T60(p) or Z61t? (graphics, screen res, weight)

I'm buying a PC for business/home use and it's my first foray into the Thinkpad family. Have used both Gateway and Dell notebooks and have been content but not totally pleased with their build quailty and customer support. My primary uses would be software development (VIsual Studio.NET), general office productivity(word, excel), DVD viewing, and some general video editing/DVD-burning. I want to stay around 5 pounds as I'd be traveling with it pretty frequently.

Some questions:
1 - If the T60...T60 or T60p? Not sure which features other than graphics change across the models. What graphics adapter would best serve my purpose?

2 - Is the Z61t really lighter than the T60 series? Even with the bigger screen? Which one feels "more sturdy" (both being thinkpads, probably a silly question)?

3 - I'd get SXGA+ with a T60 and WXGA+ with the Z61t. I know I'd lose some vertical resolution in the wide screen. Any thoughts on those resolutions?

4 - The T60 line is the tried and true Thinkpad standard, how does the Z61 hold up overall?

These are just some starter questions, I'm sure I'll have more as I narrow down my search. Any other relevant suggestions...feel free to pass them along. Thanks.

-Dave

 

Intel 950 card is probably best if you don't game. The dedicated card costs more and lowers battery life.

I think it is lighter though I did not have them side by side. If anything the Z is more stiff than the T.

I personally find the 1050 of SXGA to be more usefu.

The are both very sturdy notebooks.

 

ZaZ, thanks for the quick reply.

I guess at this point, my main decision is looking like a tradeoff between overall screen resolution (T60 SXGA) vs weight (Z61t WXGA+). The widescreen will be really nice for programming, spreadhseets, etc. But the extra vertical (1050 vs 900) will be helpful for most other general PC uses. Decisions, decisions...

For importing miniDV footage, doing basic edits, and burning to DVD...will the integrated Intel 950 on the Z61t be sufficient? Any idea if Lenov will expand the Graphics options for the Z61t?

 

For DVD viewing, obvously, a widescreen would be nice. On the other hand, I develop applications aswell and having a very high resolution is extremely useful. Despite Zaz's expert opinion , I would think that the T series is superior in terms of build quality.


Good Luck,
Matt

 

Why would the T series be superior in build quality to the Z series? Judging from the Z61m that i have and the reviews I've looked at for the T60 i don't see how there could be much difference between the two in build quality. Would love to hear what is better about the T series though if there is a difference.

 

burningrave, I'd love the z61m, but want to stick with the 14.1" screen for overall size/weight reasons. But, I'm glad to see you're positive on the overall z series.

Another question for the thread...how do the screens compare for the models I'm looking at....viewing angle, brightness, etc...

 

They are both well built notebooks. The Z's chasis is more rigid in my opinon and I have seen them both.

 

I would have to agree with this as well when even comparing the 15" models. The z series just has an overall stiffer feel to it being a bit larger, and having a large "frame" inside of it.

 

How do the screen compare? Since I'm looking athte 14" ones, I think I can't get FlexView or IPS or any of that, right? So, how do the base screens differ between the Z61t and the T60?

 

similar but the z61t is brighter i think (a few more nits).
Then again, the quality may depend on the LCD supplier for the particular unit you get... the supplier is beyond your control. I got lucky as mine is the samsung LCD (and the NMD keyboard)

 

Dave...did you make your decision yet? I am still torn between the T60 14" or the Z61T 14" and I want to order TODAY, ha! I guess I am still concerned about:
1) the screen on the T60 and
2) if the Z61T is built as well as the T60 (which many here say it is, and I respect their opinions) and
3) The fact that there is no video card option in the Z61T.
...so it comes down to the clearness and clarity of the T60 14" AND how well Vista Aero will run an a Intel chip rather than a dedicated graphics card.

 

Well, Lenovo says the T60 is "Vista Premium Ready". [ link]

This means that it is capable of smoothly running Windows Aero. From the Lenovo website:

Matt

 

I would go with the T60 14" and an ATI X1400 simply because the Intel GMA 950 is not very powerful. I've seen some users state that it will run Vista w/ Aero and others say that it doesn't run it very well at all compared to a dedicated graphics card. The build quality should be the same between the Z61t and T60.

 

Thanks burning...I ended up ordering today (see below). I wouldn't mind the widescreen, but I work on a 4:3 and don't mind it at all. I also don't see me watching DVD's on it either, that's why I got a LCD widescreen TV. I use it for working...graduate research, writing, emailing, web surfing, etc. I just can't wait for it to get here!

 

Congrats on the purchase Cory. I'm still on the fence but leaning towards the Z61t b/c of the firewire connection. I really don't want to have to get a PC card so I can import and edit videos. (But then again, I can only get GMA video in the Z61t and that may limit the video editing power anyway...so it's a toss-up.)

If I went for the T60, I'd probably end up with the exact same config as you although maybe get the X1300 and save a few bucks. Not sure if it'd be worth it.

QUESTION....Does anyone know if there's any signficant power savings (i.e. battery life differences) among the GMA - X1300 - X1400?

QUESTION...Are there any specs on viewing angles (horiz and vert) for the the 14.1" T60 and Z61t?