Thinkpad T61 vs R61

In my quest to find a laptop I'm considering a Thinkpad. I've priced up a T61 and R61, both C2D T8300, 15.4" WSXGA+, 1gb RAM (to be upgraded later), x3100, 80gb, 9cell battery. After coupon, the T61 comes to $954.45 and the R61 comes to $859.99.

I've read that the T series is a bit thinner - is that all that's different? Is it worth the $100?

Thanks!

 

Thinner and lighter, that's about it. The T 15'' also adds a top cover (LCD) roll cage.

 

I assume that your configuration is completely the same.

The T61 is thinner (by quite a bit), weighs around a pound less, and has the durable magnesium roll cage covering both the main chassis and the LCD.

The R61 is thicker, weighs a lot more, and only has the roll cage in the main chassis. It also uses cheaper material (ABS plastic) on the covering, so some might say the durability is a bit compromised because of that.

Other than that, as long as your configuration is the same, there aren't many other differences to be found.

 

Tu13es, are you from Anandtech? I recognize your username from somewhere.

 

I had both. On the 14' side not much dif. but if you are planning to get the 15.4 and being thin is important... GO with the T61 or will have a shock when you see the screen of the 15.4 R61.

 

Yeah, I'm Tu13erhead on there and Tu13es in a bunch of other places.

 

What do you mean? A worse quality LCD? Bad bezel?

 

Don't know how that works, since the LCDs they use are the same...

 

I believe he means that it (the R61) will be much larger in the 15.4 inch screen format, then the T61 would be in that same format (due to the size of the R series) if that makes sence .

Example :
R61 w/ 15.4 inch screen : ------------
T61 w/ 15.4 inch screen : --------

------ = Weight, and height.

Hope this helps.

 

Gotcha. I originally ruled out the R61 but now I'm thinking it may not be such a bad choice.

Hrm...

 

for $100 I say it's worth it to get the T series...hopefully you get half that back in resale value.

 

The 15.4” R61 just didn’t seem as nice as the rest the only time I saw one. It’s made of different materials:

15.4” R61 --> Black color, Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (PC/ABS) plastic
14.1” R61, 14.1” T61, and 15.4” T61 --> Top: Super-Elastic PolyCarconate (SEPC); Bottom: Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic

You can compare lots of specs in the Tabook.

 

What are thoughts between the x3100 and the Quadro NVS 140? I don't plan to do gaming on this machine, but it might be nice to have the option to. Also, I heard the x3100 has issues with Ubuntu.

Assuming the R->T jump is ~$100 and the Quadro is around $95, would you say it's better to get the T with a x3100 or the R with a Quadro? Or both? Or neither?

Also, what happened to the T61p? Is it not sold anymore?

Thanks!

 

Never mind, found it. It's just labeled "ThinkPad Mobile Workstation" on the main T-series page.