Cancel order for T420s and wait for X1?

Just placed an order on Sunday for a T420s (8GB RAM, SSD). Monday comes news of the X1 :-(

Seems the X1 has 90% of the features of the T420s except a CD-ROM, removable battery, and .7" smaller display (docking station port unknown). On the plus side, it "appears" to be thinner, lighter and overall a newer showcase of the latest ThinkPad technology.

I've been longing to upgrade my X301 and thought the T420s was the best way to go. Now I'm not sure what to do. Would most of you cancel and go for the X1 or would you stick with the T420s (assuming price is not a factor).

Thanks for the tips,

 

I've been using T420s for 2 weeks, and it's an excellent machine. I also love the traditional keyboard, light weight and the new speaker. The X1 might be more fashionable, but I'm sure that you can't go wrong with the premium T series.

I wouldn't change my mind if I were you.

 

The X1 isn't very strong compared to it's competitors within the Thinkpad family. Go for the T420s or X220. Resolution is the biggest one considering it's screen size.

 

If you need battery life, I would go with the X1 even sight unseen. The T420s is a nice machine but it's battery life is poor. I can live without an optical drive for long periods of time since I use an external drive in my office anyway.

 

Isn't X1 supposed to have a mediocre battery life as well?

 

Unknown until someone actually has a machine and does a review. Specs don't tell the true story. For instance, who would have thought the W520 would get 6 hours of battery life?

 

If are convinced that owning the latest technology will make you happy, like me, then you have no choice but to cancel your T420s order and wait for x1 reviews. But if you are like me, you should also wait for Windows8, make that Windows8 on ARM, make that Windows8 on ARM in a super thin package like intel's Canoe lake design. That is my next Thinkpad, sometime in 2013 or 2014.

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I was assuming the question meant in the next 60-90 days.

 

The frustrating thing is that there is always something newer, faster, better around the corner.

Originally I was going to get the T410s but then thought about waiting for Sandy Bridge. Now the X1 is showing up and it's a gamble whether it is worth the wait. By the time it hits retails channels, we'll start hearing about Ivy Bridge and again the debate continues.

I currently have an X301 which appears to have similar dimensions and feel to the X1 but I do miss having a docking station and the latest performance improvements.

3 unknowns so far in the X1 are:

1. Is there a docking port?
2. How good are the speakers? Don't see any visible ones on the photos.
3. How good is the keyboard to conventional T, W, X series ThinkPads.

The speed of the laptop seems the same as any mainstream T, X, or W series.

 

3Q for the X1 has been reported so that is still a bit down the road. Yes there are better, faster systems down the road, but if one can wait, do so, and if you don't want the older technology knowing something is just a few months away then why not wait for it. At least you will have the first on the block until the next guy/gal gets the next one after that, and so on.

 

Four questions:

Is 1366x768 enough resolution for you?

Do you mind plugging in every 5 hours for 30 minutes to get another 4 hours?

How do you feel about glossy screens?

How about chiclet keyboards, though Lenovo's Thinkpad chiclets have lots of contour?

 

- 1600x900 (T420s) versus 1366x768 (X1) seems like a big difference to me
- Updating or replacing RAM/HDD/battery on the X1 appears as if it will be difficult or not possible
- T420s seems like a refinement on an established model line, X1 is new stuff completely - not sure how that bodes for its reliability

My take is that most people would be more productive on a T420s and the X1 is just thinner/lighter/sexier but not necessarily a more livable machine overall.

 

Thanks for all the feedback.

What I found interesting is that the new Chiclet-style keyboard is being claimed superior in feel and action to the traditional ThinkPad keyboard. This comes from many die-hard ThinkPad enthusiasts. If you Google the keyboard (which I believe is the same as the Edge 14 Lenovo laptop), you'll get many comments saying "best keyboard ever" and similar praise.

The screen resolution is a factor but not a major one as I admit I do increase the dpi resolution to make things a bit easier to read.

Battery life is not a major issue as a few hours of laptop time is sufficient for any period between charging.

I wonder if anyone has any info about docking capability. I use my laptop at home and the office and use a dock at the office. Currently I have to plug in each cable individually into my X301 to get things to work optimally (I'm actually driving to monitors this way). A dock in the X1 would be really handy.

Lastly, the look of the X1 has me scratching my head. To me it looks too angular and "edgy" (sharp edges). When the X300 came out, it looked great even in the spy shots. The X1 doesn't grab me as such (yet).

Thanks for the feedback. I'm sure it's helping many of us in similar situation.

 

I'm on my X300 still and ordered X220 which came last week. 9 cell battery is bulky and heavy. T420s is too big for economy seats. X1 sounds really good so I'll be placing an order for it. Hopefully the'll have better CPU choices.

 

Really Flkatsumi? you have X220 already? Thats great can you take pics of the X300 and X220 side by side and the screen difference for us X300 guys? i think that would be really help for those on the fence.

ym

 

I think you are on the fence, and if you can wait for it to launch, do it... you have a great system, and I really miss my x301 now that I have a t410s.... if you have the patience to wait for the X1... I would...

 

I was seriously considering the t420s myself to replace my X301, or possibly the Edge e220s or extra-thick X220. (I think the screen on the last is the best out of all the options, while the first is the only one that would add screen real estate.)

I am considering the X1, too, but losing screen resolution with no size change would seem painful to me. What's with the recent obsession with low res displays?

 

extra thick X220? wouldn't the t420s even though its an S the X220 is pretty darn thin.

 

Is it? I read it was an inch and a half -- I was crushed, because I'd pinned my hopes on the IPS screen and losing resolution wouldn't hurt nearly so much if the screen size also went down, I figured. I should say, comparatively thick?

I actually really like the new chicklet style, which the X220 lacks, but matte and IPS screen would be amazing.

*edit*
I've been doing more research... heights are all over the place, but one review I read mentioned that the height depends on the battery used. 3-cell, 6-cell, and 9-cell are all options even without the slice, so that would explain it.

Now I'm very tempted all over again. Unlike the OP, I wouldn't pick the X1 to replace my X301, but the T420s is still very tempting -- an increase in resolution! However, most of the reviews I read so far have said the screen is awful, whereas the smaller X220's screen is said to be gorgeous.

 

After seeing the comments of winning and bdoviack I really cannot decide between these two lol ^^ Maybe I need a poll

 

The X1 doesn't have a docking port, but the X220 and T420s do.

 

unless you need a docking port, IMO the only advantage the T420s has is the higher resolution.

with the slice/wedge battery the X1 still looks pretty slim actually, come to think of it, how does the wedge connect if there is no docking port?

 

And a matte screen -- the X1's is glossy.

However, the T420s's screen is kind of... bad...

* shrug * Tradeoffs.

 

The T420s optical drive can be swapped out for a bay battery, and it has the capacity for a msata drive and another 7mm 2.5 drive.

The dimensions of the T420s and X1 aren't that different:
T420s: 13.5" x 9.1" x 0.83–1.02", ~4lbs (depending on what in the bay slot)
X1: 13.3" x 9.1" x 0.65-0.84" 3.7lbs

On the other hand, the X1 specs say the screen is brighter. I'm interested in seeing if the viewing angles and contrast are also better. The X1 also has a backlit keyboard unlike the inexplicable, and outdated thinklight on the T420s.

 

See the NBR X1 review. The display is brighter than the T420s but is very glossy. Now that I've got my T420s' display tuned to my liking, it's not that bad and I can live with it without difficulty. Also, the X1's weight is almost identical to the weight of my T420s without its optical drive.

John