I saw a X200 today

Hi...

In a previous thread, I had mentioned that I had never seen ThinkPads in a Lenovo Store. Well, today, I just did. I saw a T400, T410, ThinkPad Edge, and a X200.

And this is the first time that I saw a X200 in real life and not in pics. Slim, svelte and light! Looks fab...BUT it also looks small...like a netbook. I was also taken aback to see that the X200 sports a C2D rather than the i processor! I always thought that the X series had the i3 in it. Maybe I was under the wrong impression. It also has 2GB of RAM and 160 GB of a 5400 rpm HDD.

The price off the shelf was INR 55,950 which is about USD1233 but it comes with no OS, so need to add another USD 222. So, grand total is USD 1433. Expensive, I think!

EDIT: The total would be 1233 + 222 = 1455 USD

I made it a point to check the keyboard and I was astonished to find a considerable amount of flex. I checked the T400 and T410 keyboards too. While there was a certain amount of flex on the T400, there was none on the T410 which, btw, was also light and slim! I liked it! Though I forgot to check the price!

Admittedly, the X200 looks good, but I am not sure the 12" screen would work for me. I think the 14" screen size is the sweet spot for me!

Regardless, the X200 is damn expensive here!!!!

 

It is expensive considering it is now superseded by the X201 which sports the newer Core i processors. When I was in Hong Kong they were selling the X201 for approximately around $1250 USD but it comes with 3 years International Warranty. Not sure how they can come up with $1233 USD for an X200 with no OS!

 

Tell me about it!!!!! Though I suspect that it does come with an IWS. But expensive with a C2D!!!!! And 2GB RAM?????? And no OS?????

I don't really know how these price differentials across countries work especially since in this day and age with folks being internationally mobile. Like I was saying elsewhere, I could just as easily go to BKK for a weekend - have a cool holiday, pick up a X200/201 for a price much more competitive than what I saw today and be back! And no one would be the wiser!

 

The keyboard on my X200 is great with zero flex.

 

Yeah...which is why I made it a point to test it out and was greatly surprised to find it flex as much as it did. Reminded me of the keyboard on my pre-replaced R400.

 

I almost wish I had gotten an x200s over my t400. Probably wouldnt have given it to my mom like I did with the t400... Maybe Ill get an x100e depending on what my job needs are in the future.

 

the X200 keyboard is also perforated, but usually it has minimal flex, due to the increased support provided by the X200 chassis than a T400 without the support bracket.

Also, the amount of flex in the X200 keyboard would depend on how hard you type, if you are typewriter kind of person, then yes you would experience more flex than a solid backplate keyboard. But for usual typing you would be hard pressed to notice the flexing problem.

Regarding the price of Thinkpads in India, this is due to the high tariff by the government and price skimming by the laptop company. Also, the laptops in Lenovo store are usually bit more expensive than those smaller computer stores that carries them.

They won't sell many of these marked up X200, but there is always a person whom would buy it. Maybe they just need a laptop in a hurry. It has DOS, then usually it is from corporate order that has been returned.

 

Same here.

It is actually quite common to see new ThinkPads offered with no OS in Asia. However, usually they are without OS only on the bargain/promotion models, such as i.e. X200si.

Indian prices are not too bad if compared to many European countries. Compared to the general living standards in India they are however very expensive. As mentioned, Indian custom duties and a truckload of different taxes do not help.

 

@JabbaJabba: At USD 1455, the X200 especially with the specs I saw I thought was too expensive! No OS, 2GB RAM and 160 GB HDD? I read of folks here on NRB getting their X200 at around USD 1000 or just below prices!

But yes, what you and Lead_org say about Indian taxes is very true. Though I wonder if that store would have given me a discount if I had pressed for it. I think I will go back and ask - just to see what happens. Though as I said in a post above, I don't think the 12" screen is going to cut it for me. I think I am most comfortable with the 14" screen.

But seriously, performance and build quality aside, the X200 looked a lot like a HP netbook and a bit cramped to me - of course, OMMV.

Edit: Would you folks say that compared to a R400/ T400/ T410, the X series (20x/30x) are more delicate models? In other words, are the R/T series more robust given their larger size etc as compared to the X Series?

 

the X200 wouldn't survive a 1 m drop as well as the R400/T400/T410, since the magnesium casing cracks very easily compared to the ABS/PC/CFRP casing.

 

I thought the internal cage is made of magnesium and the outer casing was ABS for all business class ThinkPads. Also, I thought the R/T series also had the magnesium roll cages. Or, maybe I am just getting mixed up here.

 

My seems pretty stout, though I wouldn't recommend dropping any notebook. The ThinkPad that seemed the most bulletproof to me was the Z61m.

 

While I also believe that 1,455 USD is at the higher end for a now succeeded X200, don't compare prices too much with those of a lot of NBR users. Many if not most users are from US where most types of electronics are ridiculously cheap compared to the rest of the world.

As for the X200 looking like a HP netbook - I think you need your eyes checked The design is all ThinkPad - just in a scaled down version. Size and weight wise it might come close to a Netbook, but in all other aspects there is no comparison.

As for ruggedness, I don't have scientific proof for how robust the X200 would be compared to the T/R series. However based on pure feel and experience with a truckload of different ThinkPads, I feel it is just as robust as a T-series.

While this could be the case theoretically, I think a multitude of real tests would only show. The T/R series are also heavier. I think the X200 will not be worse off than its heavier siblings. From all the ultraportables I have had or dealt with the X200 is by far the best built and most rugged off them all.

 

Well...I have recently had eye surgery!

But what I meant was that the form factor reminded me of a netbook, which is not to say that the X200 IS a netbook. It certainly is unmistakably a ThinkPad, it just seemed so small! Which is also why I confirmed to myself that the 14" screen is the sweet spot for me.

 

I am talking about the external casing material, not the internal rollcage as such.

X200 external casing is made up of magnesium alloy, there is no separate internal rollcage cage as in the sense of the T or R series laptop. This helps to keep the laptop at minimal thickness and weight.

The bottom external casing of the R400, T400, T500 is made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer/Plastic (CFRP), while the top external casing is made up of Super-Elastic Polycarbonate (SEPC). Internally all of them have the top and bottom rollcage.

The polymer/plastic casing is better at resisting cracks and dents when compared to magnesium or aluminium.

I will post a few pictures tomorrow comparing what happened to my T400 and X60 when you drop the laptop.

The X200 is slightly bigger than the 10 inch Netbook. It is however prudent to remember that Netbook was offered as a cheap alternative to the Ultraportable, i.e. the X series. So basically ultraportable laptop like X series was the design basis on which netbook are designed.

 

In that case don't go near a X60/X61 as this is even smaller than the X200

@leadorg: While you may be right with the X60, the X200 is however quite a bit better built and more rugged than the X60/X61. It would be interesting to see a few drop tests of i.e. T400 vs. X200. Any volunteers?

 

Ah...ok. Thanks. I did not know that X200 did/ does not have an internal roll cage. That would make a difference.

Also thanks for offering to put up the pics. Would be very helpful. Cheers!

 

What do you mean by... drop tests?

Judging by the chewed lid on my X200, it survived a pretty nasty drop or two. I wouldn't recommend dropping it though, but it survived just fine... considering the fact that I'm posting this.

As far as keyboard rigidity is concerned, this one feels solid as a rock to me.

But still, I'm aware of the pricing variations in different countries/regions, but nearly $1500 is kinda ridiculous for an X200.

 

Don't you see the long line of volunteers lining up already?

 

i had a friend whom dropped his X200 two months ago on a concrete floor, the back casing got chewed up pretty badly (there was a 3 cm x 2 cm chunk that took off the left hand back side) around the ac-adapter port. I have dropped the T61 quite a few times, and it was pretty badly chewed up, but no chunks of the external casing on the laptop fell off (i was surprised that the depot swapped it for me as part of the warranty service last time).

The design of the X200 is better than a X60 in the rear part, but tendency to crack is just a material property of the magnesium metal not really a design difference between the X60 versus the X200.

Magnesium without proper alloying is quite brittle as compared to the CFRP or ABS/PC mixture.

 

@lead_org: Thanks for the clarification/ explanation.

@LegendaryKA8: US$ 1500...I agree! Very Expensive!

How do you guys manage to drop your laptops? Come to think of it, I don't know anyone in my circle of acquaintances who has dropped a laptop. Cell phones? Yes! But laptops? No. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen a laptop being dropped either!

On another note: For those of you who have an X series (200/201) AND another machine (say, a T 4/500 but NOT a W series), how do you justify your having these two machines?

I know that question sounds odd, so, let try to simply:

I was thinking of buying a X200/201 (same applies to the netbooks from Acer, Asus etc. except of course in terms of performance and price!). This is in addition to my existing machine. Reason? Mobility. But I already have a R400 (same applies to a T400/401), which is heavier yet more mobile than the 15.4" Acer I used to have.

So, I ask myself: If I want mobility, then either I should get the X Series and have a desktop at home. Or, I should get the R/T Series and MAYBE have a desktop at home. In the second scenario, having the Dock with a monitor and some large external drives can stand instead of a desktop. All this is assuming that I don't need to game (which is what determines the integrated graphics option that I invariably pick).

Or. Have the R/T Series AND have a device like the iPad (or it's Win/ Android-equivalent when it shows up, that is)

So, when some of you say that you have an X series machine AND a T (or R) series machine, how do you justify having both machines that are ultimately mobile-friendly - albeit, one more than the other?

I was thinking about this when I handled both the X200 and the T410 at the Lenovo shop because the latter did feel not only slimmer but also lighter than my current R400 (which as the specs it is).

 

i sometime carries the laptop in my hand and it simply slipped out of my hand couple of time. I dropped my T400 recently when someone tripped over the power adapter cord at work. Luckily, it was on a carpeted floor, otherwise the damage would have been worse.

The T400's crack on the casing looks to be stable and it is not growing any larger when i open and shut the screen. I think the Carbon Fibre in the CFRP casing is definitely resisting the crack propagation.

You really don't have to justify why you need two machines (unless there is higher authority in the family that doesn't condone this sort of behaviour), some people just buy it for the sake of buying it. Just like people whom have more cars/SUV than the number of drivers in their households.....

Regarding desktops and such, they tend to take up more spaces and is lot louder than a laptop (which is one reason why i don't like using the S10 Workstation). Also, laptop's battery act as an UPS, which is not included as standard on a desktop, furthermore a UPS wouldn't last 2 to 3 hrs unlike a laptop battery.

One of the bad thing about the X6x laptop was that the ultrabase could only support one vga out, and there no external dual LCD support. This all changed with the X20x where the ultrabase comes standard with the displayport. Also, the expresscard slot on the X20x means you could get a vidock more external LCDs.

Given that the X200 have the full sized keyboard, there are less reason to have both an ultraportable and a T series laptop as a desktop replacement (usually i would think the T510 or W510 or W701 would be type of desk bound laptops), because X20x with a Ultrabase attached can fulfil these two functions equally well (unless you want more CPU and GPU grunt).

 

@Lead_org....

So, if I am understanding you correctly (and if we leave out the 'just because I can" reason), buying a X 200/201 AND a T Series makes less sense. The combo then would be X Series and a T/W 500 Series.

Hmmm...interesting! I would like to know more about the profile of the average X Series user. Where do you think I can find this out?

 

Well, the exact combo depends on your budget and your ultimate use for the laptop.

You could function perfectly well with just a X20x laptop. If you need more than one external display get the ultrabase (so you can connect 2 external display, ultrabay slim drive, etc) or a DIY Vidock and get up to 6 external LCD with the ATI 5870 Eyefinity.

Most people that i know whom has a X20x laptop, would generally have a workstation laptop or desktop at home (i.e. W5x0 or W70x or S10/S20 workstation, etc). The current T510 or T410 doesn't offer much over the X20x in terms of better CPU or GPU capability (unless you get the Nvidia GPU).

SO if you are entirely rational in your choices, then i don't think you would get more than one laptop. X20x would do just fine by itself. If you need to do lot of graphic processing and such, get a half decent desktop and use that.

Profile of X series users... i don't know if there is a central database for that, but i guess you could purchase a report from IDC on ultraportable laptop users. Otherwise you would have to do the hard work of collecting this information yourself. Check people's profile and ask the question.

I don't think even Lenovo would know the exact profile of X series users, if they do know they wouldn't tell you as it would be probably an expensive market research exercise that they don't want the public or competition to prey their eyes on.

 

Here's my take, as I own an X200 and a T400:

The T400 is a great system but mine has some flaws, a lot of them addressed in my previous posts. Great system with adequate power for my games and general usage, but it weighs about as much as the T60p. the 1440x900 display has the resolution I like, but the LCD quality is crap. The ThinkLight(a feature I use quite a bit) is neigh near useless, too. I was thinking about trying to fix it, but I got my X200 for an incredible deal.

the X200 fixes pretty much all of the flaws that my X61s had... it's got the same size keyboard as the T400, the larger WXGA resolution is workable(I can view two Word documents side by side), it's got decent battery life(I wished I had the 9-cell versus the 6-cell, though), and it's got a lot more power than that system. Compared to the HD3470 in the T400, the gaming's not as good... but I can run most of what I play at medium-low settings.

In comparison to the T400 the X200's got a working ThinkLight, the display quality is much better(and can be improved quite a bit with the AFFS mod), and is much lighter and easier to cart around than the T400. The cons are that there's reduced internal storage(I have two HDDs in the T400) and there's not as much GPU power available. I'm mostly a casual-moderate gamer and not someone who needs the be-all end-all of hardware to enjoy something, so for the most part I can live with it. The Vidock solution just won't work for me as I use a secondary drive in my Expresscard slot, and must have access to that info at all times. I just have to find other workarounds.

I do find it pretty hard to choose between the T400 and X200 at times, and do go back and forth between the two systems. However, the X200's winning out because of its form factor and equivalent power to the T400. It is enough computer for about 90% of my usage, and I really do like the lighter weight and more portable form factor. If it can fit into a docking scenario I'm wanting to do with it, I'll probably end up using it as my primary system. I won't be selling the T400 anytime soon, though.

As far as dropping systems go, I haven't done it. However, I have had one of my cats snag a power cord and send my old 770Z crashing down to a tile floor. That killed the hard drive, and I ended up getting my T21 as a result. I don't plan on dropping either of my notebooks, but I'd say as far as durability goes I'd think they're about equal.

 

On a more general take, I believe the typical profile is a frequent traveler or someone who is often on the go from meeting to meeting in various locations.

As pricing of ThinkPads have gone down drastically the last couple of years it has made X-series more affordable as well and attainable for a lot of non-business users, such as students. Especially in markets like the US due to low pricing.

Generally speaking however, I believe that the vast majority of X-series users are still found within professional users.

I just have to look at my current and previous two companies. Most frequent travelers like myself or executives and senior managers had/have X40/X41/X60/X61/X200/X201, while all our "geeks" (our sweet nick name for our engineers ), admin and finance staff and other "pencil pushers" would have T or R series ThinkPads.

There is also still a difference in price between T and X-series, which would be considered as well by the companies I worked for, when purchasing laptops. Those who would be "eligible" for a X-series would get an ultrabase attached to an external screen, whereas the T/R-series would sometimes be a full workstation without an external setup. So getting a X-series would be more expensive for the company just as a laptop purchase and in addition docking station, external screen, etc. would come as an extra expense.

It's kind of funny but sad how the small X-series almost became an indication of your status in the company.

 

^Very interesting breakdown of it, and that's what I thought the corporate culture would gravitate to... the more portable and expensive systems(ie: the X-series) being issued to the road warriors and execs, while the more powerful systems(T-series or equivalent) being issued to the people who usually did the more resource-intense work.

However, the lower pricing of the systems has proven a boon to people like me, which allows me to have a nearly netbook like form factor and much, much better performance for about twice the price of your typical netbook.

 

My t400 got tossed across a room (5-6ft distance from a 3-4ft height) while running and I picked it up and started using it again without any issues. The rig is quite resilient.

 

@JabbaJabba: Thanks. That profile-analysis is precisely what I was looking for. But what LegendaryKA8 says probably applies to me too. I am just a bit concerned as to whether moving from a 14.1" to a 12" screen is less jarring as compared to the move from the 15.4" to a 14.1" screen.

And, though you X200/201 users do say that the KB on your machines are relatively flex-free, the one I saw definitely had a significant amount of flex. In fact, it had the flex which compelled me to request Lenovo/IBM to replace the KB on my existing machine. Thus the further question: Can the KB on the X200/201 be replaced?

 

Good God! This reminds me of a YouTube video I saw of this Russian or East European guy demonstrating exactly a scenario like this. Except that he also stood on his machine after tossing it across the room. But it powered on!

But I sure as hell would NOT like to try this out or have it happen to me accidentally!

 

Btw, here are 3 indicative prices for the X201 in India:

Description ThinkPad X201 (Model name 332395Q)
Web Price Rs.74,700.00* (US$1660)
Processor Intel® Core™ i5-520M Processor ( 2.40GHz 1066MHz )
Operating system Genuine Windows 7 Professional 32
Total memory 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz
Display type 12.1 " WXGA TFT 1280x800
Hard drive device 320GB
Network card ThinkPad 11b/g/n Wi-Fi wireless
Bluetooth Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR
Form Factor Notebook
Finger print reader Fingerprint Reader
Warranty Three years parts and labour (system battery: one year)
WWAN Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network upgradable
Pointing device UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Battery 6 Cell Lithium-Ion

Description ThinkPad X201 (Model name: 3323A35)
Web Price Rs.56,300.00* (US$ 1251)
Processor Intel® Core™ i3-350M Processor ( 2.26GHz 1066MHz )
Operating system PC DOS 2000 License**
Total memory 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz
Display type 12.1 " WXGA TFT 1280x800
Hard drive device 320GB
Network card ThinkPad 11b/g/n Wi-Fi wireless
Bluetooth Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR
Form Factor Notebook
Finger print reader Fingerprint Reader
Warranty Three years parts and labour (system battery: one year)
WWAN Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network upgradable
Pointing device UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Battery 6 Cell Lithium-Ion

(If I was going to buy a X-Series machine, this would probably be it. I would do a fresh install of a 64-bit version of the OS anyways, so makes sense buying it separately. But I would also want to upgrade the RAM to 4GB, which would add to the cost. And, I just don't think it is feasible to buy RAM outside Lenovo in India like you folks in Europe and the US can do. So, this makes this BKK or HK trip even more likely! One question: Does the i3 processor run cooler than the i5? And, is it comparable to the C2D (say, P8600) in terms of heat? I ask because I find it difficult to work on machines that become hot!)

The machine I saw in the store was something like this but it did not have the Win 7 OS:

Description ThinkPad X200 (Model name: 7458EW9)
Web Price Rs.69,800.00* (US$1551 - Note this is a C2D machine!)
Processor Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor P8700 ( 2.53GHz 1066MHz )*
Operating system Genuine Windows 7 Professional 32
Total memory 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz
Display type 12.1 " WXGA TFT with integrated camera 1280x800
Hard drive device 320GB
Network card Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5300
Bluetooth Bluetooth Version 2.0 + EDR
Form Factor Notebook
Finger print reader Fingerprint Reader
Warranty Three years parts and labour (system battery: one year)
Pointing device UltraNav (TrackPoint)
Battery 6 Cell Lithium-Ion Enhanced Capacity Battery

* I have used a rough and average exchange rate of US$1 = INR 45
** I would have to buy a retail copy of Win 7 (would opt for Pro version), which would cost around USD 222. So, this gets added to the price. Lenovo MAY sell an OEM copy of Win 7, in which case the price would come down, but marginally.

All this is from the Lenovo (India) site.

 

I used to use 15" and 14" laptops until presented with a 12" ThinkPad many years ago. I never looked back after that.

One reason was the nimble form factor, not to mention the tremendous weight saving. Always being on the move really made me appreciate the less weight on my shoulders. Not to mention how much practical an ultraportable is on a plane (especially when flying economy). Just the fact that you reduce the risk of your beloved ThinkPad getting squashed when the person in front of you reclines his seat, is worth a lot - not to mention more battery life.

In addition they are small enough to store in the magazine pocket of the seat in front of you. So what I usually do before storing my handluggage in the overhead compartment is take out my X61 or X200 and place it in the pocket. As soon as the seat belt light comes off, I am ready to work - relieving me from jumping over people and fiddling around with my bag just to fetch my laptop.

They are also small enough (just) to keep in the glove compartment of my car.

I love most ThinkPads incl. the T-series, but when I have occasionally used a T400 while relaxing on the sofa or bed, it is just much more uncomfortable to use due to weight and foot print.

As for going from 14" screen real estate to 12", I really don't find that to be an issue - but of course everyone is different. In fact I am having a X61 modified to SXGA+ 1400x1050 res.

The X200 comes with 1280x800 res, whereas you can optionally get the X200s with 1440x900 res. And since you have had eye surgery looking at a smaller screen should be no issue

As for KB flex. I have had about 8 x X200(s) which are now all sold, but none of them had flex. All of the keyboards where perforated. Perhaps if you pushed really hard around the Esc area there would be a little, but I would never put down this much force on a keyboard.

In any event, you can easily replace the keyboard by removing 4 screws as easily as on any other ThinkPad.

 

@jabbajabba: Gosh! I am now being really tempted! But I still have to opt for the 1280x800 res as the eye surgery was not for correction of vision but to deal with a vision problem. But yeah, the way you describe it, I think I may just have to get this!!! And soon!

 

Yeah I was in the middle of working and I stepped away for a bit and to my surprise I saw it fly acros the room. I picked it up about to cry and opened the lid and to my surprise the computer worked as it it hadn't been touched. No scratches, dents, dings, cracks or anything. Really makes me miss the t400, but at least I still get to see it when I head to the parents house.

 

Surely, you are missing some event or series of events that happened between your stepping away and when you, with a surprised look, saw it fly across the room!

 

Apart from the high temp on the base of the X61 (which is why i kept mine X60 even though it is pretty badly beaten up). The small keyboard was slightly awkward to type on, which is why i loved my 14.1 inch laptops.

When the X200 came out with the full sized keyboard, it was basically a perfect form factor in terms size and weight for extended use. Oh the battery life with a new 9 cells, is also extremely attractive. Then when you get home, dump the X200 into the ultrabase, and use the external LCD....

I would have kept mine X200 laptop if it was not for a fact that i am going to get a X201t at the end of the year.

 

This is the precisely the part that worries me. When I get back home,yes, I'd throw the X200//201 on the ultrabase and then use the primary screen on the laptop and use the LCD for the reference (you may remember the questions I asked you about this in an earlier thread).

The idea is that I need to continually use the laptop's screen and the external monitor for reference work, which is why I am a little concerned about the 12" screen on the X series. From the very little time I spent at the Lenovo store yesterday, I did not get a chance to evaluate the comfort level of the screen of the X200, which is also why I asked the question about the shift from a 14.1" to a 12" screen.

Edit:

I also think a description of my usage patterns may help contextualize the discussion on the X200/201 and explain why I specifically went to see the X200 at the Lenovo shop.

I am a researcher and writer. I, for the most part, deal with Word, Excel, Powerpoint, PDF, RTF, and other such-like docs all the time. Additionally, I have to be online (for email, web-based collab work, etc) all the time. While I do use some images (jpeg etc.), this is not too often.

I do have a heap load of e-docs, documentaries that I need for my work and some movies that I watch from time to time - though not on a regular basis. I have over 100 GB of e-docs + over 150 GB of media files (documentaries and movies), some music files and over 5000+ "real" books.

I do travel a bit within the country and abroad - say around twice a month. And, for work purposes, I have to do a lot of presentations and note-taking. But I do like going to cafes to sit and write and read.

My current machine has 500 GB of space; but I also have a couple of 500 GB external HDDs. Currently, I use the dock for the R400 hooked up to an old Lenovo screen (which I got from my place of work) and it seems fine.

While the current machine works well, runs cool, and is a joy to use, sometimes - especially when traveliing the domestic flights, the R400 gets a bit difficult to handle - the footprint is bit large for comfortable use, which is also why what JabbaJabba and Lengendary mentioned sounded so appealing.

I won't need a very large HDD (SSD) in the machine as I would take advantage of the HDDs that I already have and because after I decide which option to choose, I'd probably either buy or get built a dedicated Storage Server. And, as mentioned above the 1280x800 res is probably my comfort zone - though I reiterate, I will have to spend sometime with the 12 inch factor, which I could not do at the shop.

As long as the X200/201 does not get even warm, I'm ok with it. I detest machines that do get warm like my Acer and the Sony Viao that I have.

 

comfort level depends on personal preferences. What works for one person doesn't necessarily translate to someone else having the same setup.

If your eyesight is not that good, then i suggest you should use a bigger LCD. R400 isn't all bad.

I don't think you should be overtly worried about this, just keep your R400 and don't get tempted to X20x, when you are procrastinating over it over so much.

Obviously, you one of those people whom takes rational choices in every purchase you make, so you are trying to justify every bit of purchase and whether that is going to boost your productivity. If you are one of these people, then i suggest that you stick with your current machines, and don't worry too much about the X20x.

 

Well..probably you are right on target here. I have been intrigued by the X200/201 having read so much about it here on NBR. I think I will revisit the Lenovo shop again and this time spend some time with the machine (if they allow me, that is) and see how the display looks and works. And, since I am scheduled to be in BKK AND HK towards the end of the year, I could continue to experiment till then.

But you are essentially correct in that the current machine is working perfectly and I would not like to make a hasty decision which I may live to regret after a while. But this is not so much about being "rational". It is just a case of my being careful with how I spend my money since I am of modest means. The thing that is seriously attractive about the X 200/201 series is the mobility factor. But is that enough of a reason in the immediate context? I wonder sometimes!

 

@lines of flight. If you are buying the X200 only because other people are buying it, then it is a bad decision all around.

Since, you are carrying much books, i don't think the 2.7 odd kg of the R400 is going to affect you. Sure the svelte weight of X200 is attractive, but is it worth the money you going to put on it?

If you are really thinking about X20x, get your friends or families to get it for you in USA. You could get a high spec mint condition second hand one for around 600 to 800 dollars easy by the end of the year.

You are not going to get a huge performance boost moving from your R400 to the X201 with i3 CPU, so i don't know whether you should jump ship.

Certainly, don't spend above your mean. I for one have cut back on my Thinkpad spending since i have quit my mining job, and doing part time job so that i can focus more time in starting my own business. I am still tempted to spend some of my savings to get the latest Thinkpads, but i am trying very hard to pull myself through the addiction (i am going through a cold turkey...bad Thinkpad withdrawal).

I have sold 5 of mine Thinkpads so that i can use the money to pay for a new X201t and W510 or T410.

 

The W510 and X201s are a really good pair if you can afford it.

 

that is if you can afford it. Personally i think the W701 and X201s is even better.

 

Well said! I am clear about two points:

(1) The kind of work that I do on my machines does not need the extra processing power that an i3 or i5 processor offers. The C2D is good enough.

(2) The only reason I was thinking about the X200/201 was because of the weight and the mobility factor, but as you put it so well, the difference would, at best, be marginal.

Perhaps a better option would be to keep using my existing machine and look to upgrade to a refreshed/ upgraded version of the T series next year sometime.

Of course, if I win a lottery or something in the meantime (has to be in excess of US$100 Million) then I could buy myself and all the contributors on the ThinkPad forum a ThinkPad of our individual choices!

In short, yes, the X200/201 looks attractive and good, but it is perhaps not yet time to move to it.

Edit: There is one thing I have noticed about buying computers (laptop/ desktop). Very often people go for the highest spec regardless of whether their current or future-projected work requires such a highly-spec'd machine. Sometimes the argument of future-proofing the purchase is offered, but I wonder if that is actually a valid reason. So, for example, the C2D that my machine has is now at least a generation old. But it is adequate to run the latest OS and the programs associated with it. As you put it the difference between the C2D and the i3 is at best marginal. Then why do people insist on the latest and the greatest even if their work (and play) does not depend on it?

For example, is there any reason why the X201 should have a i5 processor? I can understand if the work to be done on the machine was graphics intensive etc, but the screen precludes that...correct? And for serious number crunching, I don't think one need to have the i5, surely the C2D would suffice as would probably a low-end i3? Would that not also bring down the cost of the machine and make it more accessible to potential buyers?

 

You can't future proof, especially not in the electronic market.

Performance wise, the i5-540m dual core is no faster than a T9900 CPU, which you can purchase for your R400.

Some people buy the latest and greatest, because they think that they need it (or probably will use it at its full ability once in a blue moon), basically they are irrational in their choice. While other people do it, because it is offered to them within a reasonable price, just like people buying a new car every year or two, by trading in the old one. Then there are people whom buy it because they want the latest and greatest to brag to other people about (conspicuous consumption).

Also, some people get these machines as part of their remuneration perk from their day to day job, etc. Basically, they are a myriads of reason for which people would constantly update their laptop, like they update their desktop machines. It is a trend that is spreading to consumers all over the world, people in many developing countries are also picking up this consumerism fever. Good for the company's bottom line but not so for the environment.

For really serious number crunching a laptop CPU is just not good enough, you probably would need some sort of mini cluster of computers or preferably a supercomputers... but that is whole different realm to what most consumers would use their laptop for.

 

Very true! Btw, when I meant "serious number crunching" I did not mean at the level of 'cluster computing' or 'parallel computing'. I just meant long and complex Excel sheets or Matlab work! I think for those the C2D may just about (barely) suffice and perhaps the i3 and i5 are better suited.

As for me, I do use Excel but never have used Mathlab outside university.

But what you say about the different kinds of consumer habits and trends rings very true.

 

oh Excel and Matlab.. it really depends on how complex your file is, but if your P8xxx is not going to get through it, the i5 CPU is not going to improve the performance by more than 30 to 40 per cent at most. So a 10 hr wait could become a 6 hr wait.... but you wouldn't wait around anyway.

 

Which is merely a confirmation of what you mentioned earlier about some of the underlying dynamics that drive laptop purchases (among other things!).

Having now seen the X200/201, I am wondering if it is a better option to keep working with the R400 (at the moment, it seems to be perfectly tuned - performance-wise, creaklessness-wise and keyboard-wise) and wait to buy a tablet/ slate (Win or Android versions). It would be cheaper (brand new; say if I went with the Adam or the HP or the MSI variants) - around US$ 400. It would attend to my mobile needs, would double up as an e-Reader.

Better idea you think?

 

you can get the slate, they are cheap enough for the features they offer. X20x is not going to be useful unless you are that bothered by an extra kg... X20x are for road warriors and students whom carry around too many textbooks...

 

There's always something better coming along. It is the nature of things. You can drive yourself to brink of insanity or perhaps over debating all the possibilities. I'd say if you got something that mostly works for you, stick with it.

 

Very true! But you see, while traveling often I need to keep reading stuff, which is currently held in the HDD of my R400, which is sometimes a bit too bulky to use with any degree of comfort. Having seen the X Series recently for the first time, I was struck by its small footprint (in fact I have been contemplating a netbook for precisely this reason). So, I though since I am a fan of the ThinkPad build and quality and having read reviews and discussions about it here on NBR, it may have been a viable option. But as I posted earlier the costs are simply quite high. Which is why I am looking for an alternative. Which is also why the question of the slates/ tablets comes up.

But what you say is true - one could go simply insane debating the various combos!