Help me out with X200/X200s Choice

Hello everyone,

Just yesterday I happened to drop my Dell Laptop and the screen was crushed. I currenly go to Law School and my computer is very important to me. I can use a small portion of the Dell's screen, but I need to get a new computer as soon as possible.

I really love everything the X200 has to offer. A couple of things maybe you guys could help me out with.


My first question has to do with which computer would work best for me, the x200 or x200's. I use the computer 100% for note taking and browsing the web. I write papers and thats about it. No games, graphical work, photo editing or even really movie watching. I dont care about the loss of the webcam either. This computer is for taking notes and doing work mostly. I like the smaller size of the X200s and the longer battery life (although im always around a outlet). I also want the strongest laptop because I lug it around a lot. (not sure if the roll bar in the x200s makes a difference.)

I go to class around 4 hours each day and th rest of the time it would be hooked up with a dell 24 inch widescreen at home.

Im leaning towards the x200s, but there is a pretty sweet deal right now for the X200. Most of the stuff on the "deal of the week" X200 is probably nice (more RAM), but given my very limited use of microsoft word, im not sure it matters.

What would possibly sway me between the two is the display. Im comming from a Dell M1330 where the display was quite nice. How much better is the upgraded X200s screen, and will it make my life harder as a Law Student only reading and typing all day (small text?)?


The next thing I really wanted in my new computer was a SSD. I had wanted one in my last Dell, but the prices were just too high.

Ive read SUCH good things about the Intel 80 gig SSD. I really wish they would offer that HD for the X200s, but right now they only offer it for the X200. So I can get the X200 with the great Intel SSD, but the X200s only has the Samsung 128 gig SSD. Ive read some bad things about the Samsungs stuttering. Im not 100% on the what the terminology means, but I keep reading about 128GB "MLC" SSD's being worse than the "SLC" SSD's? Basically what im trying to ask is whether the Samsung 128 gig SSD is any good, or if the Intel is that much better.

Im really leaning towards the X200s and I would love to have the Intel SSD. But they wont let me configure the X200s with it. Its either the 128 GIG Samsung or replace the HD myself (and given being in Law School, I doubt I will take the time.) So whatever hard drive I order will probably stay.

X200
Pro- cheaper with more RAM etc., has Intel 80 gig SSD.
Con - Monitor is weak, weighs more, no roll bar/carbon lid.

X200s
Pro-smaller, better monitor, more charge time.
Con-300$ more, only 128 Gig samsung.


Here are the two computers I am thining of purchasing. Maybe someone can just tell me what to buy


X200 (comes out to be around 1,000$) (Also deal of the week)

Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8600 (2.40GHz, 3MB L2, 1066MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 6412
12.1 WXGA, 2x2 UltraConnect II antenna; with Camera and Wireless Broadband Upgradeable
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
TrackPoint with Fingerprint Reader
Intel 80GB High-Performance Solid State Drive4
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology10
Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable65
ThinkPad X200 Series 9 cell Li-Ion Battery60
7454: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller7

vs.

X200s (comes out to be around $1300)

Intel Core 2 Duo processor SU9400 (1.4GHz, 3MB L2, 800MHz FSB)1
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 32
12.1 WXGA+ (1440x900) LED backlight with the Next Generation ThinkPad Roll Cage, 3x3 UltraConnect ll antenna
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)8
TrackPoint
128GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA
No Bluetooth
ThinkPad WiFi (BGN)
ThinkPad X200 Series 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
7465: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller




Sorry for throwing this all out there, and I really appreciate any help,

Carl

 

Carl,
Yeah it's a tough call. You know you would probably be happy with either unit.

Myself I have recently purchased 3 X200 laptops for work. I liked them so much I bought one for home. I have never laid hands on a X200s so I may not be qualified for the "definitive" answer.

The price you listed for the X200 is a terrific price. I think you should go with that. You will really appreciate the extra performance. The Core 2 Duo in the X200 has a 3DMark06 score twice that of the SU9400. That coupled with the additional RAM and SSD will make the X200 fun to use. You're right that your applications will not really push either laptop much. But with the X200 your startups and shutdowns will be much faster. That's worth something.

 

I have the X200s on order with the WXGA+ screen which is brighter and has better contrast as well as having higher resolution than the X200 screen; you can always increase the text size using the dpi setting and other means.
I also like the lighter weight and the extended battery life vs. the X200.
I upgraded to the SL9400 which is a good compromise between battery life and performance.
I didn't order the SSD but it is easy to install it later on, and by then the prices will be more reasonable.

 

I just noticed that on the US site the WXGA+ screen is a $150 upgrade.
On the Canadian site (where I ordered) it's a no-cost option. Strange.
But I'm not complaining...

 

I'd get the X200s for the brighter screen, larger storage and more battery life. It really comes down to the extra 300 dollars.

 

Get the X200s, since you don't need extra CPU performance.

You can easily find the Intel SSD on other sites (e.g. newegg, amazon etc) cheaper than from Lenovo anyway, so the SSD thing shouldn't affect your choice. Order the X200/X200s with a traditional hard disk, replace it with the Intel SSD yourself, and sell the original harddisk or use it as an external storage. No, replacing hard disk does NOT void your warranty. (Currenly, only the Intel SSD and OCZ Vertex series are worth recommending. Yes, SLC SSDs are supposed to be better, but they are SO expensive that you won't really consider buying them. The Samsung SSD isn't that bad. It is still a lot better than traditional hard disk, just not as good as the Intel SSD or OCZ Vertex series.)

If I were you, I would pick the 1.86Ghz CPU over the 1.4Ghz one. Also, go with 4GB RAM and 64 Bit Windows (you need 64-bit OS to run more than 3GB RAM). These two upgrades will make a difference. My experience with Core 2 Duo CPUs is that, below 2Ghz, you feel the speed difference (and 400Mhz difference is not small). Above 2Ghz, not much (unless of course you play games or run scientific calculation).

BTW, since you go to law school, have you make use of academic discount? (Lenovo.com -> Solution for -> Government and education -> higher education). There is also a coupon "USXNEWYEAR", that can be combined with academic discount.

(and I would get the 9-cell battery for X200s too, since one can never get enough of battery power)

P.S. I am a graduate student myself and I spent most of my time in the library or at my desk. If you spend as much time as me at quiet places, the SSD's lack of noise will make you life so much better.

 

Thanks for all the replies so far.

I really thought about doing the cheapest standard hard drive. And then later switching it out for the Intel SSD. Normally I would not have a problem doing this. But the X200 does not have a CD drive which just makes the entire process mre diffcult.

-Carl

 

Personally i'd get the x200s if money is no object. However, since it is, I bought a x200 instead for $920 CAD shipped.

P8600
9-cell battery
250gb HD
2gb DDR3 (I upgraded it to 4gb later on)
Bluetooth
LED BL LCD

I am quite happy with it, battery life is awsome. My A/C adapter has never left home period. I am a part time grad student too and it serves me well. The battery will last for at least 8 hours on light use. Now I just need a SSD to make it perfect...

 

Maybe you can buy a external DVD ROM enclosure (i.e. laptop DVD ROM to USB adapter), and remove the DVD ROM from you Dell to use it as external DVD ROM? These things are cheap on eBay. It really shouldn't be that difficult to borrow an external DVD ROM (especially in grad schools, with all the geeks around).

The easiest way of replacing hard disk is to clone it. In this case, DVD Rom won't be very helpful anyway (you will need many DVDs), and an external hard disk will be more useful.

 

On the whole, for your use I would generally lean towards the x200s. It is lighter and gets better battery life (comparable battery life with the 6 cell at 2.8lbs. vs. the x200 w/ 9 cell at 3.6lbs). Don't underestimate the value of battery life; I rarely carry my AC adapter outside the house because my battery life is so good on the x200 Tablet (this cuts down weight and hassle considerably). Based on your usage the LV and ULV CPUs should also be plenty adequate.

The screen on the x200s is better (contrast and brightness slightly improved). However, neither display is really that great (only the tablets have great displays). The WXGA+ is kind of a tradeoff. If you're mainly writing papers it will probably have limited benefit. However, if you use spreadsheets and/or multi-task you'll likely appreciate the extra resolution. I wouldn't worry too much about the high pixel density as you can always zoom your web browser or documents to compensate.

I wouldn't fret too much about the Samsung vs. Intel SSD. Yes, the Intel one does perform better (particularly for small random writes), and SLC is better than MLC (although SLC is almost non-existent save for enterprise drives). However, the newer Samsung MLC used by Lenovo is very good and will perform great. I have never heard of any stuttering issues with Samsung drives (most are confined to JMicron controlled drives).

The only thing that causes me to pause is the price. The loaded x200 you have listed for $1000 is in many ways a lot more computer (not that you really need the benefits) for $300 less. To comparably spec out the x200s (SL9400, 4GB RAM, Wi-Fi 5300, BT, FP) would likely bring you up close to $1500. The question here becomes: how much is weight worth to you? Only you can decide that.

Both are great choices though. They have superb keyboards, solid design, and are very durable (even w/o the "next generation roll cage").

 

I think that if I purchase the X200s and decide to go ahead and change to the Intel SSD, that a external would probably help.

However, I had no idea what cloning is and i'd rather not get myself in trouble with a new laptop.

-Carl

 

Carl,
How did you end up with that price? What portal/page did you use in the Lenovo site?
Thanks

 

This is good to hear. From older reports I was getting that any SSD besides the intel were abominations. My research into this area was slow though. If the Samsung is almost as good as the Intel, I can live with that. Something about ripping open a new laptop and reinstalling the OS does not sound fun.


I'm honestly having a hard time picking between the two. The price and the specs on the X200 are great. But im not sure how much I really need the extra computing power. When using my old dell, with older parts, I never felt that the computer was even close to maxed out. To be honest I use Microsoft One Note about 85% of the time, another 5% is Word, with the final 10% being of internet use.

Everything about the X200s seems to be a + really. It is true that a comparably specced out X200s would cost around 1500$, but a lot of those items on the X200 I would not even add (bluetooth). The extra computing power would be nice though.

I guess the weight issue to me really is not a big deal. I carry a 1500 page constitutional law book around. What's another half a pound? I guess something about the X200s appeals to me with its small factor. But I am not sure if it's worth the extra 300$ to me.

I really wish I could get the Intel SSD on the X200S instead of the larger Samsung. 100$ cheaper. On my Dell I used about 20 gigs of space.

Thank you so much for the responses again, this forum has helped me immensely,

-Carl

 

Just started out on their main page. Products -> X series. Then go ino the X200. Deal of the week is on the right hand side. Configure it out how you want it. Use the coupon code USPDISPLAY.

-Carl

 

Cloning basically means "copy" everything on one hard disk onto another, so you don't have to download and reinstall every driver and program.

You will need a cloning software (I use Acronis True Image Home, I think they have a 30-day fully functional trial version... and you don't need 30 days to clone your hard disk), an external hard disk, and either a DVD Rom or a flash drive to create a boot drive during the cloning process. Basically just follow all the steps of the cloning software, typically very simple. But if you don't want the hassles, just get the Samsung SSD, it will do just fine. (It is true that, when the Intel SSD was first released, all other MLC SSD sucked. But that was more than a year ago, and these Samsung SSDs are fine.)


Get the X200s with 9-cell battery. Base on what you said you would use it for, the battery will probably last you a whole day (which means you don't have to carry the charger around).

 

At least here in Finland there are SSD packages sold which also include a cloning software, to be able to clone your existing HDD to the new SSD.

 

I also sort of wish that the newer version of the X series was not comming out so soon. I hear it might be released in about a month. I feel bad about buying a laptop that is about to be updated. But I have a feeling that the new X201 or 210 or whatever will not be around my 1-1.3k budget.

 

In the tech world, it has been thus for as long as I can remember. Some time ago (dot-com era?) there was a TV ad showing the proud new owner of a "G5" computer driving it home in his convertible. He had a big grin on his face until he pulled up next to a billboard advertising the "G6". (And no I don't remember what the ad was for, lol.)

If it makes you feel any better:

1. You will get a much better price on the current generation (as you said).
2. The current generation does everything you need (see entire discussion above).
3. The current generation is well-debugged. No matter how well engineered, any new tech = new bugs to find and solve.
4. Most important: you said you need a new laptop ASAP. The next gen is just vaporware at this point. Even after it's announced, it may not be immediately available.

I think you will be much happier buying the current product at its current great price and getting on with your life. There are advantages and disadvantages to buying at any point in the product cycle. You can drive yourself nuts worrying about them, or just accept the trade-offs. (If you really *needed* some feature of the next gen, AND didn't need a laptop immediately, AND weren't price-conscious, I guess my advice would be to wait. But that's not you.)

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

 

The form factor is practically identical between the x200 and x200s. The 's' is a fraction of an inch thinner, and will shave an inch off the back if you use the 6 rather the 9 cell. However, with the same battery both have the same cross section.

The advantage is reduced weight due to lighter (read more expensive) materials and a smaller heatsink (allowed by the LV and ULV CPU).

 

The X201 or X210, whatever it will be called, is rumored to be announced in late Feb. The only information leaked out so far, is that it will be equipped with a touch pad and use Core i5 or i7 CPU. It probably won't be available at least after a few weeks after the announcement.

Anandtech has a test of the Core i5 CPU here
http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=3705
Performance wise, the newer CPUs are much faster. But battery life does not improve. Since top-notch performance is not what you are after, there isn't a lot of reasons for you to wait. The new X201/210 won't be cheap either, and you probably have to sacrifice a lot to have it fit into your 1k-1.3k budget (if it ever fits).

 

After a lot of reading, I think that the X200s will be my next laptop. Between last night and today, the coupon code stopped working for the "deal of the week" X200. That makes the X200 about 175$ more expensive than before. So now instead of 1,000$ its around 1,175$. The difference between the two is now not 300$, its about 125$.

However I realized with the education discount I can get a better deal. The X200s with the upgraded processor (1.8ghz) and 3 gigs of ram, with the Intel 5300 wifi card for the same price as the X200s I quoted on page one. I think im going to go with the expensive 128 gig samsung too. If its only a marginal/medium performance difference between the Intel , I doubt that I will even notice surfing the web. It's not like im trying to squeeze every % of performance out of this computer. I just want somthing quiet, fast and quick.

The difference between the two machines is not much. Now that they took away my coupon, the X200s seems more atractive. For 100$ the upgraded screen and lighter weight seem to be worth it. Even if I don't ever notice the weight savings because I have literally 50 pounds of books.

I can only configure the X200s with the 6 cell battery. The X200 would have had a 9 cell. So I guess there is over a pound difference between the two configurations I was thinking of. But I really disliked the idea of a battery protruding anyways. So I most likely would have bought a 4 or 6 cell for the X200 anyways. But I imagine the 6 cell is a good mix of not protruding and giving good battery performance.

Anyone have any final input/changes they would make to the build? If theres anything that would make a big difference, let me know.

X200s
Processor: Intel Core2 Duo processor SL9400 (1.86GHz, 6MB L2, 1066MHz FSB)
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64
Operating system language: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium US English
Display type: 12.1 WXGA+ (1440x900) LED backlight with the Next Generation ThinkPad Roll Cage, 3x3 UltraConnect ll antenna
System graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Total memory: 3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard US English
Pointing Device: TrackPoint
Hard Drive: 128GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA
System expansion slots: 3-1 Media Card Reader without Modem
Wireless Card: Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology
Battery: ThinkPad X200 Series 6 cell Li-Ion Battery



Thanks so much for everyone that chimed in,

-Carl

 

I'd either get 2 GB (1dimm) or 4 GB (2 dimm) depending on the cost difference.

 

The difference between the 2 gigs and 4 gigs is about 65$. The upgraded processor was about 65$ also.

Im guessing the upgraded processor is a good idea with the faster bus speed. Not sure how much the RAM will make a difference, but im close to my budget.

 

Looks great to me.

The only changes I could see would be going to 1x2GB or 2x2GB RAM (if you stick with a 64-bit OS and use 4GB+). Or possibly dropping down to 32-bit as it will be fine if you only have 3GB of RAM (64-bit will work as well though).

You may also want to consider the 5-1 media card reader WITH modem if you have a Sony Camera (supports Memory Stick [the 3-1 only does SD/SDHC/MMC]) or think you might ever need to use an old fashioned modem (I have once in the year I've had my x200T). This is a very minor point though (and you'll probably save a few grams by opting for the 3-1).

Other than that, it's a fabulous machine at a good price. The advice I have given to people about the x200s wrt batteries: if you only have one battery, get the six cell [best balance of weight, size, and life (should be 7+ hours of light document work)] or get BOTH a four cell and a nine cell (use four cell for brief sessions and/or with the AC adapter, use the nine cell when you want to ditch the AC and go the whole day [four + AC weighs about the same as the nine w/o AC]).

 

Good point. I've read of some video problems caused by having different-sized DIMMs in the 2 slots (as would be the case with 3GB). Those problems may now have been fixed by a driver update, I don't know...?

 

Now the wait begins.....

I'll be sure to let you know how it worked out for me.

Thanks for all the wonderful advice.

-Carl

 

Chiming in late, but the biggest difference between the two machines you were considering for me would have been the WXGA vs. WXGA+.

I've just upgraded to 4GB and the 4-cell battery... it's a really nice package.

 

This is good advice. I got the 6-cell when I ordered from the outlet. I just got the 4-cell because I wanted to see just how light I could go. Now I wish I had the 9 instead of the 6.... who wants to trade?