Ordered T61 today (also considered D630 and 6910p)

After almost one month of lurking around these forums, I had narrowed down my new work laptop choices to Lenovo T61, Dell D630 and HP 6910p. I finally chose to go with T61 with the following specs.

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)
Genuine Windows Vista Business
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/o Camera
Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/ 1394
4 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
100GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim
Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
4 cell Li-Ion Battery
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Thinkpad Advanced Ultrabay Battery
Intel Turbo Memory 1GB
PC Card Slot and Express Card Slot
MS Office Small Business 2007
Thinkpad Essential Port Replicator
Thinkpad 90W Combo Adapter
3-Year Next Business Day Service
Lenovo Carrying Case - Messenger (only 1.1 lb heavy)
Total for above: $3028.40

Here's the thought process I went through. My top priorities were weight, battery life and performance (for average business use). Cost wasn't a big factor.

In popular opinion, the T61 seemed to win in almost every respect except battery life over the D630 and 6910p. I don't like an extended battery sticking out the back so I decided to get an ultrabay battery and that should give me equivalent life to the standard battery on D630 and 6910p.

The off-center screen seemed bothersome but I figured that I would learn to live with it.

Didn't need the camera so left it out even though it was only $30 extra.

I also considered getting the dedicated graphics and even waiting for the T61p but the more I read about dedicated graphics the more and more it seemed to me that I wouldn't need it since I'm not into gaming, just your average business user with an occasional movie. I got conflicting reports that Vista Aero needs dedicated graphics but if it does I guess I can live without it. The upside of course would be that I can get better battery life, it'll run cooler and I would get the new laptop shipped faster.

I decided not to get the WAN option since I am quite happy with my Treo for on-the-go email and chose the Turbo memory instead. Conflicting reports about the usefulness of that too but I figured that I might as well get it (since I wasn't getting the WAN) and disable it if it is problematic.

I could have configured similar specs for the D630 and 6910p but without needing the bay battery.

Did I choose wisely? Any comments? On any of the specs or my thought process?

Iceman

 

4GB of RAM?? That's more than an "average business user" will ever need! That's a lot!

 

All three are good laptops, but why 4 GB of RAM? I prefer the lower cost and long battery life of the D630, but anyone of them should work.

 

Our IT guy said to go with 4GB of RAM since no downside, except cost which wasn't a huge factor.

Iceman

 

4GB of RAM in a laptop with integrated graphics. Oooh boy.

 

I can still change my order to 2 GB. Please let me know whether there's a downside to 4GB of RAM. Weight? Performance? Battery life?

Isn't more RAM always better? Wouldn;t the performance be better (or at least no worse) than 2GB?

 

it will be cheaper if you got it yourself instead of getting it with them.. go buy 2x2gb sticks..

 

I don't really see how the D630 is cheaper in cost. It's only cheaper in terms of base price, but the upgrades are way more expensive than Lenovo's.

 

I compared both models. The D630 is about $100-$200 less than the T61 or R61 with the same upgrades.

 

When I did the same config, the D630 came out to be way more expensive.

 

I am on the same boat ....... t61 vs d630 vs 6910p vs mbp ....

if only t61p was out......

 

will the 4GB RAM be fully recognized by Windows Vista (I am guessing Lenovo installs the 32bit version?).

Please, PLEASE let me know if there is any downside to 4GB RAM (weight, battery life, performance etc.) other than cost?

I could still change to 2GB / 2 DIMM.

Iceman

 

If cost is of no concern, then stick with the 4GB RAM.

Most people do not install 4GB because just a couple of months ago the cost was prohibitive.

 

With the T61 and other Santa Rosa based notebooks, there is no downside to having 4GB of RAM except by getting it from the PC manufacturer directly you end up paying quite a bit more for the RAM. You can currently get 4GB's of quality RAM aftermarket for $200 plus possibly shipping and tax whereas I think the OEM's still like to charge a $400-500 premium on it.

For some current deals on RAM, might want to give THIS thread a looksy. Some really good deals there and it may help to give you a ballpark for how much OEM's usually overcharge for their RAM.

 

The Intel X3100 will run the Aero Glass Interface theme just fine, correct me if I wrong guys but the GMA 950 ran the Aero Interface and the GMA 965 (x3100) is a good 2-3x faster.

Have fun, I configured a similar system and look forward to getting it.

 

You may not actually get the full use of 4 GB ram with the 32-bit version of Vista because of the limitation in virtual address space which is shared by all devices.

Here's a couple of links with more info:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html

 

ok, based on some views exchanged here, i have decided to change my T61 config as follows (see http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=131239 for the original specs):

Change Vista Business to Vista Ultimate (+$70): Mainly to get Chess, Mahjong and Inkball

Change screen to get camera (+$30): might get to use it for videophoning home when i travel (how?)

Change from 4GB RAM to 2GB/2 DIMM (-$680): seems Vista won't see more than 3GB anyway and 2GB should be enough for me. If i ever upgrade to Vista 64 then i can field upgrade to 4GB at the same time too

Change from 3-Year Depot Next Day to 3-Year Onsite Next Day Service (+$100): That was a mistake in the original config, i just made a wrong selection

good changes?

Iceman

 

There was a thread somewhere (sorry, google it) "confessions of a dell sales manager". Bottom line, you can go through home, small business, etc. and have the same configuration with nine different prices.

I just priced a D630 and came up with a price around $100 less than a, now five week old order, on a T61 with AmEx and EPP discounts for ~$1600+tax. Prior to this price, it had always been more than the T61 by $100-200. I'm waiting another week for the T61 and if it doesn't ship I'm going to order the Dell and just return the T61 when it arrives. It isn't the money, I'd rather have a TP for a number of reasons but I would have ordered a D630 if I know I'd be waiting five weeks + with no real idea when a TP will ship.

The worst part about waiting on the T61 is reading the threads where new orders are shipped out within a week.

Regards-Michael G.

 

VERY true. Not naming any names, but please, shut up! You don't help by posting in 8 different posts that it shipped. Once is more then enough!

Another little-known-fact (at least to me) about Dell's is that if you call a sales rep and configure the order on the phone with the rep, you'll get an added discount that doesn't appear anywhere online. They also send you a price quote via email so there's no need to commit.

 

I just picked up this one today:

ThinkPad T61 with Integrated Graphics - 1 Year Depot Warranty
$1,334.00

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)[1]
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium[12]
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/o Camera
Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/ 1394
2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
80GB 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]
6 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
7658: 1 Year Depot Warranty - Express[7]


Thoughts?

 

I would also add, that my sister-in-law works at Dell and I was offered the Dell employee discount of 10% but I started with a thinkpad back in 1998 and had another in 2000 and I currently work on a Dell D600. After using all three the Thinkpad is clearly a higher quality product. Specifically the keyboard.