T61 & Macbook Pro

Anyone come from a Macbook Pro to a T61, or vice versa? If so, I'd be interested in any comments!

 

I plan to move to a MacBook Pro after playing with ones family members have. The only thing I can't seem to get used to is the crappier keyboard, and all the shortcuts are [APPLE]+key, oppose to [Ctrl]+key. I can live with one mouse button. I would miss the trackpoint.

 

What's your goal?

 

The Macbook has a much better GPU than a T61, so they are not comparable. The T61P GPU is slightly faster. The T61P has a higher resolution screen. I think a Macbook may be lighter than a T61P depending on which battery you choose.

It was a tough choice for me, but the T61P being $800 less did influence my decision.

 

The biggest difference is running OS-X versus running Windows. OS-X is widely considered to be more user friendly. Software is not portable, so consider carefully what would be involved for you to switch.

 

I have both I use them for diffrent things. The Mac I use for graphic design and video editing the T61 I use for everything else. They both have there pros and cons.

 

If you plan to run Windows, than ThinkPad is definitely a better laptop than Macbook pro, but if you want the advantage of Mac OS X than buy a macbook.

I used to use mac for about 3 years, and really enjoy it, but had to switch to windows due to work.

 

With the Macbook Pro you can run both OS though, right?

Aside from the OS and software standpoint, how about the physical size/weight and overall design and quality of components?

 

Technically you can run Mac OS X on a T61 :cough: don't know why you'd want to :cough: but Ive use both for extended periods and build quality wise they are comparable, the Macbook isn't quite as reliable hardware wise (LB failures) but the Macbook has a similar solid feel to it.

 

Nope, the Macbook doesn't have much GPU power at all (13.3'' c'mon...). The Thinkpad T61p with Quadro 570m is FAR more powerful than the Macbook, and has the same GPU power as the Macbook Pro. Of course the Macbook is lighter, it's 13.3'', no matter what battery the Thinkpad has.
One notion is that the Macbook Pro runs REALLY hot, if that matters to you.
And of course they are not comparable, the Macbook is cheap crappy plastic and far more inferior.

 

MBP need more TLC as compared to a ThinkPad.

When I was in school, all the graphic design students used MAC's that were provided in the class, but then they would go home to their PC and do their homework in their Adobe for PC suite. I don't remember any of them touting one over the other; as long as they had the apps and some computer to use.

 

Well, the MacBook Pro and Thinkpad T61 certainly are almost completely opposite notebooks...

It would depend on what you're using this notebook for, and what qualities you look for. Do you value build quality, or sleek design? How about weight, or keyboard/trackpad style? Price, OS, screen quality?

These are all questions that are important to ask when you're deciding between the two. The Thinkpad is better built than the MacBook Pro, but the MacBook Pro is generally perceived to have a sleeker design. The MacBook Pro is lighter than the Thinkpad T61, but most prefer the Thinkpad keyboard. Preferences between a trackpad and trackpoint are 50-50 usually.

What are you going to be using this notebook for? Are you using it at a construction site, or in a design studio (just examples)? Of course, both notebooks work in both situations, but the general "image" sometimes is important too...in a design studio, where most people use a Mac, using a Thinkpad and Windows may not help you "fit in" with the rest of the team. Of course, this does not have to matter too much, but for some this is important so I noted it as well.

Of course, the operating system is important again. Are you using software that is only available on Windows? Do you prefer or want to use Mac OS X?

Hope this helps you decide a bit, when you ask yourself these questions .

 

The only major differences between the Macbook Pro and a similarly configured T61p are:

The Macbook is about 40% slimmer and about a pound lighter
The Macbook has better battery life without the use of extended batteries
The Macbook could dual boot Mac OS and Windows

The T61 is much cheaper
The T61 has a higher res screen
The Quadro GPU on the T61 supports many more business applications versus a Geforce card.

If price was not an issue I'd take the Macbook Pro over the Thinkpad any day. But if you don't plan on using Mac OS as your primary operating system over windows, a Macbook Pro is not worth the money.

 

You forgot to mention the Thinkpad is better built than the MBP.
And the MBP runs really hot compare to the Thinkpad.

 

Build quality is debatable. I personally think that the Macbook uses better material and has a better keyboard, although many willl disagree.

And I've never owned a macbook pro, but I've used them several times and they never seemed to get hot like cheap consumer PCs do. If they run hotter than thinkpads, it's not by much.

 

Build quality is not debatable, it's clearly that the Macbook is FAR worse than the Thinkpad. How can you say something that made of cheap crappy plastic is better than something with magnesium alloy construction...????
The one that can come close to thinkpad build quality wise is the MBP...but it's still behind. Though the aluminum is quite durable....

About the heat, next time you go to the Apple store take the thermometer with you. Last time I checked the MBP when it was running some advertisements video, I could feel my hand burning when touching the bottom of it.

 

I thought we were comparing the Macbook Pro with the Thinkpad?? The Macbook Pro uses better material, including some carbon fiber, which is why it is lighter than both the Thinkpad and even the 13 inch macbook.

I'll check the heat again, but I've used a Macbook Pro on my lap for a long period of time and it did not noticed the heat at all.

Also I forgot to mention this, but the Macbook Pro also has a better LCD display using the new LED backlit technology. It's brighter and sharper than the thinkpad while being significantly thinner.

 

Couple of notes;

Firstly, if you don't want to use "apple + __" and instead want the window's version of "ctrl + ___", you can change it so that it is ctrl. However, I always say that you're not really switching if you're still wanting to use window keyboard shortcuts.

Secondly, the Macbook is not "cheap plastic". I have a lovely 0 scratches and 0 dents. I like the way the plastic looks. And I prefer the plastic look over aluminum. Personal preference - you can't say "that it's better" just because you like it better.

Thirdly, heat is another misconception about the MBP. The heat, on average, is only 1 or 2 degrees higher than a regular Dell, click here. And, when buying the MBP, you should already know that the fans are smaller - for size purposes, and it is made out of aluminum. It's logic that it'll run slightly warmer than a usual laptop.


The only main difference between the two laptops would be the price, and the OS. If you have the money, and want to splurge, sure, go for the Macbook. If you're going to be buying the laptop purely for gamming and running Windows, go with the Windows.

 

In the first post you forgot the word "Pro"....
Now that can be debatable, aluminum could come close to magnesium alloy in build quality but still a bit worse, even fiber carbon (which I don't find any part of the MBP made of that).
the MBP is lighter part of it is because it's thinner, magnesium is light as well (HP 8510p is an example)
Cheers.

 

Has Apple become more willing to allow customers to replace parts or does replacing the HDD still void warranty?

 

Wrong section to ask that question....

 

Looking at either the T61p or an MBP on the basis of hardware alone, I would certainly choose the T61p. The T61p sacrifices 'elegance' in favour of utility and build quality. This is something I appreciate seeing my T61p next to a MBP.

The T61p has a great keyboard. It is very nice to type on. The MBP however is not an ergonomic design at all: The short travel of keys on the MBP, and distribution of those keys, tends to cramp my hands after an hour or so of touch-typing. The edge where the wrists sit is also too sharp. The T61p makes your hands and wrists feel right at home by curving down the handrests and front edge. It may look less 'sleek' but frankly I appreciate the common sense.

Where the MBP uses metal in the exterior casing, the T61p uses a magnesium alloy internal chassis with rigid plastic on the exterior: a much smarter idea. Due to the metal casing the MBP is known to have disappointing wireless performance and the casing tends to bend when under pressure or struck. Like the Ti PB before it, the MBP will no doubt crack around the hinges and separate at corners due to the natural stress the metal casing suffers over time. While sleek, I consider the metal casing a bad design decision. The T61p certainly feels more solid, whereas you can feel the 15.4" MBP bend under it's weight a little when you pick it up from one corner.

The MBP, with its metal casing, gets very hot, sometimes too hot for the lap as someone earlier in this thread noted was the case with their MBP. My T61p is barely even warm..

The T61p offers higher powered machines at smaller screen sizes at lower cost: while the high end 17" MBP has an 8600 M GT, the 14.1" T61p has an Quadro FX 570M - a more performant card given most benchmarks.

The MBP seems to have a better matte screen than the T61p, which needs a little colour tweaking with NVIDIA utilities to bring it to being ready for print and design.My T61p was too bright and had too much contrast at default. Tuning that a little left me with a crisp and rich image.

On the level of default software I think the MBP has distinct advantages: Vista seems troubled with problems on the Thinkpads - or is perhaps troubled in general. You can however run on Vista or XP on the MBP quite easily with BootCamp or the like, but not OS/X on the Thinkpad without much work. This is due to Apple artificially tying down OS/X to the Macbook hardware such that it cannot be easily installed elsewhere. If OS/X were legally and easily installable on the T61p, the MBP would not be as popular..

I prefer Linux over OS/X and Windows however, so this comparison doesn't figure in my case.

 

+ rep for you....good post...

 

Yes, I agree. delire's posts have been very informative.

Thank you delire, hope you stick around.

 

It was a rhetorical question

 

Google macbook pro carbon fiber. I don't think there's much used, but the macbook pro is ridiculously thin and light.

 

The build quality isn't debatable at all for people who have used both of them for a while.

The Macbook (13.3") is polycarbonate (plastic) while the Macbook Pro (15.4") is anodized aluminum (metal composite), and that's about.

The ThinkPad T61p has bottom made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic and strong magnesium alloy skeleton inside.

The aluminum case of the MBP can warp or dent and be damaged more easily, and it certainly cannot be beaten as a ThinkPad nor is it supposed to. In other words, you should take care of it if you want it to last for a while.

There was almost no need to say that as it's obvious

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