Introduction
ThinkPad X60
Manufacturer: Lenovo (product page)
Hardware specs: Intel Core Duo T2400 CPU, 12.1" XGA LCD, 80GB hard drive
Price as configued: US$2,056 (shop for this item)
IBM's Thinkpads had a consistent reputation as a solid, reliable business-oriented laptop. With IBM divesting of its PC division to Lenovo, many have wondered what will happen to the ThinkPad lineup. Will the quality decrease? What about performance?
The X series is the Thinkpad ultra-portable lineup, which consists of a single spindle design. The Thinkpad X60 is the current incarnation, and our model sports a Intel Core Duo T2400 CPU clocked at 1.83GHz, Intel GMA950 graphics, and a 2.5" SATA drive. (Note: this is a different model than the X60s, which, while lighter, utilizes a lower-voltage Core Duo L2300 CPU and lacks the fingerprint scanner). It weighs in at a svelte 3lb (depending on configuration) and claims to have quite an impressive battery life. An optional dock can hold a second battery and/or an optical drive.
We ordered the 1706-85U model, which comes with the aforementioned T2400, an 80GB drive, 512MB of memory, and a 3-year warranty including accidental damage protection for US$1753. List price for the model is US$1919 without the accidental damage protection. Discounts are available for students and some organization employees, so do ask around before purchasing. In addition we ordered the additional 8-cell battery for US$157.
If you want to save some money while configuring your laptop, go with a slower Core Duo CPU or a Core Solo. The X60 also comes in a handful of Pentium M flavors.
The X60 rockin' Ars Technica, old school
Hardware specs
| Processor | Intel Core Duo T2400 (1.83GHz) |
| Video | Intel GMA 950 (integrated) |
| Display | 12.1" 1024x786 XGA LCD> |
| Memory | 512 MB DDR2 5300 (667mhz) |
| Hard drive | 80GB 5400 RPM SATA |
| Networking | Intel Pro/1000 Gigabit Ethernet |
| Wireless | Intel 3945 802.11a/b/g wireless with dual built-in antennas, IBM Bluetooth 2.0 |
| Battery | 8-cell extended battery |
| OS | Windows XP Professional |
| Expansion | 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 4-pin Firewire (IEEE 1394) port, 1 Express Card, 1 Secure Digital |
Various other options for the X60 include the X60s with an Intel Core Duo L2300 low voltage processor and lower power 1.8" drives, hard drive sizes ranging from 40 to 100gb, integrated CDMA broadband cellular internet, and quite a few other "configured to order" (CTO) configurations. Advice and discussion on how to obtain those configurations is always available at Ars Technica's Mobile Computing Outpost.
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