After weeks of agonizing over selecting a new batch of laptops for our programmers, we selected the Lenovo Thinkpad T60
There's about 100 permutations of T60s. The one we chose, the 2623-D7U had the right mix of features for us:
- 512MB with an extra 512MB for free. Devs need 1GB for proper development
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- 14.1" screen. We found the 15" screen didn't fit most backpacks, like the awesome Tumi backpack
- Aero-ready video card (see below)
- 100GB 5400RPM drive. Would have liked the 7200RPM, but they didn't have it in this mix
- 9-cell battery, cause it's better than 6-cells. Apparently 50% longer life, but it sticks out more in the back.
We've always used Thinkpads. They've got the best tactile keyboards of any laptop I've used, with the correct size and key position: backspace, enter, inverted-T. But for some reason, IBM never liked the Windows key. Finally, on the T60s, now that Lenovo owns the brand, they slapped the Windows key on.
Since we've got a 2 year lease on these guys, we want to make sure the laptops will run Vista. And when I mean "run Vista", I really mean "run Aero". Well.
Turns out, Vista assigns your computer a rank, a number from 1 to 5, that determines if the cool, glasss or Aero features show up. A lot of weight is given to a video card performance.
We bought a single evaluation laptop with integrated Intel GMA950 graphics. Although Vista installed just fine, I couldn't get Aero to turn on. This, despite the somewhat misleading claims on the Intel site:
Updated Intel® Graphics WDDM drivers supporting the Intel® 945G Express Chipset are included in the Windows Vista* February CTP build (build 5308).
Sure, Vista supports the chipset (after doing a Windows update), but you don't get Aero. Not acceptable for a modern, new laptop. Maybe by the time Vista retails, it'll support it fine, but I couldn't make that bet--we got the T60s that included the ATI Radeon X1300, which supports Aero (first thing we checked!)
We buy a lot of hardware from CDW. Our sales agent was able to find a document (T60.PDF "Personal Systems Reference") that has 10 pages of detailed specs. Much easier to use than the Lenovo website.