Why bother with a T61 since there is a R61

I think I have done enough homework to bring out this question:

Since T61 and R61 are so similar, why should I bother with a T61 and pay more?

As far as I know, R61 is merely a little heavier and thicker than T61, though there is no reason to explain why it has the extra weight and length.

When configured with the same hardware, both machines should perform the same. Shall I go for the cheaper one for the better bang of the buck?

 

Well I think some people have a phobia of the letter R and therefore have to resort to buying the T model.

 

Rs have no discrete graphics and so they are very different and Ts look and feel much more solid.

But I agree with you , the R 61 is much better bang for your buck than the T61.

 

I got the R61 14" recently. Haven't owned a T series before but heard thats been the best flagship product for years from fan boys.

I choose R61 because R61 14" model (not the 15") has the same case material & magnesium frame as T61.

I probably would have bought a T61 if I had done it again, but that's only because I haven't owned a T series before. It's going to be 0.5 lbs lighter and 10-20% thinner. Might not make a difference if you use it desktop style but its nice to have if you frequent cafes and biz trips.

 

The R61 has Nvidia's NVS 140M discrete graphics option.

 

I read this from here

Is this really true?

 

The question is--since "R61 14" model has the same case material & magnesium frame as T61", why it is heavier and thicker?

Seems to be million dollar question for me.

Also, does the screen of T61 not centrally aligned like R61?

 

Not really. I just tried it, and nothing showed up. It's the matte finish that sets it apart. Most high end laptops have this matte finish now, but with Thinkpad you get it at a cheap price ala R61 14" models.

The difference is in the LCD lid. There is a built in magnesium roll cage like you see on the disect photos. Those are present in all T61s and R61 14" (not 15"). The bottom casing is standard magnesium roll cage for all models.

I believe Lenovo used the same LCD lid for R61 and T61 14" models, but not the 15" for some reason. Maybe it's the cost. The bottom part doesnt really need the matte polycarbonate feel. Unless you put it on your lap all the time LOL.

Also, T61 is slimmer cuz its on a slim frame.

 

AFAIK, bigger Rs (with 15.4'' screen) have no roll cage. Anyway, buying a laptop for 2-3 years I'd keenly pay a little more for a 0.2'' thinner yet sturdier brick

 

"the lid is easily scratched" is a relative term. No i would not say easily, but you can damage anything if you put your mind to it!

 

Both screens are the same; both off center. I think the T61 has the option for WWAN and R61 doesn't.

I actually regret purchasing a T61 and spending that extra money since I was going to purchase a 14" either way.

 

Am I correct in saying that the weight and height differences between T61 and R61 just come from the bottom part, since their lid is the same.

 

LOL! This is true. I admit it. I've an R-phobia. And for good reason, though I understand that newer R models are better-built than past models such as the R40.

The R versus T decision would be easier were there some huge and obvious difference between the two models. Their similarity is what makes deciding so very difficult. The difficulty is compounded by the inability to see, touch, feel, and heft both machines side-by-side.

 

I disagree. The bottom of my T61 is disappointingly slippery. Thus, I am not secure in carrying the laptop by grabbing it between fingers and thumb. The tapering of the case in the T series makes that situation even worse, as pressure from my hand will make the case slip away from me.

By contrast, my X30 series is well-designed for carrying between fingers and thumb.

About the scratching bit, I do find that smudges and scratches, and fingerprint grease show up quickly in that matte material on the top of the lid. I'm not personally bothered by that, but I can see where some might be. Given a choice between better-gripping material and resistance to smudging and such, I prefer the better grip.

 

I don't know the answer to the why question. Could be cost, but the difference is so very minimal that it's hard to believe it was driven by cost-alone. Maybe.

One important difference I just learned about though is that the R- and T-series models take different sized ultrabay devices. The R-series takes larger, 12.5mm thick bay devices, whereas the T-series accommodates only the newer, 9.5mm thick devices. If you are a long-time Thinkpad user with a collection of ultrabay devices, that information might matter. And if you have the $500 or so to spend on a Blueray drive for the ultrabay, that drive is currently only available in the 12.5mm size.

 

^ The R61's UltraBay is also compatible with the T series but not vice versa.

 

There is a one hundred dollar difference with the same hardware between T61 and R61. I would go for R61 for the "minimal differences".

 

Sorry, my mistake. The R61 also has matte material on the bottom cover, like the T61.

As for T61 vs X series there is not much comparison. X series has all magnesium alloy casing. Its the best.

 

I've sure liked my X30 a lot over the past five or six years. Recently, I had my work buy me a T61. I needed something with more CPU power to handle my boss's mega-spreadsheets. And I wanted more pixels on the screen. The 14-inch T61 is nice, but seems a bit large and heavy for air-travel, and for carrying around a lot. The X300 would be great for me, but no way was my company going to spend that much on me, so I went with the T61.

 

It seemed to me (I just ordered one) that the 14" Widescreen R61 was very close to the T61, dimensions are almost identical. There's a good review here that describes some of the differences http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2150044,00.asp

 

Yeah, the dimensions are identical except for thickness. As mentioned above, the UltraBay Enhanced drive (12.7mm) in the R61 is what makes it thicker.

The only major differences between the T61 and R61 are the availability of WWAN, an option for an FX570 GPU (15.4" models only), the UltraBay Slim, and the roll cage in the LCD (15.4" models only) in the T61.

Not much else to be seen with the 14.1" models.

 

Oh that's sad

I would have gone with the R61 T__T

 

The difference in price for me was over 200 dollars because of an additional coupon on the R series.

The advantage of the T series is that it is slightly lighter and thinner and it's available with WWAN if you want it (I don't). If you go with the 15 inch you get a roll-bar that the 15 inch R series doesn't have.

The advantage of the R series is 200 dollars. Also, the R series has the more versatile ultrabay (it can accept ultrabay slim devices).

 

I went T series because it had the 256 meg card and with that I also got the LCD roll cage and a slightly slimmer and lighter design. But if you don't want the 256 meg video card and 15.4" screen then the R61 14" is the only way to go as they are minimal differences that make it worth the extra $200.

 

Lappy, as usual, you are incorrect.

The ThinkPad R61 line has both integrated and discrete graphics models; you can choose.

To the original poster: There are a few main differences between the R61 and T61 that may or may not matter.

The R61 only has a full magnesium roll cage on the 14" model; the 15.4" does not have it on the LCD housing. The T61 has the full roll cage on both 14" and 15.4" models.

The R61 is a little chunkier, especially in the 15" model.

The R61 does not have the option for integrated WWAN (that is, a cellular radio card to use broadband Internet over cell phone networks). You could, however, use an Expresscard-slot card from your cellular provider.

On the other hand, a Blu-Ray drive is available for the R61 if you want it; the T61's UltraBay slim does not support one at this time.

The R61 does not have the option for (or at least, I couldn't find it in the configuation options) UWB (Ultra Wideband), a method of USB wireless networking, which is an available option on some T61 machines.

 

I configured T61 and R61 14" inch screen under the CPP page with Linux OS,
the difference is only $100, not $200. Did I miss something?

LoneWolf15: wow, your avatar is blasphemous...

 

Blasphemous to who? I'm not Communist (nor is present-day China for that matter, no matter what they claim to be), nor in favor of 1960's Chinese ideology --I just have cats, and found it funny.

 

There are those of us that started using ThinkPads from over a decade ago. The 7 series of yore is became the T series, and the 3 series became the A, G and now R series during the model name switch. Back then, the quality difference between 7 and 3 were night and day. These days, not so much, and neither are the prices. We just got into a habit to opt for the best, that's all.

FWIW, I like that avatar.

The definition of blasphemy is "the act of insulting or showing contempt for a god". Since when did that loon become a god? Maybe to those who carry the little red book, but not me. My thoughts are not controlled by any government.

 

Remembering that Mao liked his women barely out of the cradle, and his political dissidents six feet under, I have trouble respecting him myself.

My style of humor tends to be irreverent --I guess if it would offend a dyed-in-the-wool Maoist, so much the better.

 

i would take the T over the R anyday. For me its because the T is slimmer and lighter? Plus since everyone perceives the T to be of better quality, it retains its value better if I choose to sell it off?

 

LoneWolf15, msb0b:

It is a funny avatar indeed. I should have added a smiley behind 'blasphemy".

Back to the topic:

Except for the USESAVEMORE coupon for R61, did I miss other deals?

 

LoneWolf15, msb0b:

It is a funny avatar indeed. I should have added a smiley behind 'blasphemy".

Back to the topic:

Except for the USESAVEMORE coupon for R61, did I miss other deals?

 

Visa has an agreement with Lenovo -Visa card purchasers get 5% off. Some coupons are stackable with this deal, some not, so you'll need to do some Google searching for the right one. With a bit of research though, you should be able to get the 5% Visa discount plus a 10% coupon code. That should be about the best deal you can get.

Note that you have to go through a special link for Visa buyers to get this 5% discount, as seen below:

http://usa.visa.com/personal/discou...rchantName=Lenovo&merchantId=10282&pageId=197

 

I have tried CPP code for T61, but there is no coupon for CPP.
with Visa+11% coupon, the price is actually $15 cheaper.

Shall I wait till April for a cheaper price? I am buying it for another person and the lappy won't be used until May.

 

Lenovo seems to be having some product differentiation issues with the current R- and T-series. I've been debating between the R61 and T61 for the last few months. The differences are mostly minor and the value of those differences is highly subjective. It reminds me of the experience I had car shopping last fall- the salesperson kept trying to steer my interest to a Nissan Maxima but I wanted the Nissan Altima. Both could be equipped with very similar options and the differences were predominantly cosmetic....but one was $26k and the other $31k. I recall him saying that the Maxima was a more prestigious name and the Altima was more 'common'. I guess the T-series is basically the Maxima of ThinkPads....the name carries some prestige, but not that much substance.

I finally decided on the R61 14-inch a few days ago and placed my order. The additional features on the 14" vs. the 15.4" R61 were a factor. I could see more an argument for getting a T61 vs. R61 15.4". The T61p's more powerful graphics and the ultra-high res display option would justify the difference in cost if those options are important to the buyer. The UWB (Wireless USB) is also a T-series only option for now (only on 15.4" models).

I ended paying $959.29 for my R61 and an identical T61 would have cost $1102.21. I couldn't justify the price difference of $143.

 

That's what I am thinking. I guess I will go for a R61.

Shall I order now or wait till April? The laptop is not going to be used until May.

 

I would wait. Get the computer when it's going to be used. Additionally, Intel should release the Montevina platform by then.

 

Good call. You'll also begin the product's warranty when it actually starts to be used.

 

just to throw in my $0.02... i really dislike wide screen and there's no standard aspect option on the R61... so it was T for me.
(plus, when i bought mine, the SXGA+ T61 was actually cheaper than a similarly configured WXGA+ R61, thanks to visaperks and a coupon)

 

I used to not like widescreen too.

Then I started streaming hi-res DivX files to my laptop....

 

If the T61 was within $100 of the R61 price when I bought mine, I likely would have gone with the T61. As it is though, there was nearly a $200 difference between the two so I went with the R61-14w. In all fairness, this was my first Lenovo (I'm a disgruntled Dell customer who up until this Lenovo has owned 4 Dell Laptops) so I wasn't aware of the percieved quality difference between the T61 and the R61. All I can say is that I am EXTREMELY pleased with my R61 and will recommend it and the T61 to anyone who asks.

 

Sorry .
I have R61 with N-Vidia ( 128MB ) discrete video adapter

Mike