IBM T60 or Dell D620?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I'm looking for a laptop for at least a good 4-5 years, won't be gaming on this or anything so I don't need anything near a desktop replacement. I value long battery life and a solid build quality.

Because of build quality I'm not interested directly in the Dell Inspirons. I'm looking at the Latitudes and T series from IBM. In terms of pricing both of them are fine and I can go with either one.

I need advice on how to decide between the two, I'm really liking the D620 and from what I've read, I don't have any complaints. The only reason I'm looking at the IBM is because of their past history of having very solid notebooks and a superb build quality.

 

[WackyDan]

Past history is current history. They are still built solid, and the T60 has the new roll cage so the chassis won't flex on you.

 

[6000SUX]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
I'm looking for a laptop for at least a good 4-5 years, won't be gaming on this or anything so I don't need anything near a desktop replacement. I value long battery life and a solid build quality.

Because of build quality I'm not interested directly in the Dell Inspirons. I'm looking at the Latitudes and T series from IBM. In terms of pricing both of them are fine and I can go with either one.

I need advice on how to decide between the two, I'm really liking the D620 and from what I've read, I don't have any complaints. The only reason I'm looking at the IBM is because of their past history of having very solid notebooks and a superb build quality.

I haven't used a D620, although I did use the older Inspiron 600m. I would go for the Thinkpad (and just did, for personal use). The Thinkpads I've used on the job have been rock-solid, every one. Dell support is a big headache, and not always to be trusted. When you spend hours on the phone for a support call, you may realize that the quality of support can involve its own hidden costs.

In terms of battery life, I believe the Thinkpad comes out ahead as well. I think the D620 has a modular bay which will take a battery, but I doubt that in real-world tests it will come close to the IBM with a bay battery. In addition, you can buy an extended-life 9-cell battery for the Thinkpad, which coupled with the bay battery will give you all-day computing on battery.

 

[trikster2]

Inspiron support experience doesn't count, Lats have a different U.S. based support system.

I have both a thinkpad T43 and a Dell Precision. Precision is sturdier but heavier.

And IBM does not make notebooks anymore, you are looking at a Lenovnon or whatever the PRC is calling themselves these days....

 

[6000SUX]

I have owned two Latitudes over the years. Dell's support has never been great, and it is trending downward.

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1867.html

'Nuff said.

 

[ND40oz]

Originally posted by: trikster2

Inspiron support experience doesn't count, Lats have a different U.S. based support system.

QFT, Lattitude support the exact opposite of inspiron, if you call up, you will get to talk to someone in the U.S. and you won't get passed around to different departments.

I have both a T60 and a D620, personally, I like the widescreen better, so my pick is the 620 for day to day use. Overall, there very comparable and the dell finally feels as solid as the Lenovo. Differences in rigidity between my D610 and D620 are night and day, no chassis flex and the hinges feel much more solid.

T60 is a great laptop too, it was the first core duo i've used and the core duo's are just "snappier" then the older Pentium Ms. You won't be disappointed with either.

 

[sigs3gv]

Are the hinges in the D620 just as strong as those in the T60?

 

[ND40oz]

Originally posted by: sigs3gv
Are the hinges in the D620 just as strong as those in the T60?

It's going to take a year of use before we really know the answer to that. They feel as strong currently, not like the D610 when you shook the base the screen would wobble around. It doesn't do that any longer with the D620.

 

[fbrdphreak]

The D610 was pretty sh!tty IMO, for a business notebook. Crappy keyboard, unremarkable screen, flexes & bends, I was not impressed.

T60 is a sure bet for the long run.