T61p or W500

I just got a new T61 (used for business) and I love it. So much so, it has made me eager to upgrade my T42p (used for personal). Question is, to what? I have it down to two: the T61P or the W500 -- the systems are very similar.

Choices are as follows:

ThinkPad T61p 15 Widescreen
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9300 (2.5GHz 800MHz 6MBL2)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M (256MB Open GL)
1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
160GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim
Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (supporting Centrino Pro)
No Bluetooth
6 cell Li-Ion Battery60
3 Yr Depot Warranty
Total = $1315
(+ $100 to self-upgrade RAM to 4GB)
Total = $1415


ThinkPad W500
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
15.4" WSXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight
ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 with 512MB VRAM
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)
Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network upgradable
6 cell Li-Ion Battery60
3 Year Depot Warranty
Total = $1665

Question: is the W500 worth the extra $250? I need to make up my mind quick while the T61p is still available.

I welcome all feedback. Thanks in advance.

- abbjr

 

I don't think so, personally, but I'm a bit biased towards Nvidia cards for their Linux support.

EDIT: Oh, the T61p only has 1GB of RAM? What happens to the price difference after you equalize the RAM between the two?

 

RAM is accounted for on T61p ... (+ $100 to self-upgrade RAM to 4GB) = $1415 Thanks!

 

The W500 is based on Intel's new 'Montevina' (Centrino2) platform. That includes the newest processors which offer improved performance and better battery life/energy efficiency. Another benefit, which the W500 makes use of, is support for faster DDR3 memory.

The W500 also offers the choice of Intel's newest wireless adapters- the 5100AGN and 5300AGN. Both offer improved wireless performance and range compared the 4965AGN. The other major change between the T61p and W500 is the discrete graphics processor. The T61p has the 256mb nVIDIA Quadro FX 570M and the W500 has the 512mb ATI Mobility FireGL V5700.

In my opinion, the additional $250 for the W500 would be well spent. The DDR3 memory and new graphics card will offer even more performance than the T61p and the improvements in wireless connectivity are worth it! It will also give you a more "future-proof" system than the T61p.

I didn't think the T61p was still available....at least not on Lenovo's website. The only one still available on their site is the regular T61...unless I'm missing the T61p somehow.

Have you considered choosing a 64-bit version of Vista? Although I think Lenovo only offers Vista Business 64....just wondering.

Hope this helps!

 

The T61p is available via this link:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...rkflow:LoadRuntimeTree?sb=:00000025:00000311:

 

They are pretty similar, but the W500 is the latest from lenovo. So if you have to have the newest, then the W500. The DDR3 memory of the W500 is nice, along with the faster front side bus. There have been complaints of the new thinkpads having a keyboard not as good as the previous generations, flexing. I don't know how valid these complaints are since I have never used the new generation, but there are a lot of people who say it is quite noticeable. This is the main thing that worries me if i am in the market for a new thinkpad. Check out Kevin's Review/URL] of the T500, which is similar to the W500(has a few more upgrades but has the same construction).

I have the T61p and am very happy with it.

 

And now for something completely different -- I just placed my order for a T400!

After researching this site for the past couple of days your reviews and comments have made me realize this is what I really need [want! ].

System as follows:

ThinkPad T400
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)
Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight
ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)
4 cell Li-Ion Battery (I know -- it will run on AC 98% of the time, and I want that traditional ThinkPad black-box squared-off look!)
3-Year Depot Warranty
Tax & Shipping (initial deliver: 03 October - my birthday!)
< $1,500 (Jay/Lenovo in Toronto made my a better deal than I could find on the web including coupons!)

SWEET!!!

Thanks y'all!

 

Your specs look real nice. You will love the machine, congratulations! Just one question, why did you go for a 14" instead of the 15"?

 

Cause the 15" weighs ~1.5 pounds more, a big difference when you have to carry it around, plus the battery life on the 14" is significantly longer.

 

My company replaced my 5-year old T30 a couple of weeks ago with a new 15" wide screen T61 (7665-CN2), which I use for business [only!]. I also have a 4-year old 14" standard screen T42p (2373-KTU) for my personal use. Getting the T61 has made me want to replace the T42p. I love the T61; however, it really is much more bulky and heavier than the T42p. After reading all the reviews and comments on the T400 in this forum, and the fact it is now a wide-screen format vs. the standard 4:3, I think it is the perfect replacement for my T42p.

Now that I have placed the order, it can't get here soon enough -- is it soup yet?!