Lenovo doesn't make "sexy" notebooks, and that's OK. Some schools of thought suggest that the words "sexy" and "laptop" should never be uttered in the same sentence, and that perhaps sexy computing is a phenomenon best left to the privacy of one's bedroom. Lenovo's Thinkpad line certainly seems to subscribe to that ethos.
We use Lenovos here at PC Magazine. They're good computers. But let's just say that if I were an aggressive male computer, I'd have to have a few drinks in me before I attempted to pick one of them up at the local watering hole.
Apple's long-awaited Macbook Air is sexy. Lenovo's new ultraportable X300 series, not so much, but damned if I wouldn't have appreciated that 2.5-pound frame two weeks ago while I was trekking through the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Besides, what this leaked model lacks in eye-candy factor, it more than makes up for in specs, including a 13.3-inch LED backlit screen, Intel Merom Santa Rosa Dual Core CPU (2.0 Ghz / 880 Mhz ), a 64GB SSD, and up to 4GB of DDR2 PC2-5300 memory. Four hours of battery life ain't terrific, but you can probably dedicate some of that new-found backpack space to an extra battery, since you can actually replace the thing.
Oh yeah, and did we mention the UItrathing DVD burner?
I guess sexiness is in the eye of the beholder.
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January 22, 2008 4:52 PM
but it can't run leopard (macox). ;)
January 22, 2008 6:07 PM
the fact that it doesn't run leopard (mac os x) is it's greatest selling point
January 23, 2008 12:52 AM
After all its a PC. Sad but True :-D
January 23, 2008 12:49 PM
This is just another example of why PCs are always better than macs.
January 23, 2008 2:23 PM
I am using thinkpad for last 5 years.. You can say I used it for windows and partition it for linux. Trust me it is a long run machine and I never had any problem. Based on apple cost, I can buy extreme version of thinkpad. I love thinkpad not only in performance term but also in quality. I never had any problem in my windows XP so never had any problem in upgrading one linux version to other. 100% time the component worked smoothly, otherwise with early age of linux it was difficult to work. Battery is still working in its style and giving me about 3-4 hours backup based on the requirement.. remember it is 5 year old thinkpad and i am really having nice time with it. Thanks to innovator of thinkpad for creating a superb machine based on my pocket money not from my dad pocket money(like air/mac). Soon I am planning to buy the thinkpad tablet or new T series.
January 23, 2008 2:43 PM
The Lenovo X61 Laptop is a 12.1" ultra-portable and at 3.11 pounds and is "sexy"; I constantly get ooohs and aaahs when I bring it out! Granted it does not have a built-in camera but it has your choice of a PCMCIA or PC Express slot so I can easily connect to the outside world on the go!
Now that the Mac OS is Intel-based I think Apple is doing a disservice to itself by not selling to the PC crowd. I know they would have much better penetration. Well, the lost the market one time and if Leopard is a winner, I guess they could lose it (without winning it) again. Personally, I would love it if my X61 dual-booted Vista and Leopard.
The X61 will fit in Apple's Inter-Office envelope too. ;)
January 23, 2008 4:21 PM
any chance of a tablet version Lenovo? :)
January 23, 2008 9:08 PM
Price tag?
January 24, 2008 12:13 AM
I have had a Thinkpad X31 sub-notebook for over 4 years and it is an amazingly small computer with a fantastic screen and keyboard. It still works just fine and shows no signs of the multiple times I have dropped it (try dropping a MacBook). Even though this computer still works fine, I gave it to a family member.
I upgraded to the 3 pound X61 sub-notebook and loaded the thing up with a 2.2 Ghz Core 2 Duo, Vista Business 64 Bit (yeah, Vista), 4 GB RAM, 1 GB Turbo Cache, 200 GB HD, Bluetooth, WiFi AGN, 6 hour battery, media base and DVD Burner. It came with a 4 year warranty that includes accidental damage, like liquid spills and drops (no questions asked), all for much less money than a lesser configured MacBook (with a 3 year expensive/restrictive Mac warranty).
I like the Mac OS and own a Mac desktop, but IBM/Lenovo have been leading the charge in the notebook arena for years, and continue on.
February 13, 2008 9:38 PM
They are on Buy.com for $2900-3000 from what I could find. I still see a healty market for the Macbook Air basic model at that price.
February 23, 2008 1:08 AM
This thing sounds great, will it stop windows from crashing my programs incessantly?
February 25, 2008 8:42 PM
Not surprisingly, they stuck with a ThinkPad veteran for the overall design. And for that we have a high quality, highly functional ultralight machine. Functional and reliable. Alas, not beautiful. The canon of laptop beauty has matured since 1992 (though if you were old enough to buy one back then you might, sadly, still think it is hip). A clever design group could have delivered the x300 contents in a show stopping package. Instead we are handed a Maserati with all the designer cache of a '53 Plymouth sedan. The Thinkpad group has taken us to a new level of functional design. Too bad it is such a turn off. Which designer is producing 1992-style cell phones or 1992-style cars? The x300 will not lack buyers for want of power. But who wants to carry around a laptop that looks like it came with a crank handle? Good grief, it doesn't even have a name.
August 7, 2008 7:49 PM
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