T60 vs. Z61T Which one to buy?

Hey guys...I do not own a notebook, but need to get one for portability, library, school papers, and writing in general. I love the looks and kb rep of IBM and have narrowed my search down to either a new Sony C series 13.3 with the T7200, 2 gig or the Lenovo T60 with T7200, 2 gig or the Z61T with T7200, 2 gig. Because of the incentives that Lenovo is currently offering the T60 w/128 graphics card is cheaper than the comparable Z61T (which surprisingly doesn't offer a vid card). The Z61 offers camera and multi-card reader, but less display resolution and no graphics card option. I am so confused! What are the pluses and minuses of each one...thanks!

Cory

P.S. I know there was some dicussuion a while back somewhat similiar to this but with the new Duo 2's I was wondering what you thought.

 

I got a good deal on a Z60t recently. It was one of the sturdiest feeling notebooks that I have ever handled. Amazing.

But the one I got was too weak and slow to keep (P-M 740 - hence the cheap price) so I took it back.

The workstation version of the Z60t is in my opinion the most desirable notebook in the world - but it is expensive. It is the only one that gives you the video card option (FireGL).

The T60 is amazing too, but is more busienss focused and less fun.

Either would get my dollars before the Sony.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. What is the difference between the T60 and the
Z60T? I did not see that one on Lenovo's website.

 

The Z60t is the older version of the Z61t, I would just look for the new one. Their contruction is the same, but the guts are different.The Z60/61t have the 14" widescreen. They are tiny awesome little notebooks.

When you handle one of these you will instantly understand. They feel like they were forged by Zeus. I bet you could chop a Vaio in half with a z61t and do minimal damage to the ThinkPad. That might be an exageration, but they are solid.

I was trying to find the pro version of the Z61t and I may have got my facts wrong - I may have been thinking of the the 15.4" screen Z61p (similar to the Z61m). I have not owned one of those.

 

The z60t is the predecessor to the z61t. THe z61t actually has more features and is also more powerful. It all depends on what you want to use your notebook for. For general tasks, both notebooks will do great but if you are into gaming at all, I would probably suggest the T60. I do like widescreen notebooks better than standard ones though, just a thought.

 

I did not really answer your question:

If gaming is not a high priority, get the Z61t. It is better than the Vaio.

If you are going to play games, take a good hard look at the T60. That is the industry standard workhorse that is most prevalent in Fortune 500 workforces. Few people have ever regretted buying a T-series.

 

Thanks! Gaming is not a high priority for me; I do a lot of writing and research, as well as photoshop CS2. I am surprised that the Z61T, which they push as a multimedia notebook, does not offer a vid card option, but the 60T, the business model, does? I do like the "look" of the wide screens, but since the 60T was actually cheaper even w/128 vid card, because of the special upgrades, I thought I would lean towards that one. I do like the multimedia card and built-in webcam on the Z61T, but do not find that a deal breaker. I have never touched a Thinkpad, but you and many others have said how well they are built.
ALSO...do you know anybody that has purchased one recently? I read a few people’s posts who said it took MONTHS after they order it from Lenovo to receive it! Once I make the decision, I WANT it, ha!

 

The graphics card will have no effect on Photoshop unless you are doing very high end stuff nor will it effect DVD viewing.