Lenovo ThinkPad Z60T Review

Lenovo says the T at the end of the ThinkPad Z60T's name stands for "travel-friendly" (there's a somewhat larger and heavier Z60M model as well). While there are plenty of notebooks that are smaller and lighter than even the Z60T, the Lenovo is quite compact for the features it provides -- 9 by 13.1 by 1.2 inches, just a tick under 5 pounds.

We tested a $2,299 configuration with a Pentium M 760 (2.0GHz) processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 100GB hard disk plus DVD burner. (Prices start at $1,099 for a stripper with Celeron M 360 CPU, 256MB of memory, a 40GB hard disk, and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive.) Our test unit also came with a 7-cell lithium-ion battery that Lenovo rates for up to four hours of unplugged productivity; we got slightly more than three hours out of it.

The ThinkPad comes clad in familiar black plastic, but you can opt for a snazzier, more scratch-resistant titanium lid. Whether you choose plastic or titanium, the opposite side of the lid holds an excellent 14-inch-diagonal, 1,280 by 768-pixel widescreen display that's as useful for work-related chores as for watching movies on the plane (though you probably should be working). By contrast, the Z60M has a 15.4-inch, 1,280 by 800 screen.

Ever since their debut under the IBM brand, ThinkPads have been known for first-class keyboards, and Lenovo's newest is no exception. Besides providing plenty of tactile feedback, the Z60T keyboard is spacious instead of cramped even though it's flanked by stereo speakers. Both pointing-stick and touchpad pointing devices are standard, the latter with an extra button to scroll through Web pages, as is an ample wrist-rest.

Lenovo provides lots of ways to get data in and out of the laptop: Along with one FireWire and three USB 2.0 ports, the ThinkPad sports a slot for SecureDigital flash cards and VGA and S-Video ports for monitor or television output, respectively.

Cellular Connections

Connectivity options also abound, with Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g wireless networking, and built-in Bluetooth, plus a 56Kbps modem if you're feeling nostalgic. The Z60T's proudest feature, however, is the special antenna inconspicuously mounted to the display's right edge which lets it access the Internet and e-mail via Verizon Wireless' data network.

Verizon's data network uses EV-DO, a slightly faster technology than the Cingular EDGE network used by Sony's cell-surfing Vaio T and TX notebooks. The carrier says its BroadbandAccess service offers download speeds averaging between 400Kbps and 500Kbps, which fits with the average of 487Kbps we saw at an online test site. (Upload speeds, by contrast, hovered around 126Kbps in our testing.)

Of course, as is the case with cellular voice calls, your results may vary -- perhaps widely -- depending on your location and conditions on Verizon's network. Although the BroadbandAccess Internet link did feel palpably slower than a typical Ethernet or WiFi connection, it was still speedy enough for workaday chores such as Web browsing and e-mail reading.

Although it's nice not to have to hunt for a hotspot every time you hit the road, there are two caveats. The first is availability; though EV-DO is available in about 50 metropolitan areas, it's not nearly as ubiquitous as Verizon's voice service, as you'll find if you frequently travel off the beaten path. Then there's the cost -- at $80 a month, it's by no means cheap (though existing Verizon voice customers can knock that down to $60 monthly with a two-year service agreement).

When a PC offers so many ways to access the Internet, making sure you use the right connection in the right place can be a challenge. To help out, the Z60T offers Access Connections, a software utility that lets you define specific network profiles for different locations -- distinguishing, say, between Ethernet in the office, WiFi at home, and EV-DO everywhere else. For added convenience and security, you can configure Access Connections to tweak certain network settings (e.g., turning off file and printer sharing) and even launch particular applications when you connect to specific networks.

On the other hand, we also liked the toggle switch on the front of the unit that summarily shuts off all the the wireless features -- WiFi, EV-DO, and Bluetooth. It's a whole lot more convenient than manually turning each off on those occasions when, for security or other reasons, you want to fly solo.

Special Features

The more time a system spends outside of the office, the greater the risk of damage (both to the notebook and to your data) from damage, loss, or theft. To minimize these threats, the ThinkPad comes with a number of security features.

The most obvious is the integrated fingerprint reader located just below the keyboard. Setting up the Z60T to recognize fingerprints is not terribly difficult or time-consuming, and the system can be configured to recognize multiple users if you plan to share the system. You can use a finger-swipe for system access in conjunction with, or in lieu of, your Windows logon password.

The Z60T also includes several features designed to safeguard your data from prying eyes and unexpected system failure. For instance, if you've had nightmares about the potential theft of a laptop full of sensitive data, a PrivateDisk utility lets you create one or more encrypted hard-disk partitions. (Although Windows XP Professional provides a built-in encryption feature, it's considerably less flexible.)

To guard against physical damage, the ThinkPad features an Active Protection System designed to instantaneously park the hard drive's read/write heads whenever a shock is detected. (The system recognized our attempts to induce shock by dropping the unit, albeit from an elevation of only about a foot and onto a carpeted surface.)

A Rescue and Recovery application covers data backup and restore and supports saving data to a CD or DVD, external hard disk, or network drive. Finally, all of the aforementioned features -- along with a host of other system applications and utilities -- can be easily summoned by pressing the conspicuous blue ThinkVantage button at the top of the keyboard.

In addition to Windows XP Professional (Home Edition is also an option), the Z60T comes bundled with the basic software one needs to get started, including Symantec's trial-size antivirus and firewall utilities and a license for IBM's aged Lotus SmartSuite productivity software. The latter, however, is neither preinstalled nor included on CD -- you have to download it.

Overall, the ThinkPad Z60T fits a lot of impressive hardware and useful software into a 5-pound package, making it an excellent traveling companion. In particular, the Verizon BroadbandAccess service (which, by the way, you must choose when ordering the notebook -- it can't be added later) will appeal to people who want Web access on the road without a latte to go with it.

Pros:

• Excellent display and keyboard; durable titanium lid
• Internet access via cellular network

Cons:

• Not for the financially faint of heart

Adapted from SmallBusinessComputing.com.