X201T vs X220T vs next gen X2xx tablet?

[barrywohl]

I've been using an X201t since August, 2010 and I like it pretty much. At work, its screen is too small for my electronic health records. There I use a 1920 x 1080 T520i. However, for everthing else I like the convertible tablet.

Things that bother me about the X201t include: too much heat, too short battery life. I've got mine configured with a 500 gb hard drive, 8 gb ram, and a couple of batteries (extended and regular). I use it for traditional laptop stuff: internet, email, a bit of Office word composing, reading medical articles, taking notes at conferences. Mostly I use it in "laptop" mode, but from time to time I read in "slate" mode. Mostly I use it plugged in, even at medical conferences.

Would the X220t get me a cooler computer (that is, less heat), a longer battery life, a faster or better processor? Does anybody have a guess what's on the horizon and when?

I might try a ThinkPad Android "Tablet" but I really like the traditional keyboard, Windows OS, and large capacity storage, so I think I'm not a good Ipad-like device candidate. In addition, I spend a lot of time reading, and I think I'd end up with a tablet docked into a keyboard dock, so why not just get the permanent keyboard device.

Before someone suggests it, I tried "search" first and couldn't hone down the query results to what I was looking for.

Addenda: After looking on Lenovo.com and youtube.com, I see that the Ultrabase Series 3 does not come with an optical drive but does have an optical drive bay. In addition, I didn't see an option on lenovo.com for ordering an optical drive with the unit so that it would be covered with the unit's warranty. In my experience, the optical drive is one of the MOST prone to failure parts. I'm disappointed.

I did see that I can order a webcam built into the X220t. That's an advantage over the X201t. I don't see a ThinkLight for the X220t. That's something I miss on the X201t.

[ausmike]

hiya Barr*;.....
wow seems am seeing/hearing 'doubles' .... had this same convo/discussion with my one of my sisblings .... they all in Med Field!....

Needs vs Wants vs what is avalible ..........is very tuff to acheive in all/evderyone those "medical/office' ipoints -(needs/wants)

Am certainly no expert this area of tech nor fully uptodate in all the latest gadgets...
BUT AFTER compiling and having got lots of MAJOR (wants/needs) noted on paper and looking at various ITEMS (laptops&tablets)........

in short - not ONE THING WILL staisfy all those points ; and best compromise = IPAD2 + LAPTOP. THAN laptop choices = come to $$$ vs features

IPAD + Mac Pro = one choice ( since all OS = apple and battery life = good enough)
IPAD + x220 other choice (fully spec'ed out x220 with IPS +3G/4Gsim + extended Battery) .... and DOCKING STATION for both ( ipad2 + x220)...... good compromise

.............

Hope this is helfull

[mariol90]

Things that bother me about the X201t include: too much heat, too short battery life. I've got mine configured with a 500 gb hard drive, 8 gb ram, and a couple of batteries (extended and regular). I use it for traditional laptop stuff: internet, email, a bit of Office word composing, reading medical articles, taking notes at conferences. Mostly I use it in "laptop" mode, but from time to time I read in "slate" mode. Mostly I use it plugged in, even at medical conferences.

Would the X220t get me a cooler computer (that is, less heat), a longer battery life, a faster or better processor? Does anybody have a guess what's on the horizon and when?

too much heat and too short battery life sounds like some programs are using the CPU while on battery power. if you have a web browser open with any flash animations running (even ads), this can make your battery life a lot shorter.
the X220t would be faster since it uses a standard voltage processor.

ivy bridge will be coming next year: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4830/inte ... -exposed/1
and in general you'll get better performance (CPU and GPU), and lower power consumption compared to sandy bridge. it's possible next march or april lenovo will release new thinkpads.

[Q-Ball]

(First off, I don't understand why anyone would suggest (or buy) toys for this application. Let's stick with machines that are capable of doing actual work and what the OP wants.)


Well, the X220 Tablet does have better battery life.

The one thing that I think you'd want is the 'slice' battery- it's another 9-cell that snaps onto the bottom of the machine. So your battery life is effectively doubled. 15 hours isn't unheard of with the slice and 9-cell- with just the 9-cell you're probably looking at around 7 hours of light use.


However...

If you can wait until mid to late next year (I think, don't quote me on that), waiting might be a good idea. There's a new processor that will come out around that time, called "Ivy Bridge", from Intel. It'll have better battery life than the current "Sandy Bridge" ones do and will also be more powerful. It's also got a couple other new features on it as well that are along those lines.

We don't, however, know when the X230 (assuming that's the name Lenovo chooses) will be available or what it will look like. We can, however, guess that the X230 will be out about 4-5 months after Ivy Bridge is released.



You do, however, have to live with 1366 x 768 if you go with an X220- you likely have either a 1280 x 800 or 1440 x 900 display on that X201t and the screen will feel like a downgrade. Unless you tilt it sideways, that is.
Mind you, there's an IPS screen available for the X220 but the resolution loss is still there.

[barrywohl]

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies. Q-Ball and mariol90 have me nailed. I like the 1280 x 800 and will miss the lower vertical resolution of the X220t.

I can wait for the Ivy Bridge technology for the better power at lower wattage and also for the full implementation of USB 3.0.

While the X220t is appealing, the generation after X220t should suit me. By that time, I'll probably be able to get my 500 gb on an SSD drive, too.

[erik]

I like the 1280 x 800 and will miss the lower vertical resolution of the X220t.

fwiw, the X220 is only 32 pixels shorter in vertical resolution yet the overall display has 25,088 more pixels.   i was hesitant to switch from 1280x800 to 1366x768 myself but found that it was more agonizing on paper than in actual use.   the added width turned out to be a benefit in all of my applications except web browsers.

By that time, I'll probably be able to get my 500 gb on an SSD drive, too.

you can get 500GB SSDs today.   intel (320 series 600GB) and samsung (830 series 512GB) both make reliable 7mm SSDs >500GB.   crucial and kingston also offer them but they come in 9.5mm housings and won't fit without some effort.

[Q-Ball]

As for SSDs:


Crucial's M4 series SSDs come in 7mm and 9.5mm.

Most M4's that you buy, however, are 9.5mm high but they take Intel's approach with a spacer.
Take that spacer out (it's between the two halves of the drive) and it's a 7mm drive.

It doesn't void the warranty either, but you need some shorter screws to put it back together- but you have to do that with the Intel 320 drives should you choose one of those.

By the way- the faster Intel 510 series of SSDs are permanently 9.5mm high so you can't use them as-is.


In fact, the m4's the one I'd recommend just because it's faster than the Intel drive for the same price and capacity. The Intel 320's still stuck at SATA II speeds while the m4 breezes past it.

Still, though, any SSD's ludicrously expensive once you get past 120GB.
They do get a bit better battery life but that's not a huge difference.


(As for the vertical resolution- if you're going from 1280 x 800 you're not missing much.)