The good: Strong security tools; hardy chassis; roll cage protection; widescreen display; hot-swappable bay; long battery life.

The bad: Expensive; below-par processing performance; lacks a few common ports; functional but aesthetically boring design.

The bottom line: If you value reliability and security, the ThinkPad T60 is one of the best you can get as long as you are willing to pay for it. Its relatively underpar performance is, however, tempered by its long battery life.

Read full review of the ThinkPad T60 »

By Darius Chang, CNET Asia
Jan 17, 2007

The widescreen format seems to be gaining a foothold in Lenovo's business portables, with its ThinkPad Z60 series leading the way and now even its mainstream T60 following suite. Bumping up the processor to the latest Core 2 Duo chip, the T60 remains fundamentally unchanged except for its increased screen size (from 14.1-inch in the Core Duo models to 15.4-inch). It remains focused on delivering a secure and hardy portable for the corporate workhorse. However, considering that a similarly configured Z61e costs almost S$700 (US$507.28) less than the T60, this may result in a purchasing conundrum for the consumer.

	The larger widescreen adds to the size and weight of the T60, but adds more display real estate. (Click for larger image)

Design
Don't expect any deviation from its tried and true black bento box design philosophy. The tray is now wider as the latest T60 dishes out Core 2 Duo performance in a relatively portable chassis. As a result of its increased screen size from its predecessors, frequent travelers may find themselves encumbered by its 357.5 x 255 x 28.7mm dimensions. Its 2.56kg heft doesn't exactly help matters, either. But this has been an acceptable tradeoff for some, as the ThinkPad's solid build and hardy body is created to withstand the rigors of daily commute.

With the exception of the charger port, all switches and connectivity features are located along the front and flanks of the unit. Thus, despite its size, this arrangement underscores its portable role as users will find it easy to undock the system from the desk to the road. Unlike entertainment mobiles, the T60 does not bother to include multimedia controls. Only the volume control, wireless and its distinctive ThinkVantage buttons make an appearance here. For those whose job involves typing endless pages of text, the full-sized keyboard helps make it a comfortable experience.

Like a souped-up race car, the T60's true value is not in its looks, but what lies beneath. The first clue to Lenovo's attention to build quality is in its use of steel hinges instead of weaker plastics ones, ensuring a longer open/close cycle. The magnesium-alloy top cover and ABS plastic palm rest are scratch-resistant and offer external protection. Plumbing into its depths, we see a metal roll cage, designed to absorb impact, protecting its innards from drops which may cause most other portables considerable grief. The shock-mounted hard drive ensures data integrity by preventing the reader arm from scratching the magnetic disk during drops or vibrations. The spill-proof keyboard with drain holes at the bottom negates the harmful effects of the occasional splash.

Features
Following the traditions of its ThinkPad lineage, the T60 incorporates strong security tools and its proprietary ThinkVantage software to offer a notebook that simply works. Reliability and data integrity are, after all, more vital to a business user than multimedia bells-and-whistles. However, in exchange, Lenovo expects its pound of flesh in the form of a higher retail pricing. If cost is an issue, one might consider the similarly configured but larger and heavier Z61e, which gives up higher battery capacity (six cells versus T60's nine cells) for an integrated 4-in-1 memory card reader.

The biometric fingerprint scanner does away with easy-to-crack passwords. (Click for larger image)

Woe awaits the data thief who wants to steal information off the T60, as its fingerprint sensor allows its user to do away with easy-to-hack passwords. Moreover, searching through the system files for encryption keys is pointless, as these are kept in the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) hardware chip. Attempts at removing the harddisk and placing it in another system or external case further results in frustration as the drive is password-protected as well. It must be noted that these security systems can be hacked and overcome. However, the more effort and time the thief needs to crack your system, the more leeway you have for initiating recovery and damage control procedures.

Another prominent aspect of the ThinkPad is its ThinkVantage program. It simplifies backups, network connectivity, security and system support on a user-friendly interface. The T60 automatically checks for system and antivirus updates, while its Access Connections application optimizes switches between wired and wireless networks. ThinkVantage also includes an Active Protection System that uses an accelerometer which detects when the notebook is dropped and parks the harddisk reader arm to prevent scratches to the magnetic storage media in your hard drive.

The ThinkPad offers sufficient ports for most business users. Three USB 2.0, a Type II PC Card and ExpressCard/54 handle external peripherals, while a VGA-out connects to projectors or larger monitors. Missing are common options like mini-FireWire, memory card reader and S-video ports offered on most other portables. Lenovo offers docking stations which cost between S$282.45 (US$204.69) to S$1,124.55 (US$814.95). However, they offer only DVI output and legacy ports and does not address FireWire connectivity. Network features include Gigabit Ethernet, dial-up modem, 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth radios.

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