Questions About This ThinkPad Order.

ThinkPad T61

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)
Genuine Windows XP Professional
14.1 WXGA TFT, w/ Camera
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M (128MB)
2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
60GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
DVD-ROM 8x Max, Ultrabay Slim
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ
7 cell Li-Ion Battery
7662: 1 Year Depot Warranty - Express
+
ThinkPlus USB Optical Wheel Mouse

Estimated Total: $ 1,172.46

I am 99.9% sure about ordering this. I have literally spent weeks researching the T61's and I have a few questions for the more experienced T61 users/receivers.

1. About the Intel processor, what are the chances that I'll get one that makes that whining noise that people are complaining about? I really hope I don't get that.
2. About the WXGA screen, what are the chances that I'll get a good quality (LG?) screen?
3. How much battery life should I expect with Wi-Fi on?
4. If I were to order this Friday night, how long should I expect to wait until this arrives at my house? (considering the wxga screen and all)

*I assume it's probably random that I'll get good manufacturers for my build but I just thought it would help a lot of I had a community opinion. Thanks everyone.

 

My opinion:

1. I think they all whine. Mine whined until I installed the nVidia bioshock drivers, now it is quiet as a mouse it seems.
2. I don't think anyone can tell you for sure, seems like 50/50 or close too it, just like keyboards, there is 3 different keyboard and people get what they get at random sometimes, I haven't been able to figure out any rhyme or reason to it.
3. I'd guess 2:30-3:30 hours depending on energy settings, brightness, ect.
4. noooo idea.

My advice is to only order 1 gig of ram and then order another though the RAM DEALS thread and stick that one in yourself, won't void your warranty and its very simple. Will save you some $$.

 

I agree with what braddd said on 3. I don't know 2 or 4.

As for 1, I think the whining is on most laptops with Core 2 Duos. I think it has to do with the different sleep states for conserving battery life.

It really comes down to how much it bothers the user. Some people will go nuts over it, other won't care.

 

Thank you about the RAM DEAL. It really helps with my budget. I'm disappointed that all T61's whine like that, I guess I'll just install the driver like you did.

Thank you very much for your answers. That battery life is adequate for my needs.

Can anyone else answer any of these questions for me? Thanks.

 

Not all T61’s have the CPU whine – search the forum, plenty of people say they don’t have that problem. After going through two HP’s with the noise, I know how irritating it is and was a major concern for me.

I Heard Lenovo is willing to change the motherboard if there is a CPU whine (correct me if I’m wrong anyone), so that might ease your decision. HP wasn’t willing to do that for me. Sucks, but at least you’d have an option if you had that kind of problem.

No CPU whine on my R61 (Core 2 Duo T5470 1.6GHz) if that’s any help.

 

That's great news if I'm able to send it back for them to replace. Thanks. I actually considered the R61 as it was $100 less with the same configurations but I eventually chose the T61 because I'm mobile a lot. I feel like I'm taking risk, purchasing the T61 with all the uncertainty of the screens and keyboards and all.

 

I hear the CPU whine from time to time. It has to be very very quiet before I can hear it. Even then it seems random. Most of the time I hear nothing but every once in awhile I can hear what sounds like a fax machine signal only higher pitch and scratchier. I can see how it would be annoying if it where all the time, but no big deal since I rarely hear it.

 

I keep reading about the whine and I see a lot of mixed opinions on it. Personally, from what I've read, I don't think it'll bother me as much because it seems to only be really noticeable in a very quiet environment. I think I'm going to go ahead and order this tomorrow morning and will definitely report back to you guys, maybe I'll even write a review. Let's just hope it doesn't come with too much bloatware.

 

It does, but that's what my guide is for... link in my sig If you don't do a clean install, you'll be missing out on a considerable performance gain.

These Thinkpads are very reasonably priced... bloatware is one of the reasons.

 

So do I follow your guide except with an XP Pro installation disc? And about the ThinkAdvantage utility, when I get rid of it does that blue button become obsolete? ThinkAdvantage doesn't provide anything extra? I read somewhere that without ThinkAdvantage, you can't use that Shock System with the Hard Drive, True?

 

Well first of all ThinkVantage isn't "A" utility. They are multiple utilities. You can find a list of them and there function here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2407893#post2407893

You can pick and choose what Thinkvantage utilities you want. for instance on my T61 the only Thinkvantage utlitiy I have is the Fingerprint utility. The fingerprint utility is probably the ONLY utility the you must have (if you have the fingerprint reader) otherwise the fingerprint reader wouldn't function.

As I have recommended in my guide, I think it is a good idea to avoid all of the thinkvantage utilities for awhile after installation. After you are accustomed to the performance and stability of your system then choose only the Thinkvantage utilities that you beleive you can't live without. Even then just install about one utility per week. That way if one of them causes instability or sluggish performance you will be able to isolate the problem utility and remove it.

Sure the "air-bag"/active protection system sounds nice, but it's only useful if you drop your laptop while powered on. While is no doubt provideds some protection. I suspect your screwed if you drop your laptop with or without the utility. It is software not an actually "airbag". All it does is power off the hard drive in the event that the built-in sensor senses the laptop is flling or jarred around.

Blue thinkvantage button? please read the freq asked ques in my guide.

XP? My guide is for Vista, but some of the same rules apply. There are a few XP guides floating around in the Lenovo thread. Do a search. I haven't looked at them very close. I'm really happy with Vista Ultimate 64-bit.

Good Luck

 

^^^ ^^^

 

The OP talks about the 14.1 WXGA TFT, which to my knowledge does have firewire.

As for media card readers - I'm using a USB reader from radio shack, cost $15.

OP - I noticed today, on the main lenovo site, that there's a 10% off link at the top right of the page (the cart page, as far as I recall), expiring Sept 9. You need to click apply discount for the savings to accrue to your order.

 

That's good to know that there is firewire. Thanks.

I didn't see any offer for %10 off?

Also, does anyone know what the base warranty cover, how long does it cover for, and how long I can use tech support for?

 

Ok, I just placed the order. I'll update about the whole process. Thanks everyone.

OK, I just ordered a ThinkPad T61 an hour ago. Here's the specs:

Ordered: 9/7/07 ESD: 09/26/07 $1,220.75

42V8190 SBB INTEL CORE 2 DUO PRCESST7300
46P4166 VBB MICROSOFT WINXP PROFESSION
42V9437 SBB MSWIN XP PROF US ENGLISH
42X0906 SBB NVIDIA QUADRO NVS 140M MEDIACARD
41W2063 VBB 2GB PC2-5300 667MHZ 2DIMM
42V8195 SBB KEYBOARD US ENGLISH
42V9329 SBB UN(TRACKPOINT+TCHPD)
42V8704 SBB 60 GB HDD,7200RPM
42V8713 SBB DVD ROM8XMAX,UBAYSLIM
42X0805 VBB PC CARDSLOT EX CARDSLOT
41W1685 SBB 11ABGWIFI WL LAN USEULAANZ
42V9339 SBB 7 CELL LI-ION BATERRY
39T6442 SBB COUNTRY PACK NORTH AMERICA
27R1769 SBB PSTN CABLE
42V9354 SBB LANG. PACK US ENGLISH

1 06P4069 LENOVO THINKPLUS USB OPTICAL WHEEL MOUSE - MOUSE
ESD: 09/26/07 $12.75

Subtotal: $ 1,172.46
Shipping and handling: $ 0.00
Estimated tax: $ 61.68
[USXGENERIC] -$ 61.04
Savings: -$ 447.54
Estimated total: $ 1,234.14

Should I expect my order to come pretty soon? I hope so. The screen is 14.1 WXGA TFT, w/ Camera.

Also, that is the total at checkout, the total on the email that they sent me is $1,295.18. I guess they didn't include the coupon??

What do I do??

 

ltb131,

Re the 10% off, there was a small dialog box advertising the discount on the cart page. You had to click the apply discount link in order to activate. Possibly, it was not stackable, as I notice you've already used a coupon with your order. Congrats on your purchase, btw.

Warranty: The base/standard is one year. Covers all but accidental damage, as far as I'm aware. Though the battery is only ever covered for one year, regardless of the nature of your warranty.

Tech support - no idea.

Shipping. If you're lucky, it'll ship inside the week. If you're not, well, lets not go there...

Email & no coupon - hmmm, not sure about that, but personally, I would telephone to find out what happened.

 

Thanks for all the answers.

Can anyone else comment on how long I can use tech support with the base warranty?