R61 14.1" vs. T61 14.1"...virtually identical or am I missing something?

I'm placing an order for a new ThinkPad later tonight or tomorrow morning. I'm going with the R61 14.1" widescreen with discrete graphics. From the specs on the Lenovo website, the T61 identically configured is only .1" thinner (1.26" at thickest point for T61 vs. 1.37" for the R61) and weighs .2 pounds less (5.43lbs for the R61 and 5.23lbs for the T61). The R61 also has the same 128mb nVIDIA graphics card, same C2D processor options and hard drive options, so it can be configured identically to the T61.

Interestingly, the R61 also features a top-cover (display) roll cage only in the 14.1" models. The R61 15.4" doesn't get the top roll cage, although it is a feature on all T61 models (14.1" and 15.4"). Just out of familiarity, I expected to buy a 15.4" but that extra feature changed my mind to the 14.1".

Except for the available integrated Wireless WAN option exclusive to the T61 and the negligible dimensional differences between the two, are the R61 and T61 basically the same? That's how it looks to me from all the information and reviews I've seen during my research on both models.

In addition to the current 25% off sale, there's a coupon for 10% off T-series and 15% off of R-series. The final result is the R61 14.1" is $110.02 less than the T61 14.1" (same specs).

 

I ordered one earlier today.

Good deal.


The key is Widescreen. The Widescreens are the ones that are almost the same.

 

The T series has a better build than the R series.

 

Can you quantify that at all (as in what specifically is better about the way it's built? Better materials?)

 

Also I may be wrong but isnt the T series slightly smaller, and around a pound lighter?

 

The differences are very small for the 14.1" versions-
R61- 5.43 pounds and 1.37" thick at thickest point
T61- 5.23 pounds and 1.26" thick at thickest point

I seem to remember that the 15.4" models had more substantial differences between the R- and T- series (with the T- being lighter and/or more compact)....if I wasn't so sleepy (okay, lazy) I'd look it up now....maybe tomorrow.

 

From Lenovo blogs:

Source: http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=80

 

SWEET! I love finding a "sleeper" deal like this. A few years back, I wouldn't have put nearly this much time and energy into figuring something like this out, though....I blame Clark Howard!

 

Bah…the other way around on the 14.

 

That's incorrect, at least for the 14" models which offer virtually the same construction. The R is as noted a little heavier and thicker, but is otherwise the same. The T series offer WWAN and better GPUs amongst other things which set it apart from the T. The 15" R does lack the roll cage in the lid which may be of some concern to users who need the extra durability.

 

Rs have Ultrabay while Ts "only" Ultrabay Slim.

 

Actually, the R61 has Ultrabay Enhanced, which supports Blu-ray, unlike the Ultrabay Slim which does not.

 

Does anyone know until when the 25% sale is going to last?

I was also debating between the T/R 61 14" - but looks like the R61 would be a better deal

 

The current deal is set to expire tomorrow, but there'll be another deal along not too long after if history is any indicator.