Thinkpads Forum

Ok, I'm stuck between a few laptops and want something really cool for my brother. The contestants are the following: Thinkpad X301 VS. Alienware M11x (with c2d). Please give me some support, but don't lean to the thinkpad just because this is a thinkpad forum lol! I have put much thought into this and hoping you'll do the same! Thank you!

The M11x has an incredibly powerful GPU for it's size in the GeForce GT 335M. Actually probably overkill compared to it's CPU which is very rare.

OTOH it has no TrackPoint. If the M11x had a TrackPoint and a LV instead of ULV CPU I'd have one now instead of my X201.

The X301 has a larger display and an internal optical drive so you need to decide what your priorities are.

M11x has a glossy 1366 x 768 (16:9) display. X301 has matte 1440x900 (16:10) display. According to reviews the display on M11x doesn't seem to be distinctly better than the on in X301. Plus you get less vertical pixels, if that matters.

Both comes with ULV C2D though M11x can be outfitted with ULV i5 or i7. (You can fault Lenovo for not updating X301 and rumor has X301 being discontinued soon.) The GPU in M11x is pretty awesome and X301 has now an outdated intel GMA 4500MHD.

X301 comes with an SSD whereas it is an option in M11X. M11x starts out at 4.4 lb; X301 is 1lb lighter at slightly above 3lb. Not sure whether it's important but X301 comes with an internal DVD drive.

If weight or screen resolution is important, X301 is superior. If graphics performance matters more, M11x is the way to go. M11x wins on the coolness factor with its edgier chassis design and illuminated keyboard. X301 is dull and boring in comparison, though its chassis design is likely to be more reliable than M11x.

Finally it is still hard to find a good keyboard in a notebook like that in X301, except in other Thinkpads. With redesigns coming soon, the traditional IBM Selectric-styled keyboards found primarily in Thinkpads will soon go the way of dodo birds and wooly mammoths.

Since X301 will be end-of-lined soon, M11x may be a more interesting choice especially if your brother does more than e-mail and web browsing. LCD choice may be a toss-up though it really depends on your preference. If your brother watches movies a lot, M11x is clearly superior though he will have to live with an external DVD drive. If portability and keyboard are important, it's hard to beat X301 even with its aging hardware.

In some sense you can view X301 as being cool because it is so uncool. It's such a dinosaur compared to other notebooks that try so hard to emulate or top Apple or Sony in terms of design.

Thanks! That was really helpful, I just wish lenovo released a notebook with a 12" screen, an original IBM keyboard, Optical drive, Low-voltage or normal-voltage Core i7 CPU, decent discrete/integrated graphics, a high-res screen like 1366x768 or 1440x900, and many ports including display port, hdmi, ethernet, 3 USBs, microphone, audio in, audio out, ie1394, and VGA, with a battery life greater than 5 Hour, and an optical drive. The alienware M11x delivers the most, while the x301 delivers a great keyboard, IBM quality, high-res screen, and display port, but it doesn't have discrete gpu, has old c2d ulv, and is somewhat ugly. It's so tough to decide, I would appreciate more feedback. The X201s was the closest thing made, but it doesn't have an optical drive or discrete graphics, which for me was pretty bad if it didn't have it. The Sony Vaio Z is the closest, but too [censored] expensive! Darn you sonY!

IBM-BOY wrote:Thanks! That was really helpful, I just wish lenovo released a notebook with a 12" screen, an original IBM keyboard, Optical drive, Low-voltage or normal-voltage Core i7 CPU, decent discrete/integrated graphics, a high-res screen like 1366x768 or 1440x900, and many ports including display port, hdmi, ethernet, 3 USBs, microphone, audio in, audio out, ie1394, and VGA, with a battery life greater than 5 Hour, and an optical drive. The alienware M11x delivers the most, while the x301 delivers a great keyboard, IBM quality, high-res screen, and display port, but it doesn't have discrete gpu, has old c2d ulv, and is somewhat ugly. It's so tough to decide, I would appreciate more feedback. The X201s was the closest thing made, but it doesn't have an optical drive or discrete graphics, which for me was pretty bad if it didn't have it. The Sony Vaio Z is the closest, but too *****Expletives removed by Moderator***** expensive! Darn you sonY!

Unfortunately you are unlikely to find what you want. X301 and M11x are results of vastly different design approaches. M11x is a gaming computer designed to be ultraportable. X301 is a traditional or business ultraportable. Both comes with consequent design compromises.

M11x omits DVD drive and X301 can't be outfitted with a discrete GPU since it will kill the battery life. Most business types don't need a GPU so you won't get a great graphics performance in most portable or ultraportable Thinkpads.

A derivative of X301 is T410s, which does have discrete graphics. It also comes with regular voltage CPU. T410s' thin chasis means that there are problems with heat and battery life. Also T410s graphics is nowhere as good as M11x. T410s does have DVD and many of the ports you mention. Though one can play games on it, most people aren't buying it as a game machine.

Are you recommending a T400s, because then that leads to MacBook pro 13"/15" vs Thinkpad T410s/400s. The Macbook is well... Umm a Mac (gaming fails and compatiblity is far and few) and the thinkpad is already treading the thin-and-light category, he wants an ultraportable, something he can carry around with him easily, play games sometimes, and do school research. Another option is the thinkpad x100e, but it doesn't have an IBM keyboard, an optical drive, just VGA and a crappy mv-40 CPU. Any suggestions, besides a MacBook( I know it can run windows, but not as well as some other machines.)

The X301 and M11x play to quite different audiences. I'd say it boils down to usage. If it is intended to be used as a gaming machine, then the M11x seems a better fit due to the much better GPU. If it's mainly used to be a Internet, Office and Media machine, that would play to the X301's strengths.

IBM-BOY wrote:Are you recommending a T400s, because then that leads to MacBook pro 13"/15" vs Thinkpad T410s/400s. The Macbook is well... Umm a Mac (gaming fails and compatiblity is far and few) and the thinkpad is already treading the thin-and-light category, he wants an ultraportable, something he can carry around with him easily, play games sometimes, and do school research. Another option is the thinkpad x100e, but it doesn't have an IBM keyboard, an optical drive, just VGA and a crappy mv-40 CPU. Any suggestions, besides a MacBook( I know it can run windows, but not as well as some other machines.)

It sounds like your brother needs to decide whether he really wants an ultraportable or a decent game machine.

X301 has many of the convenient features found in larger and heavier notebooks. M11x is a decent game machine that is quite portable.

Alienware is a leading brand in gaming notebooks and lenovo is a leading brand in generally perfect machines. Btw, my brother is considering an ultraportable, but refuses to give up the ability to game, he says the vaio Z looks great, but our mother would laugh if he asked her for one. I've told him the thinkpad is great for everything else, but gaming and that it would be better to just get a thinkpad, but he says he doesn't care. What about a T400s w/ discrete graphics?

Spec-wise, T410s with switchable graphics looks pretty decent. Reliability may be more of an issue as it is a relatively new design: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=89101

T400s has no switchable discrete graphics. T410s has a model with switchable discrete graphics which is pricey.

Take the T410s off your list if it ever was. Switchable graphics (nvidia side) in it seems to be garbage.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo- ... ssive.html

To me it doesn't sound like the X301 will come even remotely close to fulfilling your brother's usage. Probably the last laptop he should be looking at between IGP and that processor.