R61 questions

i was about to order today finally after few days of research and right before i order i wanted to know if it comes with a SD card reader.. on the T61 i see the option but on the R61 i dont see any option.. im lookin at the 15.4" widescreen one.. am i missing something??? I need to be able to read SD cards..

Thanks in advance..

Dave

 

I have a 14.1" R61, which I got about a month ago and I spec'ed it with a media card reader, along with the built-in PC card. I assume this is also available with the 15.4" versions (which use a different chassis), so you'll want to check to be sure. If so, the media card reader is an SD card reader so I think it's got what you want.

 

Yes, it comes with a Ricoh R61 4 in 1 reader that handles SD cards just fine. I used mine a few minutes ago actually. I have the 15.4" model, btw.

 

drjohn.. thanks for the reply.. im going back and forth trying to decide.. i have the R61 with the following specs in my cart.. but i dont see anywhere to add a media card reader..

ThinkPad R61 - 1 Year Depot Warranty

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T8100 (2.1GHz 800MHz 3MBL2)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic
15.4" WXGA,BT
Intel GMA X3100, GM965, 1394, S-Video, PC Card/PCIe
1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
80 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
DVD Recordable 8x Max Ultrabay Enhanced
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
6 cell Li-Ion Battery ( 2.4 Ah )
8932: 1Year Express Warranty


when i went and added a 14" r61.. it gives me the option to add pc card and media reader.. i dont understand it.. when i configure a 15.4" r61 with the same specs.. i dont even get the choice on system expansion slots... hmm

 

when you spec'd yours out did it give you the choice or did it automatically come with the ricoh 4 in 1 reader? im so ready to order.. this is just confusing me.. is the reader on the left side or on the front.? any pics?

now this is weird.. if i check the details.. the 14" r61 i added the media reader it doesnt even show it in details.. it looks exactly like the 15.4" one w/o it.. hmm

 

Hmm, its not listed anymore on the 15.4" R61 (Note, not the i or e). So I wonder if its included? It used to be in my list when i ordered, but the old santa rosa proc's were listed before too, and those are no longer, so I don't know. I checked the R61, R61e, and i and its not listed on any. So I guess I am not 100% sure. I would call them on this one...

 

stebesplace.. what version of the screen did you get? i checked the resolutions.. i think 15.4" WXGA will be fine for what i want to use it for.. im not doing any spread sheets or anything.. just mainly internet/divx movies/quickbooks..

 

mmm, I got the larger resolution because I do web design and wanted the better realestate. For me, if I was getting the 15" I wanted good resolution, if the 14", I would prefer the lower resolution. I guess if you don't need a lot of pixel estate, then go with the WXGA+.

 

Media card readers are 10 bucks.. I really wouldn't worry about it either way.

 

besides SD, what else does it read?

 

i think the card reader is automatically included on the 15.4" model. is that what the smart card option is? the wording has confused me.

 

I’m always amazed how bad the information is presented on the Lenovo website – there isn’t one page that says what exactly is included in each model. The pictures are all mixed up and confuse things further. The amount and quality of documentation from IBM and Lenovo is excellent, but the average person is forced to dig way too deep just to get basic information like this.

I think the Tabook reference page is the best place to look at specifications. Looking at 15.4” R61’s, it seems like only the R61 has a built-in card reader while the R61i and R61e don’t. I’d call to make sure.

 

No SD card in my wife's R. She got it 2 days ago. It's not a big deal. I have a SDHC USB card reader that I bought for $8 last year and it works fine.


My T61p did come with a SDHC card reader built in.

 

is it a 14" or 15" cause the r61 15" has a card reader up front.. the tech i called at lenovo said the r61i and r61e may/may not have the reader but the r61 does.. the r61 14" doesnt automatically come with one.. you have to select the pc card with media reader.. i called lenovo to confirm before mine shipped

 

Since I'm stalking SonDa, I know that his is a 14" so basically he just didn't bother selecting the card reader instead of the default ExpressCard/PCMCIA combo slot. Seems like the 15.4" R's got really screwed since they're lacking the magnesium alloy rollcage on the screen and the option to have a card reader standard with all configurations.

 

yah thats one thing i think suxs about the r61 15.4".. the lack of the lcd roll cage.. but it does have the magnesium in the bottom.. this first r61 i ordered i think will become my wife's laptop and i will order a 14" r61 when i can save up the $$ again.. if i had to do it all over.. i prob would of went with a 14" in the first place.. but the 15.4" is still cool.. my wife uses it everyday.. and ive used it at work to test wifi and it works great..