My first laptop: T60 or R60?:confused:

Hey, guys!

I know this question has been asked already but I'm getting myself my first ever laptop and after narrowing down my options I don't know whether to choose the T60 or the R60. I'm going to be buying the laptop this week before the special offer ends.

The T60 configured to my specs costs $1,513.68 + tax

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (1.66GHz, 2MB L2, 667MHz FSB)[1]
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium[12]
14.1 SXGA+ TFT
ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 128MB (is it worth paying $50 more?)
1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)[8]
Integrated fingerprint reader
120GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim[5]
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ[10]
9 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
1 Year Limited Warranty[7]

While the R60 comes to $1,439.48 + tax

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (1.66GHz, 2MB L2, 667MHz FSB)[1]
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium[12]
14.1" SXGA+ TFT
ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 128MB,1394
1.5 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)[8]
Integrated fingerprint reader
120GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
CD-RW/DVD-ROM 24x/24x/24x/8x Max Combo Ultrabay Enhanced[5]
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ[10]
9 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
1 Year Limited Warranty[7]

I don't know the R60 is $74.20 less and I'm on a somewhat tight budget (1,500 including tax). But from what I read the T60 is more durable and lighter than the R60. And I prefer my stuff to be durable and long lasting, especially since I'll be taking the notebook I buy to college, so it will have to last a while.

So guys which one do you think I should buy?

Please help me

Dai

 

Either will be fine, but if the T60 is only $75.00 more I would splurge and go with it.

 

Since the two are identical, basically, internally you're paying mostly for the thinner/lighter T60 (and also exchanging the R60's IEEE1394 port for the T60's IR port)

I was faced with a similar quandary not too long ago and ended up choosing a pre-configured T60 that was cheaper than the custom R60 I would have ordered (basically identical to yours except that I would have gotten it with 512MB RAM and bought more RAM seperately).

 

I would recommend the T60--although you pay a little more up front, you will get a longer lasting, sturdier, lighter computer. Either will be a great computer, you're basically paying an extra 75 bucks for weight and slimness.

If you will be doing any gaming I would recommend the x1400--otherwise the x1300 would suffice.

 

FWIW, he's getting more RAM in the R60.

 

Good point. Remember that RAM is easy to install, *relatively* cheap to buy and can be upgraded later while the size and weight of the computer cannot be.

 

One more thing, since I don't do any serious gaming, then the X1300 should be good for me. Or should I pay more to get the X1400 since I'm also buying Vista Premium?

Thanks

 

Alright following what you guys said, since Ram can be upgraded I'm leaning towards the T60 and I've just configured it so that is $1,460.68 + tax.

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (1.66GHz, 2MB L2, 667MHz FSB)[1]
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium[12]
14.1 SXGA+ TFT
ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 64MB
1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)[8]
Integrated fingerprint reader
120GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim[5]
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ[10]
9 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
1 Year Limited Warranty[7]

Does this look good?

 

Personally, I would get a 6 cell battery. 9 cell sticks out from the back.

I also would rather get an 60gb or 100gb hdd @ 7200rpm than a 120gb @ 5400rpm. I got my T60 with 120gb 5400rpm but I was stupid in thinking that it would make the notebook a bit cooler and save battery life.

I also would get a better processor, perhaps a 1.83ghz one or 2.0ghz, because it's hard to upgrade it later on. It should be only 75 to 150 bucks more.

Edit: sorry, i didn't see your budget but that's what I would do. Processor is the most important part so if I were you, I would downgrade hdd and battery and get 1.83ghz processor.

 

Having owned both a R and a T series notebooks, they are pretty similar quality wise. You don't get the mag-alloy lid on the R60, but I can only find small spot on mine where I can make it ripple. The R60 is slightly heavier than the T60, hardly noticeable in my opinion. The R is thicker which I kinda like, but I'm nutty that way. I guess if they are similar in price I would take the T.

 

I'd get as much processor speed as the budget will allow and compensate by scaling back on the HDD size. (Make more use of DVDs or CDs and USB storage.) I also endorse the idea of a 6 cell vs. 9 (because the 9 sticks out the back).

Perhaps the X1300 would work well in your configuration because, while Microsoft cursorily recommends a minimum of 128 MB of graphics RAM in order to run Vista, their top-level Vista web page info likely speaks only of desktops--and may not be informative about the more modest needs of the laptop display resolution (as opposed to 128 MB RAM supporting up to 2,756,000 total pixels (e.g. 1920 × 1200)).

I notice a big difference in the shape and scale of R vs. T. The lid on the R is also much deeper at the top of the display, and its lid profile has a wedge shape from top to bottom that I don't find appealing--and that doesn't exist in the far sleeker, compact and uniformly-parallelogrammatic T.

 

i'd advise you get the 9-cell if you want some long run. i think it's cool to have a 9-cell since it runs longer compared to the 6-cell. more battery and you do more. or maybe have the 6-cell if you're close to an AC source.

X1400 just to play safe. it's nice to aim a little higher, except in some instances.

i like my laptop to be reasonably thick or else i won't notice it in my bag (in the case of sony X505, that thin little notebook years ago)

 

Alright guys!

Thanks a lot for the help, I'm off to buy my notebook now