Elite x200 vs x200/Elite x301 vs x301

On Lenovo's website under x200 there are two x200's to choose from, the x200 and the Elite x200.

Same for the x301.

Same with w500.

I cant really they the different between the two...

It seems to be like they are just preconfigured, kind of like on dell's web site.

 

That's basically it. Also, they cut out the discrete graphics options on the Canadian site (not sure for US). Looks like they are trying to lower the number of SKUs they offer while making it look like they are offering more products IE: x200 and Elite x200. Good marketing but crappy that they don't offer an intermediate discrete graphics card on the T series anymore.

 

It looks like the Elite system precludes you from choosing some of the inferior options. On the x200 I notice the following:
Vista Business or Ultimate (Home Basic is not available)
2GB RAM or more (1GB is not available)
6 or 9 cell battery (4 cell is not available)
160GB or larger HD (80 GB is not available)
Bluetooth is Standard
Wi-fi 5100/5300 (BG is not available)

Assuming that an identical configured x200 costs the same as an Elite x200 this might seem rather stupid. However, I would say this shows a more realistic price floor. Home Basic is a crippled OS that you shouldn't buy. Vista is so bloated that a 160GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM is pretty much required. I also think both Bluetooth and 802.11N are important technologies to have internal in a high end laptop. The 4 cell battery only gives about half the life of the 6 cell, and is thus a sub par option.

Therefore I would say any x200 elite is a perfectly adequate computer with no compromises in any configuration, although it is possible to cripple an x200 regular if you configure it poorly (my config easily falls in the elite category). Sometimes you need to protect people from a variety of choices so that they don't make an ill-informed one to save $20 now and regret it in two years when they have to buy a $50 add in card to simulate that functionality. The one thing I would really like to see though, and would actually make the x200 Elite better than the x200, is to include an LED screen standard.

 

very well Jon I'm glad to hear I'm not missing out on anything since yeasterday I ordered a configuration that's pretty much an X200 Elite with Vista Premium.

Although I would have apprecieated your comments when I asked advices on which configuration to go for a couple of days ago
good thing thanks to jaredy I decided to go big

 

yes jmpak on closer inspection it seems exactly a marketing bs just like dell does, no new features on any of the Enhanced and Elite configurations, just lack of lower options

UPDATE: it is not actually BS like Dell, I built the same configuration X200 that I have (but with Vista Business) on both the regular and cpp sites and the Elite is almost $100 cheaper then the non-Elite with the same components.

 

I would definitely be looking for a price match =)

 

That is very interesting. If true, then it would seem that the elite is definitely where you want to start your config, because I think every option in the elite is something you should buy (possible exception is getting minimum RAM/HD to swap out with cheap third party components).

 

Somewhat surprisingly, Elite X200s lacks a 128GB SSD option (as opposed to a regular X200s).

 

I think this is totally weird.
But well, I'm a techie, not a marketing guy.

 

I just configured both a non-elite model with the elite options and they came to the same price: $1998.

 

If your post was for me:
what I ment is that the Elite X200 is about $100 cheaper then a similarly configured regular X200 today.

As far as mine since I got it with a 5% discount coupon (expired today) yesterday and it still was $3 cheaper then the Elite today although I got Vista Premium not Business.

Beside I wouldn't push my luck with them and their contractor site
since being a Contractor .....I'm busy contracting......things.....

 

I had a little time to waste so I'm trying a few configurations to show the savings that you can get with Enhanced and Elite systems.
From the Lenovo US site without coupons:

T400___________________________ T400 Enhanced___________ T400 Elite
P8600 (2.40GHz)__________________________________________T9400 (2.53GHz)
Vista Business
14.1 WXGA+ TFT,
w/ LED Backlight, Camera
ATI Mobility Radeon 3470
3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3
UltraNav(TrackPoint & TouchPad)
with Fingerprint Reader
160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo__________DVD Recordable 8x__________DVD Recordable 8x
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5350
9 cell Li-Ion Battery
$1,651.00 ______________________ $1,597.00_________________ $1,628.00


X200_______________________________ X200 Elite
P8600 (2.40GHz)
Vista Business
12.1 WXGA (1280x800)
Intel GMA X4500 HD
3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3
TrackPoint with Fingerprint Reader
160GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)
Integrated AT&T Mobile Broadband
9 cell Li-Ion Battery
$1,582.00____________________________ $1,489.00


X301________________________________ X301 Elite
SU9400 (1.4GHz)
Vista Business
13.3 WXGA+
Intel GMA 4500MHD
3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3
64GB Solid State Drive
Ultrathin DVD Burner
Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5350
Integrated AT&T Mobile Broadband
6 Cell Li-Ion Battery
$3,080.00_____________________________ $3,080.00


Bottom line: with the T400 and X200 you can get better components for less money.
As far as the X301 is just marketing BS