Future models without sacrificing the advantages of X200s

Cf. threads about cooling and weight+size...

X200s seems to have several important advantages over other X-series including the new X220:

Lightest weight
Relatively small footprint (although X61s with 4:3 appears smaller)
Cooler (according some posts the coolest)

These are very important factors to me. I wonder why Lenovo couldn't improve the models on this basis. More advanced processors, "full-power options, better display, and thinner chassis" of X220 pointed out by erik do not have to sacrifice the above advantages, does it?

 

I'm waiting for this to replace my X200s too. I can live with a little extra thickness but the high res screen (1440 x 900 or 1600 x 900) is essential to me and the reason why I bought a Thinkpad in the first place.
An X220s would really be my dream machine.
Maybe with the Ivy Bridge refresh?

 

After fiddling around the Thinkpad X220 it is obvious that Lenovo have squeezed a lot of stuffs into the machine and still maintain the thickness similar to the X200 machines. There is keyboard support bracket installed in the X220 under the keyboard which is around 2 to 3 mm thick (this is one reason why the 7 mm drive was chosen).

Unlike the X200 and X201 the bottom of the X220 is relatively flat like the X200s and X201s machines. The bottom chassis thickness of the X220 at the rear end (not including the rubber feet) is 18.84 mm (measured using digital micrometer) near the air vent, which is comparable to the X200s/X201s. Compare to the X200 (X201 has the same thickness) near the air vent the X200 is 23.83 mm and across the area where the VGA port is 18.90 mm.

 

The main thing that disappoints me is the weight, not thickness. The X200s is one that truly deserves the name "ultraportable" made for travel. When I received the X220 I was shocked by it's being so weighty. By travel I don't mean driving a car or sitting in a plane. Suppose you are carrying the laptop on your back and going hiking? Every ounce will have its toll.

Based on the existent models I've seen, I wish for a thinkpad that is of the form and size of X61s, the weight of X200s, with whatever advanced power features it can have.

 

Those weight saving from the X220 is due to the magnesium lid rather the composite cover that some of the X200s/X201s have. I think the weight of the X220 is okay wihen used with the 4 cells battery.

 

Also x200 had LV processors while the x220 has full voltage Sandy Bridge processors. Heatsink was probably beefed up alot.

 

you couldn't pay me enough money to trade my X220 for an X200s.   good riddance to the old keyboard, thick bezel, crappy authentec FPR, slower boot times, anemic GPU, and TN displays.

the X220 has IPS, faster processors, thin/light chassis (with a 4-cell), quicker BIOS, more expandability options (mSATA, expresscard 2.0, USB 3, etc), SATA III, updated keyboards, and arguably better aesthetics. that sure sounds like an improvement to me.

take your X200s as configured to your local post office and have it weighed on a calibrated scale.   post your results and we'll compare notes.

 

C'mon, it's a flipping black box like every other ThinkPad.

 

you just had to argue, didn't you?

black box or not, i prefer the small details on the X220 over its predecessors.   but, that's just me.

 

i guess not all black boxes come with the same shape and curves (or lack of curves).

 

I gotta go with what I know.

I suppose now that I think about it, the slimmer bezel on the X220 does look better, but I tend not to notice those things. My thing is I wish they'd have a trackpadless palm like the X200/X200s. I think that looks much better, aesthetically speaking of course. I might even pony up some cash to get one if it was available.

 

The X220 has already been produced. What I mean is, do the above good things about X220 you listed have to exclude the possibility of maintaining the light weight like X200s? IOW, do these improvement necessitate the increase of weight?

I'm comparing the two machines sans battery. The X200s weighs almost like an empty shell in one hand. The X220 feels like twice the weight of X200s, makes a sound when I put it on the table, reminds me the earth is a big magnet (not that I don't want to be reminded).

Don't forget that not all laptops have able-bodied owners.

Like I said in another thread, maybe Lenovo could offer two lines: one is lightweight line, the other is compact size. These two are not always consistent with each other.

 

The problem with that idea is while this is obviously important to you, there's probably not enough like minded individuals to support having two model lines.

 

there's always room for improvement.   the challenge comes when that extra 0.25 lbs of weight savings adds over 50% to a system's price tag.   are that many consumers willing to pay so much extra for such a small gain?

as a point of reference, the X200s was approximately $600 more than the standard model back in its day.   it added LV and a WXGA+ panel but still sold in low numbers due to the price.   today you can almost buy an X220 for the $600 cost delta alone.

also, it seems like the 4-cell X220 battery is selling in much lower numbers than the 6- and 9-cell.   i'd venture to guess this has something to do with a preference toward battery life over weight or size.

computers will eventually get smaller and faster though.   it's just a matter of time.

 

There are some X220 models with a ULV (UM) cpu. Questionable how much power savings they truly give over the full power CPUs. A better option would be to run an mSATA SSD and remove the HDD. That would drop weight, increase performance and lengthen battery life.

Worth also looking at a 12.1" Fujitsu P771. It's lighter, runs a ULV CPU, has a 16:10 LCD and even adds a optical drive. Wonder if you could swap your 900P LCD into it? Only issue would be it's weaker build and the pricetag.

 

Well, could Lenovo switch to LG's "frameless" LCD display technology in next generation ThinkPads? And with ThinkPads I mean regular ThinkPads, not soaped up X1 or Edge budget series?
Ive read that Shuriken display or how its called costs up to 30$ more per panel, so unless other manufacturers start to sell their business machines with such displays Lenovo wont probably be the one to take the risk and "innovate" at the cost of possibly lower profit margins.
Because current bezels are huge and could house one size bigger displays than they currently have, really hate that.