is an X series right for me?

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skanky · #1 Post by **skanky** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:36 am

currently i have a t60 (2gb coreduo) and wanting to go to an X series for portability.

i have my notebook hooked up to my 24" monitor via DVI, when i am out and about, i like the 1400x1050 res offered on the t60's SVGA screen.

however i cant seem to find any X series laptops with a SVGA screen that arent tablets (i think the X300 is way out of my price range!!) and not been able to find much info about the docking solutions except that my advanced mini dock for the t60 wont work with the X series, bah!

i would also want one as to be as quiet as possible which would lead me to the X61s models but they dont have a SVGA capable screen.

how much speed loss/gain am i going to notice going from a 2ghz coreduo to a LV c2d 1.6ghz (or better cpu) machine? i dont game on the laptop, have a proper desktop for that but i do view high res videos on it and sometimes it struggles on the t60, and thats with a x1400 card. having said that not being able to play HD videos isnt highly critical..

any advice would be appreciated!

hyperq · #2 Post by **hyperq** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:43 am

In second quarter 2008, Intel will release the new Cantigia mobile chipset, as part of the fifth-generation Centrino platform - Montevina. Here are the main attractions of the chipset.
* Faster BUS - 1066 MT/s front side bus.
* Faster RAM - RAM supported for DDR2-667, DDR2-800, DDR3-800 and DDR3-1066 SO-DIMM.
* Better GPU - GMA X4500 graphics technology and ICH9M southbridge. Added hardware acceleration for HD DVD and Blu-Ray.
* DisplayPort - Main support for DisplayPort with an external connector attached to the motherboard along with full supplemental support of the older HDMI, DVI, and VGA standards

The new Montevina platform also includes the second generation penryn CPU.
* Cooler - It is planned to consume no more than 29W, compared to Merom's and first-generation Penryn's 34W TDP.

The release schedule of new laptops is almost always in lockstep with release schedule of new chipsets and CPUs. Looks like the rumor is right that X200 will be out in June. It should come with a DisplayPort, 1280x800 wide screen, webcam, Penryn CPU, GPS, 8+ hours of battery life, and is cool & quiet, less than 3 lbs.

The leaked specs of upcoming Dell laptops is using the new Montevina platform. Here are the treats: DisplayPort, integrated GPS, max 8GB RAM. X200 will be using the same Montevina platform, thus will have similar specs.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/22/dell ... s-pack-gp/

pianowizard · #3 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:39 am

skanky, it seems that you're quite sensitive to resolution, so I think you should overlook the X6* non-tablets which are the lowest-res laptops on the market. Get something with at least 1280x800. Resolution is very important for me too, and I find 1280x800 far more useful than 1024x768.

qviri · #4 Post by **qviri** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:28 am

skanky wrote:is an X series right for me?

Doesn't sound like it - the only Intel Core machines with a 1400*1050 screen are the X60 tablet and the X61 tablet, which are significantly larger and heavier than the rest of the X6* series.

Also, the only docking option for X6* is the ultrabase, and there has never been an X series machine that could output DVI (except for possibly X300 through dock, not sure).

Further, X6* uses integrated Intel graphics, and the earlier models which use discrete are probably too slow for your needs.

BTW - SVGA is 800*600. You are thinking of SXGA+. (I agree the acronyms are a mess.)

pianowizard · #5 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:35 am

qviri wrote:BTW - SVGA is 800*600. You are thinking of SXGA+

Whereas "SXGA" (without the plus sign) is 1280x1024.

hyperq · #6 Post by **hyperq** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:08 am

In May, Intel will release the second generation Penryn CPUs, which include the power optimized "P" processors with 25W TDP, vs. the current "T" processors with 35W TDP.

The upcoming Thinkpad X200 is likely to have the P8400 and P8600 CPU, as well as a 1280x800 wide screen. If you want a quiet laptop with a large screen, it looks like X200 will be your best bet if you can wait until June.

Specs of the new Prnryn CPUs that will be released in May 2008:

Code: Select all

 Intel Centrino (Montevina) Processors (Typical CPU's)
Model 	Core 		  L2 		TDP 	Price
QX9300 2.53 GHz     12MB   45W 	$1,038
X9100 	3.06 GHz 	6MB 	44W 	?
T9600 	2.8 GHz   	6MB 	35W 	 $530
T9400 	2.53 GHz 	6MB 	35W 	$316
P9500 	2.53 GHz 	6MB 	25W 	$348
P8600 	2.4 GHz      3MB 	25W 	 $241
P8400 	2.26 GHz 	3MB 	25W 	$209

skanky · #7 Post by **skanky** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:25 am

wow i think i'm defiantely going to have to hold on for the X200 as i cant stand the 1024x768 res on non-tablet X models.

having said that, looked at the specs for that new dell, intergrated gps? how cool is that!!

the hardware accel for BRD/HDDVD on the new chipset interests me, as does the prospect of 8 hours battery life (!)

edit: i hope it comes with a decent dock as the x300 doesnt seem like it does, although i do like the idea of a 1440x900 screen --hope the x200 will offer this higher res screen.

hyperq · #8 Post by **hyperq** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:08 am

Here are the specs of the upcoming Dell E4200, E4300 ultra portables. X200 should have similar specs.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/21/up-c ... tables-wi/

skanky · #9 Post by **skanky** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:32 am

the lid on that new e4200/e4300 (great naming scheme to confuse it with intel's e4300 cpu!) looks sexy as hell!

if only it had a thinkpad keyboard i'd jump on that in a heartbeat!

XIII · #10 Post by **XIII** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:59 pm

Well, the tablet series X60t, X61t are indeed heavier but the screens I assure you are astounding.
They are all Flexview with top-of-the-line color reproduction. Once I get used to the screen I could not go back to normal Thinkpad any more (well, except T60p of course).

pianowizard · #11 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:49 pm

XIII wrote:Well, the tablet series X60t, X61t are indeed heavier but the screens I assure you are astounding.
They are all Flexview with top-of-the-line color reproduction.

I had an X61 tablet with SXGA+ and while the viewing angle and color reproduction were good, it looked a little grainy. It certainly didn't look as nice as the 15.0" Flexview screens of the T and R series.

The weight was also a problem. I had a 4-cell battery and the tablet still weighed 3.84 lbs.

For these reasons, I chose the 1280x800 HP nc2400 (2.81 lb with the DVD drive taken out) over the X61 tablet even though I am obsessed with high-res screens (see my signature). IMO, the X6* tablets are a good choice only if one needs the tablet functionality. Don't buy it just for the display resolution.

XIII · #12 Post by **XIII** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:23 pm

Except that X6x tablet has the best screen available currently. Tablet functionality will be major key features in the upcoming windows 7.

IMO, 1280x800 is too useless to do any useful work such as coding. The short vertical height is the major drawback. I also have a T2010 and I despite its resolution. I also despite HP and Dell for their abysmal design and their touchpad.

pianowizard · #13 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:37 pm

XIII wrote:I also despite HP and Dell for their abysmal design and their touchpad.

All HP and Dell laptops aren't the same. The HP and Dell business lines are nearly as good as Thinkpads in terms of design and build quality. BTW, the HP nc2400 does not have a touchpad (although I wish it did because I prefer the touchpad), and it's as well built as most of the ~40 Thinkpads I've owned.

XIII · #14 Post by **XIII** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:13 am

To each their own, I guess. I am glad it works out for you.
I made my choice about the X61t and I have never regretted one bit.

skanky · #15 Post by **skanky** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:14 am

do any of the X61s/t docking station options provide a DVI output?

qviri · #16 Post by **qviri** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:42 am

qviri wrote:there has never been an X series machine that could output DVI

This applies to the machine itself as well as the Ultrabase X6, both of which do not have a DVI port.

tallshorty · #17 Post by **tallshorty** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:21 pm

Darn it. With all this talk of the upcoming laptops, I'm hesitating if I should cancel my X61s order. I just ordered one from the outlet for $817:

1.6 Ghz
Ultralight screen
No BT or fingerprint reader
80 GB 5400 RPM HDD

The price is great! and my budget isn't very high. I love the new improvements that will show up on the upcoming models but I have a gut feeling it will probably cost 2x more at around $1600+

I'm so confused...

Ken Fox · #18 Post by **Ken Fox** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:32 pm

tallshorty wrote:Darn it. With all this talk of the upcoming laptops, I'm hesitating if I should cancel my X61s order. I just ordered one from the outlet for $817:

1.6 Ghz
Ultralight screen
No BT or fingerprint reader
80 GB 5400 RPM HDD

The price is great! and my budget isn't very high. I love the new improvements that will show up on the upcoming models but I have a gut feeling it will probably cost 2x more at around $1600+

I'm so confused...

Don't be.

I can't comment on your own particular configuration, or how it compares to others offered through the outlet in recent weeks (I haven't been looking at models like yours). However, the X60/X61 series are very nice laptops. I have two. I also have a 15" SXGA+ flexscreen T60, plus a tablet also having a Flexview type screen.

I like my X60s and find them very portable and usable. You are unlikely to regret your purchase, and I think you will be happy with the machine.

XIII · #19 Post by **XIII** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:09 am

I concur. For that budget, that X61s will do you a good job. I used my X60s for nearly one year before I switched to X61t and it is really a nice experience.
I still keep it along with my X61t for traveling purposes.

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