Thinkpads Forum

Hi,
I currently have a T400 as my main computer. I have a docking station at home and another one in my office. I take the T400 with me from home to work every day.
Anyway, I am thinking about upgrading now, but instead of the T410, I was thinking about the X201.
I looked at a T410 and X201 with similar configurations.
Besides price, size and weight, are there any advantages, disadvantages, or any surprises that I can expect moving to the X series?

Anybody?

honestly, you're the only one who would know if an X has advantages or disadvantages over your T for your individual needs.   if you've compared specs on the two and feel strongly enough that the X is a better fit for you then go for it.

if you really need a list to push you over the edge, here goes...

advantage: it's smaller, lighter, and just as powerful.
disadvantage: you don't own one yet.
surprise: it's free! (just kidding, you have to pay for it)

better?

Well, you have just scratched off the most important advantage of the x201... portability without losing any horsepower.

But anyway, the only thing that i wish was different about the x201 is that it had an optical drive. But then it wouldnt be as small, it would be an x301.

X201:
- keyboard size
- screen size / resolution
- discrete graphics availability
+ portability
+ battery life

The lack of optical drive is a plus, because you don't have to carry it, but can always use the media base or an external drive for the rare times you need it (I, like most users I suspect, need optical drives less and less with each passing year). Now that touchpads are available on the X series, that disadvantage has been eliminated. Really, the main drawbacks I see are those listed above, and the keyboard size is not really all that much of a negative.

jvarszegi wrote:X201:
- keyboard size

Isn't X201 keyboard of the same size as T410 keyboard? I was under impression that all thinkpad keyboards i've used (X200/s, T400, T500, R61, IBM travel keyboard with ultranav) are of the same size. Just checked that X200s and external keyboard are identical in terms of buttons size and layout (except for Win, Menu and Power buttons absent on external keyboard and ThinkVantage+volume buttons on the right).

Hmm, you may be right. The key layout is a bit different, and I can't find actual physical measurements. The X201 keyboard feels a mite more cramped (until you get used to it) compared to my T6x keyboards, but even there I haven't measured them against each other.

jvarszegi - your T6x and X201 keyboards are identical in size and key pitch.

My wife use an X201 and loves it because it is so light and portable. Lack of an optical drive has not posed a problem so far.

I just ordered one through the outlet. I plan on retrofitting it with a better screen, but after finding this thread over on the Lenovo blogs I'm worried that the OEM screen might not be its only problem: http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Th ... d-p/227471.

- Jay

jvarszegi wrote:The lack of optical drive is a plus, because you don't have to carry it

And because not having an optical drive reduces power consumption a little bit, so that your battery lasts a little longer.