Lenovo X300 vs. Apple MacBook Air... Fight!
By Thomas Ricker 
posted February 15th 2008 7:23AM
posted February 15th 2008 7:23AM
posted February 15th 2008 7:23AM
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"How do you define perfection?"
OK, here's perfection: the Sony Vaio TZ 295 -- all the sexiness of the MBA, all the functionality of the X300. For maybe $500 more.
Consider this analogy of two coats: they both cost about the same and do the job of keeping you warm. Where one may have more pockets than the other, some find the other's lack of pockets a bit relieving. There are slight differences in "accessories" and in the end it kind of evens out. The only drastic difference between the two is that one is very stylish while the other one makes you look boring. Although i understand that there are people out there that don't care what they look like especially when they are in public.. my point is that your outlook and style does matter. It is the difference between taste and tasteless.
Good analogy. By the way. I hate tastless people. I call them bums :)
Joking aside, but Florini has a point.
That is a ridiculous analogy. These are computers, not clothes. They are utilitarian devices. Most sensible people don't care if their computer is fashionable, they just want it to be practical and functional. Your obsession with style is also known as vanity.
I don't feel quite the same as murray, but I do agree with him when I say that your analogy is wrong.
Most articles of clothing in a given category provide approximately identical levels of body coverage and thermal insulation, which are the only two "utility" purposes that clothing serves. All the other variations are exclusive to style (with the obvious exception of special purpose apparel for athletes, soldiers, etc.) In essence, all clothes do the same thing, and regardless of price, they differ only in style. Style *is* clothing - there is almost no "practicality" involved.
On the other hand, computers are primarily practical devices. You buy a computer because you need it to do something. Clothing is an accessory to your body and an expression of your style/personality, but a computer is a *tool*. Clothing is an end in itself, but a computer is a *means* to an end- whether that's typing a document, checking email, or watching a movie.
That being said, style counts always. I spend absurd amounts of money making sure that I have things that work well *and* look nice. I agree with your comment that the Air is much sexier. It is. But in the end, the sexiness comes at too great a price. The Air simply lacks so many features that matter to so many people that the end market will be so small as to be insignificant. It's not a case of form over function- it's form *without* function. The Air is an underpowered, stunted machine with $800 capabilities but a $2000 price tag. Its only benefit is style, but that's not enough for me. And it's not enough for most people, either. I want a small, sexy machine, but it has to work too.
By the way, I'm writing this while wearing an IWC Mark XV and a custom-made shirt from Charvet. I pay for style, sometimes a lot. But function still comes first. I don't mind throwing down $4000 for a good watch, but I won't do it for a watch that can't tell time.
/end rant
Thinkpad looks great, actually!
Just really pricey.
My #1 problem with it is not being able to run OS 10.5 on it.
I still don't get this "More USB ports FTW" argument. When you're on the road, how many USB ports do folks actually use? I tend to use _zero_. Bluetooth mouse and iPod are about the only peripherals I carry. When I'm at the desk, I'd much rather have everything plugged into a hub that's then plugged into just one port on the laptop. The last thing I want to do is have to plug in 4 devices (in my case scanner, printer, iTunes HD, iPod) whenever I dock. None of those 4 devices except the iPod travels anyhow.
can I put XP on the Lenovo? Vista is a deal breaker.
Yeah, but one I can use Mac OS X on, the other I can't - easy choice for me, the MacBook Air!
I don't understand what's so special about that ThinkPad. After all, it will still be a PC. And if you were an Mac user, you would know how bad you wanna eliminate the existence of PC's. Hell, just a few years ago, I was the super anti-Mac user. But until I started using Mac's, I was amazed at how rapid my opinion changed. No matter what the others try to do, they are still the FOLLOWERS of Mac. And remember, a PC is still a PC and PC really SUCKS!
its so stupid to compare these two together and people arguing which is better. one is windows-based and the other is mac-based. obviously when you pick a computer you first decide if you want to use windows or mac system. if you're a windows user, why would you bother looking at the mac?
nerds should go back to comparing and b*tching between mac OSX and windows.
This comparison chart was only provided in that businessweek article. All that for more fighting between the mac vs pc fanboys. As the article mentioned the x300 was designed without any idea of the MBA and was never intended to compete with it. That's why it was released first with the SSD and slim dvd drive to go for the higher end market. The MBA being more consumer oriented of course had the hard disk option.
Again all this brings is more MBA bashing to the table. Most of you bashing the MBA would never buy an expensive ultraportable in the first place and probably wouldn't consider the x300 anyways. I personally welcome more x300 news as I'm currently looking at the outgoing x61 which the x300 is replacing, but really I hope next time there none of this MBA fighting again.
I agree with you that there shouldn't be all this fighting as they are aimed at different markets (business vs consumer). However, I think there are plenty of people who don't mind using either OS. A lot of people cross-shop macs and pcs and compare hardware, with the OS coming in as secondary (esp those only looking to surf the net or to do light word processing).
Either way there's not enough info to compare between the two either as no real world battery life has been recorded and the hard disk option for the x300 isn't even out yet.
The X300 is horribly expensive but it does demonstrate that Apple apologists are spouting BS when they claim the battery has to be sealed in to make the device ultraportable. The X300 manages to pack far more in for the same weight and only marginally more thickness.
If the form factor wasn't important we'd all still be sitting in front of large beige boxes. Just look at the picture- on the left is an ordinary portable computer which is a bit thinner than usual but not much and on the right is an unfolded piece of the impossible. The MBA doesn't replace anything. If it isn't what you want you don't have to buy it. There's lots of alternative clunky objects stuffed full of all the latest obsolescence.
I find it weird how no-one is taking into consideration the fact that you can boot XP using Bootcamp on the MBA (not sure if the hardware would run Vista properly... but who wants Vista anyways...?). So concerning OS' I think we should leave out the whole OSX vs. Windows discussion, cause OSX clearly wins.
Since not everyone looks at the read link, you guys might want to consider inserting a credit for BusinessWeek, who you directly ripped this graphic from. Your text, "we thought we'd go ahead and put them side-by-side for you," very strongly implies that this is your own work.
How about everyone goes and buys a normal computer say a mac book pro, IBM t6Xp and then go out and buy yourselves an ASUS EEE. Does everyting a computer on the go needs to do . . . plus its 400 bucks ( maybe splurge on an 80 dollar 16gig SD) and what your left with is an all purpose computer that fits into your sweatshirt pocket.
I've always been a Mac enthusiast, but I'm not going to jump on the MacBook air just yet, seeing as for one thing it has the bare bones of ports (USB, headphones, and one port I've never even heard of and probably will never use). Give me FireWire and possibly DVD burning capabilities (plus a couple of years for my iBook G4 to wear out), and maybe I'll reconsider.
I prefer the X300 with Linux.
Sure, don't mention the cpu speed differences (Mac better). Or the fact that the Lenvo is only slightly thinner than current MacBooks,
It's hardly a comparison.
I just saw the MacBook Air in a store. I was sold. Like, I knew how thin it was (0.16-076"), and I had seen plenty of pictures (and commercials), but nothing could prepare me for how thin it felt. It was, quite literally, almost two-dimensional. The iPod nano-style curved edges really make it seem incredibly thin.
It was next to a MacBook Pro. I don't think I could ever get the MBP now. I never thought a MBP would look bulky, but it did.
I'm not really considering the Lenovo X300 - I am considering Lenovo's IdeaPad U110, but I'm not sure I could go back to Windows. And I'm a writer, so processor speed and the like isn't superimportant to me, but I'd still be wary about getting a 1.2 GHz ULV processor (and then trying to run Vista on it).
All of you are forgetting one of the Air's biggest featuresm, unlike all the other crappy PC mousepads, the Air's is MULTITOUCH!!!!
The Air is damned sexy. The Air is not useful.
That's it. The real problem with the air is not the lack of ports, or the SSD, or the lack of optical drive- the problem is that the combined "lacks" do not match *anyone's* needs. The Air could have been for mobile business professionals, but they frequently need machines with a longer battery life and Ethernet cables (although they would love the big, spreadsheet-friendly screen and adequate keyboard). Also, business people don't use Macs. It could have been for jetset hipsters who would buy it as a toy- but the lack of optical drive rules it out for watching movies on the go, and the lackluster graphics capabilities rule it out for other types of entertainment, which is a shame considering the screen quality.
In the end, the Air fails to meet anyone's needs. It's too weak for entertainment and lacks the features needed for business. Its specs are much closer to what an "average consumer" needs- but the average consumer is *not* a Mac user, and he also cannot afford an Air.
The Air is an absolute triumph of design and a showcase of technology that is impressive by any standard. It is beautiful and I want one. But in the end, I won't buy one, and neither will most people, because it just doesn't work. Hopefully Apple will realize this, and make some changes (or offer more options) for the next generation of the Air.
I'm still going to stick with my fragbook, thx.
Being a user of both Windows (former Dell Inspiron 8600 user) and OS X (MBP), the price does make a difference IMO. For $1k more you have the option to upgrade the HD and Optical; however, that's only about a $200-$300 factor. The battery, I don't know many people who even take out their battery except for when Dell had that recall, similar to RAM, and HD (not many people swap it out). The MBA seems to be the better bang for the buck for the average laptop user. The X300 is oriented to the business and corporate environment. Granted, I'd take the X300 myself, but I'm good with my MBP. I'll sacrifice the extra 2 pounds for power.
OSX86 is cool, however it's for those who have a lot of time on their hands, since you have to tinker with it to get it to work properly (sounds like linux). Choosing an Operating Systems is based on personal preference, get it right.
They both weigh about the same, so the fact that one is a few tenths of an inch thinner is really a non-issue.
The biggest issue for me is the lack of a DVD player in the MBA. If you aren't going to have a DVD drive, and then only offer 1 USB port to handle all peripherals, then you aren't giving the user enough. If you need an external hard-drive and an external DVD, then the MBA can't handle them both at the same time. That's a HUGE problem.
Not that I'm running out to get either of them, but for me it's about what the computer can do overall, and the MBA just can't do enough. 1 Lenovo for me, please.
(I could really care less about the Vista vs. OS X issue. They're all "windows" style operating systems, so what's the big deal.)
Jeez this is going to be a long one. Ok, just to stablish good faith (and to disappoint all the trolls and fanboys and all those who will no doubt by upset by this comment) Im writing this from my trusty Macbook. That said, Im convinced the Thinkpad is better than the Air. Let me tell you why:
-There is actually a reason for the thing Air fans seem to complain the most about: The Thinkpad's steep starting price. Even the low end, at 2700+ bucks, has a SSD. Once you add the SSD to the Air, the price goes up to 3000+ bucks, so comparing both higher-end models is the fairer thing to do.
-It is not Lenovo's fault that the Thinkpad doesn't run OSX, so that point is moot. Besides, we're comparing hardware, not software (I actually think OSX is way better that Windows, in case you're wondering. Thats one of the main reasons I switched to mac).
-Though Lenovo says the Thinkpad looks more businesslike than the Air, there are ways to look both businesslike and cool (think black Macbook). I however, wouldn't bash Lenovo too much for this, as Apple has been design -oriented for some time now, and the Thinkpad has looked about the same since it was first made. The two companies just have different mindsets when it comes to design.
-Features-wise the Thinkpad beats the heck out of the Air (Ill compare the higher-end models for the reasons above):
*Price
Air: 3049 at JR
Thinkpad: 2999 at JR
*Processor
Air: 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Thinkpad: 1.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo SL7100 LV
* Memory
2GB for both
*Cache
4MB L2 800 MHz for both
*Hard Drive
64GB SSD for both
*Display
13.3" WXGA LED backlit for both
*Built in camera and microphone
Yes for both
*Trackpad
Air: Multitouch, one button
Thinkpad: Scrolling, two buttons, tracking stick
*Wireless
802.11 a/b/n for both
*Optical Drive
Air: None
Thinkpad: DVD +/- RW, CDRW
*Ports
Air: 1 USB 2.0, Audio out, MicroDVI
Thinkpad: 3 USB 2.0, Monitor out, Audio out, Audio in, Ethernet
*Bluetooth
Air: 2.1 EDR
Thinkpad: 2.0 EDR
*Keyboard
Full-size for both
*Fingerprint reader
Thinkpad only
*Battery life
Air: 5+ hours according to Apple
Thinkpad; 10+ hours according to Lenovo
*Graphics
Air: Intel X3100 GMA
Thinkpad: Intel X3100
*Dimensions
Air: 12.8" x 8.94" x 0.16-0.76"
Thinkpad:12.4" x 9.1" x 0.73" - 0.92"
So, what have we learned? Most of the features are similar or identical, and while the Air shines in dimensions (and arguably in processing power) the Thinkpad outstrips the Air in more important features (DVD burner, fingerprint reader, ports and even price). To tell you the truth, Id be quite willing to sacrifice form to get those extra features.
A note for the Apple fans out there: If Apple had come out with something that was even close to what the Thinkpad offers, you'd be hailing it as the greatest thing since sliced bread. Since Apple hasn't, you are defending the freature-lacking Air saying (quite dishonestly I think) that you don't need those features. Remember, as with any other company, not everything that comes out of Apple will be the greatest technology thing ever invented. If you force yourself to think otherwise you're just shortchanging yourself.
Maybe the Thinkpad's competition will force Apple to add a port or 2, and even lower the price.
Ive commented at lenght on this below (scroll down if you please), but I forgot something:
For those of you saying the Air is a consumer laptop, who the HELL would pay 3000+ bucks for a consumer laptop? Seriously! Do not excuse the featureless Air by lumping it into a category it does not belong in. If I was going to buy a consumer laptop Id stick with my Macbook instead of buying the Air. The fact is that is that both laptops are oriented for the same market: Ultraportable laptops.
Again, form factor is important, but the Air sacrifices too much function for form. I agree with Arthur's watch analogy more than I do with Florini's clothes analogy. With the Air, Apple has gone to far on the flash-to-substance ratio. In fact, every Apple fan (notice I said fan, not fanboy, I consider myself among the first group but not the second) ought to complain. If we don't Apple will continue to crank out DVD-less, port-less, shinny, expensive-as-hell machines that don't do much except fulfill superfluous expectations of style and form, and that do a disservice to those of us who expected more of Apple. For my part I say "TAKE YOUR AIR AND SHOVE IT!! AND DONT COME BACK UNTIL YOU HAVE DELIVERED SOMETHING ACTUALLY WORTH 3000 BUCKS!!"
X300 yesterday's technology. Yeah! Apple's first! I think they don't get it...with OSX and multitouch...homerun guys! way way.....difference.
Have a MBA, works fine, installed XP works fine, entertainment great, so what's the problem? Guys haven't tried better shut up.
Interesting article!
http://getafree.org.uk
Both the MBA and the X300 fall into the 'useless piece of crap' category. Neither are powerful and flexible enough for real world work. Having to have Apple replace the battery plus lack of USB ports and an optical drive, would be a deal killer. And having to deal with Lenovo would kill the X300 for me. Lenovo is a worthless company in terms of customer support and honesty...just read the forums. My purchase of a ThinkPad was the worst buying decision I ever made...an HP printer aside. For casual reading of email and surfing while I have a cup at Starbucks, my iPod Touch works just fine!
i think the macbook air sucks ssry apple fans the lenovo always have the same ugly design if one of you are one of LENOVO EMPLOYEES i suggest you to talk to your manage to change the design to get attractions but i still think lenovo rules and i think pc rules maybe mac might die out in the next few years later i just wish in the future mac can just give up and become pc instead of mac
do u know the real story of mac and pc ( the story between Gate and Jobs)
if u get the X300, u better get it with the 120GB HD. Windows updates gonna take over your HD within 6 months. (if your works are all huge, such as Photography, Photoshop layout....) this is my experience. Also, you definatly need a powerful processor for program such as Photoshop, visual basic, Flash and so on..) i think both of these machine are word word prcessing portables. If you really need to WORK, OS user get the MacBook Pro, PC user please work at home with the desk top.
Apple products are SEXY! I don't like Apple. I like Steve Jobs, think the man is a genious, love reading about him, hate Apple products. WHY!?! Cause I'm biased.
Apple is NOT an open platform. I don't think I've EVER had so much trouble hacking through hardware that with my Apple friends. Apple changes it's product EVERY GD generation! I didn't build a new PC system for 7 years! I just upgraded a piece at a time. Apple had been touting it's systems as faster since the G4, soon as Apple puts an x86 proc in their the real specs come out. PCs are NOT synonymous with Windows! I use Windows, I love Gates, but I also use Linux! Which (correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not an apple fan) OSX is based off of. And Apple gives you suave metro sex appeal. A pc CAN gives you grungy sideburns scruff jeans and tshirt biceps tearing out your sleaves dominance! Rediculous games, lights flashin every which way, 1500+ lan parties! Everything a Mac can be and more. So hot you don't need sex appeal. You don't need Jobs/Gates pissing contests! The PC covers so much definition when it comes you computer systems, you might as well through Mac in there anyway, since they've finally seen the light and dumped motorola (laugh) or whoever was makin their chips before.
This rant prob doesn't belong here... but this is where I spilled it.
Peace
the dell xps m1330 was out before and had the thinnest 13.3 prior to the air. it also has a much richer feature set than these two that is all
The Lenovo is mad ugly!!! Hellooooo!! I'd take the macbook air any day -- you get OSX! So what if u don't have a dvd drive? Who cares? You can rent movies on iTunes.
I am sorry to say this but the design of think pad hasnt changed in years. Previously it was IBM and now its lenovo. Other laptop manufacturers have been redesigning their laptops for better aesthetics, take Sony for instance.
The MBA and Thinkpad are two different categories of laptops.
For those in favour of X300: Would you keep buying the same car every 3 years for 15 years, that has the same design but better performance and perhaps lesser weight? I think not.
I just received a new X300 with larger battery, 2 meg Verizon wireless and GPS. The unit came in with the WiFi drivers screwed up. Every time I shut the computer down I would have to go back into the driver through the control panel to turn back on the wifi driver.
Lenovo would not help me with this since they stated it was a software problem and I would have to pay $99.00 to obtain software support. I explained to several people that the unit was only two hours old and was shipped to me with this problem. I had installed nothing on the system yet! After over two hours on the phone and being placed on indefinite hold when I asked for a supervisor I finally decided that Lenovo was not the company for me I am facing a $400+ restocking fee for returning to return a defective computer. On my fourth call I finally reached a tech rep who informed me, after he received a sample of my complete dissatisfaction with Lenovo’s policy, that my WiFi problem was a KNOWN problem. So, I guess the game is … let,s have the customer pay an additional $99 for fixing a bran new laptop with a known problem. What type of corporate logic creates a situation to disappoint a customer base willing to purchase its most expensive laptop? I can guarantee that my company will never purchase another Lenovo product. Guess what my new passion in life is?
X300 通过技术的进展
that black thing is ugly.....