other programs that can run MSN in it as well.

- THe screen is just like every other 13.3 screen, no? I don't know anything about the external monitor problem, but that;s the first time I've heard someone mention that.

- I have a black macbook, but I'm sure it's as prone to scratches as the rest.

 

I second wireless033's notions and I will also add that the Macbooks are expensive for the specs they offer. Similarly speced PC's cost less - yes, even the Thinkpad.

For example, I just purchased:

1 7658CT CONFIGURED SYSTEM
06/11/07 $1,058.24 $1,058.24
7658CTO CTO THINKPAD T61 WITH INTEGRATED GRAPHICS 1 Y
42V8190 SBB INTEL CORE 2 DUO PRCESST7300
42V8012 SBB MS WIN VISTA HOME BASIC
42V9597 SBB MSWIN VHB32 US ENGLISH
42X1671 ** SBB 14.2"WXGA+TFT,W/ CAMERA
42X0905 ** SBB INTELGMA960W/1394, SMARTCARD
41W2060 VBB 1GB PC2-5300 667MHZ 1DIMM
42V8195 SBB KEYBOARD US ENGLISH
42V9330 SBB UN(TRACKPOINT+TCHPD)+ FING.R
42V8702 SBB 120 GB HDD,5400RPM
42V8715 SBB DVDREC8XMAXDUALLAY,UBAYSLM
42X0805 SBB PC CARDSLOT EX CARDSLOT
41W1685 SBB 11ABGWIFI WL LAN USEULAANZ
62P6054 VBB INTEGR.BLUETOOTH PAN
42V9339 SBB 7 CELL LI-ION BATERRY
41W1787 SBB CPK NORTH AMERICA
27R1769 SBB PSTN CABLE
42V9391 SBB LANG.PACK US ENGLISH
42V9428 SBB PACKAGING US
42V9649 SBB 14.1WXGA+W/OWWAN11N,W/CABT
39T6440 SBB 56K V.92 DESIGNED MODEM
42V8646 SBB CL.PLATE T61WLANANDBLTOOTH
42V9665 SBB FCC, LABEL
42V9667 SBB GEO LABEL US, WLAN,BT
41W2300 SBB LOGO PLATE
42V9632 SBB INTEGRWWAN ANT:14.1" 11ABG
42X0920 SBB INTELGMA 960 W/1394,W/AMT
42V9651 SBB MT 7658 SYSTEM LABEL
42V7973 SBB MS LABEL (VISTA BASIC)
42T7135 SBB INTEL LABEL CORE-2
42X0914 SBB NO SIM MODEL
42X1352 SBB PC CARDSLOT EXPRESCARDSLOT
42X0915 SBB WLAN MISC PARTS
42X1482 SBB BLUETOOTH W/ ANTENNA
42X1702 SBB BLUETOOTH SCREW
42V8063 SBB MS WAU ENGLISH NA-U MODELS
42V9341 SBB 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMM

'Nuff said.

Moreover, the keyboard layout on the Macbooks is also unintuitive for Windows users: the switching of the apple (windows) key and the cmd (alt) key, the extra enter key, the lack of a delete key (not the one they have, which is really a backspace key), only one mouse button, etc.

Maybe you will enjoy using OS X full-time, but for someone who will primarily use Windows, that is way too many concessions to make.

 

No, it is not a free country. I am the OverLord. Did you not read the forums rules?

Telling someone you know how do something, but prefer they do it instead cause it's easier for them to do it seems to be rather rude as someone who volunteers here quite a bit helping others including yourself. Perhaps that was not your intent, but that's the way it came across to me.

I don't understand how an official review is any better or worse than somebody telling you here. That's what a review is.

In the end, it's just a notebook.

 

Just a notebook that costs more than $1000.
Go to cnet.com. I'm willing to bet that on more than half the products with official reviews, the cnet official rating differs considerably from the average user rating.
Johnny, there's no way I can get that price in Canada for the same specs, no way. Plus, i can't even get an integrated graphic card and WXGA+ at the same time. And for some reason, while visaperks.ca says we can get a 25% discount on lenovo products, the price difference through visaperks and through the regular Canadian lenovo website is just $100, which is around $200 less than the promised 25%...

 

So why are you so hooked on a Macbook then? It has neither WXGA+ nor a dedicated graphics card!!! The only possible reason is that you thought the Macbook was the greatest deal around, which certainly isn't true. The HP dv2500+ can offer you similar specs at a much lower price, it looks just as good if not better (Macbooks looks too simplistic and toy-like IMO) and it is more efficient because it offers a bigger screen at the same weight!!

 

I'm not hooked on the MB, that's why I'm asking all these questions. If I was, I wouldn't bother. I know the MB doesn't have a WXGA+, and I'm not looking for a dedicated graphics card. But bcz the T61 does come with WXGA+ and integrated graphics card, I feel 'cheated on' for not being able to buy a T61 with those specs in Canada.

Btw, the refurb MB I bought WAS a good deal. FOr $1150CAD + tax, it's not bad (black MB, 2.0ghz, 120GB HDD, DVD Burner x6, 1GB RAM).

 

I've noticed you created many threads on the T61 vs Macbook and you made your decision to go with the MB. Have you received it yet? Maybe you should wait and see how you like it before you consider another notebook.

The N-series is not part of the Thinkpad line, therefore, the quality is not as good as a Thinkpad.

The Z-series Thinkpad is slightly thicker and heavier than the T series. I don't think you'd like that either.

So, it all comes back down to the T61 vs. the MB. Like I said earlier, play with your MB, if you don't like it, return it and get a Thinkpad. There aren't a lot of laptops that are similar to the look/feel/size/price of a MB and a Thinkpad. You should take a look at the Dell Latitude D420 and the D630 if you haven't done so already.

Oh yeah, you seem to be easily persuaded by the posts on here. You should feel confident about your purchase and not a let a couple posts change your mind. Don't second guess yourself.

 

Thanks. I'll keep the D630 and D420 in mind.
I haven't changed my mind yet, but I'm still trying to learn more while I wait for my MB. No, my MB hasn't arrived yet. When I asked the rep to give me free expedited shipping (they offered it to me 2 weeks ago when they screwed up my 1st order), he told me that the unit had actually left the same day I had ordered it and that i'll receive it today (this was 2 days ago). TOday, the FEDEX tracking option shows me what I had seen originally on my purchase: that it'll arrive next week

Perhaps a lot of the doubt is coming because I'm switching from a PC to a MAC. It's like moving from a muslim school to a catholic school, or vice versa!

 

Some ppl who have owned both the macbook pro and the thinkpad have told me the macbook pro was too warm. Even warmer than the X60, which has a hot right palm. My T60 is quite cool. The T61 is supposed to be cool as well. My T43 was a bit warm, but the other T4x models were fine.

I'd pass on vista at this point. You can get thinkpads with either XPP or vista usually. IBM is avoiding vista altogether so far internally. So are most of the other companies at the top of the Fortune 500 heap.