CNET Editor's rating: 7.6 out of 10
Reviewed by
Dan Ackerman
Review date: 5/24/07
Release date: 5/9/07
The good: Internal roll cage protects LCD; 802.11n Wi-Fi for faster wireless throughput; very small A/C adaptor adds little to overall travel weight; Intel's Active Management Technology provides remote support.
The bad: New Centrino technology doesn't offer outsize performance gains.
The bottom line: Lenovo's 14-inch ThinkPad T61 shaves a few millimeters off the company's more mainstream R-series laptops, but still boasts the same, solid ThinkPad DNA along with IT-friendly features by way of Intel's new Centrino Pro platform.
Description:
This configuration of the Lenovo ThinkPad T61 is a 5.4-pound, consumer level notebook computer.
Compared to other mainstream notebooks on the market, it is relatively expensive at around $1,545.
Pros:
Has a plug-in module media bay, which is more favorable than some similarly priced notebooks.
Also, this notebook comes with Windows Vista business and Microsoft Windows Vista OS, which is somewhat more favorable than some similarly priced notebooks.
Has a
modular media bay
-- meaning its 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+ RW/+ R) drive is removable, allowing you easily to swap it out for alternative or upgraded units.
Cons:
Has no processor, which is considerably less desirable than some similarly priced notebooks.
For example, the
HP Compaq 6535b
, a 5.3-pound notebook at around $1, 420, has a turion X2 mobile processor.
Also, this notebook has only 0 MB RAM, which is considerably less than some similarly priced notebooks.
The
HP Compaq 6535b
, again, has 3 GB RAM.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T61 comes with no-frills word processing software – if you often create complex documents you will likely need to upgrade to a more powerful
office suite
.
Suitability:
Suited for those who just need a basic notebook.
Archive your digital videos using this notebook's DVD recorder.
Value:
Despite its relatively expensive price, this notebook has great features for the money.
However, if you were to judge strictly by how large the screen is, the average price of consumer level products with a comparable screen size is quite a bit less -- right around $1,279.
Suggestions:
For help in deciding if this is the right computer for you, see CNET's
buying guide for notebooks
.
2 ( 2 ) x Memory - SO DIMM 200-pin,
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - Type I/II
Interfaces
3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A,
1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15),
1 x Modem - Phone line - RJ-11,
1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45,
1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm,
1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm,
1 x Docking / port replicator - 240 pin docking
Miscellaneous
Features
Power-on password,
ThinkPad Roll Cage,
Hard drive password,
Administrator password,
ThinkVantage Active Protection System,
Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
Compliant Standards
CB,
CE,
ACA,
CCC,
CER,
CUL,
DOC,
MIC,
NOM,
BSMI,
GOST,
RoHS,
SASO,
MPR II,
MPR III,
UL 60950,
FCC Part 15 B
Pricing Type
CTO
Power
Power device form factor
External
Voltage Required
AC 120/230 V
Battery
Technology
Lithium polymer
Installed Qty
0 / 2 (max)
CNET Labs battery drain test: DVD playback (min)
149
Operating System / Software
OS Provided
Microsoft Windows Vista,
Windows Vista Business
Software
Drivers & Utilities
Environmental Standards
EPEAT Compliant
EPEAT Silver
EPA Energy Star Compliant
Yes
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (June 2008)
3.9
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Mar 2008)
7.3
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Sep 2008)
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel No CPU (2 GHz), 0 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.4 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPEAT Silver, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPEAT Silver, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPEAT Silver, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.3 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPEAT Silver, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (1.8 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, RoHS, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (1.8 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.3 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPEAT Silver, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPEAT Silver, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (1.8 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPEAT Silver, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer: Lenovo Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Unlimited long distance $24.99/mo
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