What dual core models are long lasting?

I got a guy from India on the rig I work on wanting a Thinkpad. I have been looking at X60's, X61's, T60, T61, T400's (he wants the smaller around 14" ones). Is there any of those models I should avoid? I have kept up with them some but not enough to know if any of them have had any long term problems. I have never really messed with R series so I don't know if they would be worth getting either. He is dead set on the Thinkpad series and I want to make sure I get him a good one. He is on a budget so most likely it will be a ebay unit with no harddrive and I will do the rest from there.


I usually do toughbooks and rebuild pc's on the side. I had a work Thinkpad before T61 (2.0 with NVS1400) but only had it about a year so I don't know the life length on used ones. (had my own personal T22 before and working on putting a Transnote back together.)

Thanks

 

The only ones you'd be wise to stay away from are R61 and T61/p with nVidia graphics. Everything else is likely to serve your customer well.

What's the budget from your standpoint - as in what are YOU looking to spend?

 

Well these guys don't make much so I won't be making anything on this one, just him getting it in his country (India) would be over double if not more than what I can get if for in the USA. I do, do a little bit of selling but it's just to fuel my pc and car habit some. I have a day job, lol. He has a firm budget of max 120 USD. I may even give him 10 more bucks worth with it as he does help out a lot on the rig and I would hate to see him so close yet so far. Only thing he really wanted was around 14" he didn't want the 15" if he could. Also wanted one with built in dvd drive, but was flexible some if I could get him a cheap usb dvd if the price was just killer. I priced some business class Dells that were cheaper, but he is dead set on Thinkpad. So I am just trying to get him what he wants. On the other hand I don't want to grab what looks like a deal and it dies on him in a few months.

 

This would be a "quick pick" from feebay:

Lenovo ThinkPad R61 Core 2 Duo 2 0GHz 2 5GB RAM 60GB HDD Laptop CD RW DVD ROM | eBay

Here are the factory specs:

ThinkPad R61 (7733-01U)

T7300(2GHz), 1GB RAM, 100GB 7200rpm HD, 14.1in 1280x800, Intel X3100, CDRW/DVD, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 6c Li-Ion, WinXP Pro

I'm not affiliated with the seller but have been a satisfied customer of theirs in the past.

Obviously, YMMV.

Of course, if you've got time to burn and *really* devote to this project, you can do better...your call by all means.

 

I think I have purchased pc parts from them before. I will look that one over. I will have to keep that in mind with the R61 and T61p with Nividia graphics. What about the T61 with the 140NVS quadro graphics card? Or just stick with intel on graphics? For his purposes we discussed integrated graphics will be fine. Time frame wise I got about three more weeks till I head back to work so it's got to make it to my house before I leave. Got a little time.

 

Given your friend's geographics location, I'd stick with the Intel-based units...we are spoiled around here with the concept of parts availability.

My $0.02 only...

 

I wasn't talking about power wise, wanting to know if they should be avoided in general like the regular Nividia cards.

 

Yes, in general, you should steer clear away from *any* nVidia-based R61 or T61/p.

 

Thanks, That is what I needed to know.