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I have been using this Thinkpad for about 2 weeks now, and I can say that of all the machines I hav used, this is the best. I wanted a T60P, but i couldn't justify the additional $800 right now, I just need something to travel with.
The laptop itself was $1200
I got a 3 year accidental damage warranty for $129
And a worthless "asset tag" which is basically a sticker with my name, for $6
Out the door including tax it was about $1400
The Specs: Intel Core Duo 1.83ghz
512mb RAM/80GB 5400 RPM HD
14" SXGA screen, 4:3 ratio
Radeon x1300 64mb***
Intel PROwireless A/B/G/Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
Type III PC Card slots/Express Card slot
Biometric Security system
DVD-R Ultrabay

Design:
My previous notebook was a Dell XPS, this is a lot more business like. Basic matte black, with the famous 3 color IBM logo on the lid. No fancy color changing LED's screaming STEAL ME.

Keyboard: The keyboard is basic black, with a greyish blue Enter key and the Thinkvantage button, and the famous red Trackpoint in the center. On the bottom of the screen is a row of green LEDs that display pretty much everything. Bluetooth, battery status, wireless, bt, lots of stuff. VERY comfortable to type on, not too loud or soft. The mouse buttons make ZERO noise. Only gripe I have is that the Function and Control keys are switched, so you have to be careful. It also includes the great Thinklight, you press Fn and Page Up. Not as cool as the MacBook Pro light up keyboard, but just as effective.

Screen: I chose the regular screen over the widescreen Z series of Thinkpads because pretty much all the media I have on my HD is for regular screens. The screen is actually pretty good for a "business" notebook, it isn't as sharp as a Truelife or Crystal view, but it is pretty close. All angles are viewable, except from top down.

Connectivity: You get pretty standard ports, 3 USB2, Gigabit Ethernet, 56k Modem, VGA out. No DVI out port, but you can get one on the optional docking station or buy a PC Card adaptor.

Noise and heat: Completely silent fan, you can only hear something if you put it up to your ear, it sounds like rushing air from your car A/C. The vents are located on the left top corner, most of the time just cool air rushes out, if you are playing any games, the air gets warmer, but the noise stays the same, almost nothing. I have had this on my lap with bittorrent running full blast, and it only got a tad warm.

Batterylife: I havent used all the different schemes, running on battery, wireless off, I get 4 hours, with wireless on, 3:45.
Weight: I am simply in awe. Going from a nearly 9 pound "laptop" to a 5 pounder makes a huge difference.

Speakers. Hmm, not the best, if you are in a crowded room, nobody will hear them. They are right on the bottom edge of the front lip.

Trackpad/Trackpoint. Well, you either love it or hate it. I love it, since I was used to the Toshibas Accupoint. You have an incredible 4 different ways of scrolling. You can use the trackpoint to grab a windows control arms, you can use the trackpoint and the keyboards middle mouse, you can drag your finger along the right edge of the trackpad, and, if you keep your finger sort of in the middle right of the trackpad, you can quickly scroll up and down.

Graphics: I am a hardcore gamer, but I decided against getting a gaming laptop again because of their terrible batterylife. But I avoided getting a Intel GMA sysatem, I wanted something midrange. I also am a 3d artist, i run 3D studio max and Maya, I havent installed them yet.
Here is a link to my 3D Mark01 score, http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=9022985
***I remember when I ordered my Thinkpad, it was a 64mb chip, but 3Dmark reports it as a 128mb chip.

Software: Unfortunately my laptop didn't come with a WinXP disc, I will need to call them on that issue. It also comes with the Thinkvantage suite, and all those different programs are assigned to the Thinkvantage button, which is near the top left corner of the kb. Security, wifi, bluetooth, automated backup, and lots more functions can all be accessed by this one button.


Security: If you have secrets to hide, this thing is a freakin vault. You have the biometric scanner, along with a password for the HD. Even if someone steals your laptop, and takes the HD and tries to use it on another machine, they won't be able to get in.

Bottom line, Thinkpads rock, they are the best IMO. Yeah other laptops are fancier and include more gadgets, but IBM is the Toyota of the laptop world, a bit ugly and plain, but rock solid and reliable.
5/5 stars

And since I am getting so many PM's about it, the program I use to make the icons look like that is called DESKVIEW.EXE, get it here, http://www.jimcofer.com/geekstuff.htm

Nice review...where did u order it from? 1200 bux for the high res screen and dedicated gpu is pretty nice.

The best I can find is 1100 but thats an xga and gma950 system with a slower cpu and less HD

You need to either find an EPP login or know someone at IBM/lenovo that will give you access.

Where would I find such epp login if I dont know anyone at IBM?

Thanks for the review. I just bought the same model for $1299 with a "free" 512MB RAM (for a total of 1GB). I got this price by calling and asking for it based on the price offered to Visa Businesscard holders (they didn't ask me to prove I had such a card....I just used a Sony VISA from Chase to pay for it). I've included a link for Mastercard users, too. Both offer about the same discounts and they seem to change about every 2 weeks or so. Sometimes the prices offered for various models seem crazy...that is, a machine with much better specs will be offered for lots less and a low-end machine. Must be their attempt to deal both with inventory and with discounters like Dell. If you know how to get a discount, great, they let you. End of story.

By the way, the EPP program is ONLY available to people who can PROVE they are entitled to it. So, these other discounts are the way to go (and, based on my frequent shopping for bargains on Lenovo's site leading up to my purchase I found that EPP isn't always the cheapest offering).

The 2623-D6U is not being offered at this low price right now. There is a good deal ($1399) for the model 2007-C4U which is faster and has some added software (it was an Educational model with the 3-year warranty).

I hope this helps... please let me know if you found this info helpful.

Visa Discount:
http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/visa

Mastercard Discount:
http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/mastercard

Im gonna order from that site also, amazing prices! I dont quite understand why they offer a discount to visa/mastercard. Surely this is the method of payment most people use anyway?

Just letting you guys know, Half Life 2 runs almost flawlessly on this system, I am running it with all the settings at minimum, and it still looks good, I am averaging about 70fps, have not tried CS:S yet though. There are scripts out there that will reduce the workload for the chipset further for CS:S, check out the CS forums on Forumplane, I am on there with the same username. When you get several explosions on screen at the same time in HL2, the system sometimes stutters, but I think that can be cured with more RAM.

all thinkpads do not come with windows CD's. there is a partition on your Harddrive that is about 4 gigs that has the windows info. so if windows messes up and you cant do anything, you push the blue button when you log in and it will reinstall windows if u want. also you can make a set of CD's that has windows on it incase you reformat your harddrive or venture into Linux and mess up your windows partition (done that a few times

Hi,

What brand of ram to chose to upgrade to 1gb size?

Personally, I used a Kingston 1gb PC5300 stick.

Corsair, Crucial, Mushkin, Kingston are the ones I'd choose

Thanks.

Will receive my T60 on next Monday. Any good place to buy ram in Canada?

nice buy. I am thinking of buying a thinpad too, where did get such a deal on the warranty

I forgot I had an account here. Over 2 years and still no problems, my right mouse button is getting worn and does not click every time I use it, but other than that no problems. I upgraded to 2.5gb of Corsair ram and I am running Windows 7 RC1, audio controls and screen brightness work, but no onscreen notifications.

The extended warranty is worthless, this thing is a tank.