What exactly is the difference between T and R?

I still don't get it--please spell it out for me.

 

Lenovo only offers fancy graphics chips and uber CPUs in the T line.

 

Isn't the T lighter and slimmer as well?

So for non-techy, non-gaming peons like me who mainly only use the internet and word process, I should probably get an R?

 

a/ hardly any noticeable difference in size/slimness, even if you see them side-by-side; weight difference is probably negligible also.

b/ I would say you hit the nail on the head. I have the 'R' with 1500MHz processor and 2GB RAM, and it's perfectly fine for almost everything I do - mainly internet (90%) and some fairly serious still photography; audio and movies, but no heavy-duty 3D stuff.
Also don't forget the advantages that it runs cool as a cucumber and battery life is excellent even with just the 4-cell pack (I switch to max battery life when in couch potato mode - the processor down-clocks to 1000MHz and display is just-bright-enough).
(Also, don't forget the price - I paid $850 plus tax. The more time goes by, the smarter I feel the choice was not to spend $1600+ on a hot-rod I don't even need.)

PS - not saying the same-spec'd 'T' would not be just as good a choice for you, just that the 'R' happened to be available off-the-shelf at the time I needed it.

Dave

 

I'm not sure about your $1600 comparison. I have a T61 2.0 ghz w/ Nvidia 140M and all the extra's and only paid $1200...would guess if I scaled it back, could have configured at $900 + tax. I also bought an R61 but it was too thick, (you do notice) not as many options available on the R model. I sold the R and got the T, good decision on my part.

also see:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=124547

 

Didn't mean to imply that a T would have to cost that much more - just that that was the price had I configured a T just the way I wanted, rather than accepting the plain-jane R right off the shelf. Actually I don't know why anyone would custom order an R - you really aren't saving much money if the configurations are similar.

There are photos of a T and an R side by side on another forum, and I swear there can't be more than 1/8" difference in the total thickness.

All else being equal I'd go for the T, just didn't have the option (needed a replacement laptop right away) and as it turns out it's not that important. Life's too short as it is.

PS - one more thing: I think the T accepts only slimline ultrabay devices; this may or may not be a disadvantage to you.

Dave

 

i have an R61 15.4" model of laptop that i custom ordered from lenovo. the only thing that i can complain about this laptop is that it doesnt have the lcd top cover rolecage. other then that i like everything else about it. i went with the R model because the T series doesnt have a built in webcam or S-Video out. im glad i went with this model it does everything i want it to do. i added more ram to it but it still seems like there is alot of processes running but maybe thats just vista. ive gotten rid of everything that i could out of the startup and theres still around 85 processes running at idle.

just go to lenovo and customize the two different models the hardware is close the two just have a few different features that highlight them both in different aspects i think that they would both preform about the same for pretty much anything. just go with the model that has the features you really want they will both be quality.

 

Initially... I came to the same conclusion as you guys did, bought the R61. I had seen a T61 at micro center, it was thicker, heavier and just didn't feel as well put together as the T61. Call me crazy, but It was bugging me enough to talk a guy at work into buying the R from me so I could buy the T61 which has been great. The R61 was 14.1 WXGA which was annoying because it was blurry and font was too big. I got the 15.4 wsxga+ which was a perfect combination. The only 2 things you lose with the T are the Svideo...(I never use) and the camera (15.4 only)...I have a USB webcam, use seldom if at all. If you looking for a thinner, lighter and more configurable lapop->T61 is your only choice. You may have to wait for a 10% off deal, but its worth it...

 

Speaking about the 14” R vs T, the difference is very small. You get a copper heatsink and a bit more status with the T – you can see in the links below there is not a huge difference:

http://www.tpuser.idv.tw/articles/santarosa-test-2.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2123794

Shop the two; the R can be found at CC so you can have it right away but the T will be more difficult to find at retail. If you can get a very slick deal on the R or need one quick, get the R. If you want to configure with more options (wide vs standard screen etc.), don’t mind (possibly) waiting a bit longer for delivery, want a bit thinner ThinkPad, or care at all about ThinkPad status (whatever that is), get the T. The difference should only be about $85 at least between the two, so typically people go for the T because it’s more sexy.

 

Yeah, LOL - I needed a quicky, and the R was 'sexy' enough for me! We're extremely happy together, so far.

Dave

 

R uses the "regular" thicker 13mm optical drive (ultra-bay enhanced) while T uses the slim 9.5mm ones (ultra-bay slim).

 

As of yesterday both the R61 and T61 were in the $900-1000 range for the basic models, I think even within a few dollars of eachother. I suppose I don't understand why there are even two separate models if they are the same or similar price?

 

I guess with the R they are trying to gain a greater profit margin with simpler more economical construction, more plastic, less metal, etc. If that philosophy takes hold the price of the T design (cast magnesium frame, etc) can only go up.

BTW, seems the T's magnesium frame (and certain other unique/esoteric design elements) are a holdover from IBM days, but there are enough traditional-minded Thinkpad users who expect it and are prepared to pay in order to have the old IBM/Thinkpad no-nonsense look and solid engineering.

Just my 2 cents. I hope they can keep up the good family name, as I've become pretty much a fan myself.

Dave

 

Just came across some R vs T comparison pics. Thanks to s4iscool:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2123794#post2123794

Dave

 

the 14.1" R61 does have a top cover roll cage. The 14.1" T61 also has a webcam option.