The Superficial T60 v. R60 Comparison [Large Photos]

[TPFanatic]

I have just taken possession of an R60e (T7200, 1GB, 250GB HDD, XGA, NT 6.0) to accompany my T60 (T7400, 3GB, 500GB SSD + 256GB NVME, UXGA IPS, NT 6.1). As both are 15" and represent staples of the classic IBM ThinkPad lineup I feel it is appropriate to showcase their likenesses and unlike- traits.



T60 has the Ultrabay shown fit with Slice Battery.

R60e has juts a Bay fit with DVD drive.



R60e spares less case material for ventilation, possibly correlated to it being made of ABS rather than T60's CFRP.



This particular R60e is without Expresscard and I am not yet certain if I can upgrade it, if I can I will. Both it and T60 are without 1394. The comparatively multimedia and consumer focused Z-series, however, made sure to offer 1394 and card reading as standard equipment. These would ultimately become standard on T61 and R61 when all three full-size lineups coalesced into the glut and greed of widescreen.



Little known fact is all R60 dropped the IR blaster. It remained on T60, X60, Z61 and was dropped subsequently forever.



R60e is without a docking port. I carry sometimes.



I would construe the most substantial difference between T60 and R60 is not their measurably marginal Apple Macbook difference in stature, but their general affordability and availability today. T60 are becoming hard to find but R60 are still up for grabs. R60e with Celeron M should be avoided due to reported incompatibility with Core 2.

I have purchased a SHARP UXGA for the R60e. It is still TN but I'm more interested in the pixel area. In the future I may find motivation to attempt to add Expresscard. I am intending to install an NVME in the WLAN slot to serve as swap-space instead of overworking the spinner. I am curious if I can get away with not upgrading the RAM, since as far as Windows is concerned, virtual RAM is RAM.


Sincerley,
TPFanatic

[TPFanatic]

As Addendum:

the panel gap around the R60e's DVD drive as shown as in Exhibit 2 supra was bothering me so I successfully swapped over the DVD faceplate from R500 as shown infra. It looks much better now.

[TPFanatic]

FYI The SHARP UXGA LQ150U1LW31 fits in R60e, it powers up and displays 1600x1200.

The connector is a little farther than down the original, so put together things are comprssed vertically and the ThinkLight doesn't reach.

no matter I have 1600x1200 and a ceiling lamp.

[dr_st]

I really like your photo comparisons, TPFanatic. They show me some of my familiar Thinkpads from interesting new angles.

Somehow, even though I've had plenty of T series machines through the years, some of which are still in my possession, I've never owned an R series unit, and only briefly got to experience an R50e when I helped a neighbor set it up.

[TPFanatic]

honestly that makes sense that you've never owned an R, given that you've owned Ts and been happy with them. The Ts are built of better materials and are generally more complete packages. You went R if you aRe a paRsimonious peRson or coRporation trying to save some of youR pRecious money. But if you were a fuTure Thinking enTrepreneur with capiTal to invesT and converT into profiT, the R stands for oveRlook, and the T stands for effecTive resulTs.

I'm starting to pin down the T60, R60, and X60 as the "Last true IBM ThinkPads" if there can be such a thing. I wonder if IBM had never sold out to Lenovo, if the TV industry may have conceded to squares.

But if IBM had never sold out to Lenovo, the ThinkPad brand would have ceased to exist.

At least I can still buy ThinkPads on eBay.

[axur-delmeria]

and only briefly got to experience an R50e when I helped a neighbor set it up.

Mine's even shorter, as I bought an R52 with a broken lid (at the hinges as usual) and transplanted its system board into a T42 carcass. In essence, it was an R series experience in the few minutes that I confirmed that it was powering up and booting to BIOS.

[ZaZ]

I've mostly been a R or L buyer, though I've had a few Ts as well. I think of them as very similar in practical terms, with the R being a bit heavier and thicker, along with the T offering magnesium lid. To me the biggest difference is more aesthetically pleasing touch padless palm rest that's standard on the R60e.

The R60e with the Celeron CPU uses a different chipset than the Duo models, which uses a slower bus speed and makes it incompatible with the Duo models. Putting a Duo model in a Celeron may brick it, though I believe the Core Solos work, but don't quote me on that.

I had a R60e with a T7200, UXGA and Blu ray drive. I wish I had taken a picture of it.

[dr_st]

You went R if you aRe a paRsimonious peRson or coRporation trying to save some of youR pRecious money. But if you were a fuTure Thinking enTrepreneur with capiTal to invesT and converT into profiT, the R stands for oveRlook, and the T stands for effecTive resulTs.

rich corporaTions on The oTher hand furnished Their employees with T series. ThaT's how I got my T60 14", T410, T490, T16. An R series was never an option here...

I'm starting to pin down the T60, R60, and X60 as the "Last true IBM ThinkPads" if there can be such a thing.

Well, X61 in many ways, although it did drop some of the things you mentioned in the other thread.