Walt checks out ThinkPad X300, also fits in manila folder
By Darren Murph 
posted February 13th 2008 11:15AM
posted February 13th 2008 11:15AM
posted February 13th 2008 11:15AM
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Screw Windows and screw OS X!
Put a real OS on it, linux or FreeBSD!
too bad it's fugly! If only the Thinkpad had changed even a little in the last decade. I'd take a MacBook Air with its built-in battery (which I'm sure still gets better life) anyday
I hate this commenting system.
@something: So you're sure I was completely serious when I said "skrilla", huh? You're positive? Can you prove it? Or do you just think your opinion is fact? The truth is, I think skrilla is a funny word, that's why I used it. Nothing serious about it.
And of course your evaluation of me is completely backwards. Of course I bring facts to the table, you just don't bother to read what I'm saying in my posts. Like in this very thread I posted both a quote and a link to prove what I was saying. Is that not a fact? What do you consider a fact to be, if not solid evidence? You can follow me round all you want, but if you argue against anything I say I expect you to provide links, references and proof to back up what you're saying. Otherwise the clown will always be you, and you will be exactly what you think I am.
@ John D: You call me a douche and then tell me to "simmer" and "stop being so damn angry", haha. Do you not see the hilarity there? I do. :D As far as your arguments, the point is that the X300 does not have a HDD option, so it can't be as cheap as the HDD MBA. That's just a fact (still following, something?). I'm sure you think the thickness/weight issues are "annoying" because they favor the MBA and not the X300. Do you honestly think the 8 thousand fanboys here wouldn't be screaming about how the X300 "beats" the MBA if it were thinner and lighter? Come on.
Facts: (pay attention, something) The MBA is faster. Period. The MBA is thinner and lighter. Period. The MBA is cheaper when you're not comparing it to fictional, nonexistent models of the X300 that have a HDD instead of SSD.
Now if you want a X300 because of what it does have over the MBA, then that's great. Mostly this is about the aforementioned fanboys constantly crying about how the MBA is sooooo expensive but would gladly drop another $1k on top of the MBA's price to get an X300 - and they don't see the hypocrisy in doing that while complaining about the MBA's price.
Yawn. whatever dude, go and put your orange sunglasses back on, the special reality distortion ones. No one cares now about your ill formed rants.
Oh, if only you knew how to read. But sure, keep commenting on what I say without reading it first, that makes you look smart.
I'm not angry, thus I don't see your 'hilarity.'
Anyway, I said that the weight/thickness arguments were trivial and annoying because:
The weight difference is .12 lbs - 1.92 ounces - or the weight of about 4.5 CDs (54g).
The thickness difference is .2 inches, which is about 5.08 millimeters. A PCMCIA Type II card is 5 millimeters thick, if that helps put it into perspective any.
As far as the larger-capacity, non-SSD hard drive, it was stated earlier that per a Lenovo rep, the company would be releasing an X300 with a traditional 'spinning plate' type hard drive. When that is released, we'll see about the price difference then.
As far as 'faster,' there may be a 600 mhz difference (although I've read other places today that the X300 will have a 2ghz LV proc; could be rumor, could be true) in processor speed, but typically, processor speed is only one of many metrics to consider when determining a machine's speed. Given the number of potential bottlenecks outside of processor speed (hard drives especially), I think it's a bit hasty to say that it's faster until some definitive benchmarks come out.
By that logic, the X300, with it's high-performance SSD, although $1k more expensive than the non-SSD 1.6ghz MBA, should blow away the non-SSD MBA as far as performance. But note the word 'should.' Not gospel by any means, and I'll be the first to post benchmarks once they've been completed.
Sorry Zak. Take a deep breath and slowly walk away from your computer. Everything will be okay. Just get some fresh air, and take some time to relax. It is only a computer and will be there when you get back.
APPLE: COMPUTERSHIT THAT IS SHINY AND COSTS A LOT :D
serious. the hardware inside an imac is cheap. the plastic case makes it sell for a lot of money.
why would you want xp anyway? leopard is way better than xp and vista combined. and at least MBA is pretty. i have always wondered why ibm/lenovo still makes laptops today lookin like an ape's ass tattooed on an ape's ass.
It probably has to do with the fact that they just work and are rock solid as far as a laptop goes. Thinkpads are built to last, unlike most other laptops out there. The case is built tough, they have roll cages in the lid and computer (I have stood on a T60 and T61 and it still works, doubt Apple or even Dell, Toshiba, Sony or HP could claim the same) and that is just the tip of the iceberg of little features that sets them apart from all other consumer class laptops. They also are all about functionality or form, which Apple is the other way around.
Their looks are subject to opinion, they are plain and don't rely on flashy or shiny tactics to lure people into buying them. They have grown on me over the years, I simply just like their simplicity in design.
On top of that, Thinkpads are work horse laptops. They are one of the top, if not the top, business class PC. I also like the fact that out of the 100 or so laptops and 1,000 desktops we have ordered from them over the past year, there has been relatively no problems. 2 or so DOA and only 3 issues with the desktops in the past year and no DOA and and 1 issue in the past year with the laptops. I don't have figures, but I doubt we would have that luck with Apple. I hear more about people bring in their Apple computer and rarely hear anything press about IBM/Lenovo with issues with their products. That goes back to the functionality over form.
man i love engadget! Witty articles and then these hilarious comments. I find it so crazy how people can actually get into Internet arguments about products from companies they most likely dont even work for (which still wouldn't make it okay). I love gadgets like everyone else here but to get so enraged at each other is just loony. I own a zepto notebook with vista on it, an iphone, and guess what? Until they cook me dinner, pop my beer, roll my j, and give me head I have better things to than argue with strangers about random unimportant shit like you all. But dont stop on my account, my girl doesn't mind me reading the comments after dinner while sipping my budvar, smoking my j, and getting some nice dome.
ps. Dont knock the word "skrilla"
@Zak
Why is it so wrong to compare the X300 with SSD to the MBA with SSD? I mean sure the MBA is cheaper with a regular HDD. But since we are talking about an SSD X300 I don't think it's really fair to bring up the HDD model of the MBA.
So lets forget there is HDD option, because for point to point comparison there is no option for the X300. More USB, Optical Drive... Whats the problem? With Cost being the same... As for the slower, I suggest waiting for real benchmarks.
Now back to the reality distortion field...
Lenovo typically offers more custimazations options on their notebooks than Apple. This is a fact. I wouldn't be surprised if down the road, you can can have a few processor choices, RAM (let alone intel turbo RAM), and HDD options. Since Lenovo is really big on that.
I currently have X41T, and before that a R51, and before that a R40. So yeah, I'm a thinkpad fan boy. Not going to lie...
I really was hoping Apple would have released a Tablet. instead of the Mac Book Air, the Air seems like a waste of time to me and a step in the wrong direction for Apple. But hey, it's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
It's not wrong to compare. The X300 has an optical drive and more ports like you said, where the MBA is faster, lighter and thinner. For the same price, roughly. Personally, I think it's a choice thing, you go with what appeals to you the most. And yes, the MBA is faster. 1.8 GHz vs 1.2 GHz is not going to be much of a comparison.
Again, this all goes back to all the articles here on Engadget about the MBA, and how in every one of them, all the idiot fanboys crawled out of the woodwork to bitch about how expensive and slow the MBA is. And now the X300 is out, which is *at best* the same price as the MBA, has additional features over the MBA but lacks in other areas. The point is that if the MBA were really that overpriced, then Lenovo should have been able to make the X300 *much* cheaper. They couldn't, and they didn't. It gives lie to the whole "Macs are overpriced" BS.
The bottom line is that if you want the extra features the X300 has, then you're going to pay for it. Through the nose. And if that's what floats your boat, then that's great. I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy of calling the MBA overpriced.
I donno, I think my Thinkpad looks better than a MacBook Air. I'm a user of a Thinkpad T61. Excellent machine I must say. If you are a mobile user, the Thinkpad should be your FIRST choice.
Am I the only one who thinks that Thinkpads look the same (and just as ugly) as they did back when they were packing smokin' fast 486 processors? Seriously, guys, something other than angular black laptops with chunky buttons...
I will admit that they are not the most attractive laptops, but they have really grown on me. Besides, I will take functionality over form, which IBM/Lenovo is all about. Plus, you can't complain too much when the Thinkpads are some of they most rugged consumer laptops on the market, they hold up really well to all our careless salesmen.
sexy or not sexy; i don't have a self-esteem issue where my my self-worth is directly correlated to the physical aesthetics of my computer. *looks at macolytes*
the macbook air a good looking computer, sure, but it lacks functionality. therefore, it is bad design.
the x300 has all the features you could possibly want, and looks good in black. yes, i said it looks good. those of you who don't like it, i'd like to see your qualifications to make that comment other than the picture of steve jobs you carry in your wallet.
Thanks.
Perception about Apple products is so high because Apple products tend to be awesome. Now, how you describe "awesome" is perhaps different from myself-- and so many new Apple fans. But bottom line-- the OS is what matters to me and hands down it's better than Windows. I'd use a clunky machine with the form factor of a Commodore 64 if that was what it took to use OS X.
Does it run Mac OS 10.5 and look damn sexy? What's that? No? Oh, then I'll keep my MBA. But thanks for asking.
@Zak
I guess, I'd be more willing to go a step further and say Lenovo is over priced as well, before saying that Apple isn't. And as I said before I think the Mac Book Air was still a dissapointment. I'm not talking in reguards to speed, or price... But mainly concept... I really think Apple should have gone and taken some invovation from the Iphone and made a tablet device.
A thin Laptop, just isn't much to write home about. Lenovo makes a great line of Tablets and Slim lines. Apple really should have tried competing in this market rather then going up against the thin Sony Vaios. (Which Steve just kept pounding home in the Keynote)
I do think the Mac Book Air is over priced, and to be fair so is X300. You won't get an argument from me there. Both Lenovo and Apple are famous for it. But Lenovo in my opinion, seems to think more about the working person (designing great PCs for people on the go), while apple is after the fashion people (what's cute, will appeal until the next thing/version is out, case and point the Ipod...).
Let me stop here and say, I am not an Apple hater, I think the Iphone is a neat device, could have had a 3G radio, but all and all a good device. The Mac Mini is my favorite Mac of all time, Great PC, well implemented and well marketed, could use some more advertisement though. And the Mac Pro Server is just sick... I mean, damn... 8 cores?!?!? Love it. And I still can't stop drooling at Cinema Displays.
That being said, I think the Air was Apple dropping the ball. They had some great momentum from the Ipod Touch and Iphone... A Tablet, just seemed like the next step.
Ha ha....take that Apple fans.
Removable battery...check!
USB ports...........check!
Eithernet...........check!
Wonder if Apple will take notice?
This is all too funny. Apple this, Apple that. All I know is that EVEY PC user I've ever encountered has NO idea how to use their computer. They deserve PCs.
Wow, what can I say. Not much actually.
It do not know why most of the comparisons are between the X300 and MacBook Air. It is quite impressive that the X300 has a optical drive built in. I might consider this model, but will have to wait until the model with a standard harddrive is release.
Oh YES! There's nothing sexier than another black box from IBM. Take that Apple! (Anyone else picking up on the sarcasm?)
Oooo, shiny...
Sorry, I will take functionality over form, something Thinpads have. Plus they are build to last, not something I think Apple can really say...
Zargon, have you ever owned an Apple product? If so, you would know better than to make comments like that. I'm not sure on what you base your theory that macs are less durable and "built to last", but I own a thinkpad and I'm not a fan. My MacBook Pro, however, is light, durable and works everytime I turn it on AND no virus checker required.
lol not a fan of the macbook air either, ultraportable isnt wat im after, but dang, that things definately uglier than an Air.
"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 [...]"
Wow, this is the marketing age, indeed.
Now Apple manages to turn "features" like 'removable battery' and 'integrated Ethernet jack' into wish-specs...
I just can see all the loverboys yelling at me cause I just want to have a simple Ethernet connection: "You old moron old tech freak! It's because people like you that technology evolves so slow!"
ouch..
Wifi... 54 mbps at best.... (I'm not including N, because most hot spots and home routers are G at best...)
Built in NIC on the laptop 100 mbps at worst to 1000 mbps at best... (ok lets say 600 mbps... cause I've never seen gigabit ethernet actually perform at that speed).
Old tech? Try effecient.
I'm with you man about apple turning a built in NIC into a wish-spec... I mean WTF???
As I've stated before, I love Mac products, but the Mac Book Air, was a dissapointment. Sorry Fan Boys... Not a user replaceable battery, 1 USB port, No optical drive, no touch screen...
But hey, I'll throw you a bone and say the Mac Book Pro is one of the nicest work horse laptops on the market (just wish the mouse had two buttons).
Wrong OS and hefty start price
What is it that you Apple fanboys just can't get through your head, the extra price comes from its initial release with only a SSD drive. Your precious AirBook with a SSD drive will come out to the same price.
Have Apple fanboys forgotten to read or are they so rabid about denouncing anything that is remotely simular to their AirBook, they just use ignorant comments?
The SSD drive makes no difference in performance, just durability. And the Lenovo doesn't offer regular drives, which us with smaller wallets (but still travels a lot) needs.
The air is still a better choice for my needs. Lenovo is almost an option, but not quite.
this seems pretty cool. I would prefer this over the MBA. the only things the MBA has over this is that its prettier and more powerful. both of those features are really more about marketing than anything else since neither of the processors in these two ultraportables can do anything. these are made for emailing, browsing the web, listening to music and other basic activities. all you need is a DVD drive for movies, a small form factor, and USB for accessories. if they were work horses and were made for people who did digital video, photoshop work,3d animation, or CAD, then faster proc would be an advantage but right now its just a number only put in there for the apple marketing team to work its magic. (I do photoshop work so I have a macbook pro and a pc I built myself and I love using both even though the mac is prettier)
In 1988 NEC introduced a notebook called the UltraLite. At the press event, the product manager pulled it from an interoffice folder. Old news -- but still cool.
I have an X300 on loan from Lenovo now. I would nto hesitate to say this is the best Thinkpad I've ever handled, and the best laptop I've ever personally used. I've worked in IT at my company for the past 9 years, and I have been personally involved with setting hardware standards this entire time. I have a very extensive history with Thinkpads, going back to the 570. I'll go ahead and break down my history with them... The 570, the X20, X21, X22, X24, X30, X31, X40, X41, X60s, and now the X61s. Also, the T-series, starting with the T20 up to the current T61. I can tell you that the X31 was probably the best ultraportable Thinkpad made until now. The X40 was the biggest disappointment mainly because of the crap 4200rpm HDDs. I can also tell you that every couple years, when my company evaluates the competition, Thinkpads always come out on top (keep in mind, not just in hardware, but in all the Enterprise aspects that big companies care about).
I'll go ahead and say it again: The X300 is the best Thinkpad I have ever personally handled and as I have just recounted, I have handled a lot.
If you are a corporate buyer... This laptop is the real deal. If you're a Lenovo shop, you will love it. If you're not, take a good look, because it's very good. Dell's new corporate stuff coming later this year (6 months too late in my opinion) will also be pretty good. Consumers: If you like the size of the MBA, you will not be (too) disapponted by the X300. It's very close, but with more functionality. If you're tied to OSX... Then none of this should matter to you, unless you just want to justify why you think the MBA is better. It's not better, it's not worse... It's different and for a different audience. Let's let bygones be bygones.
This is awesome......THINKPADS are truly tanks.....I've never had laptops that literally took such beatings and kept on ticking....
The MacBook Air is a joke.....who knows what demographic would overpay for such underwhelming performance?? Someone will.....if you need a hint.....
They have the mental power of Paris Hilton and P.T. Barnum said one of them was born every minute.