T61 vs. R61 - what is the difference?

Im new to Thinkpads, but in my search for a new computer, I just priced out an R61 and a T61 in identical configurations...the T61 came out 70 dollars higher...what I dont understand is the difference between the T61 and the R61...what exactly makes them different? They dont seem too different from one another...

 

The main differences are the size and weight. The T61 is slightly thinner and lighter. It is aimed towards the mobile crowd who need maximum portability without sacraficing performance.

I'm surprised the difference is so slim with the exact hardware configurations. It makes me wonder why Lenovo is still selling the R series since the T series is a much more popular choice.

 

I'm not sure if this applies elsewhere, but if you go to the Canadian Lenovo website, the base T61 comes with a 120GB hard drive, DVD rewriteable drive, nVidia 140m graphics and the WXGA+ screen for $1599.

The base R61 comes with an 80GB hard drive, CD-RW/DVD combo drive, x3100 graphics and the WXGA screen.... for $1599.

???

 

The Canadian website doesn't count. It's messed up enough as it is.

 

Just read the cnet review of the R61.

They got 2 hours 8 minutes on their DVD drain test with discreet graphics + 7500 CPU + 7200rpm HD + 6-cell battery... since the R61 and T61 are so similar, could I expect a similar battery life on a T61 with similar/almost exactly the same specs? If so I don't think I have anything to worry about; if the battery can last me through a DVD then I should be fine.

Also they didn't really complain about the screen either. Are the screens shared between the T61 and R61? If so, from the video and pictures on cnet it doesn't look bad... maybe not super amazing but I think it looks good.

cnet review is here: http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-r61/4505-3121_7-32442904.html?tag=lst

 

The T series will have some higher end options like WWAN and the workstation GPUs which the R will not.

 

The R61 looks like it has the same bezel as the T61, they just have it tilted in the pictures.

 

WWAN and ultrabay/drive height seem to be the major differences.

 

I am from Malaysia, have been patiently waiting for the R61 & T61 to be released. Have been checking the Lenovo Malaysia site since the launch and finally i see it today !!!

Best
T61
7659A18
RM6,288
Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology (Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7100, 1.8GHz, 2MB Cache, 800MHz)
Genuine Windows® Vista™ Business 32
3-year International Warranty
-- 512MB PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator
14" WXGA
Integrated FingerPrint Reader, PC Card + Media 80GB HDD
DVD Recordable Dual Layer
Intel® a/b/g, Bluetooth
--


Best
T61
7663A21
RM6,788
Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology (Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300, 2.0GHz, 4MB Cache, 800MHz)
Genuine Windows® Vista™ Business 32
3-year International Warranty
-- 1024MB PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2
Nvidia 128MB
14" WXGA+
Camera, Integrated FingerPrint Reader, PC Card + Media 120GB HDD
DVD Recordable Dual Layer
Intel® MIMO, Bluetooth
--


Better
R61
773215A
RM4,788
Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology (Intel® Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, 4MB cache, 800MHz)
Genuine Windows® Vista™ Business 32
1-year RTD international Warranty
-- 1024MB(512MBx2) PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2
Intel® X3100
14.1" WXGA
PC Card + Express 80GB HDD
DVD Recordable Dual layer
Integrated Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet, Intel® MIMO, Bluetooth
--


Will be getting the T61 with Nvidia very soon.

 

I am under the impression that R's and T's, though configured the same, the T's would always come out on top in terms of performance.

Any body have the same feeling?

 

Configured the same, they will perform the same.

 

For some reason you can't disable bluetooth on the R, but still, it's almost 50 bucks cheaper for the same exact thing

 

I am thinking of buying the T61. I have a quote from the Lenovo EPP website of $1,258 for the model with invidia graphics vs. $1,195 for the x3100.

I know that invidia is better than the x3100, but the x310 coomes with XP Pro, while the invidia model comes with Vista business.

I am leary of Vista...

Advise, please.

 

I chatted with a customer service rep about that - you can order the laptop and then call sales to take out Bluetooth later.

 

Well the T61 was only about 25 bucks more with the extra stuff I decided to get.