Walt checks out ThinkPad X300, also fits in manila folder

Well, would you look at that. The image we're certain your eyes are fixated on above is indeed the first look at Lenovo's forthcoming X300 ultraportable, and it's being provided courtesy of Walt Mossberg. 'Course, if we were betting souls, we'd guess that nifty office envelope won't be bundled in, but hey, crazier things have happened. As if a photo wasn't enough, Walt also clued us in on a few more specs, namely the inclusion of a removable battery, three USB ports, WiFi, an integrated Ethernet jack and optional GPS / WWAN to boot. Heck, users will even be able to order this 3.12-pound critter with Windows XP if they so choose. You getting all this, Apple?

[Zeus.:God @ Feb 13th 2008 11:20AM]

I'm assuming this will put Apple back in it's place for the time being?

MBA sucks.

[JAmerican @ Feb 13th 2008 11:22AM]

I personally saw the MacBook Air and its amazingly small and thin but not sure if its worth all that money for no ports. Most people with mobiles do not want to carry a truckload of accessories.

JAmerican

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Feb 13th 2008 11:33AM]

Apple is king not because their products are necessarily better, but because they are the masters of marketing and, more importantly . . . generating BUZZ.

Case in point . . . iPods, while great devices, often lack basic features that you can find on cheaper devices by Creative, Iriver, etc. But does Joe Schmoe consumer know that? All they know is Apple has commercials (at the Super Bowl, no less) and billboards and everything else saturating the market.

It’s not as much Apple’s genius as it is every other companies’ folly for not even TRYING to compete with Apple’s marketing. Do you even see commercials on TV for other mp3 players?

When the MacBook Air came out, Apple wisely played up the form factor while playing down the limitations. That’s marketing. And the mainstream media swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. Thank God for Engadget, et. al for providing the tech community with an outlet to find the real deal.

When Leopard came out, the Mac vs. PC ads had already been pounding home how BAD Vista was (which we could debate all day). It's the public PERCEPTION that matters most when it comes to generating buzz, not the truth.

[Dax @ Feb 13th 2008 11:44AM]

@tuba man

Vista is a mess, no excuses now.....

Apple's products are brilliantly marketed, but they are also beautifully designed. This lenovo sub is ugly as all get out and is at least $1000 more, so whats your point?

[Geir E @ Feb 13th 2008 11:53AM]

Not the same approach to ultraportability as the MacBook Air. But sounds impressive. Lenovo usually have high quality stuff, espesially the more expensive options. I would like to bring the Air to the cafe for my personal coffee surfing, but this to the business meeting to connect to a projector.

[superfresh @ Feb 13th 2008 12:03PM]

And what would you say is Apple's approach to ultraportability? Not enough for too much?

[Chris @ Feb 13th 2008 12:10PM]

"But does Joe Schmoe consumer know that?"

I thought it was the Apple consumers that were smug and condescending...

The average consumer knows what's more important is not how many features they manage to cram in but how well they are implimented and how easy they are to use. It's difficult for young geeks to understand this and it took me a while to understand this as well.

Case in point. I was the owner of a Windows mobile smartphone for 3 (long) years. When I got it I was stoked about all the things I could do with it. I downloaded tons of 3rd party apps, took photos, etc. After the euphoria wore off I realized that most of its features were such a pain to use and so poorly implimented that I just didn't want to bother. I ended up using it just as a phone. I now own an iPhone and I don't see this happening because it's so easy to use I actually enjoy taking pictures with it or creating shoplists or adding calendar events, etc.

[superfresh @ Feb 13th 2008 12:11PM]

I'll add this: The point of ultraportability is to offer as much of what can be found in a standard "un-portable" product, IMHO.

If I opened a beer, poured some of it into a bottle the size of the thimble, labeled it the world's smallest beer, marketed it as equal to the original beer and charged consumers twice as much to buy it, I would be laughed out of the marketplace.

[andyo @ Feb 13th 2008 12:13PM]

@Tuba

iPods aren't the best, but when I bought my first iPod (back in 2004) the only alternatives were Creative and not much else. The iPod won hands-down because of its accessories. At the time, it was the only one with an option of a wireless remote. Now the lead in accessories has widened even more. I now control my iPod via a radio remote. I only stay with iPod for the accessories.

[wizzle @ Feb 13th 2008 12:40PM]

I guess you all forgot to mention that this thing runs on a 1.2GHz ULV processor, which is significantly slower than the MBA's.

[Reid @ Feb 13th 2008 1:01PM]

I thought the car analogies were bad. The "ultraportable beer" example has just shamed us all.

[Kyang @ Feb 13th 2008 1:09PM]

Reply to: "Truth Hurts"

"""lol, I would stay away from anything "CHINKPAD" for the time being."""




Are you a tard?

[giantenemycrab @ Feb 13th 2008 2:29PM]

Smart People Play Tuba hit the nail on the head. If power/performance mattered, Apple would have been out of the game a looooooonng time ago.

[JC @ Feb 13th 2008 2:29PM]

@Truth Hurts

You win for most moronic comment of the day. Where the hell do you think Apple products are made? "Chinks" and "nips" rule your life, now how do you feel about that? Dumbass.

[iPriest @ Feb 13th 2008 5:04PM]

@ Zeus : The X300 still doesn't come with OSX so the MBA still rules!

[Zeus.:God @ Feb 14th 2008 12:05AM]

Figures. I didn't know having one of the least compatible operating systems ever created was a plus... What?

[Abuzar @ Feb 15th 2008 11:06PM]

Not having OSX is plus.

I installed Leopard on my PC and it's like Ubuntu, only you know, without all the applications.

[Baba Booey @ Feb 13th 2008 11:22AM]

Removable battery! take that, Apple!

[Jeff @ Feb 13th 2008 4:45PM]

you see the price?

no removable battery, dvd drive or few extra USB ports are worth the extra $1000 more than the already expensive MBA. yikes.

This thing is fatter, more equipped, uglier (IMO) and much more expensive than the MBA - doesn't really seem like a "i told you it could be done, Apple" situation to me.

[Baba Booey @ Feb 13th 2008 4:55PM]

And those who need window for business....??

[The Finite @ Feb 13th 2008 5:02PM]

@baba

You install Windows on your MBA...

[Baba Booey @ Feb 13th 2008 5:21PM]

o ok then...well I'm satisfied with my $800 ~7lb gateway laptop with XP.

[Oinquer @ Feb 13th 2008 11:23AM]

Take that Apple!....

But....does it has 2 USB and optical drive?????

[Jon @ Feb 13th 2008 11:25AM]

The picture above confirms that it does have an optical drive.

Hot.

[zargon @ Feb 13th 2008 11:46AM]

I think our Lenovo rep who showed it to us yesterday said it actually has 3 USB ports, the docking station is actually USB and can be placed else where on the desk.

[morcheeba @ Feb 13th 2008 5:04PM]

The MBA can be hacked for 3 extra usb ports: http://www.maushammer.com/systems/MBA/USB.html

[Tony @ Feb 13th 2008 6:09PM]

The ThinkPad does not need to be hacked for 3 ports.

Also, those three extra ports on the MBA would only be USB 1.0 if you could figure out how to do it, and that's not counting how they would affect the appearance of the stylish laptop.

[Jon @ Feb 13th 2008 11:24AM]

Why is the image flipped? But nice to see them putting a DVD drive into a package that looks thinner than the X60s.

[Jagannath A @ Feb 13th 2008 11:25AM]

"Unlike the Apple, which can be ordered with a higher-capacity, lower-priced hard disk, the new ThinkPad will only be available with the expensive, limited capacity solid-state drive. So it will start at between $2,500 and $2,800–up to $1,000 more than the Apple’s base price–and will be limited to a paltry 64 gigabytes of storage."

damn

[phi482 @ Feb 13th 2008 11:35AM]

This is just for the inital launch. They will be offering a spinning HD in the coming monthes per our Lenovo Rep.

[Zak @ Feb 13th 2008 11:35AM]

Yeah, "take that, Apple".

Idiots. I'm sure Apple is worried about an "ultraportable" that's heavier, thicker, slower and costs more. Oh it has an optical drive? Well that just changes everything there doesn't it Jethro? Yeah, Apple is quaking in their boots right now, I'm sure.

[whatishalo? @ Feb 13th 2008 11:41AM]

@Zak. Thanks for the side by side comparison. An you please provide your benchmark results justifying your "slower" claim? Thanks!

[Jon @ Feb 13th 2008 11:45AM]

@Zak, ThinkPads are business notebooks. They are built to last. Proof is in my X31. Four year old 12" ultra portable, dropped a couple of times from my desk and not a dent in sight. Keyboard is still the original one too.

The only thing I need to replace is the battery, and I didn't have to part a couple of days with it just to have it installed.

[dizzy @ Feb 13th 2008 11:47AM]

yeah, exactly, go baby. Spin that shit, DJ Mossberg...

[Zak @ Feb 13th 2008 11:50AM]

@ Jon, sounds like you're suggesting MBAs are not built to last? Have you ever held one in your hands? Try it and get back to me. Oh and the MBA battery can be replaced by removing 12 screws. Yes, it doesn't just pop out, but you don't have to take it in either.

@whatishalo - All you have to do is be able to read.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/lenovos-upcoming-x300-ultraportable-leaked-by-best-buy/

"Lenovo's X300 will run on a SL7100 chip, which is apparently a 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo"

[something @ Feb 13th 2008 11:51AM]

@Zak

Yeah, .12 lbs heaver and .2" thicker, it's a real cow. I'd gladly trade that and the Apple logo for actual functionality.

[Jon @ Feb 13th 2008 11:56AM]

12 screws just to replace the battery. I am sure airport security will be happy to know why you are sneaking in a screwdriver on board an airplane.

And I highly doubt they will let you keep your precious MBA at Guantanamo Bay. And yes I have held Macbooks, in fact used them. More reliable than most notebooks, but no where near ThinkPads.

[something @ Feb 13th 2008 11:56AM]

@Zak

I'd hardly call "just removing 12 screws" a swappable battery. Sure it's user replaceable but the whole point of a swappable battery is to change it on the go. In order to change the MBA batter on the go you'd have to carry around a notebook toolkit which adds to the list of accessories to carry around. Oh yeah, and about being slower and heavier, maybe you should check this out:

http://gizmodo.com/photogallery/x300/1000528037

[sinai @ Feb 13th 2008 12:11PM]

Hey Zak, I got a Lenovo x61s with a low voltage 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo, 80GB HDD and an 8 hour (maybe 6 real world usage) coming in at under 3 lbs for $1100.

EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

three usb ports, FIREWIRE (ironic), ethernet, VGA-out and a PC Card slot.

EIGHT MONTHS AGO

[Chris @ Feb 13th 2008 12:14PM]

"And yes I have held Macbooks"

The MacBook has a plastic shell and the MacBook Air has a metal shell. Please don't compare them. Apples and oranges.

[Zak @ Feb 13th 2008 12:15PM]

@something - .2" thicker? Come on, the screen alone is more than .2" thicker than the MBA's screen never mind the rest of the laptop. And let's try not to forget that the X300 is also $1000 more expensive in addition to being significantly slower. If that makes you happy then you're not the sharpest tack in the drawer, but hey, it's your money.

If you want a speed comparison I suggest you check out the link I posted above, it's pretty clear. And like it or not, the X300 *is* heavier. Sorry. And yes, I know why batteries are swappable. If you had actually read what I said and what i was responding to, you would have seen that I was responding to a comment that said they have to take an MBA to a store and leave it for a couple days to get the battery replaced - which isn't true.

@Jon - nowhere near Thinkpads? Are you serious? Then I suppose my 12" Powerbook should have fallen apart by now or something? Oh wait - it still works perfectly. Well there goes your "nowhere near thinkpads" statement. If you really believe Apple's laptops are not built to last, the only person you're fooling is yourself.

[Matt @ Feb 13th 2008 12:34PM]

@zak

It doesn't actually cost more. If you want to compare it to the MBA you have to compare it to the model with the SSD, which if I recall, is about 3 grand. So it's actually cheaper. And you are right about it not being .2 inches thicker, it's .15 inches thicker. So I guess you could get an ultra portable without a dvdrw drive, lose 2 extra usb slots, no built in ethernet, and not have a removeable battery, all for only 250 bucks more if you really wanted to.

[fashionista @ Feb 13th 2008 12:41PM]

@Zak
I have owned 2 12" Powerbooks and they are the biggest pieces of shit computers I have ever owned. I babied them and they ended up dented and scratched to hell. It took me 2 1/2 hours to replace a hard drive after removing about 40 screws and the keyboard. Apple's industrial design team must call it quits after they get the exterior case polished up for the PR photos. I still have one in the closet collecting dust because it is too slow to even surf the internet without the incessant spinning beach ball. What tiresome junk.
As for the new laptops out there, any rational person comparing the attributes of a Lenovo to an Apple would have to admit that the Lenovo/Thinkpad is a far more practical approach to laptop configuration (better keyboard, tougher case, docking solutions, screen resolution). To each his own on the OS, but you are way off base in thinking Apple physical designs are superior.

[Jorvay @ Feb 13th 2008 2:08PM]

also @ zak
the screen isn't thicker, it just has a raised edge that overlaps the laptop's body. that edge both makes the lid stronger, and increases the durability of the closed laptop. my 4-year-old R-series feels like one solid piece when closed, and has taken more abuse than I am proud to admit.

[mrblack @ Feb 13th 2008 2:27PM]

@Zak

I've seen a lot of mac fanboys before but now you're just embarrassing yourself. Blindly believing that no one can compare to a certain company is just ignorant. I've used many laptops before (PC and Mac) and I have to say I like OSX better than Windows but there are definitely more durable/better construction/better feature-set laptops in the PC realm. Given the ThinkPad reputation, this laptop is likely MUCH better (hardware wise) then the MBA. Face it, Apple could have done much better. Give it up already.

[willyboy @ Feb 13th 2008 11:49PM]

Highest Ranked

[muchu @ Feb 13th 2008 11:26AM]

And it even has an optical drive.

[petje1 @ Feb 13th 2008 11:28AM]

What are those spikes on top of the screen??
Can anyone tell me how thick it is?

[zargon @ Feb 13th 2008 11:44AM]

Saw one yesterday, it isn't much thicker than the thin laptop optical drives. The units size while retaining Thinkpads build quality is really impressive.

[Matt @ Feb 13th 2008 12:12PM]

The "spike" is a beveled edge that mates with the bottom half of the laptop so when it is closed, there bottom and top of the laptop are locked in every direction, side to side, front to front, up and down.

So even if you drop your laptop on one of the upper corners, the screen hinges wont take all of the force of the impact.