Thinkpads Forum

Well, I have almost decided to buy this "second hand" X201s.

Just would like to have your final opinion.
I really trust on the competence of the people reading here

My needs are as follows:
most modern computer I own is a T41p, Pentium, XP. 1400x1050.
I would like the X201s to be my primary (modern) machine, to be easily carried with me between home and office, and for occasional traveling for conferences and to plug it on desktop large monitors. (The T41p with is large battery it has always been too heavy for this. I usally have also so much "standard" paper in my bag.. ). I plan to buy a Dell U2412M 1900X1200 monitor in few weeks to plug both the X201s (VGA->VGA (no better opition without a dock) and T41p (DIV->DVI through dock).

Thanks in advance for any advice.

X201s
Type: 5397-FEG (original 4cells battery with 10 cycles, in place of its 9-cells, NO Ultrabase).

From Lenovo site:
i7-640LM(2.13GHz), 3GB RAM, 320GB 7200rpm HD, 12.1in 1440x900 LCD, Intel HD graphics, Intel 802.11agn wireless, Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, X200 UltraBase+CDRW/DVDRW, Fingerprint reader, 9c Li-Ion, Win7 Pro 32

---> Under official Lenovo Warranty until July 2013

From the seller:
CPU: Intel® Core i7-640LM (4MB Cache - 1066Mhz FSB - 64-bit - 25watt)
Turbo Frequency Max 2.933 GHz
Display 12.1" 16:10 WXGA+ (1440x900) TFT color, anti-glare LED backlight.
HHD 320GB (should be the original at 7200 rpm)- Serial ATA
---> 4 GB RAM PC3-8500 1066MHz DDR3
Intel HD Graphic (not better specified?)
---> Windows 7 Pro at 64 bit. (the seller says he may reinstall the original 32 bit version if I want, don't know really what to do about, I use XP since 2003, I don't know much about Win 7)

Price: 825 Euros (or 850 Euro with 8Gb RAM)

The seller seems to be really trusted.
I have to pay _before_ to receive the laptop.
It will be shipped with a not-original packaging.

Here are some pictures:
http://web.mclink.it/MD3012/x201s/100_5514.JPG
http://web.mclink.it/MD3012/x201s/100_5517.JPG
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/6893/x201s1.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1236/x201s2.jpg
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1894/x201s3.jpg
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/7707/x201s4.jpg
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7815/x201s5.jpg

It looks like the machine is in good shape, at least as far as one can tell via the Internet. A couple things to think about might be the pixel density on a 12" WXGA+ LCD is quite high, higher than your SXGA+ T41p. As a result text will be very small. Some people really like this, but I'd say in my experience most people would find it too high.

The IPS option on the X220 is a higher quality screen, offering better contrast and viewing angles. If you're going to stare at it for long periods, this might be something to consider. If it's mostly hooked to a desktop LCD, then maybe the high pixel density and fair quality LCD are not much of issue. I don't think either will have a problem hooking to an external LCD. I've gathered in my time on the internet, notebooks are much more expensive in Europe. Perhaps the x220 isn't an option. Good Luck.

Hi Fred,

thanks for your advice.
Actually I forgot to mention that the 1440x900 resolution (not available in X220) is my primary reason to shift to the second hand X201s. The second is the extreme light weight, 1.1KG with the 4 cells battery. I am used to my 1400x1050 14.1" so I "trust" I should have no problem with the 1440x900. Despite actually my eyes _are_ getting older...

A.

FredGarvin wrote:It looks like the machine is in good shape, at least as far as one can tell via the Internet. A couple things to think about might be the pixel density on a 12" WXGA+ LCD is quite high, higher than your SXGA+ T41p. As a result text will be very small. Some people really like this, but I'd say in my experience most people would find it too high.

The IPS option on the X220 is a higher quality screen, offering better contrast and viewing angles. If you're going to stare at it for long periods, this might be something to consider. If it's mostly hooked to a desktop LCD, then maybe the high pixel density and fair quality LCD are not much of issue. I don't think either will have a problem hooking to an external LCD. I've gathered in my time on the internet, notebooks are much more expensive in Europe. Perhaps the x220 isn't an option. Good Luck.

1.1 kg with 4 cells? AFAIK, I think it weighs a little more than that with the 4 cells battery. Without the 4 cells battery it would reach that weight.

that's what Lenovo declares:

http://www.lenovo.com/shop/americas/con ... asheet.pdf

A.

lead_org wrote:1.1 kg with 4 cells? AFAIK, I think it weighs a little more than that with the 4 cells battery. Without the 4 cells battery it would reach that weight.

What Fred has mentioned is that going from the high resolution 14" LCD to the high resolution 12.1" LCD will make the fonts even smaller than your current ThinkPad. It is a personal preference that also depends on your eyes.

Brad

Considering that here I have a 4:3 14.1 at 1400x1050, I think that 1440x900 in 12.1 should be more or less comparable. (I am assuming the dot pitch is the right index for this comparison). Actually is a SXGA+ vs a WXGA+, not a WSXGA+ (if it exists) that would be 0.15 dot pitch.

12.1" 1440x900 --> Display size: 10.26" × 6.41" (26.06cm × 16.29cm) = 140.34 PPI, 0.181mm dot pitch, 19695 PPI²
14.1" 1400x1050 --> Display size: 11.28" × 8.46" (28.65cm × 21.49cm) = 124.11 PPI, 0.2047mm dot pitch, 15404 PPI²

I am using this calculator:
http://members.ping.de/~sven/dpi.html

A.

Brad wrote:What Fred has mentioned is that going from the high resolution 14" LCD to the high resolution 12.1" LCD will make the fonts even smaller than your current ThinkPad. It is a personal preference that also depends on your eyes.

Brad