x1 carbon vs mac air/pro

[smiths]

i had my heart pretty much set on the x1, but as soon as i saw it in person, the first thing i noticed was the awful screen. i think this is something that will bother me quite a bit.

im basically buying a new laptop for school, but i am willing to wait if there is a chance that lenovo might release a new x1 soon and will fix this issue. does anyone have an idea of when this might be?

if lenovo doesnt release a new one soon and update the screen, in your opinion, would the next best option be the macbook air/pro?

i will be using excel a lot, so i just wanted to know if working with parallel would be sufficient.

thanks so much for your help.

[Cigarguy]

IMO, after the T61 generation of Thinkpads, Lenovo progressively offered worse and worse screens. Don't hold your breath for the return of screens equivalent to what the Flexviews (IPS) screens were. Like the classic keyboard, I'm afraid those days are gone in favour of generic garbage and "looks".

Apple retina screens are interesting. I'd also check out HP high res screens. Harder to find and more expensive, but it's worth looking for. In a Thinkpad forum, from a Thinkpad fan, it's sad to say that I can't recommend any of the newer gen Thinkpad if having a good screen is a requirement. A Flexview screen from another generation is a different story......for a different day.

[ZaZ]

If I were buying an ultraportable today, I'd probably look at X230. If you want more screen real estate, the Helix is coming this month. It's got a 1080 IPS screen. If you want to look outside of ThinkPads, the 13" Samsung Series 9 might be worth a look. It's offers a very nice HD+ PLS LCD, which is very similar to IPS. If you don't mind Sandy Bridge, that version can be had quite reasonably, like $800 or so.

[exTPfan]

"x1, but as soon as i saw it in person, the first thing i noticed was the awful screen"

Evidently, you never saw the X300/X301 screen --- that was truly awful. All the reviews I've seen rank the X1 carbon screen as about equal to screen on the equivalent mac. Ive found the screen on the X1 carbon to be perfectly decent --- far behind the IPS's from the golden era (T40-T61), but about as good as the TFT's from that era, except for the ridiculous 16:9 shape.

[kutzzz]

When I played around with Carbon X1 I had none of your negative impressions about its screen, but I have to admit judging that is a highly subjective thing. With 1600x900 resolution and HD+ matte screen you get quite a lot of value for your money, but it still won't compare in many respects with the glossy MacBook screens. Glossy and matte are just a different experience IMO.

[ZaZ]

Haviing used both the 13" Air and the X1C extensively, my thought about the screens was how similar they were.

[jojo712]

If I were buying an ultraportable today, I'd probably look at X230. If you want more screen real estate, the Helix is coming this month. It's got a 1080 IPS screen. If you want to look outside of ThinkPads, the 13" Samsung Series 9 might be worth a look. It's offers a very nice HD+ PLS LCD, which is very similar to IPS. If you don't mind Sandy Bridge, that version can be had quite reasonably, like $800 or so.

I echo the sentiment. The X230 is truly the last X thinkpad to remain a "Thinkpad." In truth, the new keyboard is an enhancement over the old one, and that's a tall order (I've had Thinkpads from the start), and the beauty of the X230 is that it retains its expandability, its battery, the beautiful screen, and everything that makes the Thinkpad a true machine.

I have both the X230 and the X1 (I won't buy the X1C on principle), and the X230 is, sadly the last true Ultraportable that is a Thinkpad. Thomas Watson would have been proud.

[600X]

Evidently, you never saw the X300/X301 screen ---

I'm sorry, but I cannot agree. Contrast and viewing angles are average, nothing to worry about. It's not even annoying. Where the X301 really shines is the colors. It is superior to my X220 IPS!

Proof: http://imageshack.us/a/img266/3690/img1451iv.jpg

[fjs08]

I've read many articles and comments that say the best "PC" is the Mac Book Pro.
Folks just use it both as a Mac and a PC via Boot Camp or Parallels.
Do you actually "need" Windows?? If the X1 isn't to your liking, look at what software you may be needing.
Mac probably has what you "basically" need. Microsoft Office for Mac should be pretty much interchangable with the PC version.
I've heard that the iWork suite isn't. Many complaints that Pages and Numbers files can't be opened properly in Word and Excel.
You will probably need to check with your school. If this is college undergrad, post grad etc, this information may well be on their web site.
That said, Lenovo is coming out with the Helix in a few weeks. Looks very nice. On line YouTube reviews seem stellar. Bit expensive. Base unit is somewhere around $ 1600 and souped up model $ 2000. I think the Mac Book Pro w Retina display is around $ 1600. Don't quote me on the prices.
Good luck.
Frank

[Art Vandelay]

Just wondering what "principle" you are upholding by not buying an X1 Carbon. Its one of the best laptops I have ever owned. Thin. Light. Durable. Great battery life. With the exception of the idiots at Lenovo refusing to build it with an IPS screen (which has been complained about thousands of times on this board, Lenovo is trying to ruin the ThinkPad line with its cheap sh*t displays) the X1 Carbon is a great value.