- Everything I described in the "First Impressions" thread stands.
- The touchscreen is a more welcome addition that I would originally believe. I use it frequently to switch between applications by clicking on their windows, tabs or taskbar icons (which are large and easy to hit), sometimes to scroll, and occasionally to zoom.
- The touchpad I don't use as much (still a trackpoint person), except for two-finger scroll. I set it up so that the scrolling direction is the same as on the screen - feels more intuitive that way. I still never experience the problem of accidentally triggering the touchpad - whatever palm detection or something they implemented, was done well.
- Being about the same size and weight as the T430s, I find the Thinkpad 25 more pleasant to use and carry around. Its finish is much higher end than the T430s, and when using the T430s I sometimes miss the touchscreen.
The hinge design for these models prevents extended batteries from extending out the back of the machine, so they extend out the bottom instead, propping the laptop up. It looks weird at first, but you get used to it, and some users might even appreciate the keyboard angle and the screen sitting a bit higher. Past slim models (like X6x and X2xx series) also had cylindrical batteries that protrude from the bottom, but not as much as these ones. The battery, naturally, has its own rubber feet for the laptop to stand on.
With the slim battery 61, my preferred grip carrying the Thinkpad 25 under my shoulder was to hold it across the back, with the thumb against the LCD lid, and four fingers against the bottom, which fit well with the angled base. This is not convenient with the extended battery 61++, so I carry it flipped with four fingers holding the lid, and the thumb resting on the battery curve. It is also possible to use the extended battery as a handle, but I wouldn't advise it, as it would put the entire weight of the laptop on the battery contact points.
I weighed the 3-cell at 132 grams, and the 6-cell at 332 grams - 3 times the capacity at 2.5 times the weight. This brings the total weight of the Thinkpad 25 to a little less than 1.9 kilograms.
Update: I came by a 48Wh 6-cell (61+) as well as fake 3-cell (61). Link to post: viewtopic.php?p=858142#p858142
61 and 61++ batteries compared:
Back, bottom, and side views of the machine with 61++ installed:
Side view of the Thinkpad 25, 61 vs. 61++