More specific questions on T61p 14" widescreen

Hi, I am intending to purchase the T61p 14" widescreen.

A couple of specific questions.

Does it have a inbuilt microphone? (This is absolutely necessary for me)

Does it have a inbuilt webcam?

What is the difference between widescreen with integrated graphics and widescreen with discrete graphics? (I love watching movies on my laptop. But never ever play any games on it)

If I go for the normal 6 cell battery does it stick out. What about 9cell. With the default 6 cell how long can I expect the machine to run (lets say when I play just a video file from the hard drive)

If I go for the default "1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)" option will it give me an extra free slot to add another 1GB RAM later on without having to replace the existing one? I mean, is this a 1X1GB piece with one free RAM slot or 2X512MB pieces with no free RAM slots?

Is 100GB the max 7200rpm HDD that I can have with this model. Can I have a 160GB 7200 rpm HDD with this machine?

Keeping everything else same, does adding a "Intel Turbo Memory 1GB" increase the speed of my machine at least 10% while booting as well as doing some computationally intensive works.

Where do you think I can purchase this at the lowest possible price and what would be the average waiting period if I order online? (I live in USA)

Looking forward to your kind answers.

 

Where do you see the 14" T61p widescreen? The only 14" T61p is standard screen. The rest are all 15" widescreen.

The T61 (non-p) offers 14'' widescreen though. The difference between the T61 and the T61p is the T61p offers a better graphics card. If you're only going to watch movies then you will not need a T61p. A T61 with integrated graphics will work fine for you.

Yes it comes standard with microphone.

Integrated camera can be added as an option for $30.

With a 14'' T61 widescreen, the only batteries that are offered are 4, 6, and 7 cells. Only the 14'' standard screen and the 15'' widescreen offers the 9 cell battery. The 6 and 7 cells will protrude out the back on the 14'' T61 widescreen, and you can expect roughly 3-4 hours of battery life with the 7 cell (with integrated graphics).

In the customization page, it'll let you know the memory configuration. Usually people pick the single 1GB stick and leave and extra slot for future upgrades.

You can have up to 200GB 7200RPM Hard Disk on the T61.

The current state of Intel Turbo Memory doesn't yield a 10% increase in performance. Many tests have even shown a decrease in performance. I, as well as others, suggest that you don't get Intel Turbo Memory. The money will be better spent on more memory or a faster hard disk.

Lenovo.com is the preferable place of purchase. Most of their deals are quite good. If you can wait, Lenovo releases very good coupons.

 

I don't think the 14.1" t61p comes in widescreen yet. The reg 14.1" t61 does though.

There is a no built-in mic, but there is a mic-input.

I think that only the non-'p' versions have them.

A dedicated card is more for games, graphics, or engineering programs. If you're just going to watch movies then I'd stick with the integrated graphics = less money, heat, and longer battery life.

The 6-cell does stick out a little bit. The highest capacity for 14.1 widescreen models is 7-cell (i.e. no 9-cell). My t61 gets a little over 4 hours with 1/2 brightness doing regular work (typing papers, internet stuff... etc). Check some of the reviews out there, I think many of them use DVD playtime for benchmarking battery life.

1 DIMM = 1 slot, so you'll have another slot free.

If lenovo isn't offering the HD you want, you can buy a notebook HD online and install it later.

There's are many different opinions on that, but from my use I would def say it does "feel" a little more responsive.

Try this post

 

Are you sure the T61 doesn't have a built-in microphone? Even my X61s does.

 

sorry, but it doesn't have a built-in microphone. you can always buy a really small clip on one later?

good computer though

 

Really?? I might be mistaken about the t61p then, but I can say that my t61 doesn't have an integrated mic.

 

Thank you all for your quick responses. Yea.. I realized that T61p doesnt have a wide screen. I would want to go for widescreen since that will be more lighter and I like the widescreen looks too. So I guess, as you guys suggested T61 (non-p) would be ideal for me. I can wait a couple of months before I purchase it. Wonder where I will come to know about the discount coupons (at lenovo website?).

When I was trying to configure it over lenovo website I saw this option "14.1 WXGA TFT, w/ Camera [add $30.00]". Does it mean it adds an integrated webcamera onto the laptop? In which case wouldnt also have an integrated mic?

I am too particular about having an integrated mic. Hope I get it in T61.

The 4 cell battery (the only battery option in T61 14" widescreen, that doesnt stick out) will last for how long?

also some one tell me the difference between discrete graphics and integrated graphics.

 

Discrete graphics are ideal for gaming. If you are not gaming or doing any graphics intensive tasks you will benefit more from integrated graphics. Integrated graphics will do just fine playing movies. Integrated will also save you a good deal of battery life vs a discrete card that will do a good job of draining your battery. I assume the 4 cell will last for a 2:30-3:30 hours if you get the integrated graphics.


As far as I know, all T61 machines and T61p's come with an integrated microphone. It is located under the Fn key on my standard sized T61 and anyone who said other wise in this thread should check again. You may need to go into your sound properties to mess with the settings a bit but all T61s come with integrated microphone. I was just using mine.

If you choose, "14.1 WXGA TFT, w/ Camera [add $30.00]" yes your laptop will then be equipped with a camera. Integrated mic is standard.

Discount coupons, I usually find mine at http://www.techdeals.net/

Head over there and type lenovo in the search box. You'll see some of the past deals that have expired.

 

How are you so sure. Do you not see a microphone on the left side of your palmrest? Go into your sound settings in windows and look under the Recording tab. Tell me it does not list a microphone..

 

it's also in writing here: http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cg...=897/ENUS107-552&appname=lenovous&language=en

find the bit about audio.

"Audio: Full-duplex audio on the system board and the integrated microphone allow voice annotation and audio. The system is equipped with audio in/out jacks for stereo speakers, headphone, or external microphone. The system supports Microsoft DirectSound applications."

 

I find it to be a pretty high quality mic to boot.

 

Yeah, it would be pretty ridiculous for modern laptops not to include a mic.

 

my bad, you guys are totally right!! after talking with brad I found the mic on my t61 and i'm feelin' a little ridiculous now...

 

Ah..!!! Glad to know that my question has played some role in making someone discover their machine more...

Thank you bradd... and that was really encouraging to learn that T61 does have a mic. I hope I can rely on this mic to use the standard audio chat programs like skype and googletalk.

Thanks also for the info about graphics cards.. hmm.. I guess I wouldnt require a discrete card...... and even a 4 cell battery would just be fine for me.. as I hate seeing the batteries protruding out of the machine...

Will keep looking at lenovo deals.. hope to see some good deals over the next few months....

 

Hi, I have one last question. Forgive my ignorance.

In the T61 14.1" widescreen with integrated graphics I am figuring out to choose between two processor choices.

A) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz 800MHz 4MBL2) [add $125]
B) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7700 (2.4GHz 800MHz 4MBL2) [add $375]

There is a price difference of $250 between the 2.

Keeping everything else same do you think the choice B will make the machine at least 20% faster than the choice A?

 

20% faster, not a chance. You will see no noticeable difference on your end when comparing choices A and B. The only place you might see a difference is in CPU intensive tasks, ie. video encoding, rendering a huge photograph. Even then you wouldn't see a 20% increase. Maybe more like 1-4%.

 

I know you said you don’t like the idea of the battery sticking out but, I'm kind of glad it does for three reasons: 1) more battery life. 2) I use the battery sort of like a grip to keep it stable on my arm when I move around. 3) I sometimes use it on my lap while it's plugged in, so I worry about hitting the A/C jack on the table when putting it back and stressing the connection (the jack sticks straight out the back). The battery kind of helps to protect it when I'm careless - it touches the table first when I set it down.

You might use your laptop different, though, just something to think about.

You can see the battery size difference here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2123794

 

i suggest going to the outlet in the lenovo site. It has really good deals.
and i mean really good.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...ngPage=/All/US/Portals/Lenovo_Outlet/T-Series

 

Yeah, I agree with brad, you'd probably be better off saving your money and buying some RAM online, esp if you're going to run vista.

I really didn't think I'd like the extended battery either, but I'm glad that I got it. imho, it doesn't seem nearly as obtrusive as I originally thought.

 

Thank you once again guys. Ataranea, that link was just amazing. I couldnt believe the amazingly lower price they offer. Are these refurbished items or original pre-configured models which never went out of the factory? Well, if I can be a little flexible with my specification I guess, these are deadly prices. Can you tell me why there is a memory1 and memory2 columns in the sepcs table?
For example Part#889L3A0250 they have shown Memory1: 1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory, Memory2: 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory. Does it mean the machine will have a total of 3GB RAM?

Also for the 15.4" models they write "Widescreen" explicitly whereas for the 14.1" WXGA display they dont write it is widescreen. Inst WXGA 14.1" supposed to be a widescreen display?

Most of these preconfigured models come with Vista Business version. Do you think vista business will be fine for a home user for whom generally vista premium version is recommended.

 

The mic works really well with Google Talk. I use it everyday! And like Bradd said it seems to be really high quality

 

Guess what, The Toshiba laptops don't have mic, so does Gateway...

 

Yeah these are Brand new laptops that people bought as Custom to Order laptops but decided to return them for some reason. They are unopened as well. As for the memory 1 and 2 it just means what is put on those slots mem1:2gb mem2: 1gb that means you have a total of 3gb of memory. Yes wxga is widescreen. And Business has extra security options and the only real difference b/w the Home Premium is that Business doesn't have the media softwares. Which you can d/l anyways like Winamp, WMP, Itunes etc...

Business imo would probably be a better option anyways...kinda like XP home and XP pro.

 

Thank you Ataranea for quite a lot of clarifications.. Hmm.. I will keep looking at the lenovo outlet.. till I buy one... Thank you once again..

 

just to clarify that this info is wrong; all thinkpads have a mic. my old t40 did..and so does the t61 that i have; look for 2 little slits either next to the mouse, or right below the keyboard..it is there though

 

Good luck on your search. I found a real good deal in the outlet and I am waiting for it to arrive. Just to clarify just in case...the systems are custom built ones that never made it out or returned and are not technically "preconfigured" before. But now I guess that they are already built, they are preconfigured...lol

 

Hmm.. Finally I tried placing my order today on T61 14.1" WXGA with 2.4 GHz and 2GB RAM. I had ranked the models I want from the outlet... I was lucky when I heard from the rep that my second choice was still available.. but 1st 3rd, 4th, 5th choices were not available.. but the most unfortunate part.. as I was placing the order for my second choice.. just as I was telling him my shipping address and stuff the reps informs me that the somehow the item got sold out as were were talking.. it seems someone has been simultaneously making the same order with some other rep. My bad luck.. Just hope that these offers come up again in future. the rep told me that they update it in every couple of weeks and most likely in next few weeks more updates would come.. Now I am just waiting for it......