Thinkpads Forum

Hi

My X301 is still beating strong - but I can see a time when I'll need to replace it with something a little newer. I'd like the same form factor: 13" screen with a full size keyboard. My wifes X220 is too cramped and the screen is sucky (IPS but only 1366x768 @ 16:9). I love the X301 resolution at 1440 X 900 (16:10) but could live with a higher resolution screen, and there are times when it could be a bit brighter.

Battery life is not a deal breaker as I'm never that far from a power point (3 hours is heaps).

The CPU on this is only a Core 2 Duo at 1.6GHz but running Ubuntu it flies along.

What do members recommend, or do you think there is a chance that Lenovo will bring back some 16:10 or even 4:3 screens?

If you want a higher resolution, the ThinkPad Helix is coming soon. It's 1080p, but only 11". If that doesn't float your boat, I'd say the X1 Carbon seems like the closest ThinkPad to your X301. There's no reason your X301 can't be used for a few more years, in which time much will have changed. My R60e, which also has the 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo, works perfectly fine as an every days notebook, though is no longer a top performer.

I have to agree the X1 Carbon is the only realistic choice. If I remember correctly it is a 13" form factor with a 14" screen. For the time being my X301 does all I need a notebook to do. I'm finding that there are 3 areas that I need to cover.

1. Desktop: - This I use as the permanent home for all my information and for any processor intensive tasks that I may require (although that is not much in my case).

2. Laptop: - This I use as a portable office/desktop, I use it for emails/word/excel etc The X301 really fits the bill for me in this segment.

3. Tablet: - This I use as a surfing device and a book reader. It has some crossover with the laptop. (I could possibly get rid of this).

The other things that I'm currently looking at are:
1. A NAS server.
2. A spare laptop for surfing the net and downloading information that I can not worry too much about.

With all of that plus a large mobile phone everything is covered. With this in mind the X301 is just perfect.

After using my "new" X300 for a while, I have decided that the "perfect laptop" would be an X300/X301 case + X1 carbon 14" ~frameless screen with an A10 based motherboard stuffed inside for some real graphics power and all USB3 ports.

The power dissapation #s even ~work out, but sadly it's not a real option. (I don't think so, anyway)
(AMDs "TDP" is at 100% floored max performance, Intels is is @~median power)

While X1 Carbon is a (superior) Macbook Air clone, it lacks the media bay for extra disc storage/DVD/BD options the X300/X301 form factor allows.
(Not to mention being stuck with Intel Graphics)

I have had numerous X300 and X301 over the last few years, and while i still them on odd occasions, i have now superseded them for the X1 Carbon and X220/X230. Since you said that you could not stand the resolution of your wife's X220, then i guess the logical choice is the X1 Carbon. But if you want something like the Surface Pro and Laptop rolled into one, then the ThinkPad Helix will be your next choice.