passing of the torch, 201 -> 230

[deuce868]

It arrived in the mail today and the passing of the torch..I mean data has begun.



The keyboard is definitely different. I don't want to say it's bad yet, but it stands out. The display is to die for coming from my 201. Man I'm loving this thing, especially after I color-hugged it up and calibrated it. The trackpoint is a little odd and causing me to notice it, but I think I'll just end up getting used to that. Fast, usb3 ftw, and moved to the mini dock plus so driving dual dvi out is very nice compared to my 201 on an ultrabase doing vga/dp out.

[tothealex]

Cool! Congrats! Waiting for my machine, too. Would love to hear more of your impressions regarding the machine and especially its keyboard - I am sure just about every other potential buyer of X230 is at least concerned about that.

[deuce868]

I've been hacking on it all day for work and overall I'm really happy. I've always been a fan so I guess it's to be expected.

The keyboard...it's a mixed bag.

The positive is that it feels very very solid. There's less 'wiggle' in the keys than my 201. The shape is a different feel, and it'll take getting used to. I find my speed isn't impacted, but I do feel like the keys are farther apart. I feel a lot as I do when typing on my unicomp I use when docked.

The keys do have a good 'noise' as I'm a heavy banger of the keys. Nothing better than my unicomp springs begging for mercy. It is different, more thud than 'clack' like the 201 was.

The bad: I've missed the escape key while hacking in vim about 100 times today because it's lower now that the top row is gone. I have to hunt for the home/end keys because they're just blended into that row. Delete is strange, but it was moved in the 220 as well so I can't complain much on that end.

The lowered trackpoint I think is ok. It's different, but I haven't found myself having issues as I've used it all day.

The screen is just awesome, can't say that enough. That alone makes me so happy I upgraded. Between that and the intel 520 I put in here, speed is just great. I feel like things are a nice burst faster for me. I miss not having to deal with the trackpad though, great feature of the 201 was that I could just leave the dippy thing off.

The battery feels a bit more loose then on the 201. When I've carried it around I swear I've felt it shift around.

The usb ports seem to be a bit more 'deep' into the case. I've got a yubikey nano I use for my 2-factor needs that I can just barely touch the point on when I need to. Watch out for that I guess.

I tried to use the camera for my stand up meeting today but ugh it wasn't pretty. I'm using it with google hangouts in linux, but my external logitechs are much better so it'll be an emergency only camera for my purposes.

Finally, the power button on the dock doesn't work to power on the laptop. I'm kind of bummed as I have to open the lid, reach way under, and hit the power button on the laptop while trying not to bump the screen and leave a mark since I can't open the lid all the way. I've got monitors mounted on arms above the dock.

Hope that helps provide some more details. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[tothealex]

Thanks for your review! It really helps - such things are more important at times than professional reviews. It is funny that you mention that keys feel more further apart than in X201 - I just watched the video on new Thinkpad T series (430, if memory serves me right) and they mention wider buttons as an accomplishment:)

[hunterman223]

Supposedly the tops of the keys are 30% larger and thus closer together. They accomplished this by removing the angled sides of the keys, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who strikes the side of the key when typing. The notches help my fingers figure out where I'm going too.

@OP: How do the two compare in size/weight? Does the lid close tightly despite not having a lid latch?

[deuce868]

@OP: How do the two compare in size/weight? Does the lid close tightly despite not having a lid latch?

The size is close. The 230 is a bit wider, but thinner, but it's not terribly different. I've basically swapped them out and it almost feels like the same machine.

The lid works pretty well. There's a spring in there so that if you get close to closing (last inch or two) it actually springs shut on its own. That spring is holding it closed and resisting opening. I think that's why people in reviews were complaining you can't open it one handed. You have to get past that initial force that wants to help it close on its own. I personally don't mind and it's not caused me any grief. I do worry about things like this over time though, so we'll have to see how well that spring mechanism holds its force over the years.

[deuce868]

And with the addition of an msata drive I'm one happy camper. Never thought I'd have two drives in a 12" machine.