Not long ago, R-series ThinkPad’s were regarded as value-oriented, general-purpose machines for their bulkier builds and standard-size screens, but the new R61 changes that perception. With its new widescreen and media-friendly features, it's a nice, affordable solution if you want the ThinkPad experience and can do without Wireless WAN and discrete graphics.

The 5.4-pound LenovoThinkPad R61offers either a 14-inch or a 15.4-inch widescreen, at 1,440-by-900 or 1,280-by-800 resolution. You can upgrade to a 15.4-inch, 1,680-by-1.050 screen. For the first time, Lenovo lets you add a 1.3-megapixel webcam. But the mainstream focus means that the R61 lacks extra networking features like Wireless WAN and Centrino Pro.

Thanks in part to the Centrino Duo platform, the R61's SYSmark 2007 Preview overall scores edged out those of the similarly configured Dell Latitude D630.The Lenovo's Photoshop scores, helped by the 2GB of RAM, kept the competition at bay.

The ThinkPad R61 gets a much-needed makeover. It went from a conservative ugly duckling to inheriting screen options from ThinkPad Z- series and the grace of the T61 Widescreen.

Lenovo ThinkPad R61: $1.768

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