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"Stick to the T43" on by ravishingr
Pros: Built in Verizon Internet card, IBM Core Duo
Cons: Many Many Problems, poor design, a step backwords for the t40 series
Summary: It is with the T60 that the unfortunate effects of the Lenovo takeover of the thinkpad line becomes evident. While the T40 series machines were all incremental upgrades to the T40 design, the T60 seems to be the first model designed by Lenovo, and it is apparent that they have lost much of the design talent that made thinkpads the best laptops around for so many years. Usually when a new model of laptop comes out, it is thinner and lighter than the model it replaces. Not so with the T60, which is substantially thicker, larger, and heavier than the T43 which it replaces, even if you exclude the tumor-like growth that portrudes from the right of the screen. Seeming to learn nothing from companies such as apple, much less previous incarnations of the T-series thinkpads, the T60 suffers from terrible industrial design. While in the T40 line, adding ram required the removal of one screw from the back of the machine, on the T60, one must remove 5 screws, including the one holding the keyboard in place, and remove the entire palm rest on the top of the laptop. All of this must be done with severely inadequate documentation, and believe me when I tell you that putting the palm plate rest back on and into place is not an easy task. The quality of materials used in construction is subpar, especially when compared to thinkpads of the past. The plastic feels cheap and brittle. It is sad to see what Lenovo has done to a once great line of computers. Oh, and if you want to add firewire capabilities to your T60 by adding a PCMCIA card, forget about it. They don't work with this computer and will crash it. A call to support revealed that Lenovo "has no documentation whatsover regarding using firewire with the T60." Oh, and Lenovo's customer service and support sucks. I've never been an anti-globalization, or an anti made in china person, but if this what we have to look forward to, American companies better stop selling out to Chinese ones.
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"ThinkPad – BMW of laptop computer. ThinkPad T60 – the Ultimate Business Machine" on by Michael_Ling
Pros: Classic, thoughtful design; Sturdy, reliable; Exclusive security features; Outstanding performance; Excellent ThinkVantage Productivity Software; Quiet operation; Long battery life
Cons: I had expected the cover to be Titanium, although the Magnisium is as good as it can be.
Summary: I bought the ThinkPad T60 (2623D5U) to replace my old IBM iSeries, an entry-level ThinkPad which is 5 years old but still works great. I did my research before the purchase and found that ThinkPad is still the most attractive laptop out there. My only concern is whether the new ThinkPad will be as good as the old one, since Lenovo acquired the IBM ThinkPad business last year. After testing my new T60 for two weeks, my concerns are all gone. In fact, I am so satisfied with my new ThinkPad that I decide to write my first product review ever.
THINKPAD T60 FEATURES
Core Duo chipset and superior configuration options
Sturdy, classic design: Unlike other laptops with a modular design, ThinkPad is tightly put together. Rock solid!
A deep supply of connectivity: includes Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g wireless, Bluetooth, 56Kbps modem, and optional Wireless Broadband Access. I have to mention that when you shop for other laptops, like Dell, you usually have to pay extra for these features.
FEATURES THAT ARE EXCLUSIVE TO THINKPAD
Fast Recovery system: Built in a hidden partition of the hard drive, allows easy and fast system recovery even when you cannot enter the Windows system
Fingerprint Security System: Only ThinkPad has a built-in fingerprint scanner. With a wipe of your fingertips, you can log into your computer via an Embedded Security System.
Shock-mounted hard drive: This hard drive is protected by an air-bag like security mount and constantly monitored by the Active Protective System. In case of shock or vibration, this system will suspend the hard drive to prevent any damage to it.
ThinkVantage: The blue ThinkVantage button summons Lenovo's excellent system support and help utility - ThinkVantage Productivity Center
Think Keyboard Light: An LED light illuminate the keyboard when you type in darkness. I find it extremely helpful. Another brilliant, thoughtful design from ThinkPad.
TrackPoint Device: In addition to a touchpad, ThinkPad still offers its classical TrackPoint device with two sets of mouse buttons, which I found more convenient than other pointing devices.
Sturdy steel hinges: Not just cool-looking, they are the reinforced joint connecting the display with the rest of the machine
FEATURES THAT LENOVO DIDN’T MENTION ABOUT THINKPAD
I think Lenovo is too modest in marketing the ThinkPad. They even didn’t mention the following features of a ThinkPad T60 on their website.
Built-in microphone: great for Net Meeting
Infrared interface: useful for exchange information with your other infrared devices
Multi burner: the DVD burner (selected models) is capable to burn double-layer DVDs. Great for DVD copying or system backup.
OTHER POSITIVE COMMENTS
Quiet: The sound of the hard drive is surprisingly low – I barely hear any noise during start up. ThinkPad did a great job dissipating heat with two louvers. You rarely hear the sound of the internal fan. I have tested many laptops. ThinkPad is the quietest.
UltraConnect antenna: Built into the display cover for optimal signal reception. This antenna provides me reliable wireless connection even when the signal is weak (probably from my remote neighbors).
Keyboard: Lenovo inherited the excellent keyboard design from IBM. ThinkPad still has the best keyboard out there.
Long battery life: My standard 6-cell Li-Ion battery lasts about 3.5 hours under peak performance condition. You can expand the battery life to about 6 hours by purchasing the optional 9-cell battery
Customer Service: Very responsive, friendly customer service provided by IBM in partnership with Lenovo.
SOME NEGATIVE COMMENTS
Cover material: Still magnesium as old ThinkPad. I had expected the ThinkPad T60 to have Titanium surface as in some ThinkPad Z Series
Price: Some people say that ThinkPad is the most expensive laptop within the class, although I disagree. When I loaded the Dell Latitude to the same configuration as my ThinkPad T60, Dell is only about $100 cheaper. But you won’t get those ThinkPad exclusive features anywhere else. In that sense, ThinkPad is well worth the price.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
ThinkPad – BMW of laptop computer.
ThinkPad T60 – the Ultimate Business Machine -
"Still the best" on by kwsinLA
Pros: basic design, quality, performance
Cons: Lenovo factor creeping in but not to badly
Summary: The T43 I bought in January got stolen so I replaced it with a much better spec'd T60 for exactly the same price (both were on sale at the time). The negative reviewers have a few valid points but it's still an excellent machine, and a worthy successor to the legendary T series.
The keyboard is a bit noisier and the track point buttons seem a bit cheaper but the palm rest is more rigid and the keys are easier to see. I think a lot of the negativity stems from the fact that the edges of a new laptop always feel sharper and smooth down over time, which makes an otherwise identical replacement seem a bit lower quality.
Performance is significantly better with the same RAM and clock speed I had in the T43, and it runs MUCH MUCH cooler, especially while on the charger. Less fan noise, too.
On the downside, Google Desktop and Symantec Security are preloaded (they weren't on the earlier T43's) but what's preloaded can easily be unloaded. And I miss the lack of an LPT port but like the addition of another USB. Not too crazy about them squeezing in the useless (to me) Windows keys, which makes the Ctrl and Alt keys smaller, but some people wanted them there so what can you do.
0n balance, some things were lost and some things were gained. The Core Duo processor helps a lot with my Photoshop work (I'm a pro photographer) and the added features for the same money (extra gig of RAM plus a DVD burner and Bluetooth) more than make up for anything taken away from the T43, IMHO.
Remember folks, these are still designed and supported by the same people in the US that were there before Lenovo bought the PC division. Lenovo's management is certainly different but the engineering, design, and customer service are what they've always been as far as I can tell.
One last thing - some have complained about the new RAM access. The old way was much easier but if the new way allows for the much cooler temps and more rigid palmrest it was an excellent design comprimise.
I'm rating this a 10 to bump up the absurdly low marks others have given it, but it's at least an 8.5 in my opinion. Not perfect but still very good and the prices are attractive at the moment. -
"So Far So Great" on by BoarDLaze
Pros: Quality construction, good display, great keyboard, great overall feel.
Cons: Low feature/price ratio, weak speakers, corporate software not best for a sole practitioner
Summary: I'm an attorney. I'm using this laptop as a desktop replacement for intensive word processing in Word Perfect as well as
Word; and for schlepping around to use in court for scheduling, note-taking, and evidentiary support including Power Point presentations.
On the screwaround side I use it for web surfing but not gaming or for DVDs
The T2400 processor, 80G drive, 6 cell battery and DVDR are more than adequate for my needs. I did upgrade the RAM from 512K to 1M on general principle.
I sacrificed features, processor speed, etc., for ruggedness, reliability, and a good warranty. However, one of the features sacrificed, a bright screen display, was actually a net gain because the matte screen is resistant to the overhead glare prevalent in court rooms and the conference rooms used for depos. The IBM logo doesn't hurt either. Image is important.
As time passes, I'll probably delete and replace a fair amount of the included software. Packages seldom include the specific utility or specific version you want. And, in my case, this one is no different. However, it may be perfect for you. On balance the ThinkVantage stuff is pretty good.
Also, it's true that there is enough booting software that boot time lags a bit, as new machines go. But, I've been in the game long enough so that I never have to boot under pressure. That's why laptops hibernate.
The fingerprint security feature works faster than you can enter a password -- provided you learn how to use it before entering your prints. And do enter multiple prints. My index print works about half the time, but my middle finger (go figure) always does. So I give the reader the finger it wants.
In my opinion the three most important things about any computer that handles your demands adequately are screen, keyboard and mouse.
As I said earlier, the screen was a pleasant surprise.
The keyboard is excellent. As good as a Microsoft, as good as a Mac.
There's nothing special about the track-pad -- it's a track pad, what can you say? But I've been using the stick and its controls for this and that, experimenting mostly, and find the system convenient. I'm not sure that I'll switch over completely, but the stick setup is intriguing. If you haven't tried it, you should.
I've had this T-60 2623-D6U for just over two weeks, and so far even the surprises have been good. This includes overall build quality, the principle reason I bought a ThinkPad.
All of this and a $200 mail-in rebate.
Bottom Line: It feels better than any laptop I've ever used. -
"Great and solid laptop" on by masteraleph
Pros: Well built, runs very well, simple to use
Cons: price, occasional software glitches
Summary: The T60 is a great machine. Contrary to at least one review on here, the machine is solidly built, even moreso than the T43, with the bottomside cage being quite nice (the support is also being done by the same people who did IBM's). It also runs very cool and quiet, with the fan making minimal noise and only rarely turning on. The price is pretty hefty, though I got an educaitonal discount. The only minus is some occasional glitches from some of the Thinkvantage software, which could stand to be tuned up.
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