Lenovo ThinkPad X200 tablet goes on sale

Anyone interested in Lenovo's ThinkPad X200 tablet is no doubt pretty well acquainted with it by now, and if you're sold on it you can now finally get your order in for one, though it'll apparently still take one or two weeks to actually ship. Contrary to what we had heard earlier, it looks like the base price starts at a slightly more reasonable $1,844, although you'll have to drop an additional $275 if you want a fancy MultiTouch + MultiView display, and the rest of the baseline specs are also expectedly lightweight. That's nothing an extra $1,000 or so in upgrades can't fix though -- hit up the link below to get configuring

[Thanks, Micah]

[Juxtah @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:05PM]

Why does Lenovo keep putting their screens off centre? It's really unnerving for some strange reason.

[Jason @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:36PM]

For crying out loud Merill Lynch and Lehman Bros went under in the last week, but you're unnerved by a slightly off-center display screen.

If you just don't like it, just say you don't like it. If it really unnerves you, then you're a sissy.

[stefan @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:35PM]

i believe that with the arrow keys and the large enter and right-shift-keys the screen will appear centered in respect to your hands.... maybe that's it. Or just something with the lcds contacts and cables. Somebody care to pry theirs open?

[Boarderwoot @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:07PM]

Is it just me or are these things still fugly to no end. And what's with the little red dot after all these years? Seriously guys, the big rubber dot sucks ass.

[404 @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:13PM]

Fugly but functional. That's all some people want.

And a lot of Lenovo users I've talked to absolutely love the little red dot mouse thingy. It's nice to see a company give people what they really want these days, instead of what they think they should want.

[ivanotter @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:48PM]

Eh. I LIKE the basic, no frills black. My t42 does not look really dated, compared to pretty much EVERY laptop of the same generation.

I like it low key. Just wish they made a gaming line of laptops.

[zargon @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:31PM]

I use to think they were ugly, but have come to love them, I really like the simplistic design. We use IBM/Lenovo at work and I firmly believe that they our perform all other systems I have used in previous jobs (Dell, Gateway, Toshiba, Panasonic and HP). They stand up to the abuse that our employees put them through and keep running. In fact, I liked them so much I recently purchased one for home user and when my wife needs a laptop update, she will also being getting a Lenovo, they are just all around rock solid laptops (and PCs).

I am not a fan of the red nipple, I personally prefer the touch pad, but a lot of people still love them and what does it hurt giving the user the option?

[MioTheGreat @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:35PM]

Personally, I think it looks like a very nice, sturdy tool. It's not a toy, like some of those hideous glossy-white-plastic-blob laptops.

[bob sakamano @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:37PM]

yeah ive been in the market lately and looking at the lenovo x200.. which doesnt have a trackpad... and hesitant on getting it because of it, but everywhere ive read lenovo users are obsessed with the red deal-e-o

[BigD145 @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:10PM]

I hate the trackpad. Give me the red nipple anyday.

[Peter @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:05PM]

It still looks better than all the cheap plastic laptops at bestbuy. And if you don't like the logical design of thinkpads, then don't buy one; simple as that.

[Dubb @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:41PM]

Hey, don't be busting on the red nipple. That things awesome, I absolutely hate trackpads. I'm a coder so I type, a lot. I always hit the stupid track pad with my thumb accidentally and then all of a sudden I'm coding 10 lines up because the mouse clicked on the code 10 lines up, extremely annoying.

Dell has something similar but it's just not the same.

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:59PM]

Agree 100%

[p-diddy @ Sep 24th 2008 1:46AM]

>> I absolutely hate trackpads. I'm a coder so I type, a lot. I always hit the stupid track pad
>> with my thumb accidentally and then all of a sudden I'm coding 10 lines up because the
>> mouse clicked on the code 10 lines up, extremely annoying.

You code a lot but don't know how to turn off tap-to-click? FAIL. That's the first thing I do when I get a laptop.

-p-

[daddycool @ Sep 24th 2008 6:36AM]

The red nipple is one of the best feature of these machines. Thinkpads are kind of different, they are for people who want a certain quality level in a machine and are willing to pay a premium for it. It's not really reasonable to compare them directly to Dell's and Sony Vaios, trying to be cute and appeal to college kids. Thinkpads are a bit of a different breed.

[Flashpoint @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:20PM]

My Lenovo X60 doesn't have that damn Camera. Makes me sad.

[Muhammed @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:32PM]

very nice for a touch tablet.

[wickedpheonix @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:41PM]

Yeah - and the order system is FUCKED UP.

1) Can't order Vista Business 64 and a SSD
2) Can't order Turbo Memory and a SSD
3) Can't order extended warranties
4) No discount if purchased through educational store

Furthermore, I hear reports of people who, when trying to checkout, encounter expiration problems i.e. "error has happened in processing your order".
http://www.gottabemobile.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6606

[BigD145 @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:13PM]

The x200 just hasn't been discounted yet. On the plus side, you can pick up a x61 for under $1200.

[Doug @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:29PM]

I just tried to order, and after putting in my credit card and clicking "Order," I got the message "An error has happened in processing your order. Please try again later."

Anyone having luck, and if so what specs are you buying? I tried to buy theit with the SL9400 and WXGA Superbright LED screen.

[Tangent @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:44PM]

Bummer, only WXGA option is available, there is no WSXGA! Thank God I got my X61 before that screen option is no longer available.

[Muhammed @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:10PM]

I'm pretty sad there's no WSXTRGGA though.

[phanbouy @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:38PM]

WXYZLMNOPVGA sucks

[daddycool @ Sep 24th 2008 6:33AM]

Which make this this an auto fail. I love my SXGA+ X61 Tablet to death. But when I needs replacing I don't know what I will do. If I'm stuck with WXGA I might just go for one of those 9 inch Toshiba's or something similar. I'm really pissed off about this 16:9 for everything whether you want it or not.

[eatbuckshot @ Sep 26th 2008 8:55PM]

Ugh I agree as well. It seems lenovo for whatever reason eschew high resolution. I really wanted a 14.1" UXGA when I was getting a thinkpad... But I had to opt for a T61P with only sxga+ (although there are some crazy mods out there to replace it with a uxga screen). I was looking forward to lenovo's x200 tablet and they did improve it in many aspects: very good outdoor visibility, LED backlight and consequently higher brightness, dual direction swiveling, full size keyboard, new +3 db speakers, supposedly better touch capability (compared to x61t),x4500, ddr3 ... but ... x61t's 1400x1050 vs that 1280x800 43% more estate!...

[Jason Goldberg @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:28PM]

Confirmed, you can't actually complete an order: (An error has happened in processing your order. Please try again later.) They can't take your order over the phone either.

Sadly, these kinds of launch day ordering problems are par for the course for Lenovo.

[Leindurstit @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:41PM]

Sometimes it's Control in the lower left, and sometimes it's Fn. Will they make up their damned mind already...

[Elkin @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:13PM]

I just got an HP, tx2000 for about 850$ after all discounts and I'm loving it.
The X200 was one of my options but the design didn't win me! sorry lenovo!
Hp gave me what you wouldn't cheaper!
wifi a/b/g/n, webcam, finger print reader, lojack for 4 years, 3GB in ram,bluetooth, and a 12" screen.. sure I'll miss "a fancy MultiTouch + MultiView display" but my pocket is better off without it!

[wickedpheonix @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:30PM]

don't forget the excellent battery life, Thinkpad reliability, lower weight, built-in wireless USB and GPS, better performance due to not just an Intel processor, but a Montevina one (which also means better graphics)... oh yes I'm sure HP gave you what Lenovo wouldn't.

[diode3diode @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:28PM]

@ Elkin
I'll top your HP tx2000 with this HP 2710p at $779.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/HP+2710p+On+Woot.aspx

hehe.

[Elkin @ Sep 24th 2008 12:52AM]

@wickedpheonix: forgot twice the price! :P
@diode3diode: 1.06 ghz model with 1 gb, mine has 2.2Ghz and 3Gb in
ram, altough I'm not going to lie the only thing I don't really like
is the AMD CPU I would love a core2duo on the tx2500!

[Sean @ Oct 5th 2008 7:47PM]

What is the deal with the processor? The reason i liked the x200 is the great core 2 duo P8000's, but now i got this SL or SU option only. GIVE ME THE P9500 processor. Also there needs to be the option for a high res screen and SOME KIND OF DIGITAL VIDEO OUT PORT!!!
dvi, mini dvi, hdmi, mini hdmi or maybe something on the port replicator.

also on alot of the early reports a 128 gb ssd was to be expected. what happened?