ThinkPad Z- Series for a programmer

Hey,

I'm after a laptop that will serve me well for a lot of hardcore (C/C++) programming and thesis writing. I've managed to talk myself out of spending heaps of cash on a fancy Macbook Pro and Lenovo seem to be a very sturdy, workhorse brand.

After a lot of research, the Z series seem to have the most suitable specs.

A lot of people i know have them as their work laptop - they are issued through their jobs - but does anyone use one in their normal life?

I was just wondering if any of the Z Series support DVI as I plan to buy a 20" monitor to work with when i'm at my desk as 15.4" is plenty to deal with when i'm on the move!

thanks

 

I don't remember if there is one on the laptop but I'm sure the docking station has a DVI connection.

 

There is a VGA external DB-15 connection.

Widescreen will not help you much on programming.

I personally like T series much better. They look much sexier.

Currently I am using a T60p. 1600*1200 resolution provide me lot more space than my previous T40 so I can see more code in one page without having to page up and down a lot. Also flexview is a great plus.

The only problem being the text size is sometimes too small.

 

I just went thru the same process of selecting a develpoment machine. I was torn between the T60 14.1inch , Macbook Pro 15 inch, Dell XPS 1210 and the X60.

In my personal case I do most of my development VNCed or SSHed into a unix box. So, loads of telnet windows and the like...

I finaly settled on a X60. The screen size might be a bother(1024x768) but the thought of a computer I can work on for 5 or 6 hours unpluged was to much. And the size is very nice.

I havent taken delivery of the X60 yet but I do have a desktop relacement and that was a tragic waste of money. To me heat, noise and weight should be the biggest factors after you decide if the machine is capable of doing the job at hand.

Just my brain puke on the process

-PM

 

I had the same debate. I had a friend at Apple that was going to help me out, but it was still rediculously expensive for a MacBookPro. Then I looked between Dell and Lenovo because of similar pricing (EPP on lenovos). It really came down to widescreen vs. normal aspect. Because of coding I thought that widescreen would be nice, but my 14" T60 is 1400x1050 which was more real estate than most of the widescreen Dells. I looked at Z series, but most people seemed to like the T series more so I went with it. I don't have a problem with screen room or font size (26 yr old eyes), and when I go dual screen it works well. FYI my T60 is a VGA ouptut.

 

It's a relief to hear that i am not the only one going through this sort of consumer's anguish!

For well over 2 months now i've been trying to find the best specs I can for what I want. I talked myself out of falling for a Macbook Pro and it's gorgeous looks (but steeeeeeeeeep price tag!) and realised I need something that will work hard for me!

I was pretty set on getting a z61 model, but I'll give the T60 a good look now, thanks for the advice folks, much appreciated!

 

When I develop, I generally have the following open (linux):

editor- emacs
compile and/or run window
some other reference

The wide screen really helps, because you can have two complete windows side by side, each with a good aspect ratio.

For the same screen resolution, HD, RAM, and GHz, the Lenovo Z61t was over a grand cheaper than the MBP.

 

emacs - yuck!
vi rules!

 

On the Z61t, I think emacs vs. vi is a wash. For vi, the Escape key is in the wrong place, and for Emacs, the left-Control key is in the wrong place!

 

It's always in the wrong place unless you swap with caps. Once you do that both control and function are in the easiest to reach places, and caps is nestled away in the second most ideal place next to being somewhere off the edge of the keyboard.