Opinions on x61, specifically re: optical drive

I have a thread in the "what notebook to buy" forum asking for recommendations, and several people suggested the Lenovo x61. It mostly looks great; competitive price, smaller and lighter than most other options, a reputation for good durability, and good battery life (is this last one correct?).

What I want to know is how people with this (or similar) laptops work without an optical drive on the computer. Do you regularly carry around an external drive? Or does the type of work you do not require it? (and what type of work would that be?) Do you own a laptop without an optical drive and regret not having it, or do you own a laptop with an optical drive and feel you don't need it? What else do you have to say about a computer without an optical drive?

I'm just looking for more info on this subject. The x61 seems to stand out as a good fit for me in a lot of ways. I'm just looking for other people's experience and any more info about the optical drive situation to see if it would be something that could work for me.

When I first balked at the possibility of having a computer without an optical drive, the response was, "The X-series has an excellent ultrabase dock that has a myriad of ports as well as an optical drive. It's something that you can clip your laptop into and carry around."

This seems to be the standard response. Why do that when the dock makes the computer larger and heavier than models with a built-in drive? I can understand having a dock (or two) at your home/office and carrying the notebook between the two, but what about if I have no office? I am a college student who will be using the laptop in classrooms, the computer lab, the library, out at the racetrack, at friends' houses for study groups and projects, etc... All this movement is why the portability of the x61 appeals to me, but not if it requires the added heft of carrying a drive or dock everywhere.

Can life be lived (and work accomplished) like this? I'm currently spending lots of time wondering exactly how much I would use an optical drive and if I could do without one on a notebook. I guess that's what it all boils down to, I'm just looking for more opinions/experiences from people who may have been in this same situation.

Thanks for any comments,

Mac

 

I feel ya I figured no way would I get a laptop without one...but the more I play with my x61s the more I love it. I sprung for the ultra base+ cd drive and I like it. The only disadvantage is if you watch DVD movies on a plane you need the dock with ya. But if I plan to watch movies it will be burned onto my HD anyway. Do it... you won't regret it. Also, unless you use cd's in class I would def. go with the X61. My law school finally got rid of using floppy drives for exams (you read that right), and if I use a CD rom it will be for home use anyway where the ultra base is.

 

I have not owned an X series notebook, but I did get to write the review for the X61s. I did however have a T42. At the time ThinkPad DVD burners were like $300 which was about 3x as expensive as reguler burners which won't fit in a T series bay. So I bought an external laptop drive in a case. it can be kind of a pain to carry an external and hanging off the side. I guess it would depend on how much burning you think you'll do. If it's a fair amount I would get a notebook with a built in drive otherwise I think an external drive with the X61 is a good option.

 

I doubt I would be doing much, if any, burning. I think I would want the optical drive for the rare occasion that someone has a peice of software on a CD/DVD that I may want to install (away from home where I would have either a dock or USB optical drive) or has some pictures they want to show me on CD, stuff like that. But I'm asking myself, really, how often would something like that actually happen?

Kind of off topic for this thread, but what is the difference b/t the x61 and x61s?
And another off topic question: Why do the screen options change when to notebook is configured with different processors? Which is the better screen?

Mac

 

The X61 features the full-fledged Core 2 Duo. The X61s features low-voltage Core 2 Duos (more battery life).

As for the screen, I have no clue, sorry. I just know there's an ultralight (is that the term?) screen that supposedly saves some weight.

 

Is there a significant performance reduction suffered in exchange for battery life with the low-voltage Core 2 Duos as compared to the standard ones?

Mac

 

I benchmarks @8% slower but I can't remember where I saw it.
Unless you are doing real time rocket science you wont notice but carrying it around is a pleasure.

 

Thanks for the responses everyone. I kind of derailed my own thread though; does anyone else have any input on the lack of an optical drive on the x61?

Thanks,

Mac

 

If you don't want the docking station, you'll have to purchase a USB Optical Drive: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...-category-id=2478535BAB3C417CA9D77F5867D31462

That's a DVD Recordable one though.

The CD-RW/DVD-ROM is cheaper.

This is what comes with the X61s Reserve Edition: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...-category-id=2478535BAB3C417CA9D77F5867D31462

Here's a list: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...=FB36D075967A49B3AF005C369192863A&show-page=1

 

I added on the Lenovo USB 2.0 super burner when I ordered the x61. Since the prices are inflated in Canada, it cost $169 CDN (down from $269). My burner arrived, but my laptop is still MIA.

But the drive is really nice. It's small, light, and can run on just one USB 2.0 cable. It also comes with a sleek and thin carrying case, and the necessary wires. I opted for this because, I need portability and as much as I lock the dock it wasn't the most convenient for a student.

I checked prices of other slim drives, and it can't compete with adding it the Lenovo option.

 

The ultralight screen is brighter than the regular screen.

 

The Lenovo drive is overpriced. Cheaper alternatives:

Toshiba (refurb) http://www.getpartsonline.com/pa3438u-1cd2.html
Teac Reader http://www.centrix-intl.com/details.asp?productid=4851

advantage Toshiba: uses only one cable and can burn CDs.
advantage Teac: cheaper and not refurbished

 

I am in the market for a new X61 and also concerned with the lacking of an optical drive. I am convinced that I probably won't be using it much. Heck, the only times when I use an optical drive at home is to install drivers (which, of course, I can also download from the internet) and watch DVD (like I have much time to do this while I am in the classroom).

So I think I will be very happy with my X61.

Glenn

 

I wanted to originally get a x61, but not having a dvd burner turned me off. In hindsight, I wish I had gone with the x61 since it is much smaller. Also, I use my dvd player once a month at the maximum and to install software that came with cd-drivers.

I now realize I could have spent ~$50 for an external dvd burner. I would never use the burner while I am mobile. I have used it maybe 3-4 times since September and at all times, it was while I was at my desk. I am very mobile with my notebook so the decrease in size and weight would have been a tremendous help.

The other thing that turned me off the x61 initially was you couldn't get anything higher than a T7100, but that has changed now. I would also miss the touchpad since I never use the nipple

 

Unless you have a need for a DVD burner while being mobile then I see no point in turning down an X61 based on the fact it doesn't have an optical drive. External DVD burners can be purchased and assembled from places like Newegg for not a lot of money and full size 5.25" DVD burners are faster and offer higher quality burns compared to what's available in laptops.