The ThinkPad Z61m notebook can meet the most demanding tasks, combining the convenience and mobility of a notebook with the performance and function of a desktop.
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A review by Leadenwinter on Lenovo ThinkPad Z61m June 19th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Speed
Slow
Look & Feel
Good
Comfort & Portability
Poor
Robustness & Durability
Very poor
Value For Money
Poor
Advantages:
Good for media work, WideScreen quality Graphics .
Disadvantages:
Lenovo suck . . . totally . . . . This computer can only be used in air - conditioning .
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
This is a relatively OK computer in terms of other laptops in its league and excels at multimedia work and could have been much much better. It is let down by various problems and annoyances largely the doing of Lenovo. Although it does have "character" you can get quite used to it.
Firstly the removal of the sticker from the "stainless titanium" cover of the computer leaves unsightly stains deep set in the metal... The "award-winning" ThinkVantage "Lenovo-ware" which comes with the computer is needless, excruciatingly slow, infuriating and generally a total load of rot.
In particular the ThinkVantage Access Connections is dreadful and starts eating up RAM and freezing the computer even if you just accidentally click on the icon in the taskbar. It is pointless trying to find a network using the ThinkVantage Access Connections as the computer just freezes and although I'm loathe to admit it .. the MS network finder works far better. The ThinkvantageMessage Centre is another total disaster which only makes the computer freeze. The Active Shock Protection does not work and keeps giving contradictory messages .. The fingerprint reader is also just a pointless caprice.
The machine ages and depreciates quickly mainly because it runs at very high temperatures. The cooling system is quite poor and since the summer has begun I often find the laptop turning itself off for having overheated. When hot the whole machine slows and plods along even when called to do the most mundane tasks.. it then suddenly speeds up and over-compensates opening up 10 instances of the same program etc etc. Upgrading the amount of RAM does not seem to have helped a great deal mainly because of the heat problems. I find when not in my lap I have to "stand on its side" to allow the heat to radiate properly as it cannot be left on normal everyday surfaces in its normal position unless in air-conditioning, where it works quite well.
The microphone is very very poor .. veering on defective and recordings made are abysmal even when a good quality mike is plugged in.
The batteries on this range of computers were largely faulty however only a number were subject to a recall. I acquired my z61m from a batch-buy of these machines along with other colleagues. Amongst all of us only two have original batteries which are still operational. The Lenovo site's recall service is based on the serial number of the batteries. Although we all had the same computer (and presumably batteries) only some of us managed to avail the recall even though the battery problem was more or less identical.
There are similar problems with the chargers which are prone to failure or breakage. I personally know of at least four users including myself who have had to buy new chargers within months of purchase.
This computer is NOT an IBM machine which from what I know tended to be far better. It is "relatively" reliable in spite of all these problems mentioned above. I feel however that it shan't last much longer than maybe 3 years... and might just not start up one day.
I almost suspect that Lenovo have deliberately inspected limited consumer durability into their products.. mainly batteries and chargers in order to compel purchases. Both the charger and battery if bought together cost the better part of £200 which is quite expensive considering you can a reasonable new laptop for £300.
The ThinkPad Z61m notebook can meet the most demanding tasks, combining the convenience and mobility of a notebook with the performance and function of a desktop.
Expansion / connectivity
Expansion Bays: 1 x Ultrabay Enhanced
Expansion Slots Total (Free):
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II
2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54, 1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54
2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick, 1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54
2 ( 0 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card, 2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54, 2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card, 2 ( 0 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54, 2 ( 0 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II
1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/54
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card
Interfaces:
1 x headphones - output - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm
3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A
1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11
1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x docking / port replicator - 240 PIN docking
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) - 4 PIN FireWire
1 x display / video - S-video output - 4 PIN mini-DIN
1 x infrared, 1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm
1 x headphones - output - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x display / video - S-video output - 4 PIN mini-DIN
3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A
1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x infrared - IrDA
1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11
1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
1 x docking / port replicator - 240 PIN docking
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) - 4 PIN FireWire, 1 x display / video - S-video output - 4 PIN mini-DIN
3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A
1 x docking / port replicator - 240 PIN docking
1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm
1 x headphones - output - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x infrared - IrDA
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) - 4 PIN FireWire
1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11
1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45, 1 x display / video - S-video output
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) - 4 PIN FireWire
3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A
1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x docking / port replicator - 240 PIN docking
1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm
1 x headphones - output - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x infrared - IrDA
1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11
1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
Miscellaneous
Features: Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), administrator password, hard drive password, power-on password, ThinkVantage Active Protection System, ThinkPad Roll Cage, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), administrator password, hard drive password, power-on password, anti-glare, ThinkVantage Active Protection System, ThinkPad Roll Cage, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), administrator password, hard drive password, power-on password, ThinkVantage Active Protection System
Compliant Standards: CE, MPR II, BSMI, VCCI Class B ITE, CISPR 22 Class B, EPA Energy Star, NOM, SASO, IEC 60950, UL 60950, FCC Part 15 B, CER, CCC, RoHS, ACA, CE, MPR II, BSMI, VCCI Class B ITE, CISPR 22 Class B, EPA Energy Star, NOM, SASO, IEC 60950, CSA 22.2 No. 950, UL 60950, FCC Part 15 B, CER, CCC, RoHS, CE, MPR II, BSMI, GOST, cUL, EPA Energy Star, MPR III, NOM, SASO, VCCI-II, UL 60950, CB, FCC Part 15 B, CER, CCC, MIC, RoHS, ACA, FCC Class B certified, CE, MPR II, BSMI, VCCI Class B ITE, CISPR 22 Class B, EPA Energy Star, NOM, SASO, IEC 60950, CSA 22.2 No. 950, UL 60950, FCC Part 15 B, CER, CCC, RoHS, CE, MPR II, BSMI, VCCI Class B ITE, GOST, cUL, EPA Energy Star, MPR III, NOM, SASO, UL 60950, CB, FCC Part 15 B, CER, CCC, MIC, RoHS, ACA, FCC Class B certified, CE, MPR II, BSMI, GOST, cUL, EPA Energy Star, MPR III, NOM, SASO, VCCI-II, UL 60950, CB, FCC Part 15 B, CER, CCC, MIC, RoHS
OS Provided: Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Software: Adobe Acrobat Reader, PC Doctor, ThinkVantage Access Connections, Google Toolbar, ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery, Lotus Notes Stand-alone Client licence, Lotus SmartSuite Millennium licence, Symantec Client Security 3.0 (with 90 days of updates), ThinkVantage Productivity Center, ThinkVantage System Update, Diskeeper Lite, Google Desktop, Google Picasa, Vodafone Mobile Connect Dashboard, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Google Toolbar, Lotus Notes Stand-alone Client licence, Lotus SmartSuite Millennium licence, Diskeeper Lite, Google Desktop, Google Picasa, ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery, Adobe Acrobat Reader, PC Doctor, Intervideo WinDVD, ThinkVantage Access Connections, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, Google Toolbar, ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery, Fingerprint Software, Lotus Notes Stand-alone Client licence, Lotus SmartSuite Millennium licence, Symantec Client Security 3.0 (with 90 days of updates), ThinkVantage Productivity Center, ThinkVantage System Update, Diskeeper Lite, Google Desktop, Google Picasa, Multimedia Center for Think Offerings, Vodafone Mobile Connect Dashboard, Adobe Acrobat Reader, PC Doctor, Intervideo WinDVD, ThinkVantage Access Connections, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, Google Toolbar, ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery, Sonic Solutions Drive Letter Access (DLA), Fingerprint Software, Symantec Client Security 3.0 (with 90 days of updates), ThinkVantage Productivity Center, ThinkVantage System Update, Diskeeper Lite, Google Desktop, Google Picasa, Multimedia Center for Think Offerings, Adobe Acrobat Reader, PC Doctor, Intervideo WinDVD, ThinkVantage Access Connections, Sonic RecordNow, InterVideo WinDVD Creator, Google Toolbar, ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery, Sonic Solutions Drive Letter Access (DLA), Fingerprint Software, ThinkVantage Client Security, ThinkVantage Productivity Center, ThinkVantage System Update, Symantec Client Security (with 90 days of updates) (OEM), Diskeeper Lite, Google Desktop, Google Picasa, Multimedia Center for Think Offerings, Adobe Acrobat Reader, PC Doctor, Intervideo WinDVD, ThinkVantage Access Connections, Sonic RecordNow, Google Toolbar, ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery, Sonic Solutions Drive Letter Access (DLA), ThinkVantage Client Security, ThinkVantage Productivity Center, ThinkVantage System Update, Symantec Client Security (with 90 days of updates) (OEM), Diskeeper Lite, Google Desktop, Google Picasa, Multimedia Center for Think Offerings
Microsoft Office Ready: Includes a preinstalled image of select 2007 Microsoft Office suites. Purchase a Medialess License Kit (MLK) to activate the software.
Manufacturer warranty
Service & Support: 1 year warranty, 3 years warranty
Service & Support Details:
Limited warranty - parts and labour - 1 year - carry-in
Limited warranty - battery - 1 year, Limited warranty - parts and labour - 3 years - on-site
Limited warranty - battery - 1 year, Limited warranty - parts and labour - 3 years - carry-in
Limited warranty - battery - 1 year, Limited warranty - parts and labour - 1 year - carry-in, Limited warranty - parts and labour - 3 years - carry-in
I have owned several different ThinkPad's over the years. I have enjoyed them all and found them to be extremely useful and reliable. I knew that I wanted a decent quality portable laptop that would be suitable for all the basics.
I have been using... more
