Here's What I've Learned About the Thinkpad X220T

I'm researching the model because frankly, I think it's impressive, and I need a smaller laptop than my 20-lb monster that's breaking my back. I've asked a million questions of the reps and compared benchmarks. Let me share some of my results with you by giving you some of the questions I've been asking with their answers:

1.) Where are all those amazing features all the reviews are touting?

A: Gorilla Glass, the camera, the processor options, and the extended battery were all not available yesterday when I customized the system. Today the camera and the processor options are available. According to the reps I have spoken to, the gorilla glass and extended battery should be available around May. So if you want those features (like I do), wait to buy.

2.) What ports for external display options are available?

A: It seems like Lenovo doesn't like to be very clear on this one. There are two ports to support external displays: one VGA and one DisplayPort. In theory you can have two external monitors hooked up to the x220T, but the x220T's display will be lost at that point. You can get adapters for the displayport for DVI and possibly VGA/HDMI. I'm considering having this as my main computer, so it was important for me to make sure I can connect this baby up to my 47'' TV for my programming projects and whatever else I need the extra screen real estate for.

3.) Can I buy some of the parts and upgrade it myself for cheaper?

A: It is upgradeable as far as RAM and HDD are concerned. If you want to save a couple of bucks (and by a couple I mean a lot), go with the default options for the HDD and select the 4GB 1 DIMM option for the RAM. 4GB 1 DIMM will result in you having a little bit of a speed hit versus the 4GB 2 DIMM, but you can throw in another 4GB stick for significantly less than the ~$150 upgrade cost for 8GB RAM option. If you're dying for a SSD go buy one yourself and switch the 250GB default one out for your new fancy SSD. You can get a 128GB one from newegg for ~$200. Much less than what the upgrade cost is for the 128GB one Lenovo is selling as an option.

4.) Is the upgrade price on the processor worth it/which one should I go with?

A: It depends on your needs. For me, the 95 dollars extra for the i5 is more than justified by the benchmark ~50% the performance over the i3. The $265 upgrade for the i7 isn't so easily justified for me though, since it's not a quadcore. If you have to have the fastest configuration, pay the money for the i7, but you won't get the same bang for your buck as the upgrade to the i5. If you're just going to be doing web browsing, drawing, and otherwise goofing off on your PC and have no plans of keeping it for long before upgrading, just stick with the i3. The i5 is middle of the road for these options and will stay up to speed with the market for a good 3-4 years before you'll be in need of an upgrade to another laptop.

5.) Is Lenovo like Dell and offers better customer service if you spend a little extra and go through their small business line?

A: No. Lenovo's consumer/small business warranty is the same. If you really want the best customer service, look into purchasing their best warranty.

6.) What kind of discounts can I get?

A: The options I've discussed with a representative are the student discount, the Visa discount (both 10%), and possibly a corporate discount if you work for certain companies (unsure what that is). My best advice for those looking for the best price is to go online and CHAT with a rep. Ask them what they can do for you price-wise. I got a quote of $1237.60 for my configuration, which included the upgrade to the i5 processor and the advanced-N wireless card, plus the onsite 1 year warranty. Not too shabby.

7.) What kind of warranty would you recommend? How can I get around paying the high price for a warranty?

A: I'm going with the 1 year onsite warranty and using my credit card that extends the warranty by one year. Most failures occur within the first year. The second year is peace of mind. But if you aren't sure, just stick with the basic warranty/onsite warranty (depending on your needs--if it's your only computer, ONSITE so it can get repaired right away!) for 1 year. This gives you an entire year to decide if you need to extend for peace of mind or gives you time to gather the money for the extra warranty. I've been assured by a representative that you can extend for the same price as you see when you first buy it, so there's no pressure for you to spend the money upfront. If you can, use a credit card that gives you the added year to your warranty. This saves you some money and gives you that extra peace of mind, too!

8.) Can I get them to skip installing the Windows 7 OS and save some money that way?

A: I'm told you can. I'm a student with access to windows licenses for free via MSDNAA, so having it come with Windows is just an extra expense for me. If your school has this option too, you might want to see what kind of money you can knock off by installing the OS yourself. Or maybe you're in love with Linux and will just erase Windows as soon as it arrives anyways. Maybe you've already bought several Windows licenses and don't want to spend more. It's worth a shot if you're looking for an alternative route for the OS.

That's all I can think of that I asked for now, but please feel free to ask any questions you may have and I will answer them if I can. If I can't, I'll point you in the direction of a sales rep who can.

 

where have you seen this option?

 

You have to specifically call a sales rep and get them to look into it for you. Otherwise it isn't an option. But the sales reps I have spoken to say that it is possible if you go through them and let them help you process your order.

 

What's the extended battery? Is it the slice? Or something else?

Cheers

 

It looks like "Availability: summer 2011" was not a typo on Lenovo website. Lots of sexy features are still missing and X220T is basically selling barebone:

• Outdoor / Gorilla display - ETA May
• Slice battery (was up for 1 day and then disappeared) - ETA May
• Ultrabase series 3 - ETA 1-2 weeks
• Micro SSD - ETA unknown
• Intel 320 / new Samsung SSD - ETA unknown

 

Bullet 3, you might want to add the information about the HDD size. Their height is 7mm. It's not the common 9.5mm. So you basically can't just buy any SSD and think you'll be able to place it in there.

Some SSD's such as intel x25-m are default 7mm, and retail packages come with spacers to make them 9.5mm height. For some SSD's you'll have to tear it apart to remove the cover to make it fit.

I personally think intel mSATA 80gb + stock HDD is the way to go for most people. I've been using intel x25-m 80gb on my x61t, and I usually keep it around 70% full. If you are on budget, get the intel mSATA 40gb + stock HDD. If you are very tight budget, search for 7mm 320gb 7200rpm HDD which costs about $50.

 

that's really a great option, I'm sure it can knock off another $50 from the order. already got windows license here.

 

When I asked, the rep didn't specify which one would be available in May, but I'm assuming it is the 9-cell that gets 16-19 hrs of battery life. The slice I didn't ask about, though now that you mention it I will look into it because it's one of the features I would consider buying.

Thanks for clarifying that for me. I forgot to mention that when I talked about upgradeability. Good to know for people looking to go that route.

 

This is good news. the only option thats missing for me is the gorilla glass thats coming in may. thats not too far out. I will wait for the better glass though because it will significantly increase the life of the screen from pen input. its suppose to be good stuff. heres hoping the option isnt expensive.

 

Just note that it's a great savings until you wish to resell your system.

It's a lot easier to resell a system when it includes a licensed OS. I have existing licenses myself, but mine aren't transferable.

 

How is the gorilla glass that much better than the infinity glass? Durability? Clearer image? Easier to read text? All the above?

Is that worth losing the multi-touch?

Oh, and does anyone know how much the x220t weights w/ the 6 cell battery and what's the battery life?

 

It safe to say that Gorilla Glass has a good reputation for durabillity. With regards to Infinity Glass, I've search this site and the Net with not much result. As far as I can tell, Infinity Glass is a layer that extends the screen surface to the edges of the bezel. However, I haven't found any information to it's durability, glossyness (or not), etc. I think we just need to wait until owners report in their experience.

For me, I chose the Infinity Glass option to have multitouch option. The main reason is for future-proofing to some extent. I am hedging my bets that Windows 8 with Metro UI will be very useful on the X220T, thus the selection.

Hope it all works out.

 

I'm waiting for the tablet to come to the CDW showroom so I can look at it in person. There are many things I don't like about it including the hinge, weight, battery life. But most of all I'm concerned about what the multi-touch display will look like with graininess. On the other hand, I think multi-touch is an extremely nice feature. If the grain turns out to be minimal, I'll sell my X220. Considering how much I saved on it I should be able to turn a profit on it until the next model comes out in 2012. Hopefully 4296-2WU doesn't go up in price before the I can look at the tablet in person.

In this unboxing at Lenovo hq, they say it has the outdoor display but it looks rather reflective at the end when it's in slate mode. I hope the multi-touch isn't any worse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOd0KFouWJY

 

why did lenovo remove the menu and lock buttons on the screen?

 

In reviews it has been noted that the Gorilla Glass display does add to the reflectiveness of the display. But the consensus seems to be that it is nowhere near as bad in reflectivity as a regular glossy glass laptop display. Also, interesting observation on the multi-touch. To my understanding the gorilla glass shouldn't remove multi-touch as a feature but then again, I haven't specifically asked this question. It's added onto my list now....I will ask the next rep I get a hold of.

 

Gorilla Glass and Multi-touch are mutually exclusive. We've known that for a while. If Gorilla Glass-supposedly what's in the video- has a reflectivity of 1.2%, I'm wondering what the Infinity Glass (multi-touch) will be like.

 

Curious that you mention you think the gorilla glass will remove the multi-touch feature. I will ask a rep soon to clarify this, but I know that some of the recent smartphones have been made with gorilla glass without loss of multi-touch. I think it'd be a dumb move on Lenovo's part if they offered the feature at the cost of multi-touch, which is what makes a tablet what it is. But then again, companies are pretty notorious for doing dumb things, so I could be wrong on this assumption.

Mutually exclusive?

Discovery Alert: Samsung Galaxy S2 vs HTC Sensation 4G

Please click above. As to whether this same technology will be replicated for Lenovo's tablet, I do not know, but apparently gorilla glass and multi-touch are NOT mutually exclusive. So let's just cross our fingers and hope. Because I'm really wanting that gorilla glass, but not at loss of functionality.

Edit to mention that I have noticed the forum postings saying Gorilla Glass = no multitouch on this laptop. HOWEVER I am also seeing several reviews for it that note "multitouch gorilla glass" in the review. Lenovo will be contacted first thing tomorrow morning to find out once and for all what is actually the case.

 

In the X220 they are. Nothing to hope for, go through the tablet's product doc.

 

Thank you for starting this thread. I have two questions:

1. The unboxing video seems to indicate that once you put it in tablet mode, it switches to vertical orientation automatically even though he doesn't hold the tablet up vertically to trigger that. Is there an accelerometer that allows it to switch orientation as you rotate the tablet? Or is it fixed in vertical orientation while in tablet mode?

Unboxing video: YouTube - Lenovo Unboxed: ThinkPad X220t tablet

2. What are the docking station options? Kevin says in the unboxing video that the new $180 ultrabase is the only option, but this lenovo link says some of the older ones will work:

Docking Option for the new X220 - Lenovo Community

 

It probably uses the same accelerometer used for hdd active protection. There will definitely be a way to adjust orientation manually.

Look at the X220 Tablet Accessories page in tabook. Only the Ultrabase is listed for it whereas the notebook has all the options.

http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf

 

No, it isn't triggered by the accelerometer. Just like when you open your screen, or closing, there is a sensor for that. When you rotate the screen and lock in into tablet mode, windows will automatically rotate your screen to portrait mode. I have my x61t configured somewhere in tablet settings in control panel so it doesn't do that.

Now, when it's already in tablet mode, to get the screen rotation automatically pointing up all the time, you have to install 'thinkvantage active protection' software. This software contains the drivers for the accelerometer. I have a SSD, and also don't like the automatic rotation, so I don't install that software on my x61t.

 

Too bad there is no gorillascreen vs. multitouch comparison anywhere. If the multitouch is about as good as the ordinary x220 with IPS then I'd consider it, but everybody claims its milkier and reduces readability in brighter surroundings, which is just the opposite of what I need.

For now I've ordered the gorillaglas option.

 

They must really be marketing these laptops to geeks like us and not mainstream. Except for resolution of course. Fascinating marketing decisions all around on this laptop imo. Such potential.

 

has anyone tested the x220 tablet with a zeroshock III sleeve? I see there are 12 inch options and 13 inch options, but I'm not sure which one would fit better. ebay seems to suggest that the 12 inch would be good, but I'm skeptical...

here's a 13 inch on amazon: Amazon.com: Zeroshock III 13-inch Widescreen Notebook Case: Electronics

 

nevermind, I found a thread about the zeroshock case and 12 inch seems to fit best for the X201. Considering that the 220 is thinner, I'm sure the 12 inch would be fine as well.

 

Update two: More things I've found out....

1) Confirmed that Gorilla glass does mean no multitouch. So much for that option, looks like I'll be saving some money and keeping the Infinity Glass display.

2) HDMI can be supported through the DisplayPort using an adapter that converts DisplayPort to HDMI. Amazon sells one for about 5 dollars.

3) The slice battery is already available for 229 dollars (according to the Lenovo rep). The extended battery coming in May will be the actual 9-cell, larger battery.

4) The X220T won't be available at physical retailers for you to actually look at and mess around with. So no chance really of getting your hands on it prior to ordering unless you have a friend that's already bought it who is willing to let you mess with theirs. The only versions that might be in stores will be very limited.

Any other questions? It seems like a lot of the ones asked have been answered by people who are probably more knowledgeable than I am on this model, but I'm asking as many questions as I can dream up every time I get a hold of a Lenovo rep to ask.

 

Yes, what the heck happened to the preconfig/topseller models in the tabook with gorilla glass. I meant to call but don't have the time between stuff today to really sit down for it.

 

Can you explain that a little further? The gorilla glass won't be available until May, if that answers your question. If not, let me know and I'll try to answer it a little better next time .

 

As far as I know, they canceled some (or all) of the models in the tabook with gorilla glass, so I can no longer preorder that version of the tablet:

4296-2XU
4296-2ZU (my preorder)
4296-35U

This sucks, because if this option is released on the CTO site in "May" it means even more weeks of shipping/backlog delays, so it becomes "June". I lost my spot in line in a way

Also the CTO site prices are definitely worse on tablets so far, topseller model pricing is pretty good. If GG is no longer topseller in a way it means the price went up even more compared to multitouch. (4296-2WU is a steal)

If you go by the regular x220 preorders, some orders arrived before the official 4/19 release. They are still coming in too, I don't think any CTO have shipped yet.

 

Ah, I see. Yes, some of the options are being "delayed", and, unfortunately for those of us who want those options, we have to wait for them to come available. I'm sure that the GG will cost extra, but maybe not significantly so. Something to keep in mind also is that the GG will remove multi-touch input, so you'll be using just the pen on the tablet portion. If that's what you prefer, then wait for the GG. If not, the rest of the options as Google has outlined for the build you're wanting should be available on the lenovo site now for order. I know it majorly sucks that we're having to wait to order with all the options, but there's not much to be done about it.

But I definitely agree, the 4296-2WU is the way I'm planning to go, plus an extended battery. It seems to be the most "bang for your buck" to bump up to the i5 for the price differential.

Edit to note that the CTO prices for the lenovo site aren't as bad if you go student and add in some coupon codes. I got a configuration similar to 4296-2WU minus the bluetooth and fingerprint reader for about the same price by going through a Lenovo sales rep.

 

What display resolution does the tablet have? The website just says '12.5" HD'. This is physically a touch bigger than the X220, but is it the same disappointingly low resolution?

 

Same resolution. The x220 is also 12.5".

 

As posted above, you're stuck with the 1366x768 resolution. But frankly (this is just my opinion) that's fine for the screen size. I've got a 17-inch laptop now with 1440x900 resolution and it's never really bothered me (though I do wish it were higher). Bumping down 4.5 inches diagonally, the 1366x768 shouldn't be that bad. I think people are forgetting that this is a really tiny display. You wouldn't really want a 1920x1080 resolution on that little amount of screen real estate...unless you have amazing vision, it'll be tiny to read any text.

 

Right! It's bigger than the X201 tablet, not the X220. My bad.

 

I sure disagree. My default Outlook view includes folders, emails with preview pane below, calendar, and tasks all one one screen. This works great for me. On my large panel, it's a perfect dashboard. On a 1400x900 laptop, it's reasonable. But on 1366x768 it is like trying to read technical diagrams that were drawn with crayons. I am mad at Lenovo for not providing at least 800 vertical pixels - really 900. Has nothing to do with eye quality - if you have ever seen a Sony Z with the high res option you'd understand. But even the standard Z on 13" looks beautiful with no eye strain.

Not to mention spreadsheets, long documents, visio diagrams... this is supposedly an enterprise machine right? Or at least one that should function well as one? Come to think of it - I wonder what the target audience is for this box? I would like to see Lenovo's customer segmentation - they seem to have a lot of overlap and random fits.

 

This may very well be true. But I figure if I'm working on something like that, I'm normally at home or somewhere near a 1080p monitor. Then the HDMI adapter is quite glorious, and I can have my 1920x1080 resolution happily. For travel though, I'm thinking I can make do with the lesser resolution. I'm not saying Lenovo did a good thing by sticking with the low resolution, but I tend to think I can work around that, given all the other nice features this little bad boy is carrying under its hood. Maybe Lenovo's idea was that you'd be using it more for presentations and stuff where you're using a remote monitor that supports a higher resolution? No idea.

 

Does anybody know when will the Thinkpad X220 tablet will be available in Australia?

 

What do they mean by "already available"? I don't see it in any CTO options for either X220 or X220T. I remember seeing it April 19 when they first posted CTO but then it disappeared.

 

Will the GG version offer less screen grain than the multitouch version? For me thats the only deciding factor. I do know that the multitouch version has a slight screen grain.

 

I think this fits here as well. I came across two photos and stitched them together:


interesting to see the size difference between x220 and x220 tablet versions with THE SAME Battery capacity (6-cell + slice battery on both). This is quite the differece.

I opened a thread regarding this here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/573403-x220-tablet-huge-vs-x220.html

 

Does anyone know if the pen-only screen on X201T/X220T work with 2 pens simultaneously? For example, you have 2 people writing text on different sides of the screen at the same time.

Another question, if I hook up the tablet to 2 external monitors and keep the laptop's screen blank, is the pen input still going to work?

 

no, one pen.... and no... afaik

 

I don't think you can hook to 2 external monitors.

 

If I want 8GB - is there anything wrong with just getting another 4GB stick to match the one that comes with, or should I get a matched pair that are the same brand?

4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory

Or does anybody know the brand included in Lenovo that I can match with another single stick?

Does it matter?

Thanks!

 

An update on the missing components for X220T:

• Outdoor / Gorilla display - ETA middle of May - according to a sales guy the delay is due to Japan
• Slice battery - May 18 - 21
• Ultrabase series 3 - available now
• Micro SSD - ETA unknown
• Intel 320 / new Samsung SSD - ETA unknown