Thinkpads Forum

Is it a problem with the DVD player not built in. I use one a lot as a screenwriter but need a light computer most of all. Can anyone advise about what kind of DVD accessory to buy and where to get it? Is this a problem for those with this computer? Any other advice on the X220 appreciated. Many thanks.

I use a Blu-ray writer, UJ-240, that I put into a case I bought on eBay. Actually, I got them both on eBay and I've never had any trouble with it on any notebook. I think you can get any off the shelf drive and it will work. If you don't want Blu-ray, I suspect you can get a DVDRW drive in the $20 range and it should be fine.

Hi Julia -- Your post suggests you are looking at the X220 -- I have had my X200 for quite a while, and I LOVE it!.

The only reason I mention my X200 is because I think it must be at least similar to the X220 in specs, and there is a Marketplace listing for an X200 with Warranty through 2013 at a really good price: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=101249 You may want to check it out

EDIT:
This is the description of the above Marketplace machine from the Lenovo website:
ThinkPad X200 (7459-G70)
P8600(2.4GHz), 4GB RAM, 160GB 7200rpm HD, 12.1in 1280x800 LCD, Intel 4500MHD, 802.11bgn wireless, WWAN upgradeable, Modem, 1GB Ethernet, Secure chip, 6c Li-Ion, WinVista Business 32

EDIT#2:
I forgot to mention that I use a usb DVD-RW -- It's small and easy to pack along if necessary and keeps my X200 very 'travel-light'.

I've been drive-less for a while now (used a X60s for a year or so and now a X200s), and have been able to work around the few times I actually find myself needing one fairly easily. There are a few different options:

-Lenovo Ultrabase: has a drive built in and offers a lot of extra functionality, the X200 series one is around $100-150 but the new one (series 3?) for the X220 will be a fair bit more
-External DVD drive: probably the easiest, only ~$25 and fairly portable

Right now I actually use an old disc drive I pulled from a desktop and a $5 USB-IDE adapter, its not the most elegant solution, but works perfectly fine.

julia wrote:DVD player ... I use one a lot as a screenwriter but need a light computer most of all.

There are several laptops with built-in DVD drives that weigh between 3 and 3.2 lbs, i.e. even lighter than the X220:

Lenovo Thinkpad X300 & X301
Sony VPCZ1 Series
Toshiba Portege R7** and R8** Series

Besides their lighter weight and integrated optical drives, all these laptops also have larger screens than the X220.

julia wrote:Is it a problem with the DVD player not built in.

Not for me. In the past half decade or so, I needed my laptops' optic drives only when installing Windows.

UPDATE: I just noticed that the Toshiba Portege R835 is on sale on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... dClearance

The Ultrabase is great as it also provides a dock. Mine spends a lot of time on the desk so it's perfect for this, and saves me having to plug every item in separately. I think it's cheaper when you order it with the laptop, quite a lot cheaper IIRC.

S

pianowizard wrote:Not for me. In the past half decade or so, I needed my laptops' optic drives only when installing Windows.

I concur. Even for Windows installations I use an USB stick these days.