Lenovo's ThinkPad X60 convertible goes Core 2 Duo

Admittedly, it feels a bit strange to praise a machine for getting a Core 2 Duo in April of 2007, but Lenovo's highly-regarded convertible has finally remedied the one gripe that nearly everyone seemed to have about it. While we've seen the C2D hit high-end lappies rather late in the game, we're fairly sure this one takes the cake for belatedness, but if you've been patiently anxiously awaiting for the overdue processor upgrade, your wait is finally over. Right now, you can order up an X60 Tablet PC with a 1.5GHz L7400V Core 2 Duo CPU, 12.1-inch SXGA+ display, 1GB to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, up to 120GB of hard drive space, Bluetooth, 802.11a/b/g/n, and an eight-cell Li-ion battery to boot. Of course, such "fresh" luxuries apparently don't come cheap, as a fairly well-spec'd machine will run you upwards of $2,000, and should arrive "within one to two weeks" from now.

[Via Slashgear]

UPDATE: Well you can officially color us confused, as it appears that the Core 2 Duo mention on Lenovo's official webstore is, um, bogus. According to "sources at Lenovo" cited by TabletPCTalk, "there are no Core 2 Duo ThinkPad X60s available as of this moment," but alas, we've no idea when this moment will end and the next will begin. Stay tuned.

[g davis @ Apr 3rd 2007 10:48PM]

Now it becomes much clearer why Lenovo was so vague as to why they lost the 1.83ghz chip and only had the 1.66ghz chip lately to offer in this tablet. It was because their order for the newer Core 2 Duo chip was actually going to be the real replacement, and this was exactly what I had suspected. Thank you for putting it on the market (finally!).

[zoocat @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:01PM]

Just because I like being a grammar nazi..."anxiously awaiting for the overdue procesor upgrade" is painful. "Awaiting" carries its own object, you don't need a preposition. You can say "awaiting the overdue..." or "waiting for the overdue...", but "awaiting for" is just hideous overkill, much like putting 802.11n capability in a tablet that no one in their right mind would drop $2k+ on anyway...

[kev @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:49PM]

No SSD? =(

[Warner Crocker @ Apr 4th 2007 12:04AM]

We picked this story up this morning at GottaBeMobile.com, but our Lenovo sources now tell us that this was a mistake on their website and that there are NO Core 2 Duo X60 Tablets at the moment.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/ConfusionWithLenovoCore2DuoTabletPC.aspx

[dorghus @ Apr 4th 2007 12:15AM]

"Lappies"?

[v_dogg @ Apr 4th 2007 12:53AM]

does anyone know why IBM laptops still look like their from the 80's?

[Edward @ Apr 4th 2007 2:07PM]

Which part looks like 1980s vintage? The < 1" profile? The TrackPoint? The clean lines? Not everyone cares for neon lights, cheap plastic, carbon fiber/aluminum/stainless steel, or media playing buttons on their professional-grade notebook PCs.

[MEAT! @ Apr 4th 2007 1:07AM]

I always have the following question when I see these tablet PCs, but I haven't seen it addressed anywhere: are they suitable for pressure-sensitive artwork and such? Is this one (or any other) anything like a Wacom tablet?

[Dave P @ Apr 4th 2007 2:59AM]

yes, you can use this tablet for artwork - it has an active digitizer. The Fujitsu Lifebook T4215 also works for drawing. Only passive digitizers will not (which require actually touching the screen itself rather than hovering). The HP TX1000z is an example of a passive digitizer.
both the t4215 and x60 use wacom drivers....

[Jason goldberg @ Apr 4th 2007 1:21AM]

If any normal customer can call Lenovo, order a Core 2 Duo X60T with a SXGA+ screen and receive it in two weeks, then I'll eat my current X60T. It only took 4 months for them to ship the Core Duo version, and that one actually existed. After Lenovo's performance in launching the X40T and X60T it would be silly for anyone to buy into Lenovo's initial shipping dates.

[taylor @ Apr 4th 2007 2:22AM]

the trackpad :_( i miss the track pad, mommy me wan track pad!!

[Walt_Mink @ Apr 4th 2007 11:33AM]

The really exciting part about the x60t is the availability of the dual mode digitizers. Actually, it is two digitizers - a capacitive touch digitizer on top of the EM (pen) digitizer. The cool part about it is being able to poke the screen with your finger for something quick and then getting all of the control and sensitivity of a regular tablet with the pen. The difficult part about using a touch tablet is the lack of a palm rejection mechanism - this is solved on this unit when the driver figures out there is a pen nearby and disables touch.

The new Motion LE1700 will also have dual mode, although it will be using a single digitizer from N-Trig (better).

[PCA @ Apr 4th 2007 9:57AM]

Is it just me or did the L7400V Core 2 Duo CPU disappear as an order option from the Lenovo site last night?

[Dave P @ Apr 5th 2007 2:48AM]

yeah, but my problem is multitouch has only been available thus far in XGA...when's multi SXGA going to be available?

[socko @ Apr 4th 2007 12:16PM]

I still love lenovo but they take forever to add new technologies.

[v_dogg @ Apr 4th 2007 2:32PM]

the whole thing looks vintage. ya, the trackpoint blows. the red colors suck. the ibm logo needs a fresh update. trust me, im not the kind or person that buys a product based off looks, but when IBM looks ancient. it gives off a bad vibe.

[cjrenaud @ Apr 4th 2007 6:42PM]

"Fresh", says the guy who uses "v_dogg" as his alias...

[dangerous @ Apr 5th 2007 1:39AM]

I'm interested in replacing my old Dell laptop. I've heard good reviews about the IBM ThinkPads. Heck, my girlfriend has one from work and she's happy with it (although she's NOT a power user, by any means). But the CONSTANT changes (in a matter of hours, really) of the website, the availability and then unavailability of certain chipsets, the late (or none existent) adoption of the new Intel boards (i.e., Core 2 Duo), and these constant games the company is paying with shipment really deters me from making the purchase. Am I wrong about this? Has anyone heard anything about Fujitsu's tablets?

[Magdy Reda @ Apr 14th 2007 10:27AM]

Well, Lenovo Japan reports X60 Tablet Core 2 Duo for their market already on sell.
Follow this link:
http://www-604.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10000392&categoryId=4611686018425111769&catalogId=-392&langId=-10#Comparison

[Sumit Agarwal @ Apr 24th 2007 12:20PM]

And now Americans have it too ;) Just checked, its a build-to-order option.

[Draycal @ Apr 26th 2007 1:34PM]

Ok...I just ordered one of the core 2 duo...lets see how long it takes..anybody know how well the screen works outside, and how well the multi-touch works for a novice like me...thanks

[Bright Shadow @ May 2nd 2007 1:09AM]

I just ordered one as well. The rep told me its about 10 days wait from the purchase date, plus the shipping time (which if you use free shipping, is 5-7 days). I asked to add on some extra things this morning (to make additional use of the 10% ecoupon I used), and the rep told me it takes three extra days to make the change. He told me it was because the order is sent directly to the warehouse, and the request is then sent and has to be sorted though in order for the change. It's actually a two day wait, but the order gets sent the next day... Oh well, for the time being i'm just watching videos of my precious new computer.

Anyone see any video of the Vista IBM software? I am wondering how good their proprietary software could be on such a new OS (no matter how closely they work with Microsoft).

[Bright Shadow @ May 2nd 2007 1:09AM]

Oh and apparently the screens are dull, but the multiview way outshines competitors when outdoors. Watch this video if you want to know how the touchscreen is... and why its not as good as it looks :( which is why I went with the highres anyway :)

http://www.gottabemobile.com/LenovoThinkPadX60TabletPCMultiTouchAndUltrabase.aspx

or for the more general X60t Tour:
http://media.libsyn.com/media/gottabemobile/GBMLenovoTourfinal.wmv