does the T series still have magnesium bouy

What about the surface of the T61-is it made of magnesium? Or is it made of plastic like the R61?As far as I know this has been one of the biggest differences between the previous T and the R series. I read very contraindicative info on the different reviews-some state that the T61 has magnesium outer body and other-that is rugged plastic.In the Lenovo's site they just mention that they have replaced the metal lid cover on the T61 with a plastic one for better WWAN.But they don't mention anything about the rest of the outer body.I don't mean the Roll Cage inside-I know that the T seres and some of the R series have that inside.The Dell Latitudes D830 and D630,for example,have all magnesium outer surface.

 

T series has the magnesium body inside while having a strong carbon fiber/plastic body outside.

 

so is it the same carbon fiber/plastic body on both the T61 and R61?

 

One and the same.

 

To play devil's advocate for a moment, the "carbon reinforced" plastic (whatever that is) on the outside is no more rugged than that of any other plastic encased notebook. The magnesium rollcage on the inside (of the base, I haven't seen the one behind the LCD) is made of extremely thin magnesium, that I would be hard pressed to tell from plastic...it flexes quite a bit. If you pick the notebook up by the corner or the edge, it does indeed creak some. It's well made, but definitely not "tank-like" as it's often been described.

I like my T61, but I feel the reviews and commentary by some are a little misleading as to it's sturdiness.

 

the r61 i played with at office depot felt considerably more "cheap" than the t61 p i received direct from lenovo. Not sure why.

 

If you want an actual tank-like laptop, ThinkPads aren't the best, it's a Toughbook by Panasonic that you need. You can spill water and use them in insane conditions like very hot or in the desert with lots of sand and it will not fail. Then again, you pay the hefty pricetag for it.

While ThinkPads aren't Toughbooks, compared to Macbooks and other laptops, they are. I've come across many short stories (like @ slashdot) of people accidentally dropping their ThinkPads (old IBM-made ones and Lenovo's) and they all mention how surprised they were at the built quality.

 

Note that if you played with the 15" R61, it does not have a full magnesium roll cage; only the bottom casing has it. Whereas the 14" R61, and all T61 models have the roll cage for both the base and the LCD housing.

 

The t61p has move to a composite roll cage. Carbon fiber in base and middle of screen and fiberglass at sides of screen. Fiberglass does not block RF signals like carbon fiber and magnesium.

 

I believe this is incorrect. The roll cage is magnesium alloy, but since it is honeycombed rather than a solid shell (in the LCD housing, where the WiFi antennas are located), there are no issues with WiFi, like there were with some of the titanium-lid ThinkPads. I have seen no data since I ordered mine in late March that Lenovo has made changes since then, and mine still has the magnesium roll cage. (See link below)

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...AF24034A0011B825513BCED&tab=3#tab-container-5

 

I was only able to find the info on the X300 writeup. But I also read last summer with the T61P introduction.

Hybrid Roll Cage II design LINK

 

I still think the laptop has much better feel and look if it is made of magnesium instead of plastic.I don't know why they don't make the top line T-series out of magnesium-many other manufacturers do.

 

If you want a laptop with a metal shell, take a look at the dell latitudes.

 

"The magnesium rollcage on the inside (of the base, I haven't seen the one behind the LCD) is made of extremely thin magnesium, that I would be hard pressed to tell from plastic...it flexes quite a bit."

I have a 15" t61p and have opened the top. It has a remarkably sturdy and well machined magnesium framework. Lonewolf is quite right about the antennas.

 

thank you for the info guys!

 

Not everyone here is a guy.

 

And lady, of course. Thou who brings beauty amongst the thorns.

 

thank you guys and ladies!