Should I keep the Z60m I ordered or go for a T43?

PENTIUM M 750 1.86 GHZ - 15.4" TFT WSXGA+
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Free 512MB Additional Memory, Customer Installed
256 MB (1 NonParity DDR2 SDRAM SoDIMM PC2-4200)
128MB ATI Mobility RADEON X600
40GB 5400 rpm SATA Hard Drive
ThinkPad 24x/24x/24x/8x Combo Ultrabay Enhanced Drive
11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter II + bluetooth
ThinkPad Z60m Series 6 Cell Li-Ion Battery
THINKPLUS EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT - 4 YEARS

Cost- $1484.35 with tax-1573.42

I have this one ordered but this wait is killing me and I came across this system which looks apealing

ThinkPad T43
Intel Pentium M Processor 750 (1.86GHz, 2MB L2, 533MHz FSB
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
14.1 inch SXGA+ (1400x1050) TFT (Standard)
256 MB (1 NonParity DDR2 SDRAM SoDIMM PC4200)
64MB ATI Mobility Radeon X300
40GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
ThinkPad CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo II Ultrabay Slim Drive
11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter II
3 year depot repair warrenty
$1,510.60

It will cost a little more and I will have to add more memory but I like that it will be smaller and lighter. Size and weight are not an issue for me but it is nice to have small. I am use to standard screen so wide screen is also not a big deal but would be nice for writing papers.

Down sides
- Will have to add more memory
- No bluetooth but probably could live with out
- one year less warrenty but probably not a huge deal since the model seems reliable
- 64mb X300 memory card rather then 128mb X600
- Costs a few $ more

My biggest question is would this T43 out last the Z60m I ordered? Second- The ONLY game I play is Sim City 4 and my last laptop had a 32mb intergrated card so the X300 will be a huge upgrade but will the X600 be all that much better? The only reason I did not purchase this model was because I did not realize I could get a T43 with an SXGA+ display.

 

:::

For Me, Z60t or T43 w/ Video Card is the way to go!
Z60m is too huge for my taste!

:::

 

Long term use might be a bit of an issue with the T43, as you are locked into buying only IBM harddrives for it because of the SATA>PATA bridge.

 

The problem with the Z60t is there is not a dedicated video card option and I really want an sxga display. My last notebook had a uxga display and I loved it.

 

That Z60m you have looks mighty good with the Radeon X600 and the WSXGA+ display. IMO, you should stop worrying and considering whether you should have bought this or that, and just be happy.

Z60t, imo, should only be considered by those who MUST have widescreen and MUST have a very light and portable laptop. Otherwise it's just not worth it - expensive, crappy graphics, arguable quality of display, occasional complaints on build quality.

A 14" T42/T43 is great for portability, but you said it's not an issue, so I see no real reasons to dump that Z60m. It should be just as rugged and as durable. Kinda like the R-series with better multimedia options.

 

I spent quite a bit of time checking out the Z60t at two Office Depot stores and I don't understand the comments about display quality and build quality. I haven't seen the Z60m yet, but the display on the Z60t looks as good as any of the other ThinkPad models I've used/seen, including the T43 on display next to it. In some ways, I also thought it was better built than the T43. The body feels just as solid but the screen has less flex due to the Ti lid, and it seems to run very cool and quiet. Granted, the GPU sucks so gamers need not apply, but speaking as a traveler I'd rather have integrated graphics than sacrifice battery life and suffer the extra heat generated by a dedicated GPU. To me, the biggest problem with the Z60t is the 2 month wait to get one.

I'd like to see one of the Z60m models with the 1680x1050 screen just to compare. I've yet to see any WSXGA/WXGA+ screen in person that's under 17", but I think the 1400x1050 15" screen in the T series has just about the perfect dot pitch, so I suspect the 1680x1050 15.4" screen would be nice too. What I don't understand is why anybody would want a Z60m with the standard WXGA screen - that just seems wasteful to me unless you have really bad eyes.

 

I haven't seen one myself, so I'm basing it on reviews and opinions I've read. Seemed to me that there was some hit-n-miss with this particular model... Kinda like T43 and the fan noise. Some might be perfect, but some might be annoying.

Some of the WXGA come with MaxBright, which isn't available on WSXGA+. Not that I know anything on the quality of that panel, I've yet to have anyone owning it testify about it.