Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: Lenovo, x61s, notebook | Themes: Business Notebooks, Laptops and Notebooks, Business
2. Design Weight and Quality
The X61s measures 268 x 211 x 20 mm (front) (w x d x h) and is at first sight easily recognized as a Thinkpad. Clear lines characterize the design, with everything about functionality. The business color, black, dominates, which fits with the overall image. The only color highlights are the blue return key, the blue ThinkVantage button, and the red trackpad on the keyboard. Embedded in the lid are three LEDs that inform you about state of the battery life, power connection, and sleep mode. Other than that, only the ThinkPad logo can be seen.
Upon opening the lid, you’ll continue to see a very organized design, but due to the size of this device, the keys are closely packed together. Lenovo has tried to exploit every bit of space; the keys, for example, get very close to the display frame. Among those are three silver buttons for volume and mute. In the lower display frame are more status lights.
Weight
As far as weight is concerned, the X61s is good. With the battery it weighs 1,244 g, which is not even 100 grams more than Sony’s VAIO G21XP/B. But at the same time, you get quite a bit more power, although you have to live without wireless LAN capability in the present configuration. If you’re on the go with the power supply, you’re carrying 1,598 g, which weighs as much the HP Compaq 2510p without the power supply.
Quality
Due to the market reputation of Thinkpads, expectations are high in the quality area, and overall, the X61s lives up to them. Everything fits, nothing is loose, and there are no creaks or squeaks. Pressing with your thumb on the palm rest does bend it down. The cover lid suffers like the other candidates in the 12 inch-comparison due to its thinness - it is not particularly warp resistant, and bends when under pressure. Therefore the display also creaks in the upper right corner, where two body parts come together.
The hinges of the displays are easy to move yet still keep the cover open to the desired angle. Only under jerky movements does the unit topple over. Pressing the On button, centered below the display, bends the surrounding area a bit, but this doesn’t impact usability.
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Lenovo does indeed pick up the ThinkPad if in need of service. This is no different than the rest of the industry. You call, they diagnose and send a DHL guy or Fedex guy with a box for you to put it in and label for the freight into their repair depot. 72 hours promised turn around.
I have a Lenovo X60s laptop and it shipped with WLAN and bluetooth and from what I know the basic difference between the X60s and X61s is the CPU (Core Duo vs. Core 2 Duo), so I am left to believe you were "victim" of a serious misunderstanding.
Best regards!
I am sorry for you, that you got crippled x61s for your "review", but my X61s DOES HAVE A/B/G/N WIFI TOGETHER with BLUETOOTH and turbomemory module.
My config:
Intel Core 2 Duo L7500 1,6 GHz 4 MB L2 Cache 2x1 GB DDR2 667 MHz
1 GB RBS (Intel Turbo Memory Modul)
WiFi Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)
BlueTooth
Best regards.
Why are you reviewing the X61s? The X200 is already out. The X61s is discontinued. Also, WLAN is a standard feature on it. Obviously they don't take you guys seriously. Why don't you ask them fr the CURRENT model?
We use thinkpads X61s and tablets as well in our organisation. I agree with colleagues here, our config has all wi-fi, bluetooth and turbomemory all integrated.
Another points is... why the heck is X61s being tested, it is out of production. X200 is the current replacement and it is so much better than the already great X61s. Something is not right here!