R61 14.1 inch impression and questiona bout casing

Got my new laptop and fresh reinstalled Vista+updates, etc. Just want to say thanks for all your help and would like to contribute my experience since I received a lot of help from this forum to decide what to get.

R61 14.1 WXGA+ w/ 4cell battery is what i got.

1. I know the T61 is lighter but when I got it the R61 seems so light especially when I got the box I wonder if there's a laptop in it, so it isnt heavy at all.

2. The case material feels real "nice"-- But the "nice" material is only on the LCD Lid , not the bottom unit. The bottom one felt like plain old plastic stuff--like what you would see in a dell.

3. The 1440x1050 resolution is just right for me. I'm glad I went with the higher res.

4. 4cell battery is a good choice. The back is flush and looks nice. But I will order a 9 cell as backup for practical reasons.

I can see why T61 is a good notch up since its thinner. R61 LCD lid and the base casing is about 50% difference in size. I guess with a T61 the two pieces will look symetrical in thickness. I'm on a tight budget but I'd defintely go for the T61 14inch if I have extra bucks to spend. Not to mention it's going to be even lighter than R61.


Question--can anyone comment on their cover materials?

Is the case material standard? The top cover of LCD lid feels smooth and the bottom feels like a Dell black plastic?

 

Nice choice, I have an R61 with the same specs on the way (left Korea a bit ago). I would be interested in the answer as well!

 

i agree. i wish the bottom was made of the same material as the top. I like the matte rubbery finish of the lcd cover. I am working on a carbon fiber replacement for the lcd cover, lcd bezel, and palmrest. (not sure how it will turn out) It would be nice is the whole thing was a magnesium frame wrapped in the same material as the lcd cover. Glad you like it.

 

I think the ThinkPad's top lid finish is better than Dell's.

 

Yeah I really like the top lid material. Is that the same ones you get with 15.4 R61s? because the spec sheet has a different name ABS plastic and the one for 14.1 R61 + all T61s have polycarbonate. But isnt polycarbonate the same as ABS? I don't really undestand this.

 

I agree, Lenovo is on the top of the chain with their cases. I dealt with Compal, Clevo, Dell, Asus, and a few others and none really compare. Especially not for off the shelf brands. Sony and a few random others IMO is one of the few that can hold anything to the materials, with carbon fiber and brushed aluminum models. one of the more "classy" and durable machines ive owned.

 

No. The 15.4" R61s differ from all of the other ThinkPads in the current lineup in exactly what you have pointed out: the ABS plastic lid.

 

Just found out I got LG screen.

I don't have a webcam on it. What do you guys think of integrated webcam? Is it 1.3M video or just still caps? What framerate do you get with the integrated one?

Whats the big deal with LG vs Samsung LCD? Is there any difference?

 

How to find out what LCD screen Lenovo has used? I am a newbie

 

Go here, and enter the pertaining information into the fields. Look up the FRU of your notebook on Lenovo's site, it should be under "System Service Parts" IIRC.

Sorry, anotherday, for not answering your questions.

 

anotherday,
i am with you on the LCD controversy. so many people get torqued up on this forum about what parts they are getting and it scares people to no end after they order. i dont know what i have but i ordered the 14.1" WXGA+ and love it. all in the eyes of the beholder, if you like your screen then who cares if someone else does not. since we cant request what we get from lenovo, it looks as good as it ever will.

just looked to see what screen i have. i have the 42T0412 Samsung and have no gripes. Its bright enough when i need it and has as good of a viewing angle as any laptop at this price. if anyone is worried about what mfg screen they are getting then truth be told the samsung is absolutely fine.

 

Got my LCD FRU as 42T0438. But where to get more info..

 

My webcam is manufactured by Sonix and it does a pretty decent job. I can make videos with it as well as stills. It is 1.3 megapixels.

On Yahoo! Messenger, when I broadcast, it says it's about 2.5 frames/sec. When you open it in My Computer, it looks like maybe 20-25 frames/sec.

 

Does the intel integrated graphics work well when its hooked up to an external monitor? I think I need a bigger screen 21-22" for desktop work.