My overall impressions of the T60 WS (1680x1050)

I received a PM asking me some details about the T60 widescreen I bought, so I thought I would share with everyone. I'm comparing it mainly to my 2 1/2 year old T42, which is intermittently flaking out on me - bad system board - but that is another story.

My model is the 8744-5BU, I ordered it on 12/22/06, and it showed up on 12/27 (I was out of town so I didn't actually get it until 12/29). I bought it with my SUNY alumni discount. Its specs are:
C2D 2.0 Ghz T7200
1GB PC2 (one stick I think)
NMB keyboard (MFG# 39T0928/FRU# 39T0958)
120GB HD
15.4" WSXGA+ (unit: 42T0328/42T0329 panel: 42T6598/0000000)

Size:
It is about 1" wider than my T42. Doesn't seem like much, but it adds significant bulk. It almost seems as wide as a 17" laptop. (I'm going to guess it is maybe 1" less than a dell 9400 17".) Closed it is maybe a couple of millimeters less thick than the T42.
Open, the height of the LCD is about 1" less than the T42 and about 1" wider. I'm not acutally measuring, this is just eyeballing it. Feels about the same weight as the T42.

Noise:
With the fan not running, it is very quiet. Quieter than the T42. But once the fan kicks on it stays on and does not shut off, even if there is no load on the CPU. I'm hoping this is a software issue. It seems like when it is plugged into AC, the fan runs all the time. When it is on battery it only kicks on when needed.

Screen:
I'm not pleased with the screen. The brightness is not uniform. It is bright where you are looking, but falls off, mainly up and down. Move your head and the bright spot moves too. Otherwise, the screen is sharp and crisp. I thought I would like the widescreen aspect ratio, but after using it I really don't. I suggest anyone considering a WS lappy check one out in the store before committing. Though looking at one in the store for a few minutes obviously does not compare to being in front of one for a few hours. A friend of mine that is another software developer commented that the screen is "WEIRD". Not good.

Keyboard:
At first I b*tched and moaned about the keyboard, but I think it just needed breaking in. The plastic does feel cheaper than the T42 keyboard, but it is fine. It is still the best keyboard of anything I have tried, except maybe for the macbook pro's keyboard. The backspace feels a crunchy, but maybe it needs to be worked a bit. The keyboard and palm rest seem like they flex less than the T42. (but I've taken the keyboard off my T42 numerous times, so maybe I have introduced some flex)

Trackpoint:
Same old track point. Actually the red cap looks a little bigger. Buttons are smaller than the T42 and feel cheaper, but the click feels right.

Trackpad:
****, this thing is small! Good thing I don't use it or I'd need a magnifying glass to find it! Come on lenovo, what is up with this?

Software:
I usually rip out most of the preinstalled stuff. Access Connections never worked right on my T42 despite a zillion different updates. Seems to work on this machine. The T60 came infested with all sorts of preinstalled crap from google desktop spy I mean search to norton firewall and some installshield crap that has latched on to my icon bar like a tick.

Other stream-o-conciousness thoughts:
The VGA port on the left side looks sloppy, like it is sitting in a big gaping hole. USB on both sides left and right is nice. No more S-video out. They changed the PS from the older thinkpads, so if you have a ton of older power supplies strategically placed in the areas you use your laptop, you're out of luck. There is a switch on the front to turn off wireless radios - I'm assuming it is for using on an airplane - but it seems pointless since you can do it still with Fn-F5. The onboard speakers sound much better than the T42. One big annoyance - on the T42 you had to close the lid all the way to trigger suspension (or whatever you had it set to do). On the T60, you just have to close it part of the way, maybe 2/3s shut, and it will go to sleep. That really sucks because I like to close my laptop part of the way when walking to meetings or whatever but not have it suspend.

All in all, I don't see to many advances over the T42 aside from the obvious improvements in CPU technology and memory speed (which lenovo had nothing to do with). I would probably not buy the widescreen again even if it did not have the weird dimmness issues - I'd stick with the 1400x1050 15.0" laptop (I have never seen an IPS display though - people say they are great). 240 more x-axis pixels doesn't justify the added bulk. I may see if I can exchange this for a 15.0" T60.

 

240 more x-axis pixels gives you more space to put two windows side by side which gives you more space to view spreadsheets which makes it all worthwhile if you have those needs.

 

As luck would have it I have a T60 WS being delivered Tuesday - in fact it is the identical model number to yours. I will be curious, given your many complaints, what I think of it. Honestly I think people have differing levels of finickiness about the kinds of issues you have raised, and in general I tend to fall on the low end of the scale. I can certainly understand your desire for a perfect laptop, particularly given that you've paid a premium for what many regard as one of the finest machines on the market, and I think it makes sense to pay close attention to these details while you can still return the machine. That being said, I'll be a little surprised if I share your level of frustration with it (especially since I am coming from a Dell 600m, which is far from being a precision instrument). We shall see . . .

 

please don vito post your thoughts on the system, as mine will b earriving in 3 - 4 weeks.

 

you may be right. Being spoiled having TPs for almost 10 years now I'm sure I'm overlooking all the positives that this machine has, especially compared to anything else. I did get a very good deal - this thing cost only a little more than a similarly-loaded dell lattitude.

I'll be interested in hearing your impressions.

 

yes, I find I can line up two windows side-by-side rather nicely.

what would be nice in windows is a second "maximize" button that would maximize the window height-wise, but make it only 1/2 the screen width.

 

I have exact same machine and same impressions! Same problem of light leakage of the screen. Also, I am thinking to ask for exchange for a regular 14" T60, or a Z61t. Do you think Lenovo will do that for us?

 

oh no! sorry to hear that. That is not right at all. The T42 15" screen shows no "leakage". I hope lenovo will come through - I'm calling them monday.

 

I received my T60 today. I also have an 8744-5BU, which features a C2D T7200, 1 GB RAM, ATi X1400 video, 120GB 5400rpm HD, DVD burner, Atheros a/b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth, 6-cell battery, and fingerprint scanner.

So far so good. It doesn't appear to suffer from the kinds of light leaking issues you experienced with yours. The screen (I have an LG/Philips) is fine, if not mind-blowing, though frankly I kinda think WSXGA+ might be a little too high-res for a 15.4" screen and my eyes. Fortunately between Windows and Firefox I can adjust most text to be big enough for my comfort, but honestly I think I'd prefer a 15.4" WXGA+ screen if there is such a thing. I have the Chicony keyboard, and I think it's nice - it's a little on the clicky side, but I always liked even the ultra-clicky IBM PS keyboards, so no problem there.

The one area that annoys me is that I can't seem to get the screen to stay at the highest brightness on battery. I have it set for max brightness in the power settings, but it immediately loses brightness when I unplug it. I find the brightness on battery a little dark, so it's a bit of an annoyance. I'll have to contact Lenovo to see whether there is a work around. (EDIT: I figured out this is in a BIOS setting - I think it's dumb that it defaults to being so dark, since obviously I can turn it down if I am worried about battery life, but at least it can be corrected.) I also find the speakers a little on the quiet side for me - I'd like it if I could turn the volume up somewhat higher. In any case, the machine seems like a keeper.

 

any news from your call?

 

It is also a software setting. Go to Start-->All Programs-->ThinkVantage-->ThinkPad Configuration and click on the LCD button at top right.

Also of course use Power Manager to create a power policy to suit your needs.