X200 -- Engadget

X200 posts

ThinkPads pass the Tough Test, but don't call 'em rugged

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 23rd 2009 at 2:16PM

We've long since known that the ThinkPad line was one of the most sturdy, solid and well built families in the entire laptop kingdom, but Lenovo's making extra sure you're aware of that fact with a new designation. The ThinkPad X200, X301, X200s, X200 Tablet, T400, T500, R400 and SL300 laptops have all met "a barrage of military specifications tests," which obviously deems them worthy of a "semi-rugged" label. For the record, Lenovo is quite clear that these machines cannot be billed as "ruggedized" at this time, though the bashing that they reportedly took in the testing lab (see above) sort of prove otherwise. In related news, the firm is also adding a new optional 680-nit high brightness panel to the oh-so-popular T400, though there's no indication that said option will ever bleed out to more models. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading ThinkPads pass the Tough Test, but don't call 'em rugged

Android shows up on X200, caught on video

by Tim Stevens, posted Jan 8th 2009 at 5:37PM

It seems like Google's Android has a bad case of wanderlust, spreading its wings and making appearances on all sorts of devices after Mobile-facts showed it could be done. The little green guy quickly headed over to HP's Mini-Note 2133, and now we've got footage of it in the wild, installed on a Lenovo X200. The machine goes from a cold boot to UI in a solid 25 seconds, and while we still don't think the resulting interface is exactly keyboard and mouse friendly, we're excited to see what the future holds for our favorite synthetic life form/operating system.

[Thanks, Jayanth]

Continue reading Android shows up on X200, caught on video

Lenovo ThinkPad X200s reviewed: it's worth the splurge

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 16th 2008 at 5:38PM

If the X200t is just too convertible-y for you, and the standard X200 just doesn't last long enough for your 18-hour plane rides, the X200s won't do you any good either. If you only need 10-hours of juice, however, this unit is just about perfect. The ultraportable does give up some raw horsepower in order to deliver such stunning life, but true road warriors will certainly make the sacrifice. Critics over at Laptop Mag were duly impressed with just about everything the pricey X200s was packing, noting that the keyboard was "excellent," the design was sturdy and the screen was clean and crisp. Additionally, they found that the power decrease wasn't too noticeable in real-world use, though they did lament the omission of a WWAN module (agreed!) and webcam. Bottom line? These folks found it well "worth the splurge," though we'd recommend giving the full spill a read if you're seriously on the fence.

Lenovo adds integrated WiMAX capability in ThinkPad / IdeaPad families

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 8th 2008 at 2:30PM

It's a big day in Baltimore with the proper launch of Sprint's XOHM WiMAX network, and Lenovo's making sure it snags a bit of that limelight to announce this. Starting today, prospective customers can snatch up a ThinkPad SL300, SL500, X301 and T400 with integrated WiMAX capability, meaning that you can hop on the ultra-fast mobile internet highway in Baltimore and elsewhere if you're really lucky. Later this year, the laptop maker will be adding the option on its business-focused ThinkPad W500, W700, SL400 and X200 models as well as the consumer-minded IdeaPad Y530. There's no word on how much this capability adds to the cost of a machine, but WiMAX-enabled lappies can be had starting at $720 right now.

Lenovo ThinkPad X200 tablet goes on sale

by Donald Melanson, posted Sep 23rd 2008 at 4:57PM

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]

Lenovo's ThinkPad X200t convertible tablet gets reviewed

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 21st 2008 at 10:02PM

It didn't take long for Lenovo's two-faced ThinkPad X200t to hit the test bench after coming over to US soil, and the critics over at Laptop Mag have mostly positive things to say about it. For starters, the convertible tablet maintains the "security, durability, and performance" that we've come to expect from Lenovo. The keyboard was deemed "excellent," the lightweight design was applauded, the display performed admirably and the performance was very satisfactory (or "snappy," as it were). The biggest knocks on the machine were the omission of an optical drive and the below average battery life; testers only squeezed out around 6 hours, which was far less than the company's claim of 10.3 hours. Still, at just north of two large, the X200 was seen as an excellent choice for those seeking a versatile business machine, particularly if you dig that stylus-on-screen action.

Thinkpad X200t and X200s announced

by Nilay Patel, posted Sep 18th 2008 at 6:40PM

Lenonvo's ThinkPad X200t tablet finally made the trip Stateside after hiding out in Hong Kong for the past few weeks, and it's brought a little friend with it -- the X200s laptop. As expected, the X200t replaces the X61t, and specs for the new machines are right in line with that transition: available processors range from a 1.2GHz SU9300 Core 2 Duo to a 1.86GHz SL9400 chip, RAM maxes out a 4GB, there's a 128GB Samsung SSD option, graphics are integrated GMA 4500MHD, and WWAN, WiMAX and UWB are optional. Notable changes from the X61t in particular include a dual swivel hinge, an LED backit 1280 x 800 screen, and claimed 50% improvement in battery life to 15 hours, reduced touch pressure with a Wacom digitizer, and built-in GPS when the WWAN option is ordered. Prices should start at $2325 when these start going out in October, less for the X200s -- we'll have a hands-on for you ASAP, but there's a vid after the break to hold you over.

Continue reading Thinkpad X200t and X200s announced

Thinkpad X200t surfaces in the wild

by Nilay Patel, posted Aug 24th 2008 at 1:33AM

While we've seen tons of evidence that the Thinkpad X200t is ready to hit, the tiny tablet's managed to remain thoroughly hidden until now -- and unsurprisingly, it looks a lot like the X61t it's undoubtedly going to replace. Still no specs, pricing, or release date to be found, but we're guessing those'll come any day now.

[Via GottaBeMobile, thanks diode3diode]

ThinkPad X200 Tablet evidence mounts

by Nilay Patel, posted Aug 7th 2008 at 11:58AM

The last we heard of the ThinkPad X200 Tablet, it was hiding out in Hong Kong, but the little 'vert is starting pop up in the States here and there as well -- check out this compatibility listing for the X200 UltraBase docking station. Yep, there it is in black and white: X200 Tablet. Sadly that's all there is, but y'all can't deny it -- the X200 Tablet is about to start ridin'.

[Thanks, LPD; Warning: Link is to PDF]

Lenovo X200 128GB SSD order option gone, offers 64GB SSD for free

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Aug 6th 2008 at 10:31AM

That wasn't fun at all, actually. Turns out the $-70 128GD SSD option for the ThinkPad X200 was not only a mistake, but the part isn't even available. Eager orderers received the following e-mail from Lenovo this morning:

Dear Valued Lenovo Customer,

We are contacting you with regard to your recent Lenovo X200 order.

Please note that we recently experienced a web error which caused the price of the 128GB Solid State Drive to be erroneously listed at $0.
Unfortunately, we are unable to honor this pricing; in addition, the part is currently not available.

As a token of appreciation for your patience and understanding, we are pleased to offer you a substitute of either a 64GB Solid State Drive
or a 200GB Hard Disk Drive (7200rpm) free of charge in place of the 128GB Drive.

To accept this offer, please reply to this email and fill out the below fields by Monday August 11th with your selection.

*** If we do not receive a reply by that date, your order will be cancelled at that time.

We can't exactly hate on Lenovo for not honoring the mistake, especially since they're offering a 64GB SSD in exchange for free.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

ThinkPad X200 $70 cheaper with 128GB SSD option, order now!

by Thomas Ricker, posted Aug 5th 2008 at 5:30AM

It's almost certainly a mistake but if you head on over to the Lenovo store and plunk down an order for the 12.1-inch ThinkPad X200 ultra-portable with 128GB SSD, you'll pay $70 less than the standard 80GB hard drive configuration. This isn't just a misprint, we ran the config through Lenovo's site and sure enough, the entry level X200 price drops from $1,434 to $1,364 after selecting the biggie SSD. Hell, you'd likely pay that much for the SSD alone as the 64GB SSD lists for an $830 premium. Reader Sunil already has his order in so you'd better hurry up and do the same -- it won't be long before Lenovo wises up to the situation.

Update: Well, it was fun while it lasted, the 128GB SSD option is now gone, completely gone at any price. Do let us know if Lenovo honors those orders.

[Thanks, Tobias W. and Sunil]

Lenovo's ThinkPad T, SL, W, R, and X-series are popping for retail

by Thomas Ricker, posted Aug 5th 2008 at 2:06AM

Sitting up nice and pretty on Lenovo's US store front are none other than Lenovo's newest lineup of ThinkPad notebooks. The site breaks down if you try to custom configure and order anything at the moment but it's good to see the 12.1-inch X200, 12.1-inch X-series tablet, SL, R, T, and W-series of laptops readying themselves for take-out.

[Thanks, Salman and Spencer]

Read -- Full lineup
Read -- X200

Lenovo X200 tablet in the works?

by Nilay Patel, posted Aug 4th 2008 at 11:04AM

Lenovo's dimunitive X200 finally made the scene just recently after hiding out in the shadows for a couple weeks, and it looks like it's got a little friend waiting back there as well -- some specs for a tablet version of the 12-inch ultraportable surfaced over the weekend. We're not taking any of this as fact -- the spec sheet showed up on the web page for the Hong Kong Baptist University, and it's accompanied by a picture of the regular X200, so it could just be a mistake -- but we certainly wouldn't say no to a 4-pound tablet with a 1.86GHz SL9400 Core 2 Duo and a 7-hour battery life for $1,339, so we'll see how this one plays out.

[Via GottaBeMobile]

Lenovo's X200 pictured, compared, measured, feels inadequately small

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Jul 31st 2008 at 7:28AM

If you've been looking for more information about -- and pictures of -- Lenovo's diminutive X200, you've come to the right place. Crave got their hands on the laptop, compared it with its bigger brothers, and even supplied some measuring tape for the size-conscious like some poor, chopping-block-destined farm animal. For review, the 3.5-pound machine sports the Centrino 2 platform, measures just 0.8-inches thick, runs around $1,200, and early reviews are positive.

Lenovo's ThinkPad X200 reviewed: it's a winner

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 15th 2008 at 1:21PM

Lenovo's heralded "rock solid" design? Check. An ample amount of ports stuffed into a lightweight package? Check. A price tag that's on the good side of reasonable? Check. Laptop has just awarded Lenovo's recently announced X200 ultraportable an Editor's Choice award after determining that what it has is likely what you'll want. Reviewers deemed the travel-friendly machine an "excellent lightweight notebook for mobile professionals who demand the business essentials," noting that the omission of an optical drive wasn't really a deal-breaker for them. The Centrino 2 platform was also praised, and while performance wouldn't please the avid gamer, it should handle most everyday tasks without breaking a sweat. If you've got $1,200 or so burning a hole in your pocket, this might not be a bad way to remove that discomfort.