z60m or T60, that is the question

Can anyone tell me what is the real difference between z60m and T60?

It seems to me that z60m is much better than T60 in that it can both be used for multimedia purpose and so called 'business' work.

I watch a lot of movies and sometimes I do want to connect it to the TV using S-video port.

Is that because z60m is larger and heavier so that it is not as carriable as T60?

I am told that z60m is about 1-2 lbs heavier than T60 and I don't care about that extra weight.

If the only difference between T60 and z60m is that the latter has more functions and just a little bit heavier, then I will opt for z60m. Guys, please help me make the decision.

 

The Z60 is heavier than the T60. You might want to consider the Z61m which has the Core Duo CPU or the Z61t which weighs less thant the T60.

 

You need to think carefully about what you need the laptop for, and also to be aware of the *actual* technology you need to accomplish your tasks, as opposed to what is marketed by companies that want your $$$.

I went the z60m way, and even if I were offered a T60 (which sells for about twice as much) I wouldn't take it.

My opinion is that z60m is a "best in class" kind of machine for desktop replacement laptops; however the internals are also important.

I got a Pentium M machine and I strongly advise against getting later processors if you are not playing intensive games. Then again, IBM laptops are not the best for gaming, so you probably aren't looking for that.

Pentium M cannot be beat for heat and fan noise levels - it is cooler and quieter than any processor out there, and there is no real difference between Pentium M and later generations for office applications, movie watching, listening to music and web-browsing. Actually, if you are willing to accept minor speed loss (but not much productivity loss), you can do all of that with a P3 at 1.2 Ghz.

So for me (I need the computer for work and browsing)
Pentium M >>> Dual Core and later ones

A T60 is a portable machine and is made with a different kind of plastic (carbon layer something). It is lighter, but to me it feels less rugged than the z60m - many people might disagree because of the magnesium reinforced roll cage and so on - the fact remains that the T60 is smaller and less substantial. And it's not widescreen.

A note on screen resolution: many people laud higher resolutions, like "I wish my z60m came with 1900x1200". Yes, but it's still a 15.4 screen, so the dots will be much smaller. Not all software supports font scaling well, and you will need to adjust your font size with high resolutions. Then, not all programs support font scaling - so you open up, say WinAmp, and you can barely read your playlist. (Not saying that's true, just an example.) This can be very exasperating, especially if you need the program often.

If you need to travel with your laptop a lot or make many presentations routinely, T60 is a better choice (and costs more).

But if you need a solid laptop for web, office, music and movies, z60m is the way to go.

 

The Z61m with the Core Duo I wrote the review for was cool and quiet as is my Compaq V3000T also with the Core Duo. The Core Duo offers significant advantages over the Pentium M. I would agree due to the stiffer roll cage, the Z60 does feel more rigid than the T60. One additional advantage to the Z61m is it is about a half pound lighter than the Z60m.

 

My core duo is quite hot, mainly under the right palm rest.
About a week old and i dislike it... stuck with it because it's EPP
I dont know if it's the processor or HD causing the heat (someone told me it's the wifi, but it's still hot with wifi off)...

Anyway depending on your needs, a pentium M can do fine, and you'll save a bundle. The Z60m's and Z60t's were really low-priced in the lenovo outlet, if there's any left.

 

Thanks for the reply. I still have the following questions, could you guys help?

1. Will there be a significiant price mark-down during thanksgiving? If the answer is yes, I will wait two months. Otherwise, I will just buy it.

2. The purpose of the laptop is mainly for writing my disseration in the library. But I do watch a lot of movies. So my question is: how bad it is to watch a DVD on T60 compared to Z60m?

3. Or is there any other brands that has a widescreen and also portability and durablity? Ideally with features of Z60m and T60 combined all in one.

4. If the difference between Z60m and T60 is only a pound or two, I didn't see a lot of advantage of buying a T60 because it has limited functions.

5. I also read from the review of this site that Z60m's surface is scratable. Is it true? does it mean that T60 has a better case?

This is gonna be my very first laptop so I want to make the right decision. By the way, my budget is $1500.

 

I got my z60m for 1199 via the topseller program on IBM. It's an awesome laptop.

 

After you use it for sometime, please give more detailed info of your experience. Thanks. By the way, what is the topseller program?

 

ZaZ wrote:
The Core Duo offers significant advantages over the Pentium M.

My response:
1. Office work and web browsing are far less demanding from a CPU than 3D graphics. They are so "inexpensive" in computer time that they can be done with machines two generations old. I am not saying Core Duo isn't faster than Pentium M overall, but it certainly isn't faster in non-CPU intensive applications.

2. The Core Duo and multi-core processors are *server* processors. They can take advantage of multithreading, but most desktop applications are not written using multithreading. Companies are not going to rewrite their software in the foreseeable future - just because it works fast enough with a single execution thread. Rewriting software is extremely costly. So the second core in a dual-core processor mostly sits around doing nothing, because the software was written with a single core in mind. I'm exaggerating only slightly.
Again - a server processor is overkill for a desktop machine, and even more so in a laptop. The reason is that the newest of games are tens or hundreds of times more demanding than office work.
That's what I call the current high-technology marketing scam - pushing superfast processors on people who just don't need them but will pay the price premium anyway.

Back to the original question...
The most CPU-intensive operation for a standard user who doesn't play games is watching a movie encoded with some new demanding video standard. A pentium M and 1G of ram is more than a match for this task, with say 40 browser windows running in the background, WinAmp and 20 Office documents. I would say 512MB is also enough for the same, but don't want to exclude the extra-picky users.

So, in my opinion, a z60m with a Pentium Mis more than what you'll need for the next 4 years to write your dissertation, watch movies and surf the net.

If we start talking Windows Vista with AeroGlass, then it probably is insufficient. I don't know - there is too much speculation around. It will certainly be enough for Vista without AeroGlass, and may be enough for the full package. The other people in the forum should speak, though we won't know for sure before Vista ships.
It is not an issue for me since I will be using Ubuntu Linux. I haven't been on the Windows bandwagon since 2004 and that eliminated 40% of my computer worries. My hypothesis is that Microsoft saw it couldn't possibly compete with Linux on reliability and customizability, so it pushed the market in the only direction that it could sink major $$$ without being challenged - graphically intensive interfaces that require new-generation hardware to achieve the same level of productivity we are having right now. In the end, it's heaven for hardware manufacturers allied with Microsoft, and major expenditures for everyone else.

From the 5 questions that ThinkWierd posted, I can answer 2) and 3).

2. The purpose of the laptop is mainly for writing my disseration in the library. But I do watch a lot of movies. So my question is: how bad it is to watch a DVD on T60 compared to Z60m?

It shouldn't be much worse, as you can get a 15 inch screen with a high resolution. It won't be widescreen, though. Both computers have the hardware to watch tens of movies at the same time (open and running in different windows). You can't do that in Windows, but you can in Linux.

3. I don't know of other brands that are as durable as the IBM, but I am not a notebook expert. It seems only Fujitsu Lifebook and Panasonic Toughbook are at its level of build quality or higher. Other forum members should chip in. Both the Fujitsu and Panasonic are much more expensive.

 

i think..
in today's world..
one should always be thinking forward..
and be technologically advanced as much as one can..

for ur purpose..
both core duo or pentium M will work fine..
but u should think this way...
if u buy pentium M.. u r already one step backward.. technology wise..
and if u buy core duo.. at least u r one step ahead..

u never know what might come next...
some **** good app.. or OS might need a core duo as requirement.. or something.. [just an example]
so u might want to be prepared for whatever comes next...

so if its possible for u budget wise...
get a core duo...
if not than.. pentium M is also fine...

once u r final with processor.. then u can think about advantages and features of T series or Z series..
and i think there are lots of ppl here who can inform u about pros and cons of these two different series..

I bought my thinkpad few days ago..
From the begining i was quite sure i wanted to buy a core duo..
doesn't matter T or Z...
but then i had small budget..
so i was in trouble..
i wanted to buy Z61m... but they are still pretty expensive where i live..
so i went with T series.. and so far.. loving it..
although sometimes i miss S-video and card reader...

anyways.. whatever u choose.. GooD Luck in advance for a Thinkpad..!

 

Thank you guys for the reply and suggestions for choosing M or Core Duo. I will choose a Core Duo since it is within my budget.

To Kazzad: I am also a Linux fan and debian will be invited to my Thinkpad once I get hands on it. I am also thinking of installing Mac OS on it.

All my questions are not actually the CPU type but the differences of T60 and Z61m. I am cautious in my decision is that I have never owned a laptop before.

My questions can be boiled down to:
1. does z60m comes with the same chassis as T60 does? or it is scratchable according to the cons of this review:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2987&review=ThinkPad+Z61m

2. will the price be much lower around thanksgiving when core2 duo becomes the top notch and due to the festival sale?

3. the fives questions listed above