My z60t Review

Posted this in my other thread, but maybe this will get more views.


Alright, well my z60t finally came today. I changed my order and picked up one of the available, in stock ready to ship 2513-w18 models.Specs are as follows:

1.86 Pentium M
40Gig HD
1 gig Ram
CDRW/DVD
Intel GMA 900
7 cell battery


As I heard the UPS guy walking up the stairs I ran to the door and held it open waiting for him to make that final step. Finally I had the 11.50lb package in my hands and able to get back into doing some research work for school.

So I ripped the box open and found the packaging to be very minimal, which I definitely like. Everything that I need was there, only had to open up a few wrappings and my notebook. Plugged in the 7 cell battery and plugged it in.

Weight:

Not bad at all, 5.1 lbs sounds like about right. The 7 cell battery really is adding some bulk to the unit, and while using the system in my lap or carrying it around the center of gravity is definitely shifted towards the back because of the battery. Definitely not something you would call "heavy" but noticeable. Carrying the laptop around in my Crumpler Hee-Goer was nimble. I was strutting around the library like a champ.

Design:

Anyone who describes the design of a Thinkpad as being dull hasn't seen one sitting on a table by itself from a distance. As you walk up and see the thin, flat black you are no doubt intrigued. With iBooks, Powerbooks, and Dells rampant at the University it is refreshing to see a different design. Having the system just one night, people were walking by staring at the mysterious black unit. One guy even stood behind me while using it just checking out the system.

I'm a die hard widescreen man. After using a 2005fpw and 2405fpw, 15" powerbook, and now 20" iMac I've been spoiled in using windows side by side. Now that I wanted another light laptop, I was instantly sold on the shape.

This is a flat black unit, and my first thinkpad, and without a doubt the system is beautiful. The 14" widescreen is a perfect portable yet usable system. Had the 4 cell battery provided adequate battery time, the system externally would have looked flawless.

I have, however, noticed one minor issue on the notebook. When closing the lid, the left side doesn't seem to snap into place like the right side. Pressing down will cause some movement up and down. I am not sure if this is the design or not, just something I noticed when carrying it around.

Casing outside of the display is just plain tough. I just tried jamming my fingers into the back to try and create any sort of ripple, and could not produce any. Definitely nice, althought I doubt the screen will ever face that kind of abuse.

Display:

The resolution is definitely good for the size of screen. I always prefer having the highest resolution possible, and am willing to trade off smaller fonts in order to have more on the screen but this will definitely work.

Brightness is a mixed situation. Earlier in the day, when there was more ambient light in my surroundings, the screen was pretty good, with some difficulty in viewing if not at the proper angle. I found myself having to adjust my head or tilt the screen every once in a while. However, as night fell, the screen was excellent. At the highest setting, brightness is definitely perfect.

I wish, though, that there were more intermediate levels for brightness. Coming from a 15" powerbook I had who knows, maybe 20 different levels that I could adjust to my likings.

Performance:

With the 1 gig of Ram, and 1.86 Pentium M I am having no problems doing anything at all. Word starts up instantly, web browsing is done with ease. This system can definitely handle all tasks, except....

Games. Well, I love to get a few rounds of Counterstrike: Source in and I spent many nights hoping for a miracle that it would run on the integrated graphics. After trying it out, it was just absolutely terrible. Way too choppy to even bother with.

I went ahead and downloaded the older Counterstrike 1.6, and that was handled with ease. FPS was between 60-70 at all times. Impressive, but the graphics of the game imo just are not even worth bothering with.

Battery life:

With the 7 cell battery I am getting about 3 and 1/2 hours of battery life, with one notch off the brightness and off and on browsing. Wifi is always on, as I see no reason for even commenting on battery life with this off.

Temperature:

System is very cool, especially compared to my powerbook. Temperatures right at 40 when working with the notebook, running clocked down at 800mhz.

Thinklight:

I just remembered about this option so I tried it out, and feel it would have been better left out. It sounds great, I love light on my keyboards, especially backlit keys but this is just some very dull, orange glow at the top of the screen. Absolutely useless.

Overall:

This is an excellent laptop. Handles everything great, with the exception of games. I'm more of a power user, and prefer higher resolutions so I am going to try out a T42 with SXGA and Radeon 9600. I am hoping that will quench my gaming needs when I need them.

Pricing of the system is decent, $1299. With tax you are right around 1400, so it is not cheap but not too expensive either. If it had a dedicated graphics card, without a doubt it would be worth it.

Having said that, I am waiting for a T42 Refurb that I found for $1000. That is going to save a couple of hundred, and am hoping it will be able to handle some games and appreciate the higher resolution.

 

do you mind posting some pictures? I know there are pictures already in previous reviews, but it's always good to see it from a different photographer so I can get a perspective of how big exactly the z60t is before i make the purchase...


thx

 

Pictures taken with Sony Ericsson camera phone so sorry for the quality. These will give a good idea of the notebook, but the unit is better than the camera shows.

 

very sexy pictures, looks like a must buy to me haha.

oh, and i really appreciate you putting the cereal box, it gives me a good perspective as to how big the laptop really is.

thanks.

p.s: valentines day suck ass...no girl this time...****.

 

Haha, yeah I made that wallpaper sitting in class. More of a joke than anything.

 

Thanks for the thought-out review. Nice pics! Laptop really looks cool. I'd take the black over the silver titanium everyday!

 

Actually, some of those pictures turned out really nice.

 

Awesome pics...very much appreciated

Enjoy your new baby!

 

just received this exact same machine yesterday. shipping took only 3 days. I don't like that the 7 cell battery feels somewhat loose. surprising, since thinkpads are so solid otherwise...

 

Nice pics and review. I always have a thought that Z60t and nc8230 are similar in terms of hardware and appearance.

 

Wow, I'm quite impressed with your camera phone! Those are some pretty nice pictures.

Congrats on the new notebook

 

Thanks for the compliments. I think I will be sending this unit back though, as I am now using a 14" t42 with SXGA screen and I am spoiled by the resolution.

I must say though, the claims of the build quality of the z60t are outlandish. That notebook really feels like it is wearing armor. I would even go as far as saying the solid feel of it is greater than this t42.

 

thanks for the review typerlover, even if it is going back. It's funny that there's such varying perspective on build quality of the Z60t, it really does raise questions as to whether there's some lemons coming off the line (or maybe just early on in production?) that's generating some of this talk.

The screen resolution is an important part of a notebook and if you prefer SXGA, well, then you are making the right decision going with the T42.

 

That's what I think is the case. There have been enough praises and at the same time enough complaints to warrant this kind of thinking.

 

:::

Let me add some photo of mine......

:::

 

I haven't seen the black model in person, but it really does look great in those pictures; I also really like the "revo" sticker.

 

Ouch! Ouch! Those stickers! Do you people lack any sense of taste?

 

:::

revo = revolution
The revolution of IBM, Since Z60t is the
first IBM WideScreen Notebook.....!

:::

 

so sexy....droool

must save up and get z60t...

 

nice review.

Gave me a lot of insider info on the Z60 that I wanted to hear.

 

more pics more pics =)