R vs T series

hey guys, i was wondering, there was a huge difference between the T and R series?

 

I would say no. The T is a bit thinner and lighter and has a few higher end options like WWAN and workstation cards, but that about it. Construction wise they are the same.

 

IMO, my girlfriends R60 feels more solidly built than my T61. There is definitely more chassis flex on the T61, but that might just be because it's thinner. The R60 is also heavier. I've never seen a T60, so I can't compare to that.

I've also heard that the 60 series of laptop was the last to be designed by IBM, and the 61 series is the first to be designed exclusively by Lenovo. I don't know if this is true though...

 

The reason for difference is the cd/dvd bay. The T series has a thin version and the R series has a regular version. Adjust the case dimensions according to this scale factor.

 

The T61 14W & R61 14W are the same overall design, but the R61 is thicker due to the 12.7mm optical.

The 15W models have more differences I think though.

 

I here it everywhere that there is no big difference between the R and T, but why is there such a difference between popularity? Look at how many threads concern the T series, and how about the R? Only now and then I see a thread asking about the R.

When the R rolled out, I thought it would be a big hit and steal some glory from its brother T61. But even though it received quite a bit of praise from reviewers, people just don't seem to care very much.

Ordered my thinkpad, and guess what, it's an R61

 

Until I got my T61, I had never seen a T series. I'm in Ontario, and the R60 seems to be the most popular rig for schools to offer students. That's why I got a thinkpad - I see how horribly my friends treat their R60s (sandwiched in a backpack between heavy books and other junk) but they just don't seem to break. One girl I know carries her R60 around fully opened, using the top bezel of her screen as a "handle" But even this kind of abuse won't break the all mighty thinkpad

 

WTF?! Who the hell walks around with an open laptop carrying it by the screen bezel? It's not a dolly!

 

LOL you be suprised I have seen a few people do this

 

I've done this with every Thinkpad I own. When you're in a classroom/lab/student union and have only 1 free hand to move your machine, it's easier to do that than either grip the screen with a thumb, possibly cracking it, or to do the table shuffle trying to grab a corner. I've done it on my T40(14.1"), T60(14.1" 4:3) and T60p(15" 4:3) and never had a problem. It is simple convenience and build quality.

 

The 15" R doesn't have the roll cage but does have a webcam option. Kind of sucks cause I want both....

 

Under same config, (weight aside):

ThinkPad T61 15 Widescreen US$967
ThinkPad R61 15 Widescreen US$814
ThinkPad R61 14 Widescreen US$835

The question is, do I pay US$150+ for a roll cage, is it really needed?

 

Answer: No. The R61 is solidly built, and will handle more stress than most other business/consumer notebooks.

The reason why I purchased the T61 as opposed to the R61 was for the Ultrabay Slim drive, which is cross-compatible with the notebook my father has.

 

I have a r61 14" widescreen, and basically everyhting that apply to the t61 apply also for the r61. it has been said many times here:

14" t61 = 14" r61 except that the t61 is a bit slimmer
15" t61 <> 15" r61, t61 is slimmer , roll cage, card reader, etc... but not so different

r61 is always cheaper.

hope it helps

 

i didnt know the 14 inch r61s have a roll cage... im glad i got the 14 inch rather than the 15 now

 

What about the surface of the T61-is it made of magnesium? Or is it made of plastic like the R61?With the previous Thinkpads that has been one of the biggest differences between the T and the R series.I read very contraindicative info in the different reviews-some state that the T61 has magnesium outer body and other-that is is all plastic.In the Lenovo's site they just mention that thay have replaced the metal lid cover with the plastic one for a better WWAN.But thiey don't mention about the rest of the outer body.