Make no mistake, the T61 is designed for business. It's fast and it's solid as a rock, and that's what counts when you're lugging it back and forth to work every day. For the times when you're off though, it's got enough graphics power to get the job done on games. I can play Fallout 3, Starcraft II, and Batman: Arkham Asylum at low settings and older games like Half-Life 2 and Team Fortress 2 at medium to high settings. This IS NOT a gaming laptop but it's good enough to get the job done when you don't need to run high demand games. A lot of new laptops aren't really built very sturdy, but this thing is a beast. It's not just wrapped in plastic but has a full metal cage that the components sit in. If you drop it, it will probably be fine and even if something really bad happens the machine comes with software that ceases all activity when an impact occurs. The keyboard is excellent as well, with good keys that feel right. If you're looking for a solid laptop that can run games in its spare time, this is the one. Battery life is not superb, but it will gt you a good 2-3 hours depending on what you're doing.

tonygxp

Fredericksburg, VA

the thinkpad t61 lives up to its reputation.  i have been using this laptop for a couple years and it is still groing strong.  it has many many features.  including a metal casing for the lcd.  and bottom.  it has a built in led light on top of the lcd.  though i do not use it very much, it is a nice feature.  the quality of the keyboard is superb.  the touch response of the keys and tactile feel is great.  very easy and fast to type with.  the durability of the overal lmachine is great.  the vents for cooling is well designed.  you can putu the laptop on top of something and the vents will not be blocked.   the intakes are on the side.  the only bad thing about the laptop is the screen quality.  it is not the brighestst in the world, and not the clearest or best color calibrated.  the fan can sometimes get bad and loud, but with third party software the fan noise can be reprogrammed.  the speakers are decent. 

reviewer221

Durham, NC

I've been able to do most any task required on our thinkpad.  It is functional for the whole family including our 3-5 year old children.  Videos stream quite well, downloading is fairly quick, and it has the capacity to handle a number of applications at once.  We've really enjoyed using it.  The keyboard is easy to use, the screen isn't straining on the eyes.  A user-friendly laptop suitable for students and those who frequent the internet.  I'm not certain as to its functionality for "hard-core gamers" as we've never used it for this purpose.  It supports Hatchlings, Zoo World, and Civilization without any problem if that helps.  It has longevity as we have owned it for over a year and received it used.  It still has alot of life left.  It is very sturdy as our 4 year old once knocked it over onto the ground and it did not break.

savinglotsofdough

Lake Park, GA