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Lenovo ThinkPad X300 series to be phased out, replaced by T400 this year
We're not sure what tea they're being served in the Far East these days, but the peeps at Lenovo have somehow convinced themselves to let go of the legendary 13-inch ThinkPad X301 and replace it with the 14-inch T410s by the end of the year. Ouch. While you mop up the tears pooling around your boots, here's Marketing Director Wang Lipin's reasoning: with the T400 series capable of offering more powerful CPU and GPU at a similar portability but much lower price (we're talking about a $980 difference between the T410s and X301 base models, at the time of writing), the X300 series has since lost its special place in the ultraportable category. It's tough to argue with figures like that, and hey, at least that's one less temptation for the sake of your piggy bank. Or so we're left to tell ourselves.
Lenovo's ThinkPad X301 now with $9,969 multi-touch trackpad option
About a year ago Lenovo's ThinkPad X300 launched as a direct competitor to Apple's slinky MacBook Air. Over that time, the ultra-slim Thinkpad with a face for business has come to either match or dominate the MBA in nearly every category except the sexy. Now you can tick off one more as the X301 brings a new multi-touch trackpad option with fingerprint reader. In the typical befuddlement that seems to greet every new on-line spec on the Lenovo store, the new TouchPad is listed as a $9,969 option. Too rich? They maybe the $8,402 bump from a 1.4GHz to new 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo SU9600 processor will interest you?[Thanks, James C.]
ThinkPads pass the Tough Test, but don't call 'em rugged
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.
Lenovo adds integrated WiMAX capability in ThinkPad / IdeaPad families
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's ThinkPad X301 gets reviewed
We all know the X300 was fairly widely praised, though that price tag was mighty prohibitive. Still, if you've got the coin to play around with ultrathin ultraportables, the X301 is a welcome upgrade. According to Laptop Mag, the Centrino 2 platform and built-in DisplayPort made an "already excellent machine even better." Most of the basics from the X300 are still here, but critics couldn't help but swoon over the new inclusions. Regrettably, the battery life was said to be an hour or two short for their liking, so it sounds as if you'll want to factor in an extra pack if you're the type who strays from power outlets. Hit the read link for the full rundown, just don't expect anything out of the ordinary.
Lenovo slips out the new ThinkPad X301: new CPUs, 128GB SSD, still thin as hell
In a weirdly casual move, Lenovo has let details slip on the next iteration of its MacBook Air-challenging laptop -- the ThinkPad X300 -- unsurprisingly dubbed the X301. The new device ups the processor ante by adding the as-yet-unreleased Intel Core 2 Duo ULV (ultra low voltage) U9300 (1.2GHz) and U9400 (1.4GHz), both with a 6MB L2 cache and 1066MHz FSB. Additionally, the X301 will support up to 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and Lenovo will offer SSDs of the 80GB or 128GB variety, as opposed to the last generation's 64GB option. A new DisplayPort jack is included, along with boosted mobile broadband quality, GPS, and plans for a WiMAX version later this year. The laptops start at $2,599 and will be available August 26th, though the 128GB option doesn't show up until September. Full PR after the break.
