Thinkpad X61/X61s info posted on IBM/Lenovo shared Site!

[SFWrtr]

Definitely the X61 with a posting date of 5/17/2007. No tablet yet, but hopefully it'll show up soon.

What's interesting is a firewire port (new, it think), the lack of a turbo memory option, an indication that the modem might be optional (possibly faulty writing), and there is still an SD slot and not a combo card slot like on the T61.

I found this by putting X61 in the Lenovo search box:

System:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67777
(Be sure to click the view link.)

Specs:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67778

Cheers,
-SFWrtr

[sugo]

Actually, X60/s already has a firewire port.

It seems the only significant change is Santa Rosa.

[pianowizard]

Two weight measurements are listed: 3.11 lbs with four-cell battery, and 3.59 lbs with 8-cell battery. Three things aren't clear:

1) Whether these numbers are for the X61 or the X61s
2) Whether the LCD is the Ultralight version
3) Whether the "four-cell battery" is the slimline battery

With the slimline battery, the X60s with Ultralight LCD weighs only 2.69 lbs. Hopefully the X61s won't be heavier than the X60s.

[dorin]

so its coming also in standard 4:3 LCD?
guess we have to wait till its official released, cause the chinese one had a wide monitor.
guess the retirement of my beloved x40 is around the corner...

[Fin]

A wide screen x-series is exactly what I've been waiting for, I hope that these links aren't showing the only available models. I know many people like the 4:3 form factor, so here's hoping for both!

-Fin

[MeaninglessNick]

Dorin;

Do you have a link for the wide screen X61 in China?

I thought the pictures posted here had only 4:3

David

[tomh009]

Definitely the X61 with a posting date of 5/17/2007. No tablet yet, but hopefully it'll show up soon.

What's interesting is a firewire port (new, it think), the lack of a turbo memory option, an indication that the modem might be optional (possibly faulty writing), and there is still an SD slot and not a combo card slot like on the T61.

According to the originally leaked X61 docs from IBM's site, the turbo memory option is available. The pages have been removed by IBM, but the notebookreview.com article is still here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3711

[SFWrtr]

>According to the originally leaked X61 docs from IBM's site, the turbo memory option is available.

It would be nice if it were true. (Of course, I would have to choose between built-in WWAN and Turbo memory because the options both use the same express slot, but that's another issue...) I have a copy of the referred-to docs. Definitely turbo memory for the X60/X60s, but it is absent from the X60T ivory paper. This isn't to say that it won't show up either at launch or in the months after (look at how the X60T has morphed in the past month!), but it is not in the announcement letter, an excerpt of which I've included below. (Note that the emoticon in the letter was neither mine nor Lenovo's intention... )

ThinkPad X61 Tablet models include Intel Core 2 Duo
Contents


Announcement Letter Number LG07-0143 dated May 15, 2007
Latin America - Last Revised on May 15, 2007


Brief Description of Announcement, Charges, and Availability

1.3 Overview
WHAT'S NEW

New ThinkPad X61 Tablet models feature Intel Core 2 Duo L7300 and L7500
processors and Microsoft Windows Vista operating systems.

The ThinkPad(R) X61 Tablet is a thin and light tablet with a 12.1-inch XGA TFT
with 1024 x 768 resolution, a 12.1-inch TouchScreen XGA TFT with 1024 x 768
resolution, or a 12.1-inch SXGA+ TFT with 1400 x 1050 resolution. Models
weigh from 1.70 kg (3.76 lb)(6), with the small footprint starting at 274 mm x
244 mm (10.8 x 9.6 in).

Models come preinstalled with selected applications(7) and one of the
following operating systems:

o Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32-bit)

o Microsoft Windows Vista Business (64-bit)

o Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)

o Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit)

Certain product family features are limited to selected models that may not be
available in all countries. Some combinations of features are not supported.
Refer to the Prices or Product Number section of this announcement for the
models and features available in your country.

FEEL THE POWER

o Intel(R) Centrino(R) Duo mobile technology:

- Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor family

- Intel PRO/Wireless family

- Intel GM965 chipset family

o Data security with Client Security Solution

o Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

1.3.1.1.1 Memory

Standard 2 GB, 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB), 1 GB, 1 GB (2 x 512 MB), or 512 MB PC2-5300
DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHz SO DIMM memory(8)(9)

1.3.1.1.2 HDD

80 GB (5400 rpm) 2.5-inch, 100 GB (7200 rpm) 2.5-inch, 120 GB (5400 rpm)
2.5-inch, or 160 GB (5400 rpm) 2.5-inch HDD

1.3.1.1.3 Battery

Four- or eight-cell Li-Ion battery

1.3.1.1.4 Communications

o Integrated 56 Kbps V.90 modem(10)(V.92(11)-designed)

o Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN

o Intel Pro/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection

o Integrated Bluetooth wireless technology

1.3.1.1.5 Warranty

Three-year limited warranty(12); battery, one-year limited warranty

1.3.1.1.6 Ports

o Extensive standard ports, including three USB 2.0, external display,
RJ-45, RJ-11, and IEEE 1394

o Secure Digital card slot for options that enable storage expansion,
communications, and data transfer between PCs and peripherals

1.3.1.1.7 Options

New ThinkPad X6 Tablet UltraBase provides cable management and expansion
through a variety of Ultrabay Slim options.

1.3.1.1.8 Take control

ThinkVantage Access Connections simplifies management of multiple connectivity
environments.

PLANNED AVAILABILITY DATE: JUNE 2007

[gdavis]

So if you got an x61t with Turbo memory (if available and without built in WWAN), could you install and use WWAN if you got a PCMCIA card antenna from Verizon or ATT to run it from there?

[tomh009]

Lack of turbo memory would be a bummer. Of course, the leaked models to date have been the Latin American ones, so there is still the possibility that the North American and European models will have it. That said, the better video and the support for 4 GB are still worthwhile.

It appears that all will be known in 11 days and we will be able to stop guessing for a little while ...

[SFWrtr]

So if you got an x61t with Turbo memory (if available and without built in WWAN), could you install and use WWAN if you got a PCMCIA card antenna from Verizon or ATT to run it from there?

Yeah, for sure. The issue is internal express slots. It's just that I want to get the WWAN built in because it'll make a nice clean machine super-portable machine and leave the PC slot open for a CF card carrier. I've kind of acquiesced to that I'll get a 2G 133x SD card (since I have no other use for a SD slot) and I'll goose Vista that way (ReadyBoost isn't quite as nice as ReadyDrive, tho...). Much nicer would be to get both WWAN and turbo memory built in. Lenovo, are you listening?

[tomh009]

Well, either we get the turbo memory or we don't -- but, either way, the die has been cast a long time ago for the X61.

As for using the SD reader for ReadyBoost, I think that will depend on whether the reader is any faster than the one on the X60.

[SFWrtr]

Re: SD reader speed.

If the SD reader is attached internally to a EHCI USB 2.0 device designed to support "hi-speed" transfer, the transfer rate would be a theoretical 60MB per second. (Please share the spec for of the X60 SD reader interface if you have it in your doc. Does it say how it's attached? If it is USB attached, does the X60 USB spec say "full-speed" or "hi-speed?" Do you see the acronym "EHCI?")

In any case, a 133x SD card at "hi-speed" could transfer at 20MB per second, way above Windows Vista ReadyBoost minimums and account for only 1/3 of the USB traffic (ideal traffic, of course).

Now look at the turbo memory. It would be internally express card attached, which has a different speed rating that is about 5 times faster (2.5Gbit/s vs 480Mbit/s), or about 300MB per second in byte terms. I don't know if there is NAND memory that supports that speed(!), though, so that could be considered a full speed turbo memory implementation. Without a rating for the announced turbo memory (e.g. 10x or 133x), who knows for sure if it could be better than your 133x SD card? One hopes... (Darn, I hate over analyzing stuff, yet here I'm doing that. Arrrghhh! We won't know for sure until the X60T announcement, yes, I know.)

So, the bottleneck for the SD card is probably the USB, and, oh yeah, that fancy web cam you've attached to your USB port.

-SFWrtr

[lophiomys]

I would be keen to know if the batter life has improved
significantly for the 4 cell standard battery?

[dorin]

MeaninglessNick, i have no idea where i;ve seen it, but it was on a chinese (or japanese) site, and it looked to me like wide screen. maybe i was "programed" by the annoucment that from now on they'll disclose 4:3 lcds, and i wanted to see it as 16:9...but will see in less then 2 weeks!

[tomh009]

So if you got an x61t with Turbo memory (if available and without built in WWAN), could you install and use WWAN if you got a PCMCIA card antenna from Verizon or ATT to run it from there?

Yeah, for sure. The issue is internal express slots. It's just that I want to get the WWAN built in because it'll make a nice clean machine super-portable machine and leave the PC slot open for a CF card carrier. I've kind of acquiesced to that I'll get a 2G 133x SD card (since I have no other use for a SD slot) and I'll goose Vista that way (ReadyBoost isn't quite as nice as ReadyDrive, tho...). Much nicer would be to get both WWAN and turbo memory built in. Lenovo, are you listening?

And this turns out to be exactly the situation: you can have either internal WWAN or internal turbo memory. To quote page 73 of the new X60/X61 hardware maintenance manual:

1110 Intel Turbo Memory card
Note: Either a wireless WAN PCI Express Mini Card or an Intel Turbo Memory card can be installed in the system at one time, as they occupy the same slot.

Personally, I'll take the internal turbo memory as that will allow me to easily swap WWAN cards for travel. And, sorry, no detailed SD reader specs in the HMM.

[MeaninglessNick]

I don't think there is really anything new, but for those of us
obsessing,

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 2w9980.pdf

[gdavis]

Very cool to see that it is getting ready to for launch. I'm ready to place my order for the x61t.

But is that pdf for all models including the tablet? It looks like a conventional notebook, not a tablet from the illustration.