What should I be putting up for this machine...?

Hey all,

I can get the following laptop...my dream machine, with specs as follows:

Thinkpad T60p, T2600 (Core Duo @ 2.16GHz each), 1GB RAM, 100GB 7200rpm HD, 15" UXGA (1600x1200 LCD w/IPS), 256MB ATI FireGL V5200, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, WWAN, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 9c Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro...it's LOADED! lol...

Warranty until almost 2010!!

How much do you guys think I should be looking to pay?

 

$750
Here's a similar machine:
at CCity
Personally, I like your current machine as well. The difference in speed will not be noticeable (except maybe psychologically and on benchmark programs)

 

$750?? Your link displays an R61 with NO UXGA, NO IPS, probably weaker gfx, etc.

THIS, very specifically, this is what I want. I've put in BOLD what's especially important to me:

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Thinkpad T60p, T2600 (Core Duo @ 2.16GHz each), 2GB RAM, 100GB 7200rpm HD, 15" UXGA (1600x1200 LCD w/IPS Flexview with high density and wide viewing angle), 256MB ATI FireGL V5200, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, WWAN, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 9c Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro...it's LOADED! Warranty until almost 2010!!

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So I am looking at a much higher-spec machine than the one you linked. The main differences being 15 ", and UXGA with IPS Flexview. Yea, I know the difference will be negibile in the 116MHz, but I'm mostly after the UXGA resolution and the IPS quality. Plus, I have a Core 2 Duo at 2.33GHz coming, as I want to start using Vista 64-bit.

So again, what do you guys think?

 

03 01

Hey TonyT, now that sounds more like it. But again, apples and oranges when it comes to the most expensive parts of the machine. The screen's resolution, and quality, namely UXGA, and IPS. Or did you mean WUXGA? The 20GB difference in the HD is minuscule. There is a video on Youtube where a Thinkpad with a NON-IPS screen is right next to one of the few remaining IPS displays. I'll try to find and post it.

By the way, how come you prefer nVidia over ATI? I want to start gaming and I heard good things about nVidia.

Also, what do you guys think about the 17" WSXGA+ HiBRITE screens of the new Sony Vaio's? I'd like to get a backup computer, but two virtually identical Thinkpads (with the exception of the screen res.) sounds a little boring. Or should I maybe get an external monitor like the Thinkvision L220x, for example? My dad has an ultra-hot widescreen LCD monitor.

Finally, I want to get a TV tuner card. Which one do you recommend? Thanks...

 

Wonder if it's better and less costly to add an external LCD with your specs. to a good notebook. That way size is unlimited and you can continue to use it when you upgrade the notebook in a couple of years.

 

Oh definitely. The seller, the nicest person ever, had already upgraded it to 2GB, as I did on my current T60p. It took me MONTHS to find the system that I wanted, and I found it a 4am, and for an amazing price at that. I'll pop my T7600 chip in, along with my 200GB 7,200rpm with FDE, and I'll be one happy geek. It even has WWAN in it, but he didn't know if it was Verizon or AT&T(Cingular), which would also work for Vodafone.

If you look on ebay, a machine like that is consistently advertised for just under $3,000. Because of two things: 15" UXGA...and IPS. It has virtually the same configuration as my current T60p with the exception of the screen resolution. 15" SXGA+. But mine also has IPS. So I'll put the 100GB 7,200rpm in mine, which has a 100GB 5,400rpm, and get me another T7600, and then I will likely sell it.

I found a video where one of the brand new Lenovo T61p's, which no longer has IPS, sits next to a T60p WITH IPS. I haven't had time to look for it today, but I'll post it when my parents are going on their vacation. By the way, Arie, guess where they're going, amongst other locations in Africa. Malta! hheheh...It's only 30 degrees in Germany (-1C) with a wind chill of 20 (-5C), but I have decided to stay until after Christmas.

The main reason for why I had IBM send me the Core 2 Duo chip was to start playing around with Vista x64. But everyone is saying not to bother, as the driver situation looks really bad. What about XP in 64-bit? XP's code is coming up on six years old. That problem should not be present with XP, or am I mistaken? I know I kind of need 4GB's of RAM, and the max. on the T60p's is 3GB's. Hmmm...Should I try that?

 

Hey Arie,

Thanks for the info. I am not one who gives up easily on anything. My U.S. citizenship being one example. Eeeeverybody, including my mom and dad not only dissuaded me, but said things like "Oh, you'll be back in no time ". It wasn't easy. It was very hard, frustrating, and extremely challenging as a matter of fact. But I did it. It's all about determination. This analogy may sound silly, and is only valid in the abstract. I hope you know what I mean.

So since I have used nothing but laptops (Thinkpads) for eight years, I now have one of the craziest models ever. What challenges am I looking at? Most every piece of software I use has a 64-bit version. So does that mean it's a driver-only issue? My system's inner working's are in my signature, and both Thinkpads are new enough to have the "Windows Vista capable" sticker on it. Sooo...what am I looking at? Video card, audio card, hard drive(?), motherboard?? I will not try to run Vista x64. I WILL run Vista x64.

From what I've heard from people who successfully run Vista x64, the speed of the system sounds like night and day different. Come on Arie, nothing's impossible. And I can help you with an H1-B, or an L-1, and we might become neighbors, as I, too, am looking to the Pacific Northwest for when I return HOME. I know you want to go there and with your knowledge in IT, you'll get an H1-B, and if you have your own company, the L-1 turns into a green card after only ONE year. British Columbia, Canada is awesome as well.

 

Thanks for the link, Arie. Looks like about half the drivers have a 64-bit version, or am I misinterpreting the list? I'm reading up on 64-bit a LOT. It's quite interesting...and fun. Any good sites for Vista x64 and system T60p type and model # 2007-93U?

I'll be picking the unit up tomorrow at the post office, which is inside a laundromat I'm told. LOL...I can't wait to see this genius operation in "highly sophisticated Germany ".

 

My Thinkpad T60p is at the LAUNDROMAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahhahaha

Well, the ebay seller, an unusually nice person, and the United States Postal Service did their job well. The seller went well beyond the call of duty by getting my machine out of the U.S. before the Thanksgiving holiday, so that I would hopefully have it over the weekend.

After clearing customs, it all turned to poopoo when it hit the German postal system. I tracked the package again, and was both delighted, as well as surprised. There had been an alleged first delivery attempt, yesterday at 9:24am CET. Including myself, four people were in the house. Neither of the two doorbells rang, and there was no notice left that the alleged delivery attempt had taken place at all, so I thought, "Alright, it was a busy day anyway, I'll just get it tomorrow (Saturday) ". I did not like the fact that there was no notice, but I thought, well, I'm sure it'll be fine.

To prepare for unforeseen problems, I had done an hour's worth of research as to where this post office was even located. After I called a friend of my brother's who lives in town, I found out that the...(I was starting to laugh uncontrollably) ..the post office is located in a laundry facility!!! LOL...

What am I, in Thailand? Actually, no, I don't want to give Thailand a bad name, because I voted in the 2004 general election by absentee in Bangkok, Thailand at an actual post office. You know, a real upscale one with tellers and everything. Think luxury.

So I managed to sift through the poorly designed website for the German postal system, and was finally able to find out that it was going to be open until 12 noon today, since it's Saturday. My brother's friend also said there would be no 2nd attempt made to deliver my package, and that I would have to pick it up with the notice in person. What notice? They neglected to even put anything in my parents' mailbox.

Oh, maybe this is an e-commerce thing, and it's what, a virtual notice? And how can there be talk of a second attempt if there was never a first delivery attempt made to begin with. So I set myself three alarms for 11am CET, so as not to miss their closing time. Unfortunately, I forgot to add three hours for Pacific time, so here I am, no Thinkpad. I already got the mail, no 2nd delivery attempt, even though I put up 2 very friendly notes last night in the rain at 4am CET. Again, no notice, no re-delivery attempt. I was getting angry, so I was forced to take an extra Xanax.

Missing it today was my fault. Missing it on Friday was not. Boy, I feel sorry for whoever will be at the counter at the post off...I mean laundromat come 48 hours from now. I won't have a notice that was never left, but I'll be armed with my U.S. passport, California driver's license, and the attitude of a crazy person who just escaped a mental institution.

4:06pm CET right now, so 45 hours and counting.

 

I know, I know...lol...but to find out the fact that the German post office is located in such places as a laundromat, or kindergarten, etc. was ENTIRELY WORTH IT lol...I'm gonna get so much mileage out of this, I'm almost glad it happened.