Starting from ground zero for my laptop search

Per forum.thinkpads.com • View topic - WTB: Thinkpad T60/T61 w/ UXGA 4:3 1600x1200 Flexview display , this T60p purchase from the houston seller may be back "on" again. Would really like to get this if it's not a scam (and even if the machine isn't as "pristine" as advertised...I really just don't to lose $320 and get *nothing*...)

http://houston.craigslist.org/sys/1859457508.html

Thoughts welcome. I'm on a tight time schedule this morning, so any quick responses regarding legitimacy of the craigslist seller much appreciated!

(and lead_org...great feedback on this machine, thanks again...)

 

I would see if they would be willing to do a more secure option such as Paypal, first. I thought you also linked to an Ebay auction a few days ago that had a T60p for a similar price, only with a Core Duo processor instead of a C2D. That might be another possibility if it's still around.

Actiually, it looks like the UXGA upgrade is easier than I thought. Here's info on how to do it: Installing a QXGA display in a R/T60 or 61 - ThinkWiki

 

Ok...I finally bought something (the T60p UXGA off of craigslist)!! Thanks all who helped me through this saga, including lead_org, LegendaryKA8, ahl395, and several others here and on forum.thinkpads.com! Couldn't have figured out all this stuff without you guys.

(I'll be going through lead_org's recommend checklist of things to look over when I receive the equipment.)

Details:

Ok, I came full circle: it's not a scam, houston Craiglist T60p UXGA listing was legit--well...I haven't actually *received* the unit yet...but I'd be shocked it where a scam...listing no longer online 'cause seller took it down after I bought it. Talked at length with the seller, also have seen the seller's ebay handle, have also talked with another buyer from this seller that I met on forum.thinkpads.com. We're good. (Lemme know if y'all want more details, like why he was WesternUnion-ing stuff, etc.)

And as LegendaryKA8 noticed, there are some other, similarly-priced T60p UXGA's on ebay from a particular seller. (Most all the rest of the seller's are ~$200 or more for these units, with maybe one exception which was still significantly higher.) However, this Houston-craiglist seller from which I bought posted his ad with pictures of the running display, which as lead_org notes was vivid and bright...and that meant a lot to me, knowing (or as close to knowing as I could) that I had a "fresh" (and not a dim) Flexview UXGA coming to me. Throw in the docking station (or whatever it's called) for essentially no charge, and it was an easy deal. The other, aforementioned ebay supplier didn't have a pic of the running display, plus they haven't yet been able to provide me with a serial number of the unit (been asking for a day or two or three now), and that's not good in my book. My buying policy: gotta look up parts list before I buy (all you sellers out there: please list your serial numbers...unless this a security issue??), particularly for the FRU on the display.

Separately, I'm very NOT happy with the laptop-maker market, Lenovo included, for they basically forced me to do all this hunting the past week or so looking for a machine with a "tall" display. What a freagin' run-around. Yes, my budget was lean, but I would have *gladly* payed a lot more to save all the freagin' time to hunt down something without a ridiculously-short display, but the new-laptop market just doesn't have them anymore. Ughhhhh. Further, I may have to "collect" a few more of these displays/laptops if I want to put off having to deal with "short" displays in the future, so I'll probably still be in the market for these T60p UXGA's for a while. Further, I may have to "collect" a few more of these displays/laptops if I want to put off having to deal with "short" displays in the future, so I'll probably still be in the market for these T60p UXGA's for a while. Further, I may have to "collect" a few more of these displays/laptops if I want to put off having to deal with "short" displays in the future, so I'll probably still be in the market for these T60p UXGA's for a while...

Additionally, to followup comments from those who are very dutifully keeping tabs on all my requirements (many thanks again everyone): I'm expecting the display to dim over time (as I've been warned), and I expect the batteries to suck (compared to a T400). Such is life. I'm prepared to pay for a T4x0 to deal with this problem if/when the time comes--that may be very near term if I find I need a "high battery life, indefinitely-bright display" machine at my disposal. And I can just pick and choose which one I use at any time, and just swap data drives (in 2nd HDD bay) between the T4x0 and T60p. At these cheap prices, I can afford two lappy's--even though I'm still a frugal sort that doesn't like paying for it...

 

I also want to shout out to turqoisegirl08, she too was a huge help.

Thanks all!

 

I think you actually could buy the R50 with a QXGA screen from Lenovo directly. However, both the T60p (15" version) as well as a T61p motherboard in a T60p chassis can drive the QXGA screen (I have done both) as long as you reprogram the display EDID.

Yes, see above.

 

Can you guide me on how to do a T61p Frankenstein Thinkpad with QXGA?

 

Thanks jketzetera, helpful notes about QXGA-in-T6x. Similarly, these references also helpful (noting for me in case I "lose" it later): Installing a QXGA display in a R/T60 or 61

crashnburn- fwiw, lots more QXGA chatter happening at above thread, you might find additional thread watchers who can help you there. And/or post a "Want To Buy" request at forum.thinkpads.com • View forum - Marketplace - Forum Members only .

 

I and others who have done so have written about in several different threads at forum.thinkpads.com.
Here is a selection of threads regarding T61p Frankenpads and QXGA installations (there more than these)

forum.thinkpads.com • View topic - T60/T61 hybrid parts selection question
forum.thinkpads.com • View topic - T60/p QXGA questions
forum.thinkpads.com • View topic - The Complete 6x-series QXGA Thread

In summary, you need the chassis from T60/T60p 15” 4:3 screen model (you probably need it to have higher than XGA resolution if you do not want to replace inverters in the screen for the QXGA mod).

You need a T61p motherboard from a T61p 14” 4:3 screen model, together with its related fan assembly as well as the PCCard/Express Card Cage for T61p motherboard.

Armed with Lenovo service videos and the HMM you should be able to transplant the T61p components into the T60p chassis.

The QXGA-mod requires you to update the EDID of the screen. You actually may want to do the QXGA mod first, as the Powerstrip method of updating the EDID may not work with the T61p motherboard.

The QXGA-mod is easy to do. The T61p Frankenpad mod is not as easy as the QXGA-mod.

 

Also, if you want to spare yourself the hassle of building one yourself you can buy a T61p Frankenpad (without QXGA) and then just do the QXGA-mod

IBM THINKPAD T60p T7800 2.6G 15"UXGA IPS FLEXVIEW T61p - eBay, PC Laptops Netbooks, Computers Networking. (end time 30-Jul-10 23:55:30 AEST)

 

Got my "new" T60p. The display is physically large/tall, the 1600x1200 resolution looks great, and the chassis is reliatively small...just what I wanted, very happy there.

However, it doesn't shine so well in the sunlight. In fact, it doesn't seem any better than my old R52 (see below). I'm thinkin' I'm going to have to get another machine just for sunlight/outdoor purposes (possibly a T400 with its supposedly brighter display and longer battery life, it would work well--too bad its widescreen...), which I was prepared to do. To this end, I'm seeking additional comments:

Hmm, ibm.com's parts list shows the display in my T60p as FRU=13N7076 Manufacturer=BOE-Hydis, Model=HV150UX1-100 per TFT display - ThinkWiki , which lists this model in the "Flexview/FFS IPS TFT Display" section. Is my T60p's display truly TN instead of IPS?

And much more importantly: why does this display not look much brighter than the crummy R52 display I have (FRU=92P6711...which isn't even listed at thinkwiki.org)? (Said R52 also stinks in the sunlight, and it looks incredibly dim when I put it next to a T410 in a retail store--said T410 has a FRU=42T0729 display in it...which has no detailed specs at TFT display - ThinkWiki.)

Bottom line: before I buy a T400 with a supposedly "bright" display (the T400 options available to me have display FRU=42T0597, same as lead_org's machine which he says looks "reasonable" in the sunlight--wondering how it compares to the above T410 I saw in the retail store), I'm looking for feedback to confirm/deny/comment on the fact that I should not have expected my T60p to be all that bright and not look that great in direct sunlight...and to see if I should expect anything better from the aforementioned T400.

(Thanks again everyone who has helped me thus far...)