Thinkpads Forum

A little background
My trusty T-42 held up great through 5 hard years of constant use, but last week I think the motherboard finally gave out (doesn't seem to fully power up any HDD).

So I'm in need a new ThinkPad and am in a bit of a bad decision spot. I could get a temp solution (a used T43/43P) and just continue using my docked setup etc.. Or if I decided to go a newer route, I feel it is time to get a smaller more powerful one and the X200 seems the sweetspot there but it is missing one item I've grown to love: the Touch Pad.

So my question is if I go the x200 route: Does anyone believe a Touchpad could be integrated in the future in a Palm Rest panel swap out?

Why not look at an X300 then? It's highly portable and powerful (except, like the X200, in the graphics department). It would cost a bit more than the X200, but I'm sure you'd come out way ahead in comparison with compared buying an interim machine or trying to shoe-horn a touchpad onto an X200.

Thecla wrote:Why not look at an X300 then? It's highly portable and powerful (except, like the X200, in the graphics department). It would cost a bit more than the X200, but I'm sure you'd come out way ahead in comparison with compared buying an interim machine or trying to shoe-horn a touchpad onto an X200.

I've never had so much angst looking over my options with ThinkPads for the last 5 years as I have now.

The X300/301's are very expensive (SSD drive), and they would be nice if they were better in all areas than the x200, especially with the latest x301. And the biggest CON with X3's and that they use the Enhanced USB Port Rep which does not have a digital interface. Docking couldn't be simpler with what I have now with my T42, why did IBM.Lenovo go away from that?

I'm not terribly happy with Ultrabase either (have to use a Display Port to DVI adaptor now) that can be used with the X200.

That is why I'm trying to fix my T42 or get a used T43, I feel like skipping these models like I will be doing with the Vista OS.

Do you feel my pain?

Sbrehaut wrote:Docking couldn't be simpler with what I have now with my T42, why did IBM.Lenovo go away from that?

They did not. All their high-end models, except the X30x, still have docking options. It was very shocking to me that the X30x, positioned as a high-end product (with a premium price) was released without this support. I guess they had to sacrifice something, because otherwise it's an amazing machine - very sturdy, very thin and light, large screen, built-in optical drive, lots of ports. I guess they just ran out of space, LOL.

Sbrehaut wrote:I'm not terribly happy with Ultrabase either (have to use a Display Port to DVI adaptor now) that can be used with the X200.

At least you get Display Port, which is a digital output, and can be converted to DVI with the adapter. The Ultrabases for all previous X-series laptops only had VGA, and no option whatsoever to get any digital video out of the laptop (except the X3x which could use the T4x docks...)

Sbrehaut wrote:Do you feel my pain?

I do, because it's annoying to feel that with so many options you cannot find what you seek. However, I do think that perhaps your angst is based on a few misconceptions and looking in the wrong areas.

If the T42 was what you used so far, then Lenovo has very worthy successors - the T60, T61, and finally the T400/T500. These still have the same features, the same options on the dock (and somewhat more).

But if you are looking at ultraportables, you need to understand that it is a class of machines very different from the T42 you are used to. And it always has been. All the things you complain about the X200 (lack of touchpad, lack of digital out on Ultrabase) was not something that Lenovo "destroyed". It was never an option on any previous X series, whether Lenovo or IBM. At least now Lenovo offers an X300 with a touchpad, and an X200 with DisplayPort on the base - that's something (although I agree that it is still not enough to make a totally universal machine).

Sbrehaut wrote:A little background
My trusty T-42 held up great through 5 hard years of constant use, but last week I think the motherboard finally gave out (doesn't seem to fully power up any HDD).

So I'm in need a new ThinkPad and am in a bit of a bad decision spot. I could get a temp solution (a used T43/43P) and just continue using my docked setup etc.. Or if I decided to go a newer route, I feel it is time to get a smaller more powerful one and the X200 seems the sweetspot there but it is missing one item I've grown to love: the Touch Pad.

So my question is if I go the x200 route: Does anyone believe a Touchpad could be integrated in the future in a Palm Rest panel swap out?

I don't believe a Touchpad will be integrated in the future. It is X200, a ultra portable business machine.

From my perspective, the trackpoint is exactly replacement of the touchpad.

yogibear wrote:I don't believe a Touchpad will be integrated in the future. It is X200, a ultra portable business machine.

Why is the trackpoint more suitable for a business machine? Both HP and Dell have ultraportable business laptops with touchpads, and some even have both touchpads and trackpoints. Some people prefer one type over the other, so it's good to offer both options.

honestly i would prefer not to have a touchpad on my x300. it would make the laptop look so much smoother with less clicky parts around. but i know that some people can't live without touchpads just like other without trackpoints. why not offer both options? one version with a trackpoint only, other with trackpoint and touchpad.

Yes I also wish the X300/301 did not have a TouchPad, and I'm glad the X200 does not have one - it is totally unnecessary and would ruin the Lenovo ultraportable design aesthetic.