T61 Quality and Complaints: 14.1" vs 15.4"

I've been reading about T61's for the last month, and I've noticed that the majority of complaints are against the 14.1" T61 (bad build quality, cheap plastic, uneven fitment, bad viewing angle and backlight bleeding, etc.).

I'm still unsure of whether to buy the 14.1 or 15.4, but I'm wondering if the 14.1" has more complaints because it is built worse or because more people bought them.

Opinions?

 

You're probably hearing more about 14.1" because more people bought them. But seriously, just as many people say good things about them as they say bad.

Just buy whatever you need/want, and try not to let other people's opinions change your decision. If you want the 14.1", go with the 14.1".

 

Yes, MANY MORE people say good things than bad. And I'm one of the bad.

People who are unsatisfied w/build quality are generally judging vs their thinkpads of old, not vs other current notebooks. Poking and pulling and prodding and noticing how much further things flex or creak here and there. It's skin is kind of thin and plyable, granted, but it's muscles and bones are tight and strong underneath. It's solid man. You will not be disappointed in build quality.

 

Is the overall size of a 14.1" laptop smaller than a 15.4", or is only the screen smaller with more bezel area?

 

Of course the 14.1 laptop is smaller than a 15.4 inch laptop! What else can you expect? it's a 1.3 inch difference. lol

 

Thank you

 

Mine is going in for repair thru DHL tomorrow. I could have ordered a brand newreplacement but the cc would have been charged and new one to my spec's is 3 -4 weeks.

14.2" WXGA+ has definite backlight leakage coming up from the bottom of the panel. The front bezel does not seat properly allowing my fingernail to fit between the two frame pieces.

I've worked on over 75 T series in the last 8 years. Normally, they had been around the block for awhile but I have always appreciated the component and assembly quality.

This new T61 still feels like "quality" but this new series has real issues. The display portion of the T61 is the concern. Keyboard and base feels rock solid and super quiet. The top half has bezel issues and lcd display issues.

 

It's not as simple.
If you don't watch movies, then the 14.1" screen offers as much of useful screen real estate as the 15.4" one, but in a smaller and lighter package.

 

Sometimes you guys crack me up. I used to have an Osborne 1 - the world's first portable computer. It was the size of a suitcase (portable), with a 4-inch screen.

 

What a glorious thread. Your young minds hard at work, talking amongst other like-minded individuals on the internet, trying to solve highly technical issues.

Not the type of chaps that delve into tomfoolery, skylarking, or spraypainting swasticas on jewish centers. I like what I see here in this notebook review forum.

Sorry for the intrusion, just admiring from a distance. May I touch your bum?

 

Have you seen the 15.4" T61?

I want to know if the 15.4" has the same inferior LCD panel + bezel.

 

For the record, my bezel and LCD screen are just fine and backlight leakage are minimal. I highly doubt that the issues you are speculating about, JaeZTT, are widespread. At worst, your T61 will still be better quality-wise than your comparatively-priced HP dv6500t or Inspiron 1520.

 

Does only 14" WXGA + have leakage problem? What about WXGA?

 

I was damn right. JaeZTT is really happy with his computer, and he exemplified that with a thousand pictures.

Quoted for rightness!

<------ Right. And sexy.

 

That's true only if you opt for WXGA in both (1200x800)

Otherwise, the 14.1" can be 1440x900 (wxga+)

The 15.4" has more as it can be 1680x1050 (wsxga+). And the T61p has even more again (UXGA)

You can find the machines dimensions by looking at the detailed specs for the respective models. Personally, I like 4:3 because they have the largest screens for any diagonal (ie. 14.1" standard screen is a bigger screen with more real estate than is 14.1" widescreen)