Why would I get the T61 15" - D830 is better

Hello --

I am weighing the Pros and Cons of T61 over D830

T61 +
"Build Quality"
Keyboard
Trackpoint -- Easier to Use?
Hard Drive Shutoff, Other Safety Features

T61 -
6+3=9 Cells versus Dells 9+6=15 Cells
Battery Life versus D830
Dim, More Lifeless Screen (according to reviews?)
Dell offers 256MB 140m

Therefore, Thinkpad offers certain unquantifiable benefits that I can't try out, whereas Dell has screen, battery, and graphics card....


Note: I have not used the Thinkpad -- I really wish I could try one, but all these crap stores have nothing. However, I have recently tried the keyboard on the D830, and it was absolutely fine. So I am struggling to find reasons to get this darn Thinkpad!

Thank you so much for your help!!

-Smirch

 

You = Troll

 

Why are you attacking me?? I am just trying to get some information... Geez

One more thing to add -- I am curious if some of those who are commenting on the D830 have not seen it -- It is very solid, and is nothing like the old Dell cheapo notbeooks I have tried in the past.

Thanks
--Smirch

 

I'm a Mac user. To me there is no PC but Thinkpads. Quality, keyboard and durability. Try using a thinkpad, visit a local shop and try out any thinkpad before making your mind. The D830 is also an excellent machine.

 

I had a D420, rock solid, even better built than the X60s.

But, the keyboard on the X60s is better. I also like the keyboard light a lot.

if you like the D830, go ahead and get it. there's no need to ask people why he's getting a thinkpad, especially here, right? what do you expect?

the feeling of owning/holding a thinkpad is priceless.

 

Let me break it down for you then.

You have no hands-on experience with a Thinkpad which is really required before youi can make an educated/intelligent determination if those "questionable" pros are real or not. But OH that didn't stop you from coming into a Thinkpad forum and offering an opinion.

Troll = confirmed.

 

Bless you Jor -- I appreciate your comments... I was actually being sincere, and really trying to feel out this intangible love for the TP. Because I am trying to convince my wife and myself that it is better, without being able to look at it, and in the face of all of these statistical reasons to go with the Dell instead.

I keep coming back to the keyboard -- which has to be one of the most important things.

But battery life is also quite important, I think. However, I will likely often be near an outlet.


Anyway, thanks again!

 

It's like somebody saying "I've never driven a BMW, but my Ford Focus is really nice. Therefore Ford Focus > BMW."

 

Both are good laptops. I almost bought the T61.

 

Well -- Please don't judge me on the title -- I meant to have a question mark on the end - D830 is better?

See?

Thanks everyone!

--Smirch

 

I chose the D630 because it was cheaper at the time, but I could have gone with the T61 if it was cheaper.

 

officedepot/bestbuy/circuitcity carry thinkpad, I think.

must have a friend who has it?

I never found the keyboard on my d420 awful. the one on thinkpad is just better.

I don't think you'll have trouble with the d830 keyboard.

 

Anyway, back on topic -- I know you feel strongly about Thinkpad, and I believe they are fantastic.

But there are many fans on this site who have their complaints about the T61 -- so I wanted to feel out some of the differences between the D830 and ask, what is compelling people to purchase.

I am happy to see there are so many people who love T61.

Background -- I have ordered D830 and T61 for school -- Because of their Draconian return policies, I will be forced to return one without opening the box. (I ordered both because it appears the T61 may not come in time for school. Perhaps part of me wants the D830 to be just as good -- heh)

--Smirch

 

ThinkPad keyboard is renowned by independent reviewers everywhere as the best. I haven't dried the D830, but the D820's keyboard sucked hard.

The new Latitude's are much better in build quality. I still trust ThinkPad better - magnesium roll cage, LCD roll cage, two keyboard drain holes, accelerometer for hard drive protection, keyboard platform has a curved edge to help contain liquid spillage, and survived a 35mph crash into a wall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw78gcU713g
The guys on Lenovo Blogs said it actually survived.

Graphics card: Dell has the 256MB 140M eh? The 140M has zilch for modern graphics processing power and the extra memory won't do anything but reduce disk churn. You need a GPU upgrade for better gaming, not more VRAM. Don't fall into the number-game marketing.

Trackpoint is love it or hate it. Most people love it.

Yes, the battery life on T61 14.1" widescreen is less due to lower capacity batteries. T61 15.4" widescreen uses the good old 9-cells that previous models used - I think close to 80Whr capacity. Plus you can add ~30Whr in the Ultrabay.

I've liked the Lenovo 15.4" screens, always pretty bright & good viewing angles. I've heard good things about the 14.1" widescreen versions. The 14.1" standard versions (not widely available anymore) sucked! Poor viewing angles & brightness.

To each his own, but you need to qualify your opening post. When you claim a product is inferior in ways that are not quantifiable & you haven't even used it, you make yourself look stupid in front of intelligent people. Never a good idea.

 

The Thinkpad T61 also has a 140m video card. The T61P has a 570M, but that is extra. Most business laptops have track points. I know HP, Lenovo and Dell have them.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the 15.4 T61 offers a brighter screen (and contrast ratio, if I remember correctly) than the D830, according to Tabook and the Dell site.

But besides that, I haven't had much experience with either. D830 was a strong contender for me, but I opted for the T61.

 

Nope, I think the screens are the same.

 

You're right. The screen information on the Latitude overview page differs from that on the popup window that tells you the difference between the screens.

http://www.dell.com//content/learnm...tebooks&~mode=popup&~model=d800&~series=latit
vs
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/latit_d830?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04

I'd trust the latter. Well had I know that, it could have definitely changed my order completely.

 

I think you would be very happy with the keyboard on the thinkpads, as well as the overall quality, in spite of some people getting some bum units. Seems whenever I talk to friends who have Dells the keys seem to break down or other problems occur, but I see refurbished Thinkpads all the time going strong. I think it may be worth the wait if you can, I had seriously considered Dells too but I don't know if the construction has changed since. I'm very happy with mine (T60, not T61).

 

You can get a 9 cell battery on a T61, if you're looking for graphics performance, go for T61P.

 

the thinkpad has the best keyboard hands down. The build quality is excellent and the screen is not bad considering the fact that it seems like all WXGA+ 14.1 inch panels suck.

The only one thing that i really HATE about the thinkpad is the lack of an s-video port and the crappy speakers....both things I can do without anyways.

 

I hated my D420 when I had it. It ran hotter than the X61t I have right now despite being slower. The exhaust was to the right of the keyboard so when I used a mouse it was pure hell. The notebook was clearly audible when the fan is on highest while the X61t is very quiet. Also Dell technicians has no clue how to service an ultraportable.

 

I don't understand why you need to "fight for a reason" to own the ThinkPad. If you need to fight for a reason, then it means you're just looking for any reason to own a ThinkPad, which in turn means that you want the damn thing no matter what. So just buy it.

 

I do not think the D830 suffers from any of those problems. The D430 might have all of them, but the D830 does not.

 

It seems , a group of people are bent upon promoting Thinkpad. Dell D830 is extremely solid lap top with better battery life audio . Key board is also good if not the best. Dell has been the major supplier of key software companies like Infosys in India , which establishes that Dell has come a long way.

 

Aren't you a smart doo-hickey? People promoting ThinkPads in a Lenovo forum........that's CLASSIC!!

 

d 830 vs t 61


That's a tough one. I like the latitudes magnesium case, better battery life, standard three year warranty, wuxga available without requiring a high end package- I'm not sure I have the swingers for ultra on a 15.4 anyways, but I'd probably go for it.

What keeps me coming back to thinkpads are the keyboards. Others' keyboards are actually getting close now, but the trackpoint is unmatched with the third scroll button (vs having to press two buttons simultaneously). Sounds trivial, but once you get used to it you really like it. Also like low key black appearance. Plastic is flimsy, but roll cages are solid.

However now that flexview is extinct, and other makes have caught up with thinkpad in build quality and keyboard, it will probably be a dell, if not back to vaio next time for quality displays.