Lenovo ThinkPad T61 Review Quotes

NotebookReview, PC Magazine, Laptop Magazine, CNet, and XYZ Computing have reviewed recently Lenovo ThinkPad T61 business-class notebook, built on the new Intel “Santa Rosa” mobile platform.

The reviewed T61 laptop PCs, which weigh starting at 5 pounds, have the 14.1-inch widescreen displays. Some of these computers are built on the Intel GM965 with the integrated Graphics Media Accelerator x3100, while others have PM965 chipset and the NVIDIA Quadro discrete graphics. Lenovo’s T61 notebooks have the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor with faster 800MHz front side bus, as well as support for wireless N (802.11n draft) and wireless broadband connection in select models. There are also T61 models with 15.4-inch WXGA displays.

According to NotebookReview, Lenovo’s 14.1″ ThinkPad T61 with integrated graphics has great performance and good battery life, as well as excellent build quality, with magnesium internal cage in lid and body for extra physical protection. Its keyboard is claimed to be highly usable, and the system runs cool reportedly. The main drawback of the ThinkPad T61 is its weak screen brightness.

PC Magazine marked the T61 as “Editors’ Choice” business laptop. They reviewed one of the models with a dedicated video solution.

“With the T61 Widescreen, you get the absolute best from Intel’s newest Centrino Duo platform. The system is loaded with Intel’s fastest Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and discrete graphics from the available nVidia Quadro NVS 140M. When you factor in all the other intangibles (comfortable keyboard, lightweight chassis, and more), it’s obvious why the Editors’ Choice for business laptops couldn’t go to anyone else,” PC Mag says.

Laptop Magazine reported that the ThinkPad T61 has excellent performance and portability, but they complain about notebook’s “annoying” DVD burner operation. The Magazine has tested the performance of the T61 configured with Intel Turbo Memory and saw “some speed improvements” when compared to the same laptop without this feature. Laptop Mag also marked this notebook as “Editor’s Choice”.

CNet gave the T61 notebook 7.6 out of 10. Along with internal roll cage for LCD protection and 802.11n Wi-Fi for faster wireless connection, CNet pointed out the T61’s very small A/C adaptor and Intel Active Management Technology as laptop’s advantages. However, the new Intel Centrino technology incorporated in Lenovo ThinkPad T61 “doesn’t offer outsize performance gains,” according to the review.

Although XYZ Computing says that Lenovo’s T61 does not have many weaknesses, this website highlighted the display which “does not get very bright”.

“Another issue with the display is that it is not centered on the notebook. I am not sure the logic behind this, but it is slightly disconcerting,” XYZ Computing reports.

Lenovo ThihkPad T61 currently starts at $1,024
.