With the current sale on Lenovo, I'm really about to buy a T61. The only thing I'm not not sure about is its battery life.
I plan to go for a couple of months in Thailand and I may have to work on the laptop for a full day without having access to any electricity. I was looking at some of the HP models (the 6910p in particular) because HP sale HUGE batteries that may last for more than 10-11 hours.
I think the biggest battery for a 14" T61 is the 7 cells battery that may last for 6 hours.
This is going to be my first laptop so I want to be sure I make no mistake. Should I buy the T61 plus 2 extra 7 cells batteries? Or is it really a pain in the *** to always carry an extra battery? Should I go for a model like the HP 6910p that accept one huge battery that would last the full day?
What would you guys buy to work in a place like Thailand? Do you think the T61 is a good choice? I want a 13-14" matte screen.
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Either choice it's a good choice, however, with the T61, you're going to run into the problem of charging the batteries. But if that isn't a problem for you, then I don't see any reason not to get the thinkpad. You'll get better build quality (IMHO) and the better keyboard to type on. And no, extra batteries aren't a pain to carry around.
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The Dell D630 gets excellent battery life. I'd think with the nine cell and the six cell modular battery, you'd be in pretty good shape.
If you're going with a ThinkPad, the X61s with the eight cell battery is probably more likely to give you what you seek. I think six hours on the T61 with the seven cell is unlikely. Maybe with the screen on the lowest with WiFi off which I think is not the way most people work. -
If you go for a Thinkpad, you may want to consider the lauded Ultrabay battery as well.
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Thanks to both of you!
I've been to a store where they sale both the T61 and the X61s, and the X61s is too small for me. I know it would be easier to carry and will have better battery life but I wouldn't feel confortable working on it for a full day.
So I still hesitate between the T61, HP 6910p and Dell D630.
But In the end I think that anyway I'll have to carry an extra battery so any of those three may be ok. And the ThinkPad seems to be of a really good quality which is important since I'm going to carry it a lot. -
Is it a battery that is plugged into a docking station? Because I do not plan to carry a docking station.. -
I would go for a Dell D630 with a 9cell battery along with another battery in the Dell version of the "Ultrabay" ( The space where you can remove your media drive .. ) . You're garanteed 8hrs of autonomy and I've seen my friend's go over 9hrs and a half easy...
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The Ultrabay battery is a 3-cell battery that goes where the CD-drive goes. IMHO, it's not worth it to get the ultrabay battery....but if power is all you really need, then by all means go for it.
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Can you swap the ultrabay battery and the CD-drive on the fly? Or do you have to choose this option when you buy the laptop?
I guess you can swap them but I want to be sure!
Thanks -
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yes they are hot-swappable meaning you can plug either of them in or take them out when the computer is on.
that's what the ultrabay was meant for. it comes with the T-series standard, you just don't get the battery as that is an additional purchase, not so sure about the R-series. -
Thanks everybody for your help.
But I think I'll go with the HP 6910p. Its 12 cells ultra battery is exactly what I'm looking for and it seems to be a good laptop too. -
glad we could help! enjoy your new laptoP!
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you can swap them.
in fact, you swap them while the laptop's on.
T61: battery life / trip to Thailand
Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by tata668, May 31, 2008.