Thinkpads Forum

chanel wrote:Interestingly, the 8GB max claim in the Tabook also has a footnote (footnote 7) next to it, but I don't see any explanation of what footnote 7 is... what page are the footnotes on???

See the very last pages of the Tabook; footnote 7 is on page 154 of 156 and says:

Maximum memory capacity may require the replacement of standard component with largest supported component available. On ThinkPad systems, even though it is possible to physically install 4GB of memory, the actual amount of memory addressable by a 32-bit operating system will be limited to 3GB. This limitation does not exist with 64-bit operating systems.

Johan

Consider an enterprise ordering a fleet of 200 ThinkPad's. A standard BlueTooth option of even a few dollars translates to around a thousand dollars. That's a thousand dollars they might not want to spend.

If you need absolute data security on your hardware for secretive data, you might want to disable all methods by which the data can be copied out of the computer, which includes disabling or removing communications modules. Sure, there's BIOS port lockouts, but if you have ultra-sensitive data, you can never be too careful.

^^^ Exactly. Remember, these are ThinkPads, not your run-of-the-mil HP or Dell designed for the common end user...

Besides, $20 is nothing to add on Bluetooth...

Colonel O'Neill wrote:Consider an enterprise ordering a fleet of 200 ThinkPad's. A standard BlueTooth option of even a few dollars translates to around a thousand dollars. That's a thousand dollars they might not want to spend.

This is true, but nothing prevents to offer the removed BT option to the big companies, reversing the process as happen on the car market.

Eg: all the low end version of the smart car are sold in black + a color, all the high end versions are silver+color, but if I want a top model in black I can get it w/o any problem.

BT is out since 2001, and should considered as a standard feature just like the sound card or the ethernet port.

The Solutor wrote:Eg: all the low end version of the smart car are sold in black + a color, all the high end versions are silver+color, but if I want a top model in black I can get it w/o any problem.

You can get bluetooth on any ThinkPad w/o any problem. Just check the bluetooth option to add it.

The Solutor wrote:BT is out since 2001, and should considered as a standard feature just like the sound card or the ethernet port.

The trackpoint has been out even longer, and it was invented in the USA. Why is it not considered as a standard feature on every laptop?

azX32 wrote:You can get bluetooth on any ThinkPad w/o any problem.

No this is not true.


You still think that USA= World (or viceversa) most countries aren't served by the CTO service, you have to buy what lenovo has decided to preconfigure.

Often with questionable choices.

Eg I wasn't able to buy a red dual core x100e one year ago, in this moment i can buy only a red glossy dual core Edge 11, at the same time the UK users can buy only a black glossy single core one, and so on.

The trackpoint has been out even longer, and it was invented in the USA. Why is it not considered as a standard feature on every laptop?

Probably because is patented by a single company, unlike the BT which is supported by a consortium, it has also a wide set of alternatives, and finally because a not so small percentage of users simply hate it.

The Solutor wrote: Just observation of the facts, the examples are countless, from GSM to Hyperlan, from nokia, sonyericsson whatever brand of phones to bluetooth and DVB-T.

Going back to BT it was accepted in America only when the end users started to understand how much useful but was never backed/supported by the industries (and somehow still isn't) do you remember that xp lacked a proper support to it for some 4 years ? Do you think was just a distraction ?

Huh?

Everything you've cited is not evidence of any form of preference by American society. You're referencing decisions made in a boardroom by a handful of executives looking out for their bottom line, not some strange sense of patriotism.

99% of Americans don't know CDMA from GSM from GMC, nor would they ever care whether one was invented here, or abroad. Likewise for Microsoft, BT, Hyperlan, or Intel trying to boost its RF / DSP chip sales.

Microsoft's slow support of BT reflects upon their own internal competencies, nothing else.

Probably because is patented by a single company, unlike the BT which is supported by a consortium, it has also a wide set of alternatives, and finally because a not so small percentage of users simply hate it.

Plus, it might be heavily patented (even though some DELL and HP models have a similar device), and in general the average user barely notice it's presence, nor understand why it exists or then just dislike it, to all thinkpaders despair.

elray wrote:
Huh?

Everything you've cited is not evidence of any form of preference by American society.

I'm sure that this is what you are sincerely thinking, and I'm also sure that a lot of others are with you, BTW I suggest to look @ the comments made in some sites like engadget, every time a nokia or sonyericsson product is launched, an EU decision is presented and so on, I (obviously) know that US and engadget aren't synonyms but the latter is surely a spotlight to the current US society.

You're referencing decisions made in a boardroom by a handful of executives looking out for their bottom line, not some strange sense of patriotism.

True, but usually when economy and patriotism can walk together, they usually do (in the US and outside the US).

99% of Americans don't know CDMA from GSM from GMC, nor would they ever care whether one was invented here

Also true.

But we are on a tech site so I'm aiming to the tech aware people.

The Solutor wrote: I'm sure that this is what you are sincerely thinking, and I'm also sure that a lot of others are with you, BTW I suggest to look @ the comments made in some sites like engadget, every time a nokia or sonyericsson product is launched, an EU decision is presented and so on, I (obviously) know that US and engadget aren't synonyms but the latter is surely a spotlight to the current US society.

You read far too much into blog comments, and give far too much credit to a few trolls.
Sure, some EU decisions may be good for ridicule, but many we agree with - even though they'd never apply here. I'm sure you could say the same about US policy, no?

The Nokia gear we get here today is pretty lackluster - it didn't used to be that way. That's Nokia's problem, not US citizens, tech or otherwise, dissing them. Bedding down with Microsoft - time will tell whether that was the right decision, but it is anything but controversial...

Sony will always draw critics as well as raving fans. They make a lot of bold, unique products, but often, they're designed in a bubble, fail miserably, and the analysis never filters back up the chain. Quality varies widely.

Personally, I've had Nokia, Ericsson, and Sony phones, and preferred all of them over the mundane-but-durable-and-cheap Samsungs i have today. But those mfr's don't make, nor sell in our market, equivalent handsets - again, the result of business decisions.

True, but usually when economy and patriotism can walk together, they usually do (in the US and outside the US).

Not exactly. While corporations will push hard to have policy (or protocol) that favors them, that's insider dealing in the beltway - again, a handful of people, not the public.

But we are on a tech site so I'm aiming to the tech aware people.

Ok, so dial down to the population here - I think you'd find while some of us may trend a little Conservative and question "the" (as if there was only one) european state of mind, that doesn't extend to technology or protocol or persecuting Microsoft. If you polled, you'd probably find a supermajority of the US crowd agree with your technical analysis on BT, GSM, etc.

I submit that you're looking for a conflict, where there really isn't one.

Looking at the parts list here: http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 640_02.pdf


I see that it has 2 mini-pci express slots so my question is do you all think a Intel 310 SSD that I have will fit in there as a boot drive as Lenovo had been discussing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OLCLIdv ... r_embeddedor will it be restricted based on a buttoned down BIOS?

DaMaN wrote:Looking at the parts list here: http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 640_02.pdf


I see that it has 2 mini-pci express slots so my question is do you all think a Intel 310 SSD that I have will fit in there as a boot drive as Lenovo had been discussing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OLCLIdv ... r_embeddedor will it be restricted based on a buttoned down BIOS?

Has anybody used a PCIe slot based drive in any Lenovo laptop successfully?

Could this be the end of Lenovo Whitelisting?
Specifically the addition of Fushion support.

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=n ... &px=OTE2Nw

DaMaN wrote:Looking at the parts list here: http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 640_02.pdf

I see that it has 2 mini-pci express slots so my question is do you all think a Intel 310 SSD that I have will fit in there as a boot drive as Lenovo had been discussing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OLCLIdv ... r_embeddedor will it be restricted based on a buttoned down BIOS?
[..]
Has anybody used a PCIe slot based drive in any Lenovo laptop successfully?

From this review: http://www.storagereview.com/intel_ssd_ ... 0gb_review, and the fact that Lenovo RapidDrive SSD option appears only for the other new series (T420, T520, etc) most likely it will not work on the X120e.
The Mini PCIe slot has to be configured (by BIOS) for mSATA signaling specifically, in order to be seen as a SATA drive.

For the price of a 80GB 310 SSD (~$200) I would rather get the X25-M 120GB for a bit more (~$230), and keep the 2nd slot for WWAN.

gear wrote:
The Mini PCIe slot has to be configured (by BIOS) for mSATA signaling specifically, in order to be seen as a SATA drive.

Is not just matter of bios settings, also the needed signal lines must be connected to have the sata functionality

is it possible to add bluetooth later?

thanks

automatic_jack wrote:is it possible to add bluetooth later?

thanks

Yes.

Google for 60Y3199 or 60Y3213

So, who has their new x120e? I'd love to read a review or first hand experiences...

The Solutor wrote:Yes.

Google for 60Y3199 or 60Y3213

thanks a lot

I just picked one up today. I started a new job last week and because of the long hours I worked this week, I decided to get the 120e. I got it for $489 CAD w/tax. They had a deal on, plus I had a gift certificate that I put towards it.

Experience so far is quite good. It's a major step up from my AMD HP based DV2 and it seems to be much faster than my X60s even with Windows 7 on it.

I went for the Dual Core E350, 2GB ram, Bluetooth, Wifi BGN, 320GB HDD all in the black enclosure

Having the trackpoint and a touchpad on such a small computer is a real treat to be honest. Depending on how I feel, I can switch back and forth which is always nice. It does seem to run quite cool, which was a problem on my HP DV2. I have never been a fan of AMDs mobile offerings, but maybe that will change now. I really haven't done much testing as I have only had the computer for a few hours.

Will post back later when I have had more time to mess with this little computer. I still can't believe the size of it, I thought it was a little larger.

It is a nice machine (speaking from an X100e, rather than an X120e). Although I find the chiclet good, but not as good as the conventional keyboards.

Make sure you keep your drive well defragged; it keeps it from getting bogged down. I'd recommend UltimateDefrag if you have some money to spend, or MyDefrag, which is free, but doesn't use the UltimateDefrag approach of moving ~80% of your data to the inner tracks (which IMHO is a good idea for most cases).

2GB of RAM isn't really a problem; just trim down some of the excess services and it should run well. Having a 32-bit Windows 7 helps, although my X100e with 2GB runs Server 2008R2 (64-bit only) fairly well.

Can power supply work at 220V?

Thanks

The adapters are 100V-240V and 50Hz-60Hz, so yep!

Can anybody make a side by side comparison with the X300/301? I'm curious about the differences in dimensions. It seems the X120e is thicker, and I think it would have been better if the X120e had the same type of battery as the X300, not sticking out of the back.

I was considering this machine, to give to somebody, but no release in western-Europe so far

You're in luck- I have a x120e coming my way and still happen to have an x301 (and can borrow a x60s). I'll take some photos when it comes in.

A note about the battery placement:
The X30/300 series battery under the palm rest is really only ideal for unit when it's closed. It position lends it to not tipping over when opening the lid with one hand and a set footprint (no sticking out the back), but the downside is that there is limited space for an extended battery. Of course, one can always stick out the front as seen in some 3rd party X30 extended batteries or the Dell Latitude D420 series.

The battery in the back offers a lot more room to work with. On the X60s series, it raises the thickness in the back, arguably leading to a better typing angle. With the extended cells, it sticks out the back, which is troublesome for carrying it around- it extends the footprint. However, during normal use, you probably have the screen tilted back a bit, so that area beneath the screen, which would otherwise be empty, now has your extra cells.

Which one do I prefer? If i could have the same battery life in either configuration, I'd probably choose the under palmrest. Realistically, the battery in the back is the better choice. Just not with the asymmetric tapered ones found on the current widescreen X and T series. =D

Thanks! That would be great.

About the battery placement. Personally I care more about design (no loose elements at the sides) and esthetics's than the more battery life you can get with a 9 cell compared to the (maximum) 6 cell on the x300. Moreover, those who want more battery life can use the extension unit replacing the dvd drive.

But I understand your explanation that battery placement at the back gives more options.

Of course on the day that I get home early enough to take photos with natural light it starts raining. Here are some comparison photos between the x301 and x120e. There aren't that many because quite frankly, I wasn't very happy with the results. I apologize for the graininess; I was shooting mostly at 400 ISO and don't have very good lighting available.

https://picasaweb.google.com/anomalycon ... rY_T7LneBA#

force wrote:Of course on the day that I get home early enough to take photos with natural light it starts raining. Here are some comparison photos between the x301 and x120e. There aren't that many because quite frankly, I wasn't very happy with the results. I apologize for the graininess; I was shooting mostly at 400 ISO and don't have very good lighting available.

https://picasaweb.google.com/anomalycon ... rY_T7LneBA#

Lol. Well your comparison is very thorough and the pictures are clear!

I didn't expect the x120e to be so small, although I knew it's 11,6 (vs 13,3). On the other hand it's pretty thin. The front is thinner than the X301, but the back is not (closed).

I know enough now .

Thanks!!

Edit
@below
Ok thanks.
I never understood why Lenovo cancelled the X300/X301 design...

The x301 feels thinner due to the weight being distributed throughout a wider area. It feels nicer because of the rubberized finish on both the palm rest and the lid. It'd be nice to find and apply an aftermarket paint/coating like it. =D