Lenovo ThinkPad R60 review: Lenovo ThinkPad R60

Editors' note: The R60 is a refresh of Lenovo's ThinkPad R52 model, which CNET reviewed in April 2005. The R60 includes a few new features and new component options; otherwise, the ThinkPad R52 and ThinkPad R60 are identical. This review includes updated performance and pricing information for the ThinkPad R60. Details regarding design and features can be found in the original ThinkPad R52 review.

The plain black case of the midsize R series may not elicit excitement, but its broad range of configuration options--with prices starting at $799--provide tremendous flexibility for businesses looking to make the most of their tech dollar. With the ThinkPad R60, Lenovo loaded up the solid R-series case with new parts, such as Intel's newest Core Duo processors, fast 667MHz RAM, and ATI's latest Mobility Radeon graphics chips. The result is a well-made laptop with enough oomph to tackle any basic business task.

Though the R60's design is nearly identical to that of the R52, there are a few key new features. Most notably, the ThinkPad R60 includes optional WWAN connectivity and a convenient wireless on/off switch along the laptop's front edge. The number of USB 2.0 ports has increased to three (from two), and buyers can now choose an SXGA+ resolution for the laptop's 14-inch display. In addition to the metal screen hinges found on the R52, the R60 incorporates a magnesium alloy frame and a shock-mounted hard drive to help withstand everyday bumps.

Otherwise, the changes are internal. Our $2,099 ThinkPad R60 review unit came stocked with a 2.GHz Intel Core Duo T2500 processor; 1GB of fast 667MHz RAM; a roomy 100GB, 7,200rpm hard drive; and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 card with 128MB of dedicated graphics memory. Those specs are nearly identical to the $2,599 ThinkPad T60 we tested earlier this year, as was the R60's performance in CNET Labs' mobile benchmarks. The R60 also scored in line with a similarly configured Dell Latitude D620, which cost $2,101. The ThinkPad R60's battery lasted a lengthy 6 hours, 25 minutes--that's 30 minutes longer than the ThinkPad T60 and more than 2 hours longer than the Latitude D620.

As with the R52, Lenovo backs select configurations of the ThinkPad R60 with a long three-year warranty, though some low-priced configurations ship with a cost-saving one-year warranty. Toll-free telephone support is available around the clock for the length of your warranty. Lenovo's support Web site includes a handful of troubleshooting topics as well as the expected driver downloads; the site lacks interactive features such as customer forums or the chance to chat in real time with a technician.

SysMark 2004 performance

(Longer bars indicate faster performance)

Dell Latitude D620
211271165

Lenovo ThinkPad R60

206280151

Lenovo ThinkPad T60

205279150

Battery life

(Longer bars indicate longer battery life)

Lenovo ThinkPad R60
385248

Dell Latitude D620

237247

Lenovo ThinkPad T60

353232

Find out more about how we test Windows laptops.

System configurations:

Dell Latitude D620
Windows XP Pro; 2GHz Intel Core Duo T2500; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM PC4300 533MHz; Nvidia Quadro NVS 110M 256MB; Hitachi Travelstar 5K100 80GB 5,400rpm

Lenovo ThinkPad R60
Windows XP Professional; 2GHz Intel Core Duo T2500; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM PC5300 666MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 512MB; Hitachi Travelstar 7K100 100GB 7,200rpm

Lenovo ThinkPad T60
Windows XP Professional; 2GHz Intel Core Duo T2500; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM PC5300 666MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 512MB; Hitachi Travelstar 5K100 100GB 5,400rpm