The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
The T61 is quite different in that it is a business notebook and will have a sturdier build, no glossy screen, more security / data protection features and has a trackpoint stick as well as a touchpad. The major problem with the T61 right now is that there's a backlog on orders and it'll take a while to get. The dv6500t is prettier looking and has more consumer features, but won't be as sturdily built or have the same type of security/data protection features. It really depends what you want this notebook for as to what is better for you. I'd fill out the FAQ so people have a better idea.
the T61 is a really durable laptop and the HP is a really sleek looking laptop. in terms of features its pretty much dead on. the screen on the HP is a bit brighter.
I have to disagree with a lot of what has been said here. First, Andrew, it may be a business laptop but a laptop is not about what it's *meant* for, but what you can use it for. The T60p may be *meant* for CAD use but it makes a perfectly good gaming machine as well. The point I'm making is to judge a laptop on its specs and not what someone else thinks you should use it for.
With that said there are a few major differences. The first is the limited range of CPU and display options in the HP. You get a WXGA glossy screen as your only choice on the HP while the T61 will let you choose between WXGA and WSXGA+ matte.
Also the GPU options are different. The T61 15.4" currently doesn't offer a discreet GPU whereas the HP does. It also seems like the upgrade options for RAM and HDD on the HP are cheaper than the T61. Personally I would just upgrade them myself if I were you.
The HP is a poorly built laptop. HP uses cheap build materials and as someone pointed out, those hinges wont last long without starting to creak and wobble. The T61 is sturdier and will more gracefully stand the test of time and use. I wouldn't expect the HP, however, to fall apart on you, but you'll definitely be feeling the difference in build quality after a year or two.
From what I've heard the speakers on the HP are like all laptop speakers. That is to say it really doesn't matter because both the HP and T61 have such horrible speakers that you shouldn't use them for anything other than system alert sounds. If you really needed a comparison, the HP speakers are a little better and louder. They both suck though.
You should really look at whether you want a glossy screen or not. The HP screen will look brighter, have better color and contrast. It will, however, have a lot of reflections as all glossy screens do no matter how good the antiglare coat.
What you should do is post in the "what laptop should I buy section" they can help you better. It really depends on what you need and what you're willing to pay. These are two very different laptops for very different customers. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't use the thinkpad as a gaming machine or the HP as a business machine. Buy on specs not on what the company wants you to do with it.
a more suitable comparison would be the t61 vs 6910p. they're both business class notebooks, 14.1 widescreen, santa rosa platform and around 1" thick. apparently the poster above hasn't tried an hp business class notebook. the build quality is comparable to the thinkpads, they come in magnesium reinforced frame, the keyboard is as good, and much quieter than the clicky thinkpads. the only downside is that the lcd panel is 200nit for the 6910p vs the 220nit for the t61 (wxga+).
the 6910p is a couple hundred dollars more than a similarly configured t61.
By HP I was referring to the dv6500t specifically. I agree, from what I've heard the hp business laptops are well built. I've been looking at them myself and I think it is a much better comparison. They do look much more expensive, however...
And, I have to disagree with you. When Andrew said that it's a business notebook, obviously he meant business-class and he explained what that means.
Sure, but you also should judge a laptop on its build quality and features, and here we have business class and consumer class notebooks. (And some in between but that's a different story.)
True.
You can use any notebook for whatever you wish as long as its features/hardware allows you do so.
Build quality is also a quite an important factor, isn't it? Also, I don't believe that any company can tell what to do with your notebook.
Now, the HP Pavilion dv6500t and the ThinkPad T61 obviously aren't the some league but if I have to compare them then the HP will fail pretty badly in that comparison since it's a
budget-class notebook and it feels like a cheap plastic toy compared to a
business-class notebook like the T61.
In short, there are two types of notebooks - business class and consumer class. Business ones are designed to last and usually have (generally speaking):
- sturdier case and lid (magnesium alloy and/or carbon fibre), steel hinges.
- protection of internal components, HDD shock absorber,
- spill-free keyboard (firmer and more durable)
- more security features
- better battery life and an ultra bay slot
- better warranties and support
Consumer notebooks are usually made from plastic, and have more multimedia oriented features and flashy design.
The ThinkPad is pretty much the definition of a business class notebook, and then we have Dell Latitudes, HP Compaqs and so on...
The HP Pavilions aren't bad for what they are supposed to be - budget (consumer) notebooks...and obviously they won't go any further than that. You can compare them to Dell Inspirons or Lenovo 3000 series.
Well, if you are going to dissect everything xnviews said, you left out two paragraphs of him talking about build quality. And, as he said he was talking about build quality of the HP 6500 as the original poster requested.
To me, build quality is of specs. When I say specs I mean everything physically about the laptop. A spec of the T61 would be that it's sturdy and has a magnesium rollcage. Obviously some people don't need that.
I know Andrew meant that it was a business class notebook but the way he talked about it gave the impression that its sole purpose is business. That's what I took exception to. I was mistaken in that I gave an impression that I disagreed more than I actually do. It's ok we don't seem to disagree on much.
One thing I have seen tossed around is that the thinkpad has better "security features". From what I've read the "security features" aren't really worth mentioning. One of the features is complete disk encryption but you can get that with truecrypt. Another is a fingerprint reader but several consumer class notebooks have that as well. Another is APS which is somewhat worthy but seagate is starting to put sensors on their hard drives that do the same thing making it a little obsolete. It's more of a question than anything, what security features does the thinkpad have that are worth mentioning?
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
