From: Randal Whittle (rwhittle_at_usa.net)
Date: Wed Jun 03 1998 - 15:30:58 EDT
At 07:16 AM 6/3/98 , Friedrich Huebler wrote:
>I am undecided between the ThinkPad 600 and 770 (the top of the line
>Pentium II 266 MHz models). It seems that the 600 can do everything the
>770 can do, except using DVD disk.
>
>What reasons are there to get a 770 instead of a 600? Any opinions are
>welcome.
With its extra weight, I'm sure it would come in handy if you want a real
workout everytime you carry it around. :-)
Also, I *think* the 770 has hardware-based MPEG-2, whereas the 600 does
not (just does it in software). Of course, that's closely related to the
DVD issue.
You *can* get the 770 with a higher-capacity HD, as the 600 uses a slim
12.7 mm HD which as a rule, maxes out at a lower capacity (current max
available is 4 GB, and a 6.4 or 6.7 GB HD will be available soon). To my
knowledge, the standard 17 or 19 mm height drives in the 770 can be had as
large as 8 GB in capacity as of this writing.
The 770's ultra-bay also has more options than the 600's "UltraSlim" bay.
The 600's was designed to be an "either-or" thing to save space--either
floppy or CD (or empty spacer if you want to minimize weight for travel).
I'm certain someone will make a zip drive for it sooner or later (which
I'll eagerly get), but as it stands, you can't use the Ultraslim bay in the
600 to plug in a 2nd battery (like you can with the 770), nor can you plug
in a 2nd hard drive into that bay. If these things are important to you,
get a 770. Regarding the battery, while its nice to be able to go twice as
long without a charge, its only a minor inconvenience to just carry a 2nd
battery with you and make the change.
By the way, speaking of batteries, the IBM site claims the 770 will last
3.5 hours on a battery charge. The claim for the 600 is 3 hours.
You can also get a larger screen (14.1") with the 770. Though I
personally think the distinction between 13.3" and 14.1" is dubious at
best. Both are XGA. I think the screen size difference is just picking at
nits. I can honestly say I *wouldn't* be any more impressed with that
minor size difference, unless they raised the resolution (which they didn't).
Do you like IR? If so, the 770 has two of them (I think they are actually
"one" in that its a single logical port, but physically there are two IR
windows for easy access--one in the front, one in the back--for easy
pointing & shooting). The 600 has one IR port on the right hand side.
The 770 sports Video I/O ports and a Dolby Digital Out port, neither of
which are found on the 600. It also has little pop-out legs not found on
the 600.
But perhaps best of all, the 770, with nothing in the ultrabay but the
travel cover, weighs in at 7.3 lbs. The 600 in the same situation comes in
at less than 5 lbs. So you also get 2.3 extra bonus pounds with a 770.
Its also at least an inch wider, 1/2 inch deeper (if you get the 14"
screen), and almost an inch thicker. So if you like your laptops beefy,
the 770's a great option.
Also, I can't seem to get this entirely figured out, but I *think* the
modem in the 770 is an X2 modem, while the one in the 600 is KFlex (both
upgradable to v.90 by the end of the year, though I think that's an awful
long wait). I'm not positive of this difference though--and it does seem
strange if it is true.
That's about it.
-------
Randal J. Whittle whittle_at_usc.edu (213) 740-7775
Director, Electronic Commerce Program
Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
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