Thinkpads Forum

I'm on the lookout for a used x201s - but they seem to be incredibly rare?

I'm still using my T61p (with WUXGA+ - I like tiny text!), but its getting old (warranty expired July '12), and my needs have changed a bit, so I'm looking for something more easily portable.

My replacement:

Must be a thinkpad, for the keyboard and overall solid feel.
Must have at least the WXGA+ screen with 900 lines - its about the minimum resolution I'll consider (although even my old SXGA+ T41 still gets some use, and [censored] but 1440x1050 is such a nice resolution).
Must have good battery life. I get about 4 hours from my T61p currently for general browsing/document writing (with an SSD), but I could use 6+ hours as 4 is often not enough (and carrying/charging extra batteries is a pig).
Must have a track pad (I use the trackpoint for scrolling, but for moving the cursor I've been a trackpad fan since my T30 a decade ago).
Should have an LED back light (Aussie light conditions are generally bright, and I find the CCFL WUXGA+ to be a little dim)

I'm beginning to wonder if there's an alternative to the x201s.. and I just can't seem to find it. All the X220/230 models have crappy screen resolution which I can't live with. I've had an HD+ screen on my only non-thinkpad in the last decade so I know I can live with 900 vertical resolution.

So I'm wondering if the x301 is worth a try.. the slightly larger size will still feel svelte compared to my T61p, but from my reading it has sucky battery life, which is an issue for me.

Has anyone had a chance to properly compare x201s and x301 in general usage against each other? (I've read some reviews, but owners' experiences might be more useful, especially from other thinkpad crazies

Thanks!

The X201s uses the same CPU class as the X201t, and i have a X200s with the 1440x900 resolution screen, so using these information available i will try to compare to couple of X301 that i got.

In terms of speed, the i Core Arrandale Low Voltage CPU is where the X201s shines above the X301 with the Penryn low voltage CPU, especially when you do some computation heavier stuff like doing media encoding, cpu heavy simulation (i am assuming you are getting the i5 or i7 model X201s). In terms of battery life, the X301 can achieve around 7 hrs when i put the 6 cells + 3 cells battery in, but this make the X301 slightly heavy. While, the X201s can achieve similar battery life with the 9 cells installed.

In terms of screen quality, i think from my point of view, they are very similar in terms of contrast and readability (which is below what the IPS X220 and X230 screen can offer). But coming from the WUXGA screen, i find the resolution of the X201s with the WXGA+ to be more similarly comparable against that of the X301 and X300.

Keyboard quality is definitely something that the X301 and X300 shines above the X200 and X201.

Have you considered T410/s? They're not that much bulkier and heavier, and pretty much meet all of your requirements, not to mention that screens on these are significantly more palatable than on either X201s or X301...

From what I have heard the T410s screen is horrid, especially compared to the X300.

Aurora wrote:From what I have heard the T410s screen is horrid, especially compared to the X300.

I don't know where you've heard it, but my personal experience has been exactly opposite.

Very rarely have I - if ever - seen a screen on a ThinkPad that was worse than ones used on X30* series.

Aurora wrote:From what I have heard the T410s screen is horrid

People tend to be a bit overly dramatic when describing screens in forums like these, which gives people like yourself the incorrect idea that the screens are abysmal. They're not. I've seen many a notebook screen and I'd say they're pretty average. A T410s certainly can't match a really good screen, but it's not horrible compared typical notebook screen. If you can see one for yourself that's probably the best path to determining whether it'll work for you.

I don't know what your budget looks like, perhaps you said and I missed it, but the best newer high resolution LCD light ThinkPad belongs to the X1 Carbon. It's a bit blue, but that can be mitigated with calibration. It's got good color and a decent sweet spot for the angles. It also has the best Ultrabook keyboard I've used, though it's not the classic ThinkPad keyboard.

lead_org wrote: In terms of speed, the i Core Arrandale Low Voltage CPU is where the X201s shines above the X301 with the Penryn low voltage CPU, especially when you do some computation heavier stuff like doing media encoding, cpu heavy simulation (i am assuming you are getting the i5 or i7 model X201s). In terms of battery life, the X301 can achieve around 7 hrs when i put the 6 cells + 3 cells battery in, but this make the X301 slightly heavy. While, the X201s can achieve similar battery life with the 9 cells installed.

In terms of screen quality, i think from my point of view, they are very similar in terms of contrast and readability (which is below what the IPS X220 and X230 screen can offer). But coming from the WUXGA screen, i find the resolution of the X201s with the WXGA+ to be more similarly comparable against that of the X301 and X300.

Keyboard quality is definitely something that the X301 and X300 shines above the X200 and X201.

That's an awesome comparison - thanks a heap for taking the time to write!

You make some good points on keyboard and battery life - I'd read that the x301 suffers for battery, but 7 hours is pretty decent.

I'm still hoping to find a well-loved x201s, but I might see if I can get an up-close look at a x301 in the meantime.

ajkula66 wrote:Have you considered T410/s? They're not that much bulkier and heavier, and pretty much meet all of your requirements, not to mention that screens on these are significantly more palatable than on either X201s or X301...

Honestly, I had a T410 (non i/s) from new, and sold it after less than a year. It just wasn't a workable replacement for my T61p, with worse battery life, and worse screen resolution. Having said which, after I wrote my OP, I did go and look up the specs of the T420 (non-s - so it can take the 9-cell battery), and was thinking hard about one with the HD+ screen as an alternative - its still lighter and smaller than the t61p, and the 14" size works well.

Thanks all for the input - I think it comes down to how patient I can be in my wait for an x201s before I cave in and buy an x301

I've been using an X300 for over 2 years now and have found everything about it more than acceptable with the exception of the screen. I'm a big high res user going back to the 1400 x 1050 screens of the T2x series. And although, I've owned a few machines with IPS screens in them, it's never been a "must have" for me. Unlike my wife with astigmatism issues, I've always been able to make due with TN screens. Unfortunately, as much as I love everything else about the X300, I'd say that the screen is it's weakest area. I find myself readjusting it every time I move my position in the slightest or it washes out.

I don't know if it's because I'm spoiled from using 2 ThinkVision S-PVA and IPS screens on my desktop and an IPS screen on my ThinkPad Tablet. It's not bad enough that's kept me from upgrading from the X300 to X301 recently though.

schen wrote:I find myself readjusting it every time I move my position in the slightest or it washes out.

This mirrors my experience with my X301, which I understand shares the same screen part with the X300...

JeffCullen wrote:This mirrors my experience with my X301, which I understand shares the same screen part with the X300...

My X301 arrived today, and I'm not sure whether it's manufacturing variances or just my imagination, but the X301 screen appears to be noticeably better than the X300. This is a real plus for my aging eyes! I can tell you that it definitely beats the screen in my L420 that's work issued.

schen wrote:My X301 arrived today, and I'm not sure whether it's manufacturing variances or just my imagination, but the X301 screen appears to be noticeably better than the X300.

I bet manufacturing variance is part of it because I once played with an X301 at Frys and thought the screen was acceptable. And that's not because my standards are low -- I have been surrounded by IPS and PVA screens for years and so I am quite discerning.

x201s is proving to be even harder to find than I thought. I guess I'm not the only thinkpad fan who can't find anything as good as that hardware combo available in the newer line-up.

I've just expanded my hunt to include T420 models (not T420s) with the HD+ (1600x900) display and i7 cpu - odds are I'll get one of them in a week or two, and then the market will flood with x201s'

Sure the T420 is heavier than I wanted, and I have zero use for an optical drive or additional hard drive, but I'm not willing to budge on at least a Sandy Bridge cpu, non-chiclet keyboard, and 900-line (or higher) display. So size/weight have to be my compromise until I can find an x201s to call my own.

Thanks all for the feedback - I came close to buying an x301.. its still tempting as they're so cheap, but I'm finding the cpu in my t61p a little slow (it already has an SSD) so didn't want to step backwards. I might yet pick up an x301 for my daughters to use (they're on my old T41), but for now I need to sort out my own laptop as I use it when consulting.

I had an X301 for a while, but was shocked by how poor the screen was. Being fair, I am used to IPA and PVA desktop monitors, but also used a lot of T4x non-flexview laptops which I found acceptable, a dell laptop here and there (my old C640 was better than the non-flexview thinkpads) and my wife's macbook air (which is better than anything non-flexview I have had the pleasure of using).

The X301 I had was so much worse it hurts thinking about it. I had the same experience with needing to adjust the angle of the hinge every single time I moved, as even the slightest up or down viewing angle change caused the contrast to wash away. It had to go. Mine had another problem with the fan interfering with the microphone making it unusable for skype calls. Today I am a happy X200 w/ AFFS mod user, and have just purchased an X201 to replace it (which will recieve the AFSS screen as well). I had initially wanted the 900 vertical lines as the OP does, but found I quickly adapted to life with 800 vertical lines and viewing angles from floor to ceiling.

I have had the x300, x200s, and a t410s and now have a x301

If you the best feel and best weighted laptop
It has to be the X300 or X301.
They were really well made and feel excellent to use and touch

Sadly nothing that has come out from lenovo comes close.

If speed and computation is a must then the x301 is not really for you..

Morten wrote:I had an X301 for a while, but was shocked by how poor the screen was.

I guess it must be either my expectation level or not using my laptop for high end visual purposes but I have never had a problem with the screen on my X301. Aesthetically and functionally it is still the best laptop for my purposes.

I'm also kind of "new" to the X30x series and when I got mines I was surprised that the screens are much better than what I expected. My 14.1w T61 has a much worse screen in comparison...

I was shocked and appalled by the screen on my X301... I can live with the limited viewing angle, and I found the brightness to be MORE than adequate, however I found text readability to be poor, and colour accuracy HORRIFIC.

I have since calibrated the screen and while the brightness has been considerably reduced, text readability is perfectly adequate and colours much more realistic. It is hardly the best screen in the world but it's perfectly serviceable at this point.

X220 IPS vs. X301 TN! (IPS on the left, TN on the right)

There are 5 of them on eBay right now. It is the first time I have seen them for sale in a long time. It is a seller in the UK and is willing to ship international. I'm thinking about it.

Aurora: As far as bad screens go, the T420s is even worse than the T410s. What is horrid about the T410s is actually its battery life. Without the UltraBay battery and maybe a couple of spares, the light and thin T410s fails miserably in portability. Standard battery life is just under 2 hours. As a probable future x201s owner, I sure hope the x201s can do much better than that.

Since the x201s is pretty rare and I wanted a full voltage processor, I ended up purchasing a x200s and then swapped its screen with a x201. I think this route is definitely worth considering if you want to have a thinkpad with a higher res and fairly modern cpu.

Looks like I will be sticking with this combination for awhile, considering an eventual upgrade to the x220 or x1 carbon.. but there is just too many compromises compared to my x201.

mrj47 wrote:Since the x201s is pretty rare and I wanted a full voltage processor, I ended up purchasing a x200s and then swapped its screen with a x201. I think this route is definitely worth considering if you want to have a thinkpad with a higher res and fairly modern cpu.

Looks like I will be sticking with this combination for awhile, considering an eventual upgrade to the x220 or x1 carbon.. but there is just too many compromises compared to my x201.

Isn't the screen on the 200s higher res than that on the standard 201... ?

If anyone else is looking for an X201s I just came across this one on eBay. I actually registered after being a lurker just to share that link . Promise I'm not the seller. I just really love my X201s that I picked up last month lol.

Z3R0 wrote:Isn't the screen on the 200s higher res than that on the standard 201... ?

Yep that's right, so I am using a x201 with the high res x200s screen. I get the full voltage i5 and have 1440x900 res. Was a direct swap so no need to physically take out the panel or anything.

mrj47 wrote:

Z3R0 wrote:Isn't the screen on the 200s higher res than that on the standard 201... ?

Yep that's right, so I am using a x201 with the high res x200s screen. I get the full voltage i5 and have 1440x900 res. Was a direct swap so no need to physically take out the panel or anything.

Oh okay, I thought you were saying you bought a 200s and then put a 201 screen in it and were using that. That really didn't make sense to me .