R61 vs. R61i

Could someone please elaborate on the differences between R61 and R61i ?

Is the R61i really a bargain for moderate business users?

 

I have heard of R61 but not about the R61i variant.

Generally, the "R" series is the mainstream ThinkPad.
The "T" series is overall better as it is the performance ThinkPad.
While the "X" series is the ultra-portable ThinkPad; which includes tablet models.

Most, if not all, of us in this forum will encourage you to get the "T" series.

Of course, ultimately only you can decide on which way to go. Whichever it is, it is still a ThinkPad ultimately.


rgds,
Benjamin Chin
16 Oct 07

 

Both the T61 and R61 can be configured exactly the same and the difference between those two has been discussed at length. However, where the similarities between the two don't overlap - you can get more professional stuff with the T61p and more general purpose stuff with the R61i.

Last time I looked, the only real difference was that the R61i had s-video, is available with glossy screen, and offered core duo processors.

It doesn't seem to make sense to buy the R61i CTO because you can do much better for only about $100 more, but I have a feeling it exists for some other reason.

 

7755 CTO R61i

39T6442 SBB COUNTRY PACK NORTH AMERICA
41W2060 VBB 1GB PC2-5300 667MHZ 1DIMM
42V8010 VBB MS WIN VISTA BUSINESS
42V8177 SBB INT.WIRE.WIFI/LINK4965AGN
42V8195 SBB KEYBOARD US ENGLISH
42V8708 SBB 80GB HDD,5400RPM
42V8718 SBB DVDREC.8XMAXDUAL L.ULT.ENH
42V9338 SBB 6 CELL LI-ION BATERRY
42W7033 SBB ULTRANAV(TRCKP+TOUCHP) +FINGR
42W7087 SBB LP,US ENGLISH
42W7229 SBB MSWIN VISTABUS.32 US ENG
42X0932 SBB NVIDIA QUADRO NVS 140M MEDIACARD
42X1671 SBB 14.1"WXGA+TFT,W/CAMERA
42X2726 SBB INTEL2DUO PROCESSOR T5470 1.6
62P6054 VBB INTEGR.BLUETOOTH PAN


LCD Fru: 42T0426 42T0427 (PC wizard 2008 shows LP141WP1-TLB8)--> LG Philips.

Keyboard Fru: 42T3109 42T3143--> "NMB"

I saved about $150 by choosing T5470 1.6 over T7100 1.8
Sometimes, T5470 shows as overclock as T7100 1.8 ,or L7500 1.6

Except without "IBM" logo (7755 CTO), other than that I am quite satisfied .

 

I'm also at a loss as to what the real difference between the R61, and the R61i is, apart from the -i variant having a cpu in the T5xxx while the non-i variant being T7xxx I can't find any.

I recently had to replace my R61 (8918-5qg), and chose a similarly specced machine (8918-DNG), which was an R61i. Apart from the cpu (which is replacable!), I fail to find a difference. Maybe one of the advertisement-stickers? (the ones that make your left palm sweat when using the machine).

I've read someone saying the -i doesn't have s-video. Mine has.
I've read someone saying the -i doesn't have the scratchpad. Mine has. Wish it hadn't. One more thing to disable.
Fingerprint? TPM? Nvidia chipset? DVD-RW-DL? SD-Reader? Expresscard? All there.

And given that the main model number, 8918, is identical, these machines SHOULD be this similar. And before you ask, the original ram, hdd, and OS is sitting nicely in an antistatic bag, and I've upgraded it with 2x2gb + 250gb + x64 os. Works better for Lightroom that way.

As for the screen, according to my spyder3 calibration, the screens seem identical. Same gamut. The -i variant may even be a tad better.

//Svein

p.s. If anybody know any real difference between the R61i and R61 that is based on comparing similar models, I wish to know.

 

I think basically a R61i is the same as the R61 but is configured with low-end processors. It reminds me kinda of the old A series, there were some models labeled as A21e, A22e, those lacked the S-Video port and had Celeron processors instead of PIII available on A22p for example.