Compare Prices : IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad R61 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Tired of waiting for a T61 to ship? If you're looking for a powerful (and cheaper) alternative that still offers Thinkpad build quality and design, look no further than the Lenovo Thinkpad R61. Read this in-depth user review to see if the

Verdict: Overall, I would highly recommend the Thinkpad R61 to anyone looking for a lower price notebook (compared to T61) with a very durable build and excellent performance.

Review summary: The ugly duckling of Lenovo's ThinkPad line has become a swan. Not long ago, R-Series ThinkPads were regarded as value-oriented, general-purpose machines at best. The R Series was a bulkier, non-widescreen version of the world-class ThinkPad T Series. ...

Pros: Various widescreen options and resolutions. Only 5.5 pounds. Heavenly keyboard and dual pointing devices. Modular optical drive that you can swap out for an extra battery. Comprehensive management suite. Good performance scores

Cons: No Wireless WAN options

Verdict: The Lenovo ThinkPad R61 now comes in a widescreen format and looks a lot like our Editors' Choice, the ThinkPad T61 Widescreen.

Review summary: The IBM blueprint is still evident in the Lenovo ThinkPad R61, but the addition of a widescreen display and all the latest Centrino Duo tricks make this a ThinkPad that could woo home users along with its legion of fans among business travelers.

Pros: The Lenovo ThinkPad R61 has a widescreen display ; an internal roll cage protects the LCD ; 802.11n Wi-Fi ; dedicated graphics ; very small AC adapter

Cons: New Centrino technology doesn't offer outsize performance gains

Review summary: The 14.1-inch R61 includes all the important parts of Intel's revamped Centrino platform, including the new Core 2 Duo, extra onboard Turbo Memory, and 802.11n.

Pros: Wide-screen display, Internal roll cage, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Very small AC adapter.

Cons: New Centrino technology doesn't offer outsize performance gains.

Verdict: The IBM blueprint is still evident in the Lenovo ThinkPad R61, but the addition of a wide-screen display and all the latest Centrino Duo tricks make this a ThinkPad that could woo home users along with its legion of fans among business travelers.

Review summary: The 14.1-inch R61 includes all the important parts of Intel's revamped Centrino platform, including the new Core 2 Duo, extra onboard Turbo Memory, and 802.11n.

Pros: Wide-screen display, Internal roll cage, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Very small AC adapter.

Cons: New Centrino technology doesn't offer outsize performance gains.

Verdict: The IBM blueprint is still evident in the Lenovo ThinkPad R61, but the addition of a wide-screen display and all the latest Centrino Duo tricks make this a ThinkPad that could woo home users along with its legion of fans among business travelers.