X41 is not that slow

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#1 Post by **daeojkim** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:02 pm

I purchased X41 this week locally and I was somewhat worried about the speed of the HD. But I had seen X4x before and I just could not resist. I just finished doing clean install of the system after making OEM Windows disk guide posted in Windows forum. It worked perfectly.

So about the old debate of the HD speed, I have to say that it is not that slow as some have said. It is perfectly fine for my purposes, which are for web browsing and office applications.

It seems like that I long as I keep the system light of background applications, I don't feel that it is slow at all. May be 1GB RAM is helping a lot.

After installing Windows, doing all windows and ThinkVantage updates, AVG AV, Office 2007 Pro, my current RAM usage is about 260MB. I don't plan to install any bloatware and keep start up applications to a minimum to increase performance.

I was in a dilemma whether I should choose X31/32 or X40/41. I am soooo glad that I went with X4x. The form factor is smaller. It is almost 1 lb lighter than X3x series. So a perfect ultraportable.

I have yet to experience clicking noise from the HD. I hear it but not to the extent that it is annoying. I am going to do HD firmware update soon as I read that it helps somewhat.

X4x is definitely the best ultraportable that I have used up this date. I am not sure how X6x compares to X4x series in terms of actual weight and real world portability but I am thinking that X4x will be a tough ultraportable to beat for a long time to come.

So for those who are worried about HD on X4x, I would highly recommend trying one if main applications are going to be web browsing, e-mail. I am going to be using this X41 as ultraportable along with my ThinkCentre desktop that I recently purchased for home use.

X4x is so much lighter on my shoulders when compared to my T41p. With nicely set up synchronization of outlook, one note, and some file folders with the desktop, I don't think I can be happier.

BTW Asiafish was right. I think I will be spoiled using X41 and it will be hard for me to go to any other ultraportable.

#2 Post by **tomh009** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:10 pm

Speed, weight, cost -- they are relative, and laptops are all about making the right compromises. Glad you found the right one for you!

K0LO · #3 Post by **K0LO** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:45 am

An X41 or X41T with the IBM preload is very slow. With a clean install, like you did, it is perfectly fine. I agree with your conclusions; the compromises made for lower weight and longer battery life are fine with this machine.

smoothoperator · #4 Post by **smoothoperator** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:27 am

The X61T is significantly bigger/heavier than the X41T. I don't really notice that big of a speed difference between the two with regards to internet, and office apps.

asiafish · #5 Post by **asiafish** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:10 pm

The X41 is actually rather fast, with hard drive being the only significant bottleneck. Even with the IBM preload its not bad so long as you have sufficient ram.

I had an X41 about a year ago and liked it rather well, ran the preload, and generally had excellent performance. Defragmenting the HD is a must, and I found setting a fixed page file size to also help. Most significant was the upgrade from the stock 512MB to 1.5GB of RAM. Also, the 60GB drives are a bit faster than the 40GB models (higher density).

I use a fast T60 as my main machine now, but purchased another X41 as my travel machine. Since my T60 has been away for repairs for the last 5 days I've been using the X41 exclusively, and while it is much slower than the T60, its not that bad. A more meaningful comparison is with the X31 that I briefly used as a travel machine, and replaced with the X41. They had very similar specs, 1.25GB RAM and 1.4GHz processor in the X31 compared to 1.5GB RAM and 1.5GHz processor in the X41. The X31 had a fast 60GB 7200 RPM hard drive while the X41 has the slow 40GB 1.8" 4200 RPM drive that it came with. Both machines are clean installs of XP.

The X31 booted in about 30 seconds, compared to 45 seconds for the X41, both with the same software load. File copy and other disk functions are similarly faster on the X31. Video is mixed. The X31 is smoother with some video formats, especially QuickTime, but choppier with others. X31 has an ancient Radeon GPU but with faster dedicated memory compared to the more advanced integrated GPU on the X41 that is slowed by shared memory.

Processing is a bit faster on the X41 as evidenced by faster application of filters in PhotoShop, as well as calculations of large spreadsheets in Excel. Can't say on games as anything that I have old enough to run on the X31's ancient video card is also old enough to be extremely smooth on either of the fast Pentium M processors (Banias in the X31, Dothan in the X41).

For overall use, there is very little difference in performance between the two for office tasks. There are significant ergonomic differences however, and these are all in the X41's favor. Not only is it smaller and lighter, but it has better build quality and (with the Thai NMB at least) a much better keyboard.

With all of that in mind, I still find the X41 to be very close to ultraportable perfection. Yes, an X60s solves the one major shortcoming of the HD, but for non-disk intensive applications the X41 remains a superb choice and is MUCH cheaper now that everyone wants dual core processing.

smoothoperator · #6 Post by **smoothoperator** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:34 am

Great breakdown......The X41 especially the Tablet model (compared to the newer tablet models) is perfect with regards to the compromise of Size vs Speed. Add the great battery life and I am not sure if a 7200RPM HD, Core2Duo, etc is even needed on machines like these. The X61T is so hot that you cannot even use it for extended periods of time. My X41T always ran cool and quiet plus the wireless card still picks up access points that I cant even get with my Intel N card. The X41's were probably the pinnacle of the X series, and I am sad to see that Lenovo has decided to make the X bigger, hotter, Noiser (fan always runs) etc.

pianowizard · #7 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:03 am

smoothoperator wrote:The X41's were probably the pinnacle of the X series, and I am sad to see that Lenovo has decided to make the X bigger

The UltraLight X60s is lighter than the X41, and is in fact the lightest X-series ever made. It also uses 2.5" HDD, and has three USB ports. The X61s weighs a little bit more than the X60s. So, to me, the X60s is the pinnacle of the X series.

smoothoperator wrote:hotter

I had an X40, which I suppose is very similar to the X41. I also owned an X60s. Both got equally warm, and I had to avoid touching the palmrests while typing.

smoothoperator wrote:Noiser (fan always runs) etc.

My X40's HDD made annoying clicking noise at a fairly high frequency. I played with The Spirit of X21's X40 yesterday which appeared to have the same problem.

asiafish · #8 Post by **asiafish** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:13 am

I believe X60s is the smallest and lightest X series yet, and perhaps the quietest as well. As for heat, it depends greatly on which processor you have and what hard drive you install. My first X41 had a 1.6GHz processor and actually ran slightly cooler than the 1.5GHz X41 that I have now. The 60GB 1.8" HD in the older X41 did not click at all, while the 40GB in my present one clicks slightly. The X41 fan is rarely on when running on batteries, usually on when plugged in. Battery life is MUCH better in X60s, but if I recall X40 also got pretty amazing battery life, better than X41.

The X60, on the other hand, is more a successor to the X3x series than the X4x series. It is slightly larger, has faster processors and slightly inferior battery life.

Its hard to argue that any of the older X series are better than Lenovo's current offerings. Personally, the only drawbacks I see on the X60s compared to the X41 is the price and the Windows key on the KB, which just isn't that big of a deal.

smoothoperator · #9 Post by **smoothoperator** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:23 am

I have never played with a X41 non tablet. I can only speak for the tablets. The X61T is much larger and runs a lot hotter than the X41T.

pianowizard · #10 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:24 am

asiafish wrote:Personally, the only drawbacks I see on the X60s compared to the X41 is the price and the Windows key on the KB, which just isn't that big of a deal.

The only Thinkpads I now have are the two R50p's in my signature, which don't have the Windows key and that's my biggest complaint about the R50p. The Windows key can start frequently used programs faster than the mouse. Also, when I am watching a DVD in full screen mode and I want to access the WinXP Taskbar (to see the clock, to adjust the volume, etc.), the quickest way to do it is by hitting the Windows key.

qviri · #11 Post by **qviri** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:38 am

asiafish wrote:Personally, the only drawbacks I see on the X60s compared to the X41 is the price and the Windows key on the KB, which just isn't that big of a deal.

<personal rant> I don't mind the Windows key, but the presence of the menu key is really getting on my nerves. It makes the right Alt ridiculously small, and I need to use right Alt on a regular basis. Sure, remapping, whatever, but I wish I could buy a keyboard without the stupid key. Probably my biggest issue with the X6*. </personal rant>

(That said I still see myself buying an X6*s a couple years down the road, unless the X70s is amazing.)

pianowizard · #12 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:45 am

qviri wrote:unless the X70s is amazing.)

If the X70s has a resolution higher than XGA, then it will be a new pinnacle of the X series. If it's widescreen, then the keyboard can be wider so that the Windows key area will be less crowded and you'll have a bigger Alt key.

#13 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:51 pm

asiafish wrote:The X60, on the other hand, is more a successor to the X3x series than the X4x series. It is slightly larger, has faster processors and slightly inferior battery life.

From a product positioning point of view, I fully agree. But from a pure size/weight perspective, the differences are not quite as clear:

X32: 3.6 lbs *
X41: 2.7 lbs
X61: 3.2 lbs
X61s: 2.7 lbs **

X41 8-cell: 3.3 lbs
X61 8-cell: 3.6 lbs

X32: 10.7 x 8.8 x 1.0-1.2" *
X41: 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.8-1.1"
X61: 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.8-1.4"
X61s: 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.8-1.1" **

X41 8-cell: 10.5 x 9.3 x 0.8-1.1"
X61 8-cell: 10.5 x 9.3 x 0.8-1.4"

* with 6-cell battery
** with slim 4-cell battery

Looking at actual sizes and weights, the X61 is actually very close to the X41 -- just thicker at the back due to the thickness of the standard 4-cell battery. An X61 with the slim-line battery would actually be almost identical size to an X41 -- quite an impressive feat given the physically larger hard disk, the second PCIe slot and second fan Lenovo has squeezed in.

Of course you can't actually order an X61 with a slim-line 4-cell, and the battery life wouldn't be great, but the differences between the X41 and X61 are not really that big ...

pianowizard · #14 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:10 pm

tomh009 wrote:X41: 2.7 lbs...X61s: 2.7 lbs **

I've found that the weights of the X40 are slightly underreported by IBM/Lenovo. The tabook claims that it's 2.7 lb with 4-cell and 3.1 lb with 8-cell, but my X40 with 4-cell and the RAM slot unoccupied weighed 2.76 lb, and The Spirit of X21's 8-cell X40 (also with an empty RAM slot) weighs 3.22 lb according to my lab's balance. By contrast, the published weights for the X60s seem much more accurate.

The X41 is supposed to be slightly heavier than the X40, considering that the published weight for an 8-cell unit is 3.3 lb (vs. 3.1 lb for the 8-cell X40). So, my guess is that the 4-cell X41 actually weighs between 2.8 and 2.9 lb. I hope someone on this forum can weigh it accurately.

asiafish · #15 Post by **asiafish** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:18 pm

My X41 usually weighs about 4lbs, but thats with the 8 cell and the plate battery attached.

smoothoperator · #16 Post by **smoothoperator** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:36 pm

tomh009 wrote:
asiafish wrote:The X60, on the other hand, is more a successor to the X3x series than the X4x series. It is slightly larger, has faster processors and slightly inferior battery life.
From a product positioning point of view, I fully agree. But from a pure size/weight perspective, the differences are not quite as clear:

X32: 3.6 lbs *
X41: 2.7 lbs
X61: 3.2 lbs
X61s: 2.7 lbs **

X41 8-cell: 3.3 lbs
X61 8-cell: 3.6 lbs

X32: 10.7 x 8.8 x 1.0-1.2" *
X41: 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.8-1.1"
X61: 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.8-1.4"
X61s: 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.8-1.1" **

X41 8-cell: 10.5 x 9.3 x 0.8-1.1"
X61 8-cell: 10.5 x 9.3 x 0.8-1.4"

* with 6-cell battery
** with slim 4-cell battery

Looking at actual sizes and weights, the X61 is actually very close to the X41 -- just thicker at the back due to the thickness of the standard 4-cell battery. An X61 with the slim-line battery would actually be almost identical size to an X41 -- quite an impressive feat given the physically larger hard disk, the second PCIe slot and second fan Lenovo has squeezed in.

Of course you can't actually order an X61 with a slim-line 4-cell, and the battery life wouldn't be great, but the differences between the X41 and X61 are not really that big ...

With regards to the X41T vs the X61T there is a huge difference in terms of size. (The X61T's footprint feels larger). Plus the keyboard on the X61T feels cramped. I can tell from just holding both of the computers. here are some crappy images:

pianowizard · #17 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:29 am

smoothoperator, thanks for these photos. I forgot about the menu key on the X6*, which is certainly superfluous because Alt+F can open most menus.

RS_003 · #18 Post by **RS_003** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:37 am

One thing is for sure.
I sure do like the X41 a lot more for its blue and red trackpoint buttons.

Sure enough, I used the X61s and its trackpoint buttons felt fine, but I do miss the red an blue, that made the laptop really stand out.

mfbernstein · #19 Post by **mfbernstein** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:17 am

One of the more aggravating things about the X40/X41 is that the hard drive is not only slow, but ridiculously expensive because of its nonstandard connection. $200 for the top-end 60GB model on eBay, and more else-where.

All that means that I end up with a really light laptop, and an external drive that I have to drag everywhere. Not very elegant.

RS_003 · #20 Post by **RS_003** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:18 pm

mfbernstein wrote:One of the more aggravating things about the X40/X41 is that the hard drive is not only slow, but ridiculously expensive because of its nonstandard connection. $200 for the top-end 60GB model on eBay, and more else-where.

All that means that I end up with a really light laptop, and an external drive that I have to drag everywhere. Not very elegant.

How much I hated my X40 I love my X41 for it speed.
The 1.2 Ghz Banias to 1.6Gzh Dothan and 512Mb DDR 1 to 1.5Gb DDR 2 really makes a difference.

Sure, I have to wait longer before outlook or Windows is loaded then when I was using my X31 with its 7200rpm harddisk. But I think one should not buy a X40 or X41 and expect storage space or performance. It is a very light* and sleek design which will steal hearts at the office. Superior keyboards to the X61s to…

You get my point, one should not expect to much from X4x, buy a X31 / X32 or X6x when you want storage space and raw power.

* I know the new X61s ultralight model weights less, but at the time it was on sale with the X31 it was 400 grams less.

Btw ... yes ... I also drag a external USB drive with me ... but only when I have to work on very big files, which is not often.

asiafish · #21 Post by **asiafish** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:22 pm

The thing about the X40/X41 is that they were not designed to be your primary computer, and as such, huge hard drives were not deemed to be a requirement. For people who needed to use an ultraportable as their primary computer IBM/Lenovo kept the X32 in the line.

Using an X41 the way it was intended means not having everything but the kitchen sink installed on it. My X41's iTunes folder is less than half the size of the one on my T60, and most of my games are not installed. The T60 has everything, but the X41 only has basic productivity applications and the documents I need to get my work done, not much else. I have large external drives, but very rarely do I take one with me. If I need full access to everything, then I need the T60.

pianowizard · #22 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:33 pm

RS_003 wrote:Btw ... yes ... I also drag a external USB drive with me ... but only when I have to work on very big files

Would a 16GB USB thumb drive be enough?

RS_003 · #23 Post by **RS_003** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:43 pm

asiafish wrote:The thing about the X40/X41 is that they were not designed to be your primary computer, and as such, huge hard drives were not deemed to be a requirement. For people who needed to use an ultraportable as their primary computer IBM/Lenovo kept the X32 in the line.

Using an X41 the way it was intended means not having everything but the kitchen sink installed on it. My X41's iTunes folder is less than half the size of the one on my T60, and most of my games are not installed. The T60 has everything, but the X41 only has basic productivity applications and the documents I need to get my work done, not much else. I have large external drives, but very rarely do I take one with me. If I need full access to everything, then I need the T60.

I use it the same way!.

Mailing, doing my administration, internet, and some basic enterainment.

pianowizard wrote:
RS_003 wrote:Btw ... yes ... I also drag a external USB drive with me ... but only when I have to work on very big files
Would a 16GB USB thumb drive be enough?

Well... No

(And very expensive)

X41 is not that slow

X41 is not that slow

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