Thinkpads Forum

My X201 came in and I know I had promised to answer a few questions people had about them, but I can only remember one of them so I figured I'd make a new thread and the questions would come to me.

The one I remember was from GrandMastrKahn - about key alignment. Everything looks lined up well to me. In fact, it was only now that I noticed the thinkvantage button on my T60 is a little crooked lol...after close to 4 years of ownership. Fit and finish actually looks to be pretty good, and it feels solid for its size and weight.

Speaking of size and weight, I'm glad I didn't preemptively buy a 4cell battery like I thought about doing. It would definitely add a whole new level of portability to it, but it's not exactly bulky with the 9 cell. My UPS guy actually thought it was some sort of iPad. Even after explaining it to him I think he might still think it's a netbook lol.

Here are the specs
i5-M520
4gb ram (anybody know why it says 3.8gb usable? I'm running 64-bit Win 7 Home Premium)
320gb 7200rpm HDD
touchpad palmrest
9 cell batt
the 12.1" 3x3 antenna screen 1280x800
N6300 wifi card

The Win 7 Experience scores are
CPU 6.7
RAM 5.9
Graphics 4.4
Gaming Graphics 5.2
Primary Hard Disk 5.9

The screen is atually better than I expected. The vertical viewing angles aren't great, but not so bad to be an issue either, and the side viewing angles are pretty good. It's also brighter than the 1400x1050 Flexview on my T60, but then that could be age.

I'm happy to answer any other questions.

I'm happy with the laptop too, especially since I managed to get it for $931.56 including tax.

marlinspike wrote:4gb ram (anybody know why it says 3.8gb usable? I'm running 64-bit Win 7 Home Premium)

The Intel HD integrated GPU uses shared video memory/RAM.

Braddah, couple of questions I have sprinkled all over the x201 section so summarize here for your convenience (and hopefully) feeback/corroboration or negative confirmtion:
1) any CPU whine pizeoeletric sounds?
2) came with Seagate or Hitachi? If former, is it noisy? BTW maybe noise, if any, is not the CPU but Seagate?
3) battery loose?
4) LCD flicker?
that's about all the questions for now.

GrandMasterKhan wrote:Braddah, couple of questions I have sprinkled all over the x201 section so summarize here for your convenience (and hopefully) feeback/corroboration or negative confirmtion:
1) any CPU whine pizeoeletric sounds?
2) came with Seagate or Hitachi? If former, is it noisy? BTW maybe noise, if any, is not the CPU but Seagate?
3) battery loose?
4) LCD flicker?
that's about all the questions for now.

1) - at times, actually, the only time I've noticed it so far is when opening the power manager, but once it finishes loading the noise stops.

2) Hitachi

3) Roger that. Doesn't bother me, but it def wobbles. It's not like it's going to come off though.

4) no...is that a thing?

Thank you. Regarding #3, is that due to the battery? Meaning if you take the battery out, does it wobble? I'm just curious what is the cause of it? BTW, I have been trying to figure out for the longest time if my T61 wobbles as on certain desks it seems to have slight wobble but the battery is not part of the base. But it could be the desk since the base of a T61 is so wide. on #4, I just read some people discussing about it. I dont think its an issue.

GrandMasterKhan wrote:Thank you. Regarding #3, is that due to the battery? Meaning if you take the battery out, does it wobble? I'm just curious what is the cause of it? BTW, I have been trying to figure out for the longest time if my T61 wobbles as on certain desks it seems to have slight wobble but the battery is not part of the base. But it could be the desk since the base of a T61 is so wide.

If I take the battery out does it wobble? I don't follow you. It's the battery-to-laptop lockup that is loose, causing the wobble. Actually, I think I just realized what you're asking. Using the laptop there is no wobble, battery installed or otherwise. It's just if you hold the laptop in one hand and the installed battery in the other you can feel them wobble. I.e. it does not affect function (because its own weight causes the slack to be taken up, so typing doesn't cause any wobble). I hypothesize this may be how they make the laptop work in 140F ambient temps (i.e. air and expansion room).

Thats good to hear. This is an x200, but the wobble is not like this right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U9mTk4d3S0. Slight wobble is OK and as you said necessary. Thanks again.

I'd say it's about 50% of that. It's a very noticeable amount of wobble if you're inspecting for wobble, but when your laptop is on a surface the weight of the laptop is pushing the battery up so it's completely rigid. Typing on this actually feels like a more rigid platform than my T60.

I took these photos to compare to my 15" T60 for someone else, but figured I might as well link them in this thread too.
http://davidson.smugmug.com/Other/T60-v ... 8238_2S3NG

the color reproduction on the x is awesome but the viewing angle on 6th pic on t series in unbeatable. both great machines. id like to see a side by side comparison of a 14inch t4x with x201 too

The T pictured is a flexview, so it's kinda cheating
As far as the color reproduction, the X is actually better now than it was in those pictures - apparently you need to kill the Intel Graphics and Media software so Win 7 can properly apply your color calibration profile made with an aftermarket profiler.

Nice pics Braddah. I got the eagle eye and unless you are Houdini the camera pro or photoshop expert playing tricks on us, seems like the left side of your space key is higher than the right side. Have seen this on display models and read about others discussing this design?

I see you go with the 9-cell instead of 6 or 4. I always found the protrouding battery on my T61 kind of odd when putting it in the bag as must be upside down. So what is the weight delta? Meaning T60 - x201 = ? Just ballpark, do you feel noticeable difference?

GrandMasterKhan wrote:Nice pics Braddah. I got the eagle eye and unless you are Houdini the camera pro or photoshop expert playing tricks on us, seems like the left side of your space key is higher than the right side. Have seen this on display models and read about others discussing this design?

I see you go with the 9-cell instead of 6 or 4. I always found the protrouding battery on my T61 kind of odd when putting it in the bag as must be upside down. So what is the weight delta? Meaning T60 - x201 = ? Just ballpark, do you feel noticeable difference?

The difference between an x201 + 9 cell and the T60 + no battery at all is enough to feel, so the difference between each with a battery is huge. I think by the book the x201 is about 3lbs lighter.

You sure do have the eagle eye. I didn't even notice that about the spacebar even though I looked for it. The thing is, the bottom side of the spacebar is bowed, so I think it's raised by the same amount on each end. I can't find my level to check, but that's how close it is that I would need a level to say for sure. The top side seems flat to me though.

@ the store, I see the left side is bowed up and the right side is flat, ie like on your T60 probably. Could be both bowed and the logo on the left makes it illusory. Anyway, I read on competing boards people commenting about the bow. I didn't spend enough time at the store to see whether its an illusion. The salesperson gave two excuses, 1) customer tried to steal keyboard and 2) they put the unit near the window and its sun damage. I did not beleive either explanation.

GrandMasterKhan wrote:@ the store, I see the left side is bowed up and the right side is flat, ie like on your T60 probably. Could be both bowed and the logo on the left makes it illusory. Anyway, I read on competing boards people commenting about the bow. I didn't spend enough time at the store to see whether its an illusion. The salesperson gave two excuses, 1) customer tried to steal keyboard and 2) they put the unit near the window and its sun damage. I did not beleive either explanation.

It's slightly higher than the alt-keys on both corners, so I think its even. At any rate, the bow is on the bottom, not the top. I actually wonder if this is done totally on purpose - given that when you hit space its normally not in the center, making the edges flex more than the center, so the bow could be something of an arch. I really don't understand why this bothers anybody though. It's not like you can feel anything when you type, because the bow is on the bottom.

If by design it dont bother me Braddah. no worries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sypVhRvQfEY

If anyone understands French, would be interesting to see what the guy says. The battery wobble in the mid of the vid seems alarming. Marlinspike, is yours about the same as far as wobble?

Not so sure speaking French would help. He's speaking German.
My German is rudimentary. Maybe when I'm bored later I'll watch the whole thing and see if I can tell you what he says. As far as the battery wobble, yeah that looks about like mine. Can you try and help me understand why you care about the wobble though? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this one (sorta like why do people buy ipads?)

EDIT: watched the whole thing. Doesn't really say anything you can't figure out just by watching to see what he's pointing at. Basically just descibes everything.

marlinspike wrote:I took these photos to compare to my 15" T60 for someone else, but figured I might as well link them in this thread too.
http://davidson.smugmug.com/Other/T60-v ... 8238_2S3NG

Oh Baby those colors of the X201 are amazing since I also have a T60 that I currently use, I am so looking forward to receive my X201, it is "released by customs" as of 7pm Friday on the UPS tracking website, so hopefully I will receive it Monday, it will give me a litttle bit of time to install various software before embarking on a two week long overseas business trip.

irus wrote:the color reproduction on the x is awesome but the viewing angle on 6th pic on t series in unbeatable. both great machines. id like to see a side by side comparison of a 14inch t4x with x201 too

But who would view at the screen from that extreme angle?! I think I will be extremely happy with the X201 screen now that I've seen what the T60 screen look like in comparison, as I've never liked the color quality of the T60 screen on mine over the last 3 years of ownership, I found I have to use my external Viewsonic LCD to do any color sensitive Photoshop work.

marlinspike wrote: The difference between an x201 + 9 cell and the T60 + no battery at all is enough to feel, so the difference between each with a battery is huge. I think by the book the x201 is about 3lbs lighter.

The X201 with the 9 cell is suppoe to be close to 3.5 lb, the book weight of the T60 is 5.5 lb.

marlinspike wrote:As far as the color reproduction, the X is actually better now than it was in those pictures - apparently you need to kill the Intel Graphics and Media software so Win 7 can properly apply your color calibration profile made with an aftermarket profiler.

Can you please share with us the steps and procedures?

Thanks in advance!

aviography wrote:[

The X201 with the 9 cell is suppoe to be close to 3.5 lb, the book weight of the T60 is 5.5 lb.

I thought the 9 cell 15" T60 is pushing 6.5lbs?

marlinspike wrote: I thought the 9 cell 15" T60 is pushing 6.5lbs?

Sorry, I was referring to the "regular/standard" T60 battery pack, however many cells it has.

aviography wrote: Can you please share with us the steps and procedures?

Thanks in advance!

First, you need some kind of monitor calibration device. I used an i1 Display 2. Then you have to disable that intel graphics media software - by typing msconfig into the run command, go to the start up tab, and uncheck the one that is C:\Windows\system32\igfxtray.exe. Reboot your computer, then run the i1 software and calibrate your monitor (or whatever device youre using)

Ok, now the profile has been made. Right click the desktop, click personalize. Click Display in the lower left, click change display settings on the left side, then click Advanced Settings (near the middle), go to the color management and click the color management button.

Now you're in the color management window. Remove any profile that's there that isn't the on you made, and make sure the one you just made is set as default.

Now hit the Advanced tab, click change system defaults, and once again remove any profiles and add the profile you just made and set it as default. On the advanced tab of this new window, Use Window Display Calibration should be checked.

Now close everything, reboot, and you should be good to go.

aviography wrote: Sorry, I was referring to the "regular/standard" T60 battery pack, however many cells it has.

I think that was 6.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2767
This review here lists a 14" T60 with a 6 cell at 5.2lbs and a 15" T60 with a 9 cell at 6.4lbs.

aviography wrote: Oh Baby those colors of the X201 are amazing since I also have a T60 that I currently use, I am so looking forward to receive my X201, it is "released by customs" as of 7pm Friday on the UPS tracking website, so hopefully I will receive it Monday, it will give me a litttle bit of time to install various software before embarking on a two week long overseas business trip.

Apparently the 1400x1050 flexview screen is known to yellow over time. I got a new 1600x1200 on the way that I bought in the marketplace on these forums, so we shall see.

Marlinspike, as long as its not overly loose I guess I'm OK with it. I checked my T61 again with the 7-cell and it has some slight play and which I never noticed before. Have a x201 on way. Excited about it because as much as I like my T61 workhorse, its simply really heavy at least to me.

GrandMasterKhan wrote:Have a x201 on way. Excited about it because as much as I like my T61 workhorse, its simply really heavy at least to me.

At my new job I am issued with a brand new Toshiba Tecra S11 with the i7 processor, the particular configuration is specified on the Toshiba website as 6.1 lb, the AC adaptor is a brick too, which is one of the reason why I decided to get the lighter weight X201 on my own nickle for travel use.............

GrandMasterKhan wrote:Excited about it because as much as I like my T61 workhorse, its simply really heavy at least to me.

Yeah, I never had anything other than a 15" laptop before, but now that I have the X201 it's like night and day. Going from the 201 to the 60 you notice how much bigger the 15" screen is, but when you're using the 12" it's not as though you're thinking "man this is a small screen," it seems perfectly normal.