Lenovo ThinkPad R61i

My father-in-law asked me to recommend a new laptop for him. My suggestion based on my own experiences was either an HP Compaq like my nc8430 workhorse, or a ThinkPad based on my experience with the A31p.

In the end he felt better about the price and features of the ThinkPad, so we went for the R61i (apologies for the Italian):

Descrizione Prodotto: Lenovo ThinkPad R61i 8943 - Core 2 Duo T5450 1.66 GHz - 15" TFT
Dimensioni: (LxPxH)33.2 cm x 26.9 cm x 4 cm
Processore: Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 / 1.66 GHz ( Dual-Core )
RAM: 1 GB (installati) / 3 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz - PC2-5300 ( 1 x 1 GB )
Controller grafico: Intel GMA X3100
Uscita audio: Scheda audio
Garanzia del produttore: 1 anno di garanzia
Peso: 2.9 kg
Localizzazione: Italiano / Italia
Alimentazione: 120/230 V c.a. ( 50/60 Hz )
Batteria: Ioni di litio
Memoria cache: 2 MB - L2
Disco rigido: 120 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Memorizzazione ottica: Masterizzatore DVD - modulo plug-in rimovibile
Networking: Scheda di rete - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g
Sistema operativo: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Dispositivo di input: Tastiera, TrackPoint, UltraNav
Schermo: 15" TFT 1024 x 768 ( XGA ) - 24 bit (16,7 milioni di colori)
Telecom: Fax / modem - 56 Kbps
Tipo di sistema: Notebook
Dispositivi incorporati: Altoparlanti stereo, antenna wireless LAN, ThinkLight, antenna Bluetooth
Wireless NIC: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
Tecnologia piattaforma: Intel Centrino Duo
Sicurezza incorporata: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Chip , lettore di impronte digitali

From http://www.misco.it this was € 619,05 + VAT.

He has been very happy with this laptop (and I have had minimal suppport calls ;-). I've played with it a bit myself and find it to be rock solid with a great keyboard.

Nokia 6650

Firmware 03.09.TMUK.05 16-05-08 6650d-1c RM-400

Very nice looking Symbian s60v3fp2 clamshell. Keyboard and build quality are great.

Software apps up and running for days on end now, with no apparent system memory leaks (e.g. a la E65).

The 3-button "touch screen" on the top, closed surface of the phone is a little annoying -- my wife finds that it's easy to inadvertently end up with the stop watch or timer going.

This is a winner from Nokia.