Working mans Laptop - IBM ThinkPad???

paddylonglegs

Hey,

I'm falling into line by asking is this laptop any good basically.Couldn't find related articles on IBM

Not too bothered with using it for music,movies etc, more so photoshop illustrator packages,DJing and surfing.

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/ThinkPad_Z61p_Laptop_UA3KSUK/version-1.asp

Just clicked on Powerhouse laptops on laptopsdirect and came across this.Anyone got any beef with IBM?What kind of name do they have and do they have any pain-in-the-arse restrictions or difficulties with repair because they're not as popular?

Thanks guys,let me know what you IBM-ers think

And if this isn't the one for me,any other recommends apart from mac?

Tom Dunne

paddylonglegs wrote:

Thanks guys,let me know what you IBM-ers think

And if this isn't the one for me,any other recommends apart from mac?

I've been using IBM laptops for the past 10 years in the job. Can't recommend them highly enough.

When I had to go an actually pay for one myself, I bought an IBM. Top quality, never let me down, a real workhorse. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

paddylonglegs

Thats perfect Tom Dunne,all I wanted to hear.

Did you get yours in Dublin or know anywhere that does em?

Also,just noticed that particular lappie is priced in sterling. Might need to take the spec down a peg or two

trout

We run IBM, Dell and HP laptops in work ... at least 30 IBM Thinkpads of various vintages going back 8 or 9 years in some cases.

I am a huge fan of the IBM laptops as workhorses, they are very popular with the 'road warrior' reps as they take a lot of abuse. Generally sturdy & reliable.

I haven't noticed any difference in quality since the IBM / Lenovo deal ... parts & repair has never been a problem for me ... even on the older models.

I particularly like the keyboards, and the wee spot-lights that cover the keyboard ... really handy when you are travelling, or working in the dark.

I used to run a T41 at home, my kids use it now for browsing and low-spec games. Mrs trout runs an online shop from a T41 also. Both machines have taken 3 years of all the abuse a family can throw at them ... they take a lickin' and keep on tickin'

If I was looking to buy now I would also look long and hard at the MacBooks and MacBook Pro ranges ... savage machines, depending on your budget and requirements obviously. It's very impressive to see how well these Macs run Windows XP and XP applications.

Good luck

Tom Dunne

paddylonglegs wrote:

Did you get yours in Dublin or know anywhere that does em?

I got mine from Laptopsdirect.ie. Priced in Euro too.

paddylonglegs

Ok,i'm preparing to take abuse here,but I'm actually using a macbook at the moment:eek:

it just doesn't seem to be my thing.If I had used them in college I probably would have picked it up quicker with so many others using,but I don't know anyone else using them and I find it hard to latch on.

And since they'v moved to Intel I'm finding less of a difference than with XP.

I'v considered the bootcamp thing but not sure how capable it is.Is there any problems opening .exe files while running bootcamp?

Cheers

GenericName

I joined my company in November 2005 and was given a Thinkpad R52. Still using it as I type this.

I've spent the last year or so working from hotels around the world. So it has to put up with being dragged from hotel or airport to site each day in a backpack.

It's put up with more abuse than it should have but the only damage is a 2cm crack on the top left part of the LCD frame. And the little plastic pin that hits the button to put the machine in standby when you close the lid snapped off last week.
Since the company bought it, I presume price is an advantage. It's performed well with most applications despite the lowish spec. I run lots of applications concurrently, use dual output to projector/monitor/TV, use it as an audi/video jukebox, play the odd strategy game, all the usual office applications, Webserver and DB for some application testing.
Does everything pretty well.
The unit is not too heavy to carry around and the AC adapter is much smaller and lighter than my previous Dell. Big advantage if you have to carry it every day.
Never had a problem with the wireless adaptor or dropping connnections or performing slowly, unlike the previous Dell.
Also it has more connections than your standard Dell like firewire, infra red, bluetooth. Better battery life than the Dell. (Probably cause the Dell used a Pentium IV). The keyboard light is quite handy.

Three major anoyances though. About 1 in every 5 times I close the lid, it won't recover fully from standby. Therefore I have to power off and lose everything. Also, there's now Windows key. So I can't use all the handy shortcuts. And finally, only two USB inputs. I know I could buy a multiport USB. But I want to carry as little crap around as possible.

The design is not sleek. But the rugged look suits some people.

Larry_o_C

I've worked with them, absolutely fantastic. So is laptopdirect.ie the only place in ireland to get them? I'm also looking for one, around the e1200 mark.

Skud

just a word of warning the company i work for supply ibm laptops to their staff. they are starting to look for other sources of laptops now because they feel the build quality lenovo are putting into them isn't adequate enough. just make sure this isnt the case before you think about buying an IBM. Some models are worse than others i believe

philstar

the T series are the best imo.

*and also thinkpad keyboards are generally regarded as the best of any make.

Soundman

Glad to hear the good words people have for these. Have been considering getting one myself. Possibly going to go for the Thinkpad Z61t.

paddylonglegs

Yeah I think IBM running XP are probably closest to a decent mac.There a no frills type but i don't somethin to sit there and look pretty.I'm a man dammit!!!

Cunny-Funt

I still have a Thinkpad lying around from years ago. 100mhz pentium + 32mb ram with a 2gb hd.


pwnage

philstar

just wondering...where is the best place or website to get a thinkpad??

and i mean the real deal ibm not lenovo


ps- its a pity lenovo have done away with the trackpoint, much better than a touchpad..wouldn't you agree??

Soundman

Would be very difficult to find a shop selling IBM branded laptops now. They are exactly the same though regardless of the brand name on it. All the Thinkpads I am looking at on the Lenovo site still have the trackpoint on them as well as the trackpad.

philstar

Soundman wrote:

All the Thinkpads I am looking at on the Lenovo site still have the trackpoint on them as well as the trackpad.

oh ya r u sure?? have u got a link?? yet to see a lenevo with a trackpoint:cool:

leeroybrown

philstar wrote:

oh ya r u sure?? have u got a link?? yet to see a lenevo with a trackpoint:cool:

They're still putting a trackpoint on all Lenovo ThinkPads. It's the lower end non-ThinkPad notebooks that don't have one.

Take a look at the ThinkPad range on the UK site.

philstar

but the ones with trackpoints are not Lenovo...they are end of the line ibm's which will be phased out within the next year

leeroybrown

Yes, but they haven't released a ThinkPad model yet. All they've released is a lower end line-up that was never catered for by IBM to begin with and I wouldn't expect them to put a touchpoint on them. They're hardly going to phase out the ThinkPad given that it's practically it's own market segment.

Personally I'm not a ThinkPad user and prefer a good quality touchpad anyway so I'm not all that concerned what they do with it.

irlrobins

IBM are solid as hell. Have a 'banger' of one and it's still going strong. And to back up Soundman, I can see Leveno laptops with trackballs on them. The new R61 for example...

paddylonglegs

ok,looked at a couple of different machines. Tell me,will there be much difference with a processor speed of 1.66 and 2.0 ghz?same ram and same rpm.

dumb q but not too sure of this

mathias

1.66 and 2.0 ghz

Need a bit more than that to answer , Are the processors the same type besides speed ? For instance are they both Celerons or Pentium M's or Core duo's , if so then no , you wont really notice much of a difference with most apps. If they are different types though , for instance if one is a celeron and the other is a core duo , you most certainly will.

Soundman

Was originally going to get myself a nice Thinkpad T60 but after much deliberation I settled on the new Lenovo 3000 N200. Really nice specs including the new Santa Rosa chipset.

Specs HERE
Only difference is the one I went for is the 2GHz processor.

Took me ages to find somewhere that (hopefully) didn't have the new "Verified by Visa" security in place. Nice price too compared to a lot of other sites.

philstar

Soundman wrote:

Was originally going to get myself a nice Thinkpad T60 but after much deliberation I settled on the new Lenovo 3000 N200. Really nice specs including the new Santa Rosa chipset.

yes nice spec...but no trackpoint:cool: ....can't live without a trackpoint, the best thing about the thinkpads imo....hate using those touchpads>too fiddly, but with the trackpoint u can directly move the cursor to where u wanna go on the screen

Soundman

It's not a thinkpad though. It is one of the Lenovo 3000 series. I really can't stand the trackpoint myself. I find it way too inaccurate. Much prefer the trackpad. Takes a little bit to get used to but I find it far quicker and more accurate.

philstar

Soundman wrote:

I really can't stand the trackpoint myself. I find it way too inaccurate. Much prefer the trackpad. Takes a little bit to get used to but I find it far quicker and more accurate.

you gotta be kiddin me, the trackpoint is way more accurate than flicking your fingers accross a touchpad its ...nauseating

Soundman

philstar wrote:

you gotta be kiddin me, the trackpoint is way more accurate than flicking your fingers accross a touchpad its ...nauseating

I jest not. I find it too finicky and jittery.