Lenovo T61 vs T61p vs MacBook Pro

Both Lenovo/IBM and Apple have worldwide Service if you get it.

Apple was pretty helpful with my sister's Laptop went it crapped out while teaching in Korea, it's a bit of a hassle, but works.

As for your needs, gaming would make me suggest a MacBookPro using Parallels or BootCamp, but other than that both (all 3) are good options. The T61 comes with either the X3100 or GF8400M which both pale compared to the GF8600MGT of the MacBookPro.

Lenovogives you more customization options and have a better keyboard IMO.

The Apple has a backlit keyboard and an LEDLit LCD.

The LCD and graphics card would be enough to push me towards a MacBookPro; but man I do prefer IBM's keyboards compared to Apple's mediocre ones, but supposedly you get used to them.

BTW, I voted for 'OTHER' because I prefer other options like the ASUS G1S.

If you carry your laptop around a lot than I'd definately get the Thinkpad, those things are nearly indestructable and the MacBook specs are bad when compared to a Thinkpad with the same price (if you get a cheap seller that is, I'd try eBay).

TheGreatGrapeApe is wrong about the videocard though, the cheapest models have a X3100 but the better models come with an FX570M which is atleast as fast as the 8600M GT. If the 8600M GT has DDR2 memory than it's a bit slower than the FX570M, if it has DDR3 than it's just as fast.

For the rest I do agree
Apple has backlit keyboards, Thinkpads have a ThinkLight at the top so you'll be able to see the keys on your keyboard when it's dark.

And the LCD would push me more towards a Thinkpad than a MacBookPro. The MacBooks only offer 1440x900 at a 15.4" while the Thinkpad will give you 1920x1200 at a 15.4"
Big upgrade