Input on purchase of Thinkpad T61P 14.1" for College

[996GT2]

I was looking at various configurations for laptops recently and found this Thinkpad T61P 14.1" to be a pretty nice deal.

Processor[1] Intel? Core? 2 Duo processor T8300 (2.4GHz 800MHz 3MBL2)
Operating System[12] Genuine Windows Vista Business
Operating System Language Genuine Windows Vista Business - US English
Display type 14.1 SXGA+ (1400x1050) TFT
System graphics NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M (128MB Open GL)
Total memory[8] 1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
*I plan to buy a single 2GB stick or a 2x2GB kit of DDR2 from Newegg for $40-80.*

Keyboard Keyboard US English
Pointing Device UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
Hard Drive[4] 160GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device[5] DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim
System expansion slots PC Card Slot & Express Card Slot
Wireless Card[10] Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (supporting Centrino Pro)
Battery[60] 9 cell Li-Ion Battery

The configured weight is about 5.6 lbs with the 9 cell battery, which gives an estimated 5-6 hours of battery life. The price as configured is $1057, which I think is pretty good considering the fast CPU, FX570M (8600GT) GPU, and large battery. I looked at Johns Hopkins' IT services to see if they offered better deals, but they stopped carrying laptops from Lenovo and only carry Dell and Apple now. So my question is, should I go for the above deal or wait until May/June to buy the next Centrino revision that may cost more? Will there be any huge upgrades to the Thinkpad line in the next few months, such as LED lit screens, quad core, etc?

Edited: Found better price-originally posted $1160, now 1057 with same specs

 

[thecoolnessrune]

You might as well go ahead and get it. You got a good deal and you can wait forever for the next big thing. Just don't expect to game well on that FX570. It may be the generally same core, but the drivers will make it suck at gaming.

 

[996GT2]

I've read on Notebookforums.com that people have had success in using normal Forceware drivers on the FX570M...so I think it should do OK in gaming.

Thanks for the input, I'll probably get it then

 

[Oil]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
I've read on Notebookforums.com that people have had success in using normal Forceware drivers on the FX570M...so I think it should do OK in gaming.

Thanks for the input, I'll probably get it then

Keep in mind the 570M is not the same as the one in the 15.4" T61. It has a 64bit bus compared to the normal 128 so gaming is only a little bit better than the 140M

 

[nace186]

If you go through FatWallet, you'll get 4% back also. But I think you should go through this one
http://forums.slickdeals.net/s...?sduid=308500&t=759044

which give you 15% off I think.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: OSx86

Originally posted by: 996GT2
I've read on Notebookforums.com that people have had success in using normal Forceware drivers on the FX570M...so I think it should do OK in gaming.

Thanks for the input, I'll probably get it then

Keep in mind the 570M is not the same as the one in the 15.4" T61. It has a 64bit bus compared to the normal 128 so gaming is only a little bit better than the 140M

Yeah, I read about the 14.1" version having a 128mb GPU with a 64 bit bus...I'm not planning to use this as a gaming machine, only the occassional CS:S or something like that...so even a stripped down FX570M should do fine.

Thanks for the link nace186, I'll definitely look into it.

 

[Oil]

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: OSx86

Originally posted by: 996GT2
I've read on Notebookforums.com that people have had success in using normal Forceware drivers on the FX570M...so I think it should do OK in gaming.

Thanks for the input, I'll probably get it then

Keep in mind the 570M is not the same as the one in the 15.4" T61. It has a 64bit bus compared to the normal 128 so gaming is only a little bit better than the 140M

Yeah, I read about the 14.1" version having a 128mb GPU with a 64 bit bus...I'm not planning to use this as a gaming machine, only the occassional CS:S or something like that...so even a stripped down FX570M should do fine.

Thanks for the link nace186, I'll definitely look into it.

Sounds like a T61 will serve you well then, it does for me.

Also if you plan on getting the 2x2gb kit you may want to get Business x64 to use all of your RAM

 

[Brainonska511]

Personally, I'd just wait till June or July to purchase a laptop for college. Prices could easily go down, some new things might come out that will be useful, etc.

 

[jpeyton]

I would wait as well. One thing about notebook deals is that they pop-up more often than you think.

If there is a Intel product refresh between now and when you start school, chances are prices will drop even lower.

That said, the T61P is a beast; great choice for a Wintel notebook...build quality is out of this world. Makes every notebook you've used prior to it feel like a kids toy.

There's a saying about Thinkpads: once you go black, you won't go back.

 

[Oil]

I don't know how I missed the last few sentences of the OP but I agree with the above two. Wait until a month or so before school before you buy the laptop. The next revision won't be more expensive, usually they are the same price

 

[996GT2]

Thanks for all the input guys...

I've been looking at various Thinkpads since December of last year, and I remember that prices were quite a bit higher then. Back then, an X61 with decent specs would have cost around $1500 and the T61P with a very similar config priced out to be around $1700...so if I was to wait until June, I'm afraid that prices might again go up to their original levels with the new Centrino refresh or whatever else comes out between now and then.

I guess I'll wait until June though; not particularly interested in any CPU upgrades (probably won't be any major ones)...mainly waiting for an LED lit screen and a built in camera with the high-res screen.

 

[corkyg]

Don't wait too long - the way the economy is going, your dollars may not be worth as much by July as they are now. And, you may need that money for something essential to live on.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: OSx86

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: OSx86

Originally posted by: 996GT2
I've read on Notebookforums.com that people have had success in using normal Forceware drivers on the FX570M...so I think it should do OK in gaming.

Thanks for the input, I'll probably get it then

Keep in mind the 570M is not the same as the one in the 15.4" T61. It has a 64bit bus compared to the normal 128 so gaming is only a little bit better than the 140M

Yeah, I read about the 14.1" version having a 128mb GPU with a 64 bit bus...I'm not planning to use this as a gaming machine, only the occassional CS:S or something like that...so even a stripped down FX570M should do fine.

Thanks for the link nace186, I'll definitely look into it.

Sounds like a T61 will serve you well then, it does for me.

Also if you plan on getting the 2x2gb kit you may want to get Business x64 to use all of your RAM

32 bit Vista will use all of the 4 GB.... it just won't advertise the fully installed amount until he puts SP1 for Vista on there. Common myth.

 

[masteraleph]

Originally posted by: WackyDan

32 bit Vista will use all of the 4 GB.... it just won't advertise the fully installed amount until he puts SP1 for Vista on there. Common myth.

Absolutely incorrect. 32-bit vista will do exactly what 32-bit XP will do: allow 4GB in total address space. It will also report the amount of meory it's allowing for use as RAM pre-SP1. The change in SP-1 is not that it reports all that it is using, rather, it's that it reports all that's installed, whether or not it's using the memory. In this case, it absolutely is not.