X300 vs Envy 133 vs MacBook Air... Fight!

Suddenly the 13.3-inch ultra-portable market is looking a might bit crowded. At the same time, it's never looked better now that we have the choice of Lenovo's X300, Apple's MacBook Air, and Voodoo's just announced Envy 133. Decisions, decisions.

ThinkPad X300	Envy 133	MacBook Air
0.73 to 0.92-inches	0.70-inches	0.16 to 0.76-inches
2.9 to 3.1-pounds*	3.37-pounds	3 pounds
13.3-inch LED	13.3-inch LED	13.3-inch LED
1,440 x 900	1,280 x 800	1,280 x 800
Removable Battery	Removable Battery	Not Removable
Ethernet	External	via USB adapter
3x USB	1x USB, 1x USB/eSATA	1x USB
DVD	External	External
1.2GHz Core 2 Duo	1.8GHz Core 2 Duo	1.8GHz Core 2 Duo
GMA X3100	GMA X3100	GMA X3100
SSD only	HDD or SSD	HDD or SSD
Vista	Vista	Vista or OS X
$2,700 to $3,000*	$2,099 starting	$1,800 to $3,100*
Business minded	Instant on Voodoo IOS	Cuts cake

*Depending upon configuration

[phobic99 @ Jun 10th 2008 8:03AM]

The only thing that's really losing this battle for me is my wallet.

[zzz @ Jun 10th 2008 9:01AM]

Since when 3.4 pounds is ultra-fucking-portable?

[zargon @ Jun 10th 2008 9:08AM]

Since when is 3 lbs ultra portable?

[imacmatt09 @ Jun 10th 2008 9:25AM]

Looks like the winner here is the X300, at least in features but not in power. The MBA and Envy are pretty much the same but the Envy is better. I wonder if it uses the same processor as the MBA? Anyways MBA = Fail. They are all too expensive though. I would rather carry around $1200 my 5 pound Macbook than an under powered $1799+ 3 pounder. I'm just not feeling any need for any of these because the prices are to damn high.

[Tim Brown @ Jun 10th 2008 10:26AM]

One thing that is never taken into account is the weight of the peripherals needed to get anything half decent done on a machine. Dont you have to add another 20-30 Lbs to the MBA in peripherals to get it to do something other than switch on and play iTunes?

[Brandon @ Jun 10th 2008 12:11PM]

I don't know what you guys using ultra portable laptop for, but I bought MBA and external DVDRW for MBA and I almost never used DVDRW. (about 5 times for last 3 months). If you need to carry it, it's small and light enough to feel like it's just one of the CD cases (you don't even need separate power cable for DVDRW). I don't need any peripherals other than power adaptor to do my daily stuff.

[james @ Jun 10th 2008 5:54PM]

I dont know why lenovo didn't put a faster proc in the x300.

[SneAKz @ Jun 10th 2008 8:03AM]

How about dimensions?

[trev @ Jun 10th 2008 8:05AM]

I think that out of the three the voodoo is the best balance of form and function.

[Marcus @ Jun 10th 2008 8:06AM]

Nice comparison. Sorry, but it's external with a t, *runs away scared*

[The Apple @ Jun 10th 2008 8:11AM]

Ding Ding Ding.

[Patrick @ Jun 10th 2008 8:11AM]

is it just me or is this table missing a column of labels?

[hchung73 @ Jun 10th 2008 8:15AM]

Yeah, but you can deduce what they are by looking at the first column.

[sane @ Jun 10th 2008 10:16AM]

its you.

;-)

[Rogue_Genius @ Jun 10th 2008 10:23AM]

Yep, you aren't the only one.

[Skry @ Jun 10th 2008 8:15AM]

Well it looks like the MBA has lost it's crown (if it ever had one in the first place, though it probably would have bought one for itself...) the X300 is the obvious winner of the lot however very expensive. And I think the Voodoo wins overall because the MBA costs $3100 with the SSD and the Voodoo for $2100 comes with one, and they apparently including an external DVD writer for free instead of making people cough up $100 for one.

And the Voodoo has much better features and size isn't exactly a worry because they are all under an inch thick and only someone with the strength of a 1 year old would have difficulty carrying any of them

[snife @ Jun 10th 2008 10:09AM]

I guarantee the $2100 price is for the 80GB 4200RPM slow coach HDD and not the SSD

[JMBridger @ Jun 10th 2008 8:16AM]

Nice computers, all have plus and negatives, at least mine can cut cake with ease

[jorvay @ Jun 10th 2008 9:01AM]

Why is this low-ranked? I'm FAR from an Apple fanboy and I got a kick out of it.

[rawhead @ Jun 10th 2008 11:32AM]

Glass half full. I like the attitude ;-)


Since the No. 1 reason I didn't buy the MBA is because of its lack of oomph (compared to my current 2.4GHz MB), the X300 is out of the question for me. The Envy is very nice, and if I had to choose one piece of hardware, I might actually pick that over the MBA. Unfortunately, Envy won't run my OS of choice so I guess I'll just have to wait for an upgrade to the MBA.

[Tarnation @ Jun 10th 2008 8:16AM]

Why if it is thinner is it heavier? More battery or something? Meatier heatsink? Anyways they need to make these touchscreen tablets then I will be really impressed. Otherwise it seems laptop developers are on the right track now only if I could get this hacksaw through my shoulder I might be able to purchase one.

[egotman @ Jun 10th 2008 9:28AM]

Psshhh! Hope you are not done cutting, arms are overrated . I think these days a kidney will fetch you a far better price

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7212596.stm

[Hellios @ Jun 10th 2008 8:16AM]

These all fail compared to the Macbook, which is only marginally thicker than the X300.
Also the concept of being as thin as possible is lost on me, I'd strive for a smaller footprint, which on all of these laptops is the same.

[pundit @ Jun 10th 2008 9:13AM]

I agree with this to a degree. The MacBook is 2 lbs heavier, and that makes a big difference if you're lugging it around all the time. So the question comes down to what you want/need.

Personally, I'd buy the Air, because I've enjoyed my time with Mac a lot, and my MBP is rather noticeable when lugging it around all day in a backpack. I've heard the 2.4 lb difference feels like a tonne.

[ben @ Jun 11th 2008 4:00AM]

I would hardly use the verb lug on something that weighs 5 lbs.

[Issac E. Harris @ Jun 10th 2008 8:17AM]

i think the envy 133 can also have a 80 GB HDD so its not SSD only.

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 10th 2008 8:49AM]

You're right. I was just reading the site and I came back here to see if anybody else had noticed.. Update chart please?

[w @ Jun 10th 2008 11:31AM]

there will be a 160 GB HDD version for the x300 as well.

http://img396.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1416223dbzw1.jpg

[w @ Jun 10th 2008 12:45PM]

ah, oops.
i mean, 120 GB HDD

[naz @ Jun 10th 2008 8:22AM]

lol "Cuts Cake"

[Stiv @ Jun 10th 2008 10:19AM]

You can use it for that when the non-user replaceable battery can't hold a charge.

[xValentine @ Jun 10th 2008 8:23AM]

The X300 still the much better in terms of specs.

Looks ? It's a tie for MBA and the Envy 133 IMO.

But I'd go for the Envy 133 if I have the cash.

[bob e @ Jun 10th 2008 8:24AM]

I think the HP is the clear winner here, with Lenovo second. Add a column for boot time to browser. The instant on really is a great benefit for me too.

I wouldn't spring for the Lenovo or MAC but definitely would buy the HP.

[happy_penguin @ Jun 10th 2008 8:49AM]

I think that if anything, this comparison demonstrates no clear winner at all. What's odd is that the price advantage goes to the Mac. HUH? Yes, the Mac with the standard drive. SSD is not ready for prime time. It's too expensive.

Give me a smaller screen with a smaller footprint, say 12" and scrap the ultimate in thin for a built in DVD. Give me more storage and screw the ultra expensive SSD. For me, they all fail but if I had to buy just one, money no object, it would be the ThinkPad.

[DJ @ Jun 10th 2008 8:32AM]

I like Apple a lot. I have an iPod nano and will probably get an iPhone soon. Having used an Air I would definitely take my thinkpad (T61) over it for work, and honestly, I have a better laptop with beefy graphics and such for home, and I still end up using my thinkpad all the time (not huge on gaming). They're sturdy, and although they're bigger than the Air, that doesn't mean they are big. For me, the simplicity of having my dvd built-in, having an ethernet port, and many other things, is too handy. I think the Air is going to appeal to some business users for its size and straight-forwardness, but I think most other people are going to be getting it for the novelty, not because it's a more useful laptop. I think the ThinkPad wins for being a useful laptop. The Air gets a prize for looking good while not being completely useless, but it's a runner-up nonetheless.

[matt @ Jun 10th 2008 8:38AM]

13.3"=!ultraportable

just buy an eee and a normal Powerful PC.

[pundit @ Jun 10th 2008 9:15AM]

Did you mix up the != , or is this something that's a feature in your favourite programming language?

[Sirius @ Jun 10th 2008 9:24AM]

@pundit
13.3" equals (not ultraportable)

works either way, unless your favourite programming language needs whitespace for forming assignment statements...

[Brandon @ Jun 10th 2008 2:34PM]

@Sirius

Shouldn't it be == instead of =

[Joe Dombrowski @ Jun 10th 2008 4:42PM]

Yep, should be ==! if used in that order

[poulan @ Jun 10th 2008 8:46AM]

Hey what about the Toshiba R500 Engadget???

[Tim @ Jun 10th 2008 8:48AM]

why is hdd/ssd size not in the chart? who cares if the voodoo is a grand cheaper than the x300 if its ssd is only 8 gb? urggh

[Michael @ Jun 10th 2008 8:55AM]

read the spec on voodoo.com before jumping to conclusions. information is a internet search away (i.e. google it).

the ssd is 64gb. the price may be misleading however because there is a 80 gb hdd available. i am betting that the price as shown is for the 80 gb hdd and not the 64 gb ssd. everyone should expect the ssd to be the same $1000 option that it is for everyone else.

[wickedpheonix @ Jun 10th 2008 8:50AM]

Voodoo just put out a VERY competitive offering.

For just $300 more, you get an additional USB port, an included optical drive, the removable battery, A SOLID STATE DRIVE, and the voodoo name. Don't underestimate the Voodoo name, the Apple brand is getting a little diluted considering how many people at Starbucks have one and how many students are going Mac - Voodoo is like the Ferrari of the computing world, owning one puts you at the epitome of coolness that Apple can't deliver anymore. This puts it clearly in the lead against Apple for people who want pure perfornance close to the MBA's cost. For pure cost, Apple is better - a lot of people aren't going to care about the SSD or any of that and OS X is still better than Windows, which is why Apple is still competitive here and Voodoo does not have a clear lead for all users.

Against the X300 though, you get what you pay for since they're at different price points. Lighter, denser screen, more USB, internal drive, Lenovo quality and support, but you pay for it.

So, kudos to Voodoo, assuming it ends up with good battery life in the reviews and all that.

[Frank Furter @ Jun 10th 2008 8:52AM]

Wow, the MBA starts at $300 less than everyone else. This immediately means that

1) It is far superior
2) PC's are way overpriced
3) You pay a premium for the IBM name

Man, I just can't afford those uppity PC laptops. They're for nerds and those Starbucks-Artsy-Graphic-Designer-Types.

[Skry @ Jun 10th 2008 9:04AM]

So price means everything? If you're willing to sheel out $1800 for a laptop I assume you'd be able to go for an extra $300 for:

1) a removable battery
2) more connection options including HDMI and E-SATA
3) a laptop which is just as easy to carry around
4) boots up quicker
5) has an SSD
6) and looks better.

So you can't afford 'uppity' PC laptops? then why the hell are you looking at this market? go pay half the price of a normal macbook and get an 'uppity' Dell notebook with the same performance.

[TomWBrowning @ Jun 10th 2008 9:10AM]

And here, in the blog-jungle, we see the humble Skry. One of many creatures in this foreboding and savage environment with no perception of irony. See how it scratches feebly at the ironic jokes of others, trying to gather a semblance of an argument. Tragic.

[Joe @ Jun 10th 2008 9:38AM]

You sir, are an idiot.

[Viakenny @ Jun 10th 2008 7:27PM]

what IBM name? ThinkPads now carry the Lenovo brand. but... probably the premium is on the ThinkPad name.

[DJ @ Jun 11th 2008 5:18AM]

Viakenny is right, IBM doesn't make the ThinkPad anymore, so I hardly think its the IBM name you are paying for..