I need some info & advice on the ThinkPad X200s (c.2008)!

I would love to have an ultraportable laptop to take with me when I travel. I love the ASUS Zenbook UX31A, but I'm not ready to shell out $1300+ yet...

But I have the chance to buy an Off-lease (refurb) ThinkPad X200s for $399. That price includes the amazing 12.1" WXGA+ (1440x900) LED, 4GB RAM and the 1.86GHz Intel SL9400 Core 2 Duo processor. It will also be shipped with a 250GB 5400rpm installed, but I have a brand new 128GB Samsung SSD that I plan to install.

Here are my questions for you guys-

1-Are/were there any issues or problems associated with the X200s?

2- If you have used the X200s or Xove to hear your opinion of the display quality and brightness!

3- Even though the Intel C2D SL9400 is now several g/enerations old, I still think it will provide more than adequiate performance for my needs. The addition of a new SSD should also make it much quicker.

4- Am I crazy to buy an off-lease, refurbished system that has been used for the last three years??? If it was ANYTHING besides a ThinkPad, I wouldn't even consider it!

When you take into consideration that the X200s in this configuration sold for $2100+ when it was new, getting it for $399 is truly a steal...even if I am 3.5-years late!

Talk to me folks! THANKS SO MUCH!

As of now, I plan to

 

I haven't heard of any major issues with the X200s.

The WXGA+ LCD is rated at 250 nits. That should be fine for indoor usage and perhaps outside in the shade. As I recall it's a typical ThinkPad TN panel, which means limited resolution and contrast. Calibration can help some, though it won't magically turn into an IPS. The special thing about the LCD is the resolution if that's your thing.

I think three is a statement.

It's really hard to say. I've seen it go both ways. Sometimes off lease mostly sat on a desk or other times they were used and abused. You probably won't know what you're getting until you get it. Going used is always more risky as there's no warranty. I think from a performance perspective, it's fine. My R60e, which is a few years old, is fine for daily typical usage.

 

Ive bought several refurbs from Lenovo and they have all been cleaned up nicely and in good working order. They often slap a new keyboard on them and I've only seen a few minor scuff marks. Never bought a x200 on refurb, but have several of them laying around and they are still running fine after three years of use. The only catch is that the refurbs oftne come with batteries that have a good bit of life on them so you may need to get a new one.

 

Spend some time watching Ebay. There are sometimes some great deals on newer units like the X201. I saw one go at auction recently in the low 300s. Your price is fair, but, you can probably pick up an X201 series for the same price as you are paying for an X200. If it was me, I would want an Arrandale over a Core2Duo.

 

I've owned two ThinkPads in the past- a T43 and R61, both 14". The only real complaint I had with them, especially the R61, was the display. They were too dim and the image quality was mediocre at best. My current Dell Latitude E6400 has a 300nit display, which is awesome.

The R61 and my E6400 both have 1440x900 resolution displays (14.1"), so that is definitely one of the reasons I like the X200s. I'm still not on the 16:9 bandwagon either, so the X200s having a 16:10 aspect ratio is another plus!

You're right, number three was a statement, not a question. I was half asleep when I posted it...let's just call it a true/false question...

This is the first refurbished item that I've ever bought and it only comes with a 90-day warranty. I can also buy a warranty from Square Trade- $79 for 1-year or $109 for 2-years. They allow up to 90-days from purchase date to buy their warranty, so I'll know if I like it and intend to keep it during that 90-day period. If not, I'll list it on Ebay...

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I have searched on Ebay and several other sites trying to find an X201s, but I didn't find any. The X201s wasn't released until February 2010 and most corporate leases are for 3-years, so that may explain why I didn't find any.

The only problem with the regular X201 is the display. I really want and need the 1440x900 display, so that limits the choices to the X200s and X201s. The 's' models are also lighter and they have the Roll Cage behind the display (in the lid) for extra protection. After dropping my current laptop (Dell Latitude E6400) onto a concrete floor and watching it land on it's corner, I have a VERY REAL appreciation for any feature designed to protect the LED display.

To my relief, the E6400 survived the drop with just a few scrapes and a small dent. It booted right up and, when the display finally lit up, I couldn't believe it. Every ThinkPad I've used and the Dell Latitude series seem like they could survive anything short of a direct hit by a grenade...and people like me really need them!!!

 

This is not quite true. Or rather it's true according to Lenovo's marketing, but (IMHO) their marketing is misleading.

The X200/X201 have a magnesium-alloy top cover. The X200s/X201s with WXGA+ panels have a carbon-fiber top cover. Neither of them have a "roll cage" in the sense that the T61/T400/T500 do (i.e. a magnesium skeleton beneath a plastic cover.)

Lenovo calls the CFRP cover a "next generation roll cage" in some of their marketing material. I call this "confusing marketing."

(I'm not sure that there's any clear winner between the two in terms of strength, though...)

 

Thanks for that info. I didn't really know how to confirm it, but as I've done lots of research and comparison between the X200 and X200s, my gut was telling me exactly what you just comfirmed!

Lenovo indicates that the X200 is simply made from 'magnesium alloy'. But the X201s has a Display Cover made from 'Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic', Side walls constructed with 'glass-fiber reinforced plastic' and a base of 'magnesium alloy'.

It sounds quite exotic and high-tech, both of which are true. They used the materials in the X201s to reduce weight and make it thinner compared to the X200. But the 'carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic' display cover requires a very strong, light skeleton to give it a level of rigidity comparable to the X200. So the use of a magnesium alloy for the 'Next Gen ThinkPad Roll Cage" was essential to achieve weight goals...not to make it more durable or rigid than the X200.....but a very sly marketing move by Lenovo, I'll give them that! I'm sure it helped some buyers rationalize the $500+ extra cost over the regular X200...

Perhaps you (or one of the other Lenovo gurus) can answer a question regarding the X201s model? The X201s was introduced with the same standard high-brightness, high-res 12.1" LED display found on the X200s. But I seem to recall that it was discontinued at some point and replaced with the regular X200 display (1280x800) during the model run. Is that true?

I'm asking because I'm planning to keep an eye out for the X201s models to hit the off-lease/refurb market over the next 6-8 months. But I will need to be very vigilant to confirm display type in all used X201s models if some of them have the base display! Does anyone know if this is true or not???

Anyway, my X200s will be here on Monday along with the 128GB Samsung 830-series SSD that I plan to install in it! I'll let you guys know when I get it and as I make progress on it....

Peace.

 

I don't think that's quite right. As I recall, the X201s was available as a CTO machine via Lenovo's website along with the X201, but was dropped a short time later due to the fact they couldn't get enough WXGA+ LCDs. It continued to be available for some time as a pre-configured model, but was fairly expensive. As far as I know the X201s was never offered with a WXGA LCD like the X200s.

 

It's all coming back to me now! The fog magically lifted in my mind as I was reading your posting....well, the fog wasn't so much in my mind as on my glasses...and the A/C kicked on, which is the likely source of the 'de-fogging'...BUt it was dramatic nonetheless!!!

I hate it when I have little pieces of information floating around that I know are relevant and true....it's just finding the exact context in which they apply! But I thinik it all finally clicked and I put it together....

The X200s originally had the 250nit 1440x900 LED display standard. At some point a few months after launch, the 200nit 1280x800 LED was added to the X200s as the base display. The 1440x900 display was discontinued from the X200s product line due to supply issues at the same time the lesser screen was made standard or very shortly thereafter (in which case, the screen might have been an upgrade for a very short time...)?

When the X201 and X201s rolled out, the X201s was back to wearing the original 1440x900 display. The X201s was never sold with any other display, so all X201s have a WXGA+ display!

The X201 was replaced by the X220, which grew to a 12.5" model with a 16:9 aspect ratio. There was no X220s.

I wish they would make an X230s with a 12.5" 1600x900 IPS display???

I have spent some time with the Dell Latitude E6220 (also 12.5", same generation as the X220) and the lack of higher-resolution display was the deal breaker. If they offered a 1600x900 upgrade for it, I probably wouldn't be buying a used ThinkPad now...

Dell is actually quite frustrating because they have the 12.5" E6220 and 13.3" E6320, but they are identical in almost every other way! There E6220 only is less than one-inch smaller in width and it weighs 0.5-lbs (one-half-pound) less than the E6320. There are no benefits to choosing one over the other???

NEVER FEAR, because Dell has now added yet another model to confuse things even more...if that is even possible!?!? In addition to the newly updated E6230 and E6330, we now have the new E6430s...a slightly ligter, thinner version of the 14.0" E6430! They managed to give the E6430s the same exact footprint as the E6330 and it only weighs 0.2lbs more than the E6330....they look identical in to the naked eye in all ways! But the only actual difference between the three models is the size of the craptastic 1366x768 display- because adding a fraction-of-an-inch to the size of a medicore, low-res display changes everything!?!

 

Maybe it's me, but I don't see bumping up to HD+ as being all that great. It'll net you about three lines on a typical internet page. I'm happy to have a good screen option.

 

UPDATE- Unfortunately, the X200s that I received WAS NOT the same specs as advertised!!! I have already sent it back to TigerDirect for a full refund including shipping...

It was advertised as having the C2D SL9400 processor (1.86GHz) but it only had the base SL9300 (1.6GHz). But the BIG disappointment was the display- it was one of the later X200s models with the 1280x800 display from the X200.

As if this wasn't disappointing enough for one week, the display on my primary laptop (Dell Latitude E6400) died this week!!! So I'm not sure what my next move is going to be??? Maybe a new T430s and call it a day?