Secrets of the ThinkPad X300 -- what Walt didn't tell you

That X300 preview from yesterday leave you wanting for more? Well since Lenovo doesn't seem to keen about busting this laptop out and giving us the true skinny, we've got some detailed spec sheets to show you in the interim. Just in case you were on the hunt for an ultraportable, Lenovo has gone ahead and compared its new ThinkPad to just about every other tiny laptop under the sun -- with one notable exception. Hit up the read link if the few we collected in the gallery below aren't cutting it for you.

[Thanks, Rabeeh A]

Gallery: Secrets of the ThinkPad X300 -- what Walt didn't tell you

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[kev @ Feb 14th 2008 10:36AM]

Well, it's kinda hard for them to include the MBA since you have to opt in for Windows.

Then again, all that is really irrelevant as it's all x86...

[They @ Feb 14th 2008 10:41AM]

Why are the think pads _still_ ugly? They haven't changed the design in years!

[Fernando @ Feb 14th 2008 10:52AM]

This is IBM now, they don't change anything look at Lotus Notes (vomits in mouth) it's looked the same for ever now, except for Notes 8 or should I say 7 with the 8 theme pack. Not to dog on Notes its reliable and stable but its ugly and not user friendly whatsoever.

[kev @ Feb 14th 2008 10:52AM]

Industrial design is ugly to you? If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and it's worked with their business users for well over a decade.

If you want to be showing off your laptop at Starbucks, go get a Macbook Air.

[They @ Feb 14th 2008 10:54AM]

I've got no problem with an 'Industrial' look, but there's no reason 'Industrial' can't look sleek.

[Zeus.:God @ Feb 14th 2008 10:56AM]

Why does it matter?

That's the problem with Apple, and the precise reason the MacBook Air fails. They went for FORM OVER FUNCTION. They included only 1 USB port and and no optical drive for pure form.

This pretty much does everything better, includes more than just one USB port AND an optical disc drive, and it's hardly bigger than the Air.

Had Lenovo been thinking with the form over function mindset, they would have produced a completely useless laptop.

However, while it does look bland, it's certainly not "ugly" by any means.

[tom @ Feb 14th 2008 11:03AM]

Don't judge a book by its cover. It is not the slick look of the notebook that wins the supply contract in the business world. It is the innovation, functionality and usability that thinkpad trumps the competitors.

Because of this design, you can tell that's a thinkpad 50 meters away.

[Gian @ Feb 14th 2008 11:36AM]

Dude, form over function?! Are you kidding me? The ThinkPad runs Windows. Hello? If the airlines ran like Windows, they'd route me through Mumbai on a flight from Atlanta to New York, and planes would regularly drop from the sky for inexplicable reasons. Windows f*@! all about function.

You want raw, efficient, industrial-strength function? Install FreeBSD without a window manager and learn to love csh, lynx, perl, mysql, and gcc.

I'd take the MacBook Air. I have to do FreeBSD-thing at work, but I want simplicity and reliability for personal use. Windows is a memory hogging, slow ride to frustration. Linux is for geeks who want to pretend they know everything, but usually have to rebuild their installation 6+ times a year because they screwed up something simple and don't have someone to tell them how to fix it. Mac OS X is for when you don't mind paying a moderate price for a computer and OS that'll give you the experience technology was meant to give.

Form over function? I'm pretty sure I've got form and function in my MacBook Pro and my new iMac...and my iPhone...err, and my AppleTV. Oh, did I mention how well my Apple Extreme base station works? :-)

What can I say? I'm enamored. The stuff all works awesome. It's made information consumption and processing a dream for me and my family. And all of it cost me about $5000, which is not bad when you consider two smart phones/video ipods (I got one for my wife, too), a slim desktop computer, a high-end laptop, and an awesome digital media player/extender/internet portal for my flat screen TV. All in all, $5000 is almost cheap for all that.

Anyway, back to my point. Which is: Linux and Windows suck; FreeBSD and Mac OS X rules. Go suck a nut.

Gian

[CraigJ @ Feb 14th 2008 11:29AM]

Agrees with ^Kev^. The industrial design of the Think Pads is very well done, plus they are pretty rugged. I dropped my T series a couple of time with no apparent damage... I do prefer the look of the MacBook Pro (especially the old titanium one), but that's comparing apples to... not apples.

If you want ugly, get a Dell laptop. All Dells look like they were designed by Pontiac. In 1985.

[Scott @ Feb 14th 2008 11:44AM]

I understand the need to have sexy gadgets, but Thinkpads are sexy in their own way. It doesn't have the same eye-appeal as some Apple notebooks, but people that have used a Thinkpad before will understand. The can take a lot of abuse and still look new. I bought my X40 on ebay when it was 4 years old and the damn thing still looks like it came out of the box yesterday.

[Jeff @ Feb 14th 2008 11:55AM]

Thinkpads look a lot better to me than any MacBook. The MacBook (including the Air) look like frilly hispter doofus devices. They're the modern hippie equivalent of a Hummer - they're showoff designs intended to make you look cooler than the people around you. As such, I can't respect them, whatever's actually under the hood. (btw, a hint: really cool designs aren't trying to look cool. They just are.)

Thinkpad design has *always* been all business, and I'm glad to see it staying that way. These are laptops that *demand* respect. They say "I have this laptop because I need it to do important work!" whereas a MacBook says "I have this laptop because I'm trying desperately to be cool." Yes, I'm being a *little* facetious, but come on - nobody can say that's not in the back of their mind when you see someone sitting with one of these things at Starbucks or (insert your own local coffee shop here).

Not to mention that most Thinkpads will out-tough any MacBook. Part of Thinkpad design is ruggedness. I don't know if that applies to this little thing, but most Thinkpads have metal casings and really thick plastic bevels and ridiculously strong hinges and whatnot. They're tanks. This one probably has the ruggedness dialed back a notch or two for weight savings, but it's probably still the reason why it weighs a few ounces more than comparable machines.

A Thinkpad could literally beat up any comparable MacBook in a street fight.

[mre @ Feb 14th 2008 12:26PM]

"A Thinkpad could literally beat up any comparable MacBook in a street fight."


HAHAHAHAHA.
WOW man, listen to yourself.

[sean @ Feb 14th 2008 12:22PM]

why aren't you asking why we are still using the QWERTY keyboard layout? It's just as relevant a question. There are so many design issues at stake in the redesign of a product that affect more than looks.

[zargon @ Feb 14th 2008 12:24PM]

"Anyway, back to my point. Which is: Linux and Windows suck; FreeBSD and Mac OS X rules. Go suck a nut."

I am sorry, but you are an idiot.

Why in the world does linux suck, but not BSD? Could it possibly be that you are just blind Apple fanboy and OS X uses a BSD based kernel... which Apple used the BSD license to hide behind and use all the hard work of the open source community, but hardly give anything back.

You obviously know little to nothing about BSD. If you actually knew what you were talking about, you would realize that BSD is behind and less mature than linux as far as usability and user interface. Have you even tried a linux OS? From your ignorant comments, I highly doubt it. May I suggest giving Ubuntu a go? You don't even have to install it to try it, just run it from the LiveCD.

On top of that, if it was not for all the hard work of the open source community, linux and BSD combined, OS X wouldn't exist.

So shut your pie hole and stop spewing your ignorant bull crap. You are a Apple fanboy, that part is obvious, but until you actually have a clue on what you are talking about, go peddle it elsewhere.

[mre @ Feb 14th 2008 12:26PM]

Again, @Jeff,

"These are laptops that *demand* respect. They say "I have this laptop because I need it to do important work!" whereas a MacBook says "I have this laptop because I'm trying desperately to be cool."

DUDE! easy eaaasy. And let me just say,
I think you're feeling superior about how discreet and austere your non-mac looks, either that or youre into the aethetic of hard work and suffering and can't stand it when people bust out something pretty. I hope you're not into women, cause they can be a lot like macs, and from what I gather that would really piss you off.

[Froggy @ Feb 14th 2008 12:51PM]

oh god... flame on!

look, in the end, a little bit of form does matter. It should not distract from the function, but making an ugly product(and the Thinkpad _IS_ ugly) when you don't really have too, seems rather silly to me. Look at the VAIO. That looks nice.

[Gian @ Feb 14th 2008 1:08PM]

@Zargon

I mean Linux is not as good as FreeBSD when network performance, reliability, and security are considered. I have both FreeBSD 6.1 boxes and FC5 boxes in the lab. I prefer, by far, the FreeBSD boxes. Even when the box has clearly lower specs, the performance is better. Plus, I much rather the ports system to the yellowdog (yum) system, and surely, it's better than the RPM system.

I've tried Ubuntu, three years ago, when it was just getting traction. I liked it. It's slick. I wouldn't use it over OS X. But, they absolutely did a great job at making Linux available and usable for non-technical people. I used Mandrake for five years, before trying Ubuntu (the whole Mandriva changeover annoyed me). I know Linux pretty darned well. Just because someone doesn't like what you like, doesn't make them inexperienced or an idiot.

My post does not touch upon the user-friendliness of FreeBSD compared Linux, because FreeBSD is not user friendly in the general sense. It is, though, user-friendly in the engineering sense. I use FreeBSD machines as network servers exclusively. I would never want it on my laptop.

From some of your other posts, you sound like an IT goon (seeing your Lenovo rep). Engineers, the group I fall in, look at IT people as self-important know-nothings gouging companies with their subpar performance. Go play with your active directory and lie some more to your director about how hard your job is.

[zargon @ Feb 14th 2008 1:54PM]

@Gian

Ah, an engineer, we in IT think of them as self righteous, self proclaimed (which is highly debatable) know it all with no real world logic, sense or ability to communicate with anyone other than engineers. Engineers are the people that make our job in IT difficult, demanding the impossible or improvable and especially when they think they know what they are talking about and tell us how to do our job. You don't see me telling you how to do your job, I expect the same respect professionally.

If we were talking about BSD a few years back, then maybe I would give you the performance, reliability, and security. In fact, I ran a web server on FreeBSD for a while. However, due to the open source community and more concentration on linux over the years, they are pretty much on par. Ports is great, but not with out its own issues. I do tend to favor ports though, I love Gentoo and the emerge system that stems from ports. However, apt is another great implantation that is included with Debian and its variants.

I personally don't use or care much for Ubuntu. The reason I even tell people to use it is exactly what you said, they did a outstanding job at bring linux into the spot light and easy for most people to use.

Making blanket statements, like "linux sucks" does not help your cause nor does it show if you know what you are talking about or not. All it takes is one short sentence with a little re-wording to get your point across with out sounding like a ignorant moron.

[mo @ Feb 15th 2008 4:49PM]

Thinkpads are beautiful. The last thing we need is some Steve-Jobs-inspired "design" folks ruining the technical merits (keyboard, trackpoint, reliability, repairability) with their idea of "new and improved".

If you want to gussy yours up, knock yourself out - buy a fluorescent purple-on-white neoprene cover for it. Spray paint it orange. But leave the basics alone. Thanks.

[Ethyriel @ Feb 14th 2008 7:45PM]

@Zargon and Gian

Engineers make our jobs possible, and we make their jobs relevant. Quit bickering like school children, it's much more productive to get along and be on the same page.

[Zuluboy @ Feb 14th 2008 10:41AM]

Is it because they are chicken or actually mba specs have been drilled into everyone one who dares look into the ends of these series of tubes?

[kay.one @ Feb 14th 2008 3:42PM]

how do you chicken to compare anything with "Air" (pun intended), lets see
gigabit eithernet > Air
Optical drive > Air
GPS > Air
WLAN > Air
3 USB > 1 USB OMGZ! such ze cloz fight!

[Graham @ Feb 14th 2008 10:43AM]

More and more I feel like this isn't going to be much of an end all for Lenovo. I do think it's cool to see in Optical Drive in a thin notebook though. I still would rather have an X61 or X61T though (though I would probably buy an SSD to put in it).

I do think it's funny that these charts don't compare it to the MBA, just like Apple didn't seem to do too much comparing to Lenovo at Mac World.

[zargon @ Feb 14th 2008 11:12AM]

We currently have the X61 and got to see the X300 this past week when our Lenovo rep paid us a visit.

I am not a fan of the X61 at all, but there are people that like it due to the small and portable design. The X300 is everything they say it is, I personally feel that it is much better than the X61 line just from a ultra portable design.

[Corey @ Feb 14th 2008 10:54AM]

I think it's pretty obvious why they didn't compare it to the MacBook Air. All the other laptops they compare the x300 to are specifically aimed at the business set, which isn't the case with the Air (although I'm sure Apple wouldn't mind if a businesses started to snatch them up.). Although the laptops look and act similarly in some respects, their primary markets are completely different.

[mike k. @ Feb 14th 2008 10:55AM]

Oh interesting, Mossberg said that the mega expensive solid state drive was the only thing available for this (as compared to the macbook air that had an option for a regular hard drive. He dissed that for being an expensive unavoidable option.

Whereas their charts show a 120gb 5400rpm hard drive option, which means there may be a version in the non-solidstate mac book air range of prices.. Hmm i'm interested.

[zargon @ Feb 14th 2008 11:10AM]

Our Lenovo rep ashured us a non-SSD HDD model would be coming out before not too long.

We were concerned about the price and we really have no need for a SSD here, but the X300 design is defiantly something our ultra portable customers would love to have. We currently have the X61 and from what I have seen of the X300, it is a better ultra portable laptop.

[Itchy Pajamas @ Feb 14th 2008 11:07AM]

If I get a PC notebook in the near future, this will be the one! The only spec that concerns me is the slow processor. I'd gladly give up a bunch of battery life for 2.0GHz.

[zargon @ Feb 14th 2008 11:07AM]

Our Lenovo rep on Tuesday said Lenovo would offically being annoucing it in about two weeks. I guess, god forbid a company that sticks to its schedule and doesn't leak information.

Like I have said in the other posts, I have played with this thing a little and I like it A LOT. Though, for personal use, I don't think I could justify the $2,700 price tag with the SSD drive. They will have a normal HDD in a bit, which should bring the price down a lot.

Working with IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads, I have come to love them. We simply do not have problems with them and I have seen some really abused ones that still function pretty much like the day we get them. I think the looks factor is subject to opinion, I will admit they are not the flashiest, but they are simple and functional, which is what Thinkpads are all about, functionality over form. We all know if you are attacked to sparkly or shiny things and really only care about that, Apple is for you.

Like others have said, this is a business class PC, which the AirBook is not. Removeable battery, optical drive and the extra USB ports just show that Lenovo kept the functionality in mind while also doing a great job of sliming down their rock solid laptops. I can't wait for more models of these to trickle out, as I am sure this is the direction our ultra portable will be moving. Currently we have the X61, which are find for what they are, but I think the X300 line is better and I am sure our customers will also think so.

I just got to find a way to win one of these now. I will be heading to Lenovo's HQ in May, which should be a fun trip in itself, but I am hoping for a awesome freebee, the X300... or maybe I can "borrow one."

[jns2001 @ Feb 14th 2008 11:31AM]

I currently have a T60p, a Dell XPS 1210, and I could not resist and I bought a MacBook Air last Sunday. The screen is phenomenal on this mac, the OS is kinda hard to learn, it is much faster than any of the above machines, and why do you need more than one USB port on a second notebook. The T60P has no ports being used right now, it is docked and it has a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, it has a hard ether connection on the docking station, that could be easily swapped by its wireless capabilities, and the external monitor is on a DVI port on the dock as well. I have a NAS in the house for backups. The only thing that I can think of that would go on the USB port would be an eventual pen drive to copy something or a picture camera to do a download, other than that for what else do you guys use so much the USB port? The lack of a optic drive, I got one just in case, is not a big deal since we can rent movies from Itunes, and once I have the Magsafe to plug in the airplane outlet, I am not carrying other notebook with me. Believe me, I am not a fanboy, I got an Iphone and gave to my wife because I thought it was useless and I do not own an Ipod, which I consider useless as well.

[Mark @ Feb 14th 2008 3:22PM]

@jns2001, half your post was about how you have docked your Thinkpad. You are aware that your "look ma, I'm using no ports!" argument falls apart because the Macbook Air doesn't have any docking capabilities, right?

[Shyam D @ Feb 14th 2008 11:23AM]

The real biggie with the X300 is the fact that you can use a combination of 6 Cell and Ultra Bay Battery. Sure it's a little bit heavier then the MBA, but 10 hours battery life is nothing to scoff at. Ultra portable doesn't JUST mean size and weight. Battery Life and usability on the go are also important qualities. Who cares if your laptop weighs nothing? If you can't do anything with it on the go ( battery runs out, internet only in certain places, etc.) it's equivalent to a brick

[James Rainey @ Feb 14th 2008 11:26AM]

I got to play with one for about three hours. For those who say it isnt' sleek, it is. The keyboard and palm rest are amazing. The display was very crisp and colors were outstanding.

They had a MacBook Air sitting next to it. The Air has this awful keyboard with no feel and if you aren't careful and bump the display the whole thing falls backwards. I've been a fan of ThinkPads for years, this X300 got me excited.

It's difficult to put into words how it feels to use it, except to compare it to an Acura. Solid, smooth, works very very well (and was pretty fast). I too will be excited when additional versions of this model become available.

Cheers

[Eddie @ Feb 14th 2008 11:27AM]

If I wasn't worried about money Id get this laptop...



and a macbook air.
but since I am not, I'll stick with my "ultraportalable" 4.5ish lb dell XD

[Adrian Williams @ Feb 14th 2008 11:40AM]

They might have made these spec charts before Apple released the specs on the MBA

[torqueo @ Feb 14th 2008 11:40AM]

The X300 would be great if it wasn't for its terrible battery life (even evident in these charts, compared to the Sony for example). The X60/X61 is still a much better choice in this regard.

[fourthletter @ Feb 14th 2008 11:45AM]

It does look somewhat retro, in a crap kinda way, but then most of these Lenovo's are aimed at business use and are very rugged, why on earth would you compare it to a macbookair ? Thats for VAIOs and DV HP series.
Do we really need to hear about windows/linux/freeBSD etc. in a hardware related post ?
WE DON'T CARE WHAT OS YOU USE GIAN, STOP HOGGING THE SPOTLIGHT YOU ARE BOOOOOOORING.

[boyo @ Feb 14th 2008 12:43PM]

well people buy hardware so they can use software on it, so of course this is a major factor when comparing computers

plus, if you look over many different benchmarks on the internet you'll see that the same hardware components give much better scores in OS X compared to Win , so it is not only usability and feel that makes the os important

[fourthletter @ Feb 14th 2008 2:43PM]

Well I am well aware of that, i run osx86 leopard on a desktop and can see how much less system intensive it is compared to Vista.
My point is people are free to comment about how different OSes perform on hardware, I'm just becoming sick of having to read fan-boy crap on every page about
USE OSX IT ROX or VISTA STINKS LINUX RULEZ
I don't need a party political broadcast for choosing software, but then i don't really need condescending replys like yours either, this is supposed to be a tech site full of nerds STOP DUMBING DOWN !

[Boyo @ Feb 14th 2008 5:45PM]

Therefore, buying the Lenovo is a lose-lose situation

1. You run it with Vista and thus have a 2800 $ extremely slow computer

OR

2. You run it with XP so you have bought a very expensive 2008 computer to use for a very buggy outdated 2001 software

[engadget.mlc @ Feb 14th 2008 11:50AM]

No 1394 means no portable video/audio editing station.

If I can't hook up cameras and audio devices, I'm stuck with larger hardware (or the Vaio TZ).

Battery life is also a bit of a bummer when compared to some other micro-books.

I was *extremely* excited about the x300 before reading these specs. Now I'm looking for ExpressCard 1394 cards with decent reviews...

[fashionista @ Feb 14th 2008 12:03PM]

I just bought a T61 14" 2 weeks ago and I am so impressed I might buy an X300 just for travel. Lenovo knows how to build a laptop for people who actually make a living on their computers.

[engadget.mlc @ Feb 14th 2008 1:13PM]

Oh, I'm a ThinkPad user way back. I absolutely love my T42, save for the slowness compared to modern laptops.

This is a large part of why the X300 has been on my radar.

Still, since a Vaio TZ can do everything I need, it doesn't really matter if I *want* the feel of a Thinkpad. We'll see. I still have my fingers crossed.

[Heathen @ Feb 14th 2008 11:52AM]

I just love how every discussion thread re. a new PC brings out all the apple tards. You guys keep your shiny single mouse button, machines, I am pleased for you that you are happy with your computer now please go evangelize at an apple store instead of crapping on every thread with the word PC in it.

My T60 is the best notebook I have owned, I think I may need one of these next!

[sinai @ Feb 14th 2008 12:01PM]

i love how people compare macs to luxury cars when it's pretty clear the Thinkpad is the BMW and Mercedez Benz of the laptop world. Clean, sophisticated, but understated design that houses all the amenities of paying more to get more. you have to really own a thinkpad to really understand how beautiful the thing is.

macbook air is more like what kids do with their honda civics: all flash, no substance, big ass decal on the hood that no one really gives a shit about.

[Seoultrain @ Feb 14th 2008 12:58PM]

I dunno, I'd say Apple = BMW, snobbish pricks who want to be seen flaunting their overpriced products. Most who own them can't afford them, but pay the price anyway to satiate their insecurities. BMW/Apple definitely have redeeming qualities, but there are comparable choices out there for a lot less money.

IBM is more like Infiniti. They're both solid, well built, incredibly capable machines at competitive prices. And none of that air of pretension.

[sinai @ Feb 14th 2008 1:53PM]

you raise a good point, those that most flaunt their belongings are those that are the most insecure.

"i suck as an artist, but with this mac, i can suck harder and flaunt it!"

[Citrico @ Feb 14th 2008 8:44PM]

Continuing the BMW analogy, the Air is like the 1-series. Small, slow, overpriced and pointless, but it's got the right badge so you know stupid people are going to buy one.

I suppose I don't use a Mac, mostly because I find their keyboards, mice and GUI surprisingly unergonomic and unintuitive - though I have been using a PC for ages, and might just be used to the setup - but even if I did, I can't see any merit in the Air. Just like the BMW 1 series, in fact.

[Ben @ Feb 14th 2008 12:11PM]

Too bad they insist on including an useless optical drive.

Oh and too bad it runs windows! Otherwise it's a nice piece of hardware.

[Fall-Apart @ Feb 14th 2008 12:33PM]

Now that Apple has eschewed the optical drive, it's useless on every machine?