Rensselaer Laptop

The specs for the laptop package that Rensselaer will be offering were released late last week. It is a very decent computer, though I do have a few complaints. The specs are as follows:

• ThinkPad T61
• Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 processor at 2.0 GHz (4 MB L2 cache, 800 MHz FSB, 64-bit CPU)
• 2GB RAM
• 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) TFT display
• 160GB 5400RPM hard drive with Intel Turbo Memory hard drive cache
• 128MB NVIDIA Quadra NVS 140M graphic processing unit
• CD writer/DVD writer (dual layer)
• 10/100/1000 on-board Ethernet and 56K modem
• 802.11a/b/g/n integrated wireless
• Ports: 3 USB 2.0, Docking/Port Replicator, External Display, Headphone / Line out, Microphone / Line in
• PC Card Slot, ExpressCard Slot, Media Card Slot
• UltraNav (touch pad/TrackPoint) pointing device
• Fingerprint Reader
• Bluetooth
• Firewire (IEEE 1394)
• 9-cell Lithium-ion battery (one-year warranty)

My main problem with the computer is that the resolution is not as high as I would like. It is 1680x1050, but I wish it were 1920x1200. Also, I would have preferred 256 MB of video memory rather than 128 MB. Finally, I would have preferred a faster (i.e. 7200 RPM) hard drive.

What this breaks down to is "I like everything about the RPI laptop package except where it is not as good as my current notebook computer." Based on that statement, I guess I will also mention that I wish it had 4 GB of memory rather than 2 GB. I will end up buying the package anyway because obtaining the required software legally would be prohibitively expensive.