good deal? r61 8920-B6U

Hi everyone,

In september, lenovo released a bunch of new r61 models - there were two that caught my eye:

7744-1AU (14.1 Widescreen)
Intel® Core 2 Duo T7500 - 2200MHz
Genuine Windows Vista Business
1024 MB ram
160 gig HD (5400)
DVD Recordable 24X Max
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Business Screen: 14.1 WXGA+ TFT with integ 1440x900 Onboard Graphic Chipset: nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M Onboard Audio: Intel High Definition Audio Included Modem: 56Kbps data/14.4Kbps fax Hard Drive Controller: Serial ATA Onboard Network Contoller: Gigabit Ethernet- Integrated 10Mbps,100Mbps,1000M Battery Type: 6 Cell Lithium-Ion PCMCIA Support: 1 Type I/II (ExpressCard or SmartCard or 4-in-1 MediaCard Reader) External Speakers: 2 (Internal Speakers) Warranty: Three years parts and labor (system battery: one year) Wireless:Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG

and the 8920-B6U (15.4" Widescreen)
Intel® Core 2 Duo T7500 - 2200MHz
Genuine Windows Vista Business
1024 MB ram
160 gig HD (5400
DVD Recordable 24X Max
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Business Screen: 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT with inte 1680x1050 Onboard Graphic Chipset: nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M Onboard Audio: Intel High Definition Audio Included Modem: 56Kbps data/14.4Kbps fax Hard Drive Controller: Serial ATA Onboard Network Contoller: Gigabit Ethernet- Integrated 10Mbps,100Mbps,1000M Battery Type: 6 Cell Lithium-Ion PCMCIA Support: 1 Type I/II External Speakers: 2 (Internal Speakers) Warranty: Three year Wireless:Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG


So, aside from the screen size (and the WSXGA+ resolution on the 15.4"), i don't see a big difference from the two. And both are selling for $1350 (CDN) on the Lenovo Canada website.

But seriously, what's the REAL difference between the two? i know only the 14" r61's have the display rollcage, and are made of a sturdier case material. do i need that? i plan to carry the notebook in a normal backpack, because i commute on public transit and it's inconvenient to carry two bags.

And for the WSXGA+ panel, are these the same ones they use for the t61p? i want to get an lg-philips or samsung, but not a TMD or AUO. what are the chances of me getting a lemon of an lcd panel?

and finally, if i end up buying either one, am i getting my money's worth?
thanks in advance.

-allen

 

Personally, I’d go with the 14” because it’s more portable and feels more solid. I don’t think the case material is sturdier, it’s just that the extra real estate on the 15.4” makes parts of the palm rest mushy (there’s a recent thread on that). I saw a friend’s 15.4 and didn’t like the feel or the bulk – but that’s just me and you need to work out the size that suits you best.

As for the panel, I have an R61 with almost the same specs and like it very much. My 14” WXGA+ would probably be considered to have horrible light leakage but it doesn’t bother me a bit. Having said that, I don’t play games, watch movies, or have any situations where a dark background would be affected by light leakage. I think it’s difficult to know the chances of getting one screen over another but it may not matter too much, depending on how you use it and how picky you are.

 

hi,

my problem is i'm kind of a klutz, and it seems that only the 14" r61s have the display rollcages and the stronger case material (SEPC - super-elastic polycarbonate? as opposed to regular ABS plastic for the 15.4" r61s).

but purchasing an 14" r61 means I'll have (quite possibly) poorer lcd panel, and with my bad eyes...

so tell me, does your 14" r61 produce any flex, either at the back of the display, palmrest, or when you're holding it? how does the build compare to a t-series thinkpad?

-cheers, allen

 

Interesting, you’re right that the material is different on the R 15.4”. I did a quick search and found the information here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=134117&highlight=r61+t61+plastic+material and the reference information is here: ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitute/psref/tabook.pdf

15.4 = Black color, Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (PC/ABS) plastic

14.1 = Top: Super-Elastic PolyCarconate (SEPC); Bottom: Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic

I don’t have any flex on the palmrest or when holding it. Overall, it feels quite solid. No flex either from the back of the panel when I push.

I’ve only seen the 14” T series briefly, but I honestly didn’t notice much difference except that it was slimmer. The best online pictures I’ve seen comparing them side-by-side are here: http://www.tpuser.idv.tw/articles/santarosa-test-2.html

 

I thought all the new *61 thinkpads series had the rollcage and were built with the same material. Isn’t it correct?

I personally prefer 14 inch screens: not too small, not too big, perfect if you need to carry your notebook in a backpack frequently. I don’t have a R61, but a T61 WXGA+ and I really like it. You can always adjust the DPI if you think everything is too small in a 1440x900 resolution (or go down to the standard resolution, but I prefer to adjust DPI). No complains at all regarding the screen.

 

That's new...

By the way, looking those pictures, why the T61 fan is kind of golden while the R61 fan is kind of silver? I wonder if the R61 would run cooler since it is a little thicker and with larger windows for its fan (according to those pics).

 

Doing some search I found these pictures:
Pictures
Take a look how different the fan systems seem to be.
I am still wonder about what is the difference between both fan systems on R61 and T61.
Just annoys me Lenovo don’t advertise very well these differences.

 

Lenovo isn't the best at communicating with their customer - they make you work hard to get information.

The two major distinguishing features between the 14" R61 and the 14" T61 is the aluminum heatsink?/grill on the R and copper on the T. It has been discussed HERE and HERE.

The other is the R61 uses the Ultrabay Enhanced and the T61 uses the Ultrabay Slim. Other than the R being slightly thicker than the T, the two 14" laptops are identical in every other way (to the best of my knowledge).

 

Thanks for the links. I knew about the ultrabay and dimension distinctions, but these things about different materials and heatsink were new for me...

 

re: copper vs. aluminum heatsinks

so i found this article on heatsinks:
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=77909585&m=106091502

and although a Copper heatsink is heavier than a heatsink,
"...a pure copper heatsink will always outperform a heatsink of the exact same geometry of a pure aluminum heatsink assuming that both have the same contact with the heat source and the same rate of airflow over the surface."

unfortunately, although "all tests I have seen show that copper heatsinks do outperform aluminum, [they don't do so] by much"

you're better off with a r61 that's cheaper than a comparable t61, if your sole concern was heat dissipation

although i'm not sure about the toughness of the PC/ABS plastic vs. the SEPC material...

 

"There are a few substances that are at the top of the thermal conductivity charts, namely:
Diamond (2300 W/mK)
Pyrolytic Graphite (1950 W/mK)
Silver (429 W/mK),
Pure Copper (401 W/mK), and
Pure Aluminum (237 W/mK)"

Why my Thinkpad doesn't have a Diamond heatsink?!?!


Diamond heatsink... THAT would be sexy
Not a ugly leather cover