Payday! Now I'm sitting on the $$, making a decision over the weekend.
DSims, I came to basically the same conclusions. The only real contenders cost more than I want to spend right now, so it's either the T60P or change the way I work. I really don't mind working on the big Thinkpads at all and have been since @2004 when I got an A31P.
But, I am still seriously considering a small Thinkpad (x200) with an IPS screen hacked into it. There's a huge thread
here about the process and I found a fellow Thinkpad freak with a nice machine FS.
I keep looking at the Macbook Pro 13" too and could get an Open Box or used one in my price range (barely), but I don't want to use OSX (or Window$) and hacking Linux onto a Macbook is still somewhat problematic. Paying a premium to be a Mac owner doesn't set well with me either.
In either of the small screen scenarios I'd be forced to use a bigger display for serious editing and that's the change in work method I haven't quite got my head around yet.
mikemike, That's pure BS from Lenovo. LG made the IPS screens for IBM and they've continued making them. Lenovo just didn't want to pay the premium for them, yet they continue to charge a premium in most cases.
rparmar, totally agree and checked out the Dell offerings, but like the Sony too big. I'm at my limit with the T42/T60 and the only option I'm considering is going smaller and accepting the inconvenience of an external monitor.
thanks to all and more later