How would you change Lenovo's X300?

There's no denying it: Lenovo's ultrathin X300 grabbed its fair share of attention earlier this year, due in large part to its estranged rivalry with the MacBook Air. Now that a few months have passed since the first wave of adopters welcomed the 13.3-inch ultraportable into their homes, we figured the time was right to ask you all how things have been coming along. Do you still feel like a proud papa when checking out those three USB ports? Is there really enough horsepower in there to churn through your pivot tables in a timely manner? Or are you longing for one of the many netbooks that have since demanded the limelight? We already know how the experts feel about it, but this one's for you -- how would you mold the X300 into the machine it should've been from the start?

[Torry @ Jun 6th 2008 6:35PM]

Make a tablet version

[Brian @ Jun 6th 2008 7:19PM]

there is a tablet version, it just doesn't have the cdrom, which is a big minus
and i dont have one but the reason id steer away from it is because it doesnt even have the horsepower to beat out the pathetic air, they gotta give it a more powerful processor and more ram and better graphics, now i realize the graphics maybe hard to squeeze in but the can atleast do better than 1.2ghz, cmon at least 2.0

[untitled @ Jun 6th 2008 6:35PM]

6 Syllables: Touch Screen Convertable

[Hexing @ Aug 9th 2008 4:52AM]

If you look at it for over 5 seconds you start to fall asleep. I say they remove the extremely useful (sarcasm) red dot mouse, and get rid of the top mouse buttons. In this territory people are looking for a "sexy" computer.. If an Eeepc is Katie moss, then this is a 107 year old on life support

[creepinshadow @ Jun 6th 2008 6:36PM]

Maybe add a touchscreen, not sure if possible w/o changing form factor.
And add a stronger Graphics solution, even the M1210 has a GeForce 7400M in it.. maybe change something on that front.


Otherwise its perfect!

[clak @ Jun 6th 2008 6:36PM]

No one actually bought this thing, Engadget people. They were just happy that someone was taking a piss at the MacBook Air. Come on, the X300 is butt ugly.


School shootings were invented by blacks... and stolen by the white man—Chris Rock

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 6th 2008 6:39PM]

It's a computer not a piece of vanityware you fuckmuppet.

[Striker @ Jun 6th 2008 6:44PM]

At least it actually has enough power and range to get something done. Get over yourself, clak, and quit being a dipshit all the time.

[Zak @ Jun 6th 2008 6:46PM]

Striker and Mark - Are both of you braindead? The Air is quite a bit more powerful than the X300. Using the "real computer" excuse is really staggeringly stupid since the Air is more computer than the X300 is.

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 6th 2008 6:49PM]

@Zak

My post was in response to clak writing the Lenovo off because it was 'butt ugly'. Personally I think the Air's OK although it's amusing that you seem to consider it a piece of vanityware judging by your post.

Reading comprehension: it's your friend!

[Ruben @ Jun 6th 2008 6:52PM]

@Zak. Hmm, so the Air is an example of a real computer?

Im glad i put a plate of steel across the back of my desktop, so i could make my desktop more "Air" like.

[clak @ Jun 6th 2008 6:55PM]

I asked my girlfriend if she wanted one of these for her office and she said, "Those teeth scare me. And if you buy it, you will never get laid again, I promise you."

The story above is completely made up. My girlfriend already has a MacBook. I "accidentally" poured water on her Latitude a few a months ago. I'm a horrible person. Horrible.


I've got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives and several bartenders that depend upon me, and I don't intend to disappoint them all by getting myself slightly killed—Roger Thornhill, North by Northwest

[Zak @ Jun 6th 2008 6:59PM]

Mark, try to be less thick. You were defending the X300 as a "computer not a piece of vanityware" in direct response to a comparison with the Air. That means you think the Air is vanityware, which suggests that you don't think there's anything to it other than looking pretty.

I informed you that it's actually more powerful than the X300, and hence there is quite a bit more to it than looking pretty, or being "vanityware". I'm amused that you seem to think I consider the Air "vanityware", considering I'm the one telling you it's a more powerful computer than the X300 is.

Ruben - um, sure, let me know when you get better at reading. Unless you think that somehow by saying "more powerful" you took that to mean "more shiny".

[Striker @ Jun 6th 2008 7:03PM]

Breaking: Clak Manages to Speak to Female!

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 6th 2008 7:07PM]

@Zak

Thanks for putting words in my mouth. Since my post doesn't actually mention the Air as vanityware I'm going to assume it's just your natural paranoia in play here.

However, as for the Air being more powerful than the X300, it seems that the Lenovo actually outperforms the Air on Workbench 6:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,143727-c,macnotebooks/article.html

Of course, this may be because their test unit was one of the ones with too much thermal paste on the CPU which led to overheating and core shutdown so perhaps we're being unfair here.

So, in summary, I appear to know more about the X300 and the Air than you do and since I like them both - the Air because it is beautiful but also because there's a lot under the hood and the X300 because it's, well, a Lenovo - I don't have to pick one as a winner which, I'm sure you'll agree, is nice for everyone.

Now, are we done here or do you want to continue making a complete cock out of yourself?

[clak @ Jun 6th 2008 7:10PM]

@Striker

Yes, I've been "speaking" to your mother for 12 years. Do you know why you have that mole on your right thigh? No? That's genetic, junior.


Eating words has never given me indigestion—Winston Churchill

[Striker @ Jun 6th 2008 7:18PM]

Thank God rabid Apple fanboyism isn't hereditary.

[Zak @ Jun 6th 2008 7:21PM]

Mark, stop backpedaling. Seriously. Clak mentioned the X300 and the Macbook Air, you responded by saying the X300 is a computer not vanityware - and you're saying that statement has absolutely no connection to the Air at all? You expect me to believe that? That's pretty pathetic.

That test you linked has the Air running Vista and the X300 running XP. Now tell me you don't think there's a difference. Furthermore, most people will be running OS X, not Windows, on the Air.

And sure, I'm the one making a cock out of myself, despite the fact that you called Clak a fuckmuppet and you're trying to weasel your way out of things you said but now wish you didn't. Oh yeah, the problem is all on my end, buddy.

[clak @ Jun 6th 2008 7:25PM]

Note to Striker: I was once a Windows user. So give it another year. The Apple fanboyism will no doubt hit you at puberty.


I'm gonna put a curse on you and all your kids will be born completely naked—Jimi Hendrix

[Ruben @ Jun 6th 2008 7:27PM]

Mark 1, Zak 0

Higher Resolution Screen.
USB port count > 1.
Optical Drive.
Ethernet.
Battery Life that is greater than 2.5 hours (4+ in reality).
User replaceable battery.
Up to 4GB Ram.
Wireless USB Option.
Wireless WAN Option.

And with performance in the same league as the Air. Guess what the above list applies to? You have awful judgement regarding what makes something "more of a computer".

[Brian @ Jun 6th 2008 7:32PM]

ok first of all the x300 isnt ugly, and any self respecting guy who calls something ugly has problems, the reason the x300 is a real computer and isnt "vanityware" is because it has a cdrom and runs windows(although i admit osx runs smoother its just a compatibility thing)and has more than 1 usb. I completely agree that its underpowered however the air is as well(even tho the processor is faster) the air is just a toy it cant do anything other than access the internet, and if it had a built in broadband gsm modem, that might be ok but they havent even fit that in plus it really pisses me off how apple wont put removable batteries in anything except the freaking pros thats just bullshit. a computer isnt a piece of art its a machine for doing work. even though the air may be "prettier" the lenovo is far more clever, they were able to fit a cdrom in the same space, and personally i take engineering over art anytime.

[Ruben @ Jun 6th 2008 7:34PM]

"Come on, the X300 is butt ugly."

@Zak: Your absolutely fucking delusional. Marks comment was accurate, and applicable. Both you and Clak seem to ruin every news article that you both post on. You are both irritating assholes.

[Samboini @ Jun 6th 2008 7:35PM]

Ruben you are my hero.

[clak @ Jun 6th 2008 7:39PM]

@Ruben

But the MacBook Air runs OS X.

Mark 1, Zak 500

"Both you and Clak seem to ruin every news article that you both post on. You are both irritating assholes."

Yeah, we totally ruin news articles because we don't tell Microsoft Fanboys what they want to hear. Well, Boo Hoo.


Honestly, Ballmer could take a dump at city hall and nobody would care. Microsoft is last century. Repeat after me: Zune—res08hao

[Michael Kontaxis @ Jun 6th 2008 8:00PM]

@ Clak, and Zak

It's fanboys like you who make everyone else hate Apple so much. I love Apple more than you do, but I'm more mature than to go flaming on every product that doesn't have an Apple logo on it. By dissing everything else, you are stopping competition from happening. If the Lenevo catches on, guess what? The Air may get a CD Drive! And that would make the Air a better computer, and for one reason. Because someone else did it right! If there was no competition, Apple would still be using a puck mouse! Without criticism, things don't change. If Steve Jobs believed every Apple product was perfect, he wouldn't create a new one! So please, and I speak for people who truly like Apple, and for people who hate Apple because of people like you, say something useful, or just shut up.

[clak @ Jun 6th 2008 8:08PM]

@Michael Kontaxis

The problem with you and people like you is first of all, you don't have a sense of humor, so as a result you take personal offense to every word I say. And do you really think I care whether people love Apple and Apple users? Get a hold of yourself. I don't care. There are people that hate anyone who drives a BMW. You think BMW drivers go around worrying whether people like them or not?

And secondly, you guys act as if Apple eliminated every other product in the MacBook line. Why would Apple add a CD drive to the MacBook Air when they provide 2 other laptops with exactly that?

So just calm down, man. It's not the end of the world because a few Apple people think differently than you. But of course, we are better. Just saying.


Even in the contest between man and steer the issue is not certain—Ed Tom Bell, No Country for Old Men

[Striker @ Jun 6th 2008 8:13PM]

Clak, even implying that you fathered Chuck Norris is a sin, and trust me, I will make you realize that you were wrong, dead wrong.

[Nomi @ Jun 6th 2008 8:16PM]

Ermmmm...can't believe noone knows this, Zak is Engadget's very own Apply fanboy troll. Please remember this for future references, you will see him again very soon on another Apple(or remotely related to Apple) post in no time.

[dave @ Jun 6th 2008 8:19PM]

@brian I do agree that the MacBook air is highly flawed. 1 USB port is ridiculous. And the hard drive is tiny. However I do get annoyed when people say it doesn't run windows. If you jam a copy of windows in a macs cd drive you will be running it with full driver support within the hour. The reason the air is so flawed is that it comes so close yet so far from perfection: great form, weight and looks (cos despite the apparent desire for a plain black box, you must confess that apple make aesthetically appealing products, and that is always a nice thing to have) and yet the battery life is shocking. Its great for DVDs on the go except the lack of a drive. Would make a nice trendy computer for general use if the hard drive wasn't so pathetic.
I could go on all day but I'm on my iphone :)
my fingers hurt

[Nomi @ Jun 6th 2008 8:20PM]

"So just calm down, man. It's not the end of the world because a few Apple people think differently than you. But of course, we are better. Just saying."

Maybe you should practice what you preach...also if you have actually seen the X300 in person you would know, its quite elegant and textured. Has a nice sturdy feel to it, don't judge it by the looks. Although I admit the double mouse is overkill.

[clak @ Jun 6th 2008 8:22PM]

Okay, Striker, you had one good comeback, but now you're just boring me. Chuck Norris, seriously? The good Chuck Norris jokes ended with Mike Huckabee.


These are not the motherfucking Droids you're looking for—Mace Windu

[luzzio @ Jun 6th 2008 8:36PM]

Where there's Mac, there's Zak.

(and more recently, clak)

[Brian @ Jun 6th 2008 8:42PM]

@dave
first of all thanks for not being an idiot fanboy like so many other people are, and secondly i didnt know you could do that(install windows not on vmware) ive never really had much experience with macs, i always bought windows machines cause i wanted to game, i will concede that apple makes products that look nice, but personally i dont even pay attention to the looks when i buy a product really i mean my desktops got a case that practically came out of a junkyard, although it does have a quadcore inside :D however i still think the lenovo is better cause it has a removable battery amd you can put a 3g modem in it, which i think is the main reason many people buy an ultraportable, they dont want to lug around a clumsy usb dongle mean hell you use up the usb port just with that let alone anything else

[Michael Kontaxis @ Jun 6th 2008 9:17PM]

@ Clak

The problem with people like me? The reason I'm annoyed is because people like you have destroyed any kind of normal conversation about Apple products because any praise is slammed down by people who hate fanboys. Unfortunately, even if Steve Jobs stood on stage and announced he was shutting down the iPod, Mac, and iPhone division of Apple, and focusing on the Apple TV, there would still be people who would defend it! Because of those people, Apple anti-fanboyism has become as bad as fanboyism. I am sad because I can't even read a technology post about a computer or phone without some crazed fanboy saying how Apple's version is so much better, and 10 others replying telling him to go fuck himself. So clack, although I am a fanboy, I don't praise every move Apple makes. I thought I'd never say this to an Apple praiser, but Clack.... go fuck yourself.

[Michael Kontaxis @ Jun 6th 2008 9:21PM]

Check out Clack's history. I rest my case...

[kccboy2004 @ Jun 6th 2008 9:30PM]

I don't particularly like a lot of clak's commentary, and this is no real exception. But, his early response does give me an opportunity to hit the reply quickly (half a scroll down the page). Purpose served. Thanks clak !

However.....who really cares about Engadget's question - legitimate as it may be ?

I mean what a question: How would I change the X300 ?

It is a BUSINESS MACHINE !!!!!

It does what it does. It costs exactly what IBM wanted it to cost, for exactly the components they put in it.

But now the "netbook" together with "thin" applications are taking over. They will have the middle ground by year end and the high ground by the end of 2009.

Let me tell you a little story;

I work in Japan at the moment. I work with a whole bunch of very dedicated people who use diminuitive laptops. A lot of IBM X300's. Lots. A lot of impy Panasonics. A lot of Dell 1200's.

The question I ask the Japs and the Koreans when I leave them at 7 pm to their midnight vigil, (all Japs work till the witching hour), is this:
"You slave in front of $2500, 12 - 13 inch screens all day, straining your eyes till they bleed, when a 20 inch monitor is gonna cost you $250 ? Why do it ? Why not go out and buy yourself a 20 inch screen (paid with your own money) to slap on your desk"

You know their response .....?

=>>Blank...........

(BTW... this is not a Mac air joke. There are of course no Mac's in real businesses (save some graphics niches). So Mac users, please don't get offended.

This is a comment about portability - for the 5 to 105 minute commute, vs the 12 to 18 hours that people spend at their desk looking at dimunutive screens. And before you start on airplane journey's etc, the entertainment on aircraft is getting better...to the point where it is almost worth watching (and not relying on your 12 inch screen to watch a movie that you could watch ANYTIME- but you gotta something on a plane - right ?? )

[farfisa @ Jun 6th 2008 9:50PM]

What a horrible, horrible thread.

[luzzio @ Jun 6th 2008 10:09PM]

Oh shut up, Clak. You're giving us mac users a bad name.

I do read about at the Apple forums, and

"No one actually bought this thing, Engadget people. They were just happy that someone was taking a piss at the MacBook Air. Come on, the X300 is butt ugly."

is not how your typical mac forumer reacts when a PC laptop is mentioned.

So shut up. We don't want you to represent us.

[clak @ Jun 6th 2008 10:17PM]

@luzzio

Oh, so the way all the Microsoft Fanboys are reacting to my comment is typical? You don't think we have enough overreaction to go around?

There were several other people who followed the parameters of this article. They gave legitimate things they would like to see changed on the Lenovo X300. Did most of these Microsoft guys respond to THOSE comments? No, they attacked mine. And why? Because deep down inside, they don't give a shit about Lenovo, just like I don't give a shit about Lenovo. You just saw this article as a good chance to bash Apple and the MacBook Air.

You came inside the comment section expecting to have a nice little circle jerk while blasting Apple, but then I had the NERVE to come in here and ruin it for you. Well, I'm sorry, you guys have fun with the circle jerk. Apple will still be here tomorrow. Hopefully with that 3G iPhone.

[clak @ Jun 6th 2008 10:17PM]

@luzzio

Oh, so the way all the Microsoft Fanboys are reacting to my comment is typical? You don't think we have enough overreaction to go around?

There were several other people who followed the parameters of this article. They gave legitimate things they would like to see changed on the Lenovo X300. Did most of these Microsoft guys respond to THOSE comments? No, they attacked mine. And why? Because deep down inside, they don't give a shit about Lenovo, just like I don't give a shit about Lenovo. You just saw this article as a good chance to bash Apple and the MacBook Air.

You came inside the comment section expecting to have a nice little circle jerk while blasting Apple, but then I had the NERVE to come in here and ruin it for you. Well, I'm sorry, you guys have fun with the circle jerk. Apple will still be here tomorrow. Hopefully with that 3G iPhone.

[Ender Wiggin @ Jun 6th 2008 11:20PM]

Clak, are you voicing your real opinions or just trying to get angry responses from people? I understand (and respect) that you have the right to have and express your own opinions. It just just seems to me that you take every opportunity to excite people to anger. Maybe I'm just imaging things....

[phanbouy @ Jun 6th 2008 11:52PM]

@farfisa:

"you see, it would be this mat that you would put on the floor... and would have different CONCLUSIONS written on it that you could JUMP TO."

"That's the worst idea I've ever heard in my life, Tom."

"Yes, this is horrible, this idea."

[Striker @ Jun 7th 2008 12:47AM]

Clak, you should set your avatar to a douchebag, so we can easily identify your comments and vote them down.

[Steven Ryland @ Jun 7th 2008 2:38AM]

@Mark Anderson

that has got to be the best insult i have ever heard in my life... fuckmuppet... I'm gonna use that from now on.

[Ryan Karolak @ Jun 7th 2008 10:24AM]

Clark does not represent the Mac community.


We banish thee!

[michas_pi @ Jun 7th 2008 2:49PM]

Nerd RAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE!

I started reading this thread but I eventually concluded tl;dr.

[Brick @ Jun 13th 2008 5:13PM]

LOUUD NOISES!!

[Alex @ Jun 6th 2008 6:40PM]

900% less fugly.

Getting rid of those visible hooks would help a lot, but the whole design needs a nice revisiting...

[s1pacrat @ Jun 6th 2008 9:58PM]

Have you seen an X300 in person?
It may not look pretty, but it looks like it can kick some ass.
Also it has a nice, textured feel.

[marcin @ Jun 6th 2008 6:56PM]

the x300 is good as an ultraportable and much better than the macbook air.

but i'd take a netbook at a nearly $2000 discount over one of these.