The ThinkPad T560's advantage over similar systems, like the ThinkPad T460, is, of course, its large 15.6-inch screen. My review unit came equipped with a 1920 x 1080, nontouch display, which is just sharp enough for a screen this size. It feels roomy enough for screen-intensive tasks like editing large spreadsheets, and split-screen multitasking is comfortable.I'm a big fan of the matte finish that comes on most ThinkPad models, including this one. The screen has an anti-glare coating that wards off distracting reflections from windows and overhead lights. And while many matte displays are a bit on the dim side, this one offers average brightness, which is good for typical indoor use. A couple of other display options are available, including a 1080p touch screen. I wouldn't recommend that option, since power-hungry touch panels tend to drain your battery in a hurry. You can also opt for a low-res, 1366 x 768 display, which most workers should avoid.
True to the ThinkPad brand, the T560 comes with a top-notch keyboard that's perfect for marathon typing sessions. You get an extremely generous 2.41 millimeters of key travel, which is well above the 1.5mm that we consider the minimum for a work laptop. The keys also offer good amount of feedback on each stroke, even if they don't feel quite as snappy as the keys on the ThinkPad T460.In addition to the standard touchpad, the ThinkPad T460 includes a red TrackPoint nub amidst the G, H and B keys. This lets you precisely control your mouse cursor without moving your hands from home row on the keyboard, but it can take some getting used to if you're a TrackPoint newbie.
Battery life
If longevity is your top priority, there's no better laptop than the ThinkPad T560. The system lasted longer on our battery test than any other laptop we've ever tested — at least, if you opt for the extended, six-cell battery. With the beefier battery attached, the T560 ran for 21 hours and 3 minutes, which is about twice as long as this system ran with the standard, three-cell battery. That's long enough to last through two complete workdays and then some.Even the standard battery life of 10 hours and 10 minutes is pretty impressive when you consider that the average 15-inch laptop runs for just over 6 hours on the same battery test, which simulates continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi. Rival systems, including the Toshiba Tecra A50(5:59) and Dell Latitude E5570 (7:17), all lagged well behind the T560.
Heavy multitasking is no problem for the ThinkPad T560. My review unit came equipped with an Intel Core i5-6300U processor with 8GB of RAM, a configuration that allowed me to breeze through my workday without a hitch. Some rival 15-inchers are even more powerful, though.The T560 racked up a very solid score of 6,210 on the Geekbench 3 benchmark test, which measures overall performance. That score's pretty good for the money, even if it lags slightly behind the category average of 7,625. Pricier systems like the Core i7-6820HQ-equipped Dell Latitude E5570 (12,148) blow the ThinkPad T560 out of the water, but the Dell's performance is overkill for the average worker.
The T560 also did pretty well on our spreadsheet test, matching 20,000 names to their addresses in a very solid 4 minutes and 14 seconds. That time beats the category average of 5 minutes and 5 seconds, but runs about a minute behind pricier rivals.
The ThinkPad T560 can be ordered in a huge variety of hardware configurations through Lenovo.com. The baseline model offers a low-res 1366 x 768-pixel display, a Core i5-6200U processor with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive, all for $809.Our midrange review unit hits a much better sweet spot for the average worker. It comes equipped with a higher-res 1920 x 1080-pixel display, a more powerful Core i5-6300U processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of speedy solid-state drive (SSD) storage, all for $1,286.It's hard to find fault with the ThinkPad T560. It's simply the best 15-inch business laptop on the market, combining solid performance with strong security, a quality keyboard and a durable design. It's absolutely epic battery life doesn't hurt, either.
Commuters who don't mind sacrificing a bit of screen space might be better off with Lenovo's more portable ThinkPad T460, which is similar to the T560 but has a smaller, 14-inch display and slightly shorter battery life. Dell's XPS 15 is also a solid pick thanks to its relatively lightweight design, but it lacks business-class durability and security. That makes the ThinkPad T560 the big-screen business laptop to buy.
One of the realities of living in Toronto, Canada, about a two-hour drive from the nearest American city when traffic cooperates, is experiencing a distinctly four-season climate. Winter lives up to the stereotype of being bitterly cold, before giving way to a mild and rainy spring, and eventually a hot and humid summer. The warmth lasts for no more than three to four months, however, before the leaves turn orange in October and Starbucks brings out the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
For the past three months, I have been testing the AyeGear J25 Jacket to see how it holds up to those Canadian extremes, starting with a below-freezing, snowy day in early April to a comparatively sweltering 90º day in mid July. In addition to wearing the jacket around Toronto, I brought it with me on a recent trip to San Francisco, allowing me to test its convenience going through airport security and away from home in general. Ahead, find out if the jacket lived up to the task. The jacket has over 25 separate compartments for storing portable devices, valuables, travel essentials, and general items, including six credit card and ID holders, two hand pockets, two chest pockets, two sleeve pockets, two smartphone pockets, two tablet pockets, two pen holders, two coin holders, two memory stick holders, two SD card holders, one back laptop pocket, and one passport holder.
There is also a Velcro-based earphone routing system along the neck of the jacket, an elastic strap that can hold a drink bottle, and an in-pocket retractable reel for securing your keys -- or anything with a carabiner clip.
On my trip to San Francisco, I packed a tableful of items into the jacket with ease, including a 15-inch MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, two iPhones, two SD cards, EarPods, Lightning-to-USB cable, wall charger, pack of chewing gum, car keys, sunglasses, passport, boarding pass, charging case, portable battery pack, wallet, and loose change. In addition to all of that, the jacket could hold two iPads.
My immediate reaction after putting on the jacket was that, perhaps as to be expected, it was rather heavy. It almost feels like wearing a lead apron at a dentist office during teeth X-rays. Walking around with all of your electronics and personal belongings strapped to your body obviously hunkers you down somewhat, and wearing this jacket for an extended period of time can become rather uncomfortable.
The weight might be a worthy tradeoff for frequent flyers, however, as the jacket makes airport security a much less frustrating experience. Anyone that has stood in line at the TSA checkpoint knows it can be a tedious, albeit important, process: take your shoes off, take your laptop out of its bag, and place all of your individual belongings in the bins before proceeding through the metal detector. When wearing the jacket, however, all you have to do is quickly take it off with your shoes, much to the delight of those waiting behind you.
AyeGear's J25 Jacket is built to last in all weather conditions. It is made from a mixture of cotton (67 percent) and nylon (33 percent) that proved to be waterproof -- water drops bead off -- and wrinkle free. The jacket also has an adjustable rollaway zipped hood, a breathable lining, and removable sleeves to turn the jacket into a vest, making it useful for hiking trips or similar activities in warmer weather.