Disappointed with the X100e

[2timer]

A little background on me.. I worked for a large company where we serviced Thinkpads and Dell laptops. I fell in love instantly with the Thinkpads and purchased my first T60. What I love about the Thinkpads is the build quality far superior then those stylish lipstick clam shell of disposable laptops like Sony, Acer, HP, Asus, etc..

Anyway I have owned true thinkpads the T60, X60s and X61. However I am in need of a new Thinkpad and went to check out this 100e and to my belief I was very disappointed. This is a bit more powerful then the standard netbook but the quality is not there. It is more like the MSI netbooks which is what I call disposable as in will not last. I think that Lenovo is just trying to expand and reach different types of consumers. This is fine for business but I don't think Lenovo should put the Thinkpad brand on these disposable laptops.

I see the true thinkpads are the T series and X series. Everything else is just using the name.

The 100e is a good alternative to any of the netbooks out there for sure. Just don't expect that your holding a true Thinkpad in your hands.

Just felt like getting this off my chest as I was looking forward to purchasing this today.

[ZaZ]

I'd you're paying significantly less for a X100e than a traditional Thinkpad. I don't know one can expect to pay half yet still get the same quality. As you said yourself it's better than other netbooks, which is probably Lenovo's goal. You point out an interesting conundrum for Lenovo, how do expand the Thinkpad brand without diluting the quality that has long been associated with Thinkpads?

[The Solutor]

I can't agree at all.

The X100 is an incredibly well built notebook, and you can notice that looking at the little things like the screws tht can't be lost.

Obviously no light alloy here, nor some goodies like the think-light, as the bigger brothers.


But keep in mind that the x100 costs less than half the price of an x200.

You have also to keep clear the difference between feature richness and build quality they are not synonyms.

[johnnybogota]

I don't have problems with the build quality, so far as I understand, because it is smaller it has the stiffness and doesn't need the light alloy chassis. I can pick mine up by its corner without it bending or snapping in half.

I do have a problem though with the performance. I took mine out of the box and ran ThinkVantage tools to update the OS and drivers and it didn't have enough memory to run Lenovo's own software. I have a 2GB version, given the x100e ships with 1GB too, I can only imagine how bad the lower RAM version is.

I personally think it should be shipped with Windows 7 Home Basic, it runs much better with the Aero graphics turned off, most of the unnecessary Windows features disabled (such as bluetooth and remote assistance) A basic visual theme selected etc.

I don't personally think it is worthy of the ThinkPad brand, not working out of the box isn't very ThinkPad, might be something to do with not having the chassis, but my x100e only finds half the wireless networks that my other thinkpads find too.

[The Solutor]

johnnybogota

The X100e equipped with 1GB of RAM comes with XP preinstalled.

And with xp the x100 literally flies.

In my opinion win 7 should be installed only on the dual core versions

[ThinkRob]

Personally, I fail to see why "expanding the ThinkPad brand" is a good idea to begin with...

They *already have* a very successful consumer brand: IdeaPad. Why not just use that?

[2timer]

Good point, glad to see others who see the importance of quality. But I guess Lenovo wants to include a new series to the Thinkpad lineup like have netbooks, average consumer, business, etc.

[jvarszegi]

The build quality on the X100e is excellent. So are the ergonomics. It is simply not as powerful as most notebooks out there, but it competes price-wise with netbooks more than most laptops. It is what it is: a lower-end Thinkpad.

[wgg]

I have to agree with the fact that the X and T series are the ture ThinkPads and the closest to the originals.

[j-dawg]

Dear Sirs,
Many of you have expressed your disappointment with the X100e and its lack of faith to the original Thinkpad line. To relieve you of your troubles, I will offer to take on your X100e if you have become disenchanted with its small size and with the world's only acceptable chiclet keyboard. To ease the process of transition, and to soften the blow to my own humors as I take on this burden, I ask that you generously handle the cost of shipping to my address. I will do my best thereafter to keep these wretched devices from ever again spoiling your day.

Sincerely,
-J to the Dizzay.

[The Solutor]

hahahah