X301 or X200s or HP 2530P for highly mobile user?

[Nubulin]

I am looking for a new notebook and need some feedback on the real world portability, battery life, and performance of the X200s vs X301. I am also considering the HP 2530p (blasphemy on this forum, I know). I have a T60p SXGA+ 4:3 screen now and want something a lot lighter and easier to carry around. Most of my use for a notebook is on the go, running on battery with wireless on. I am a web developer and also work part time as a Paramedic. I spend 12-16 hours in a rig moving from post to post, going in and out of bases, etc between runs. We can have a lot of downtime and I use my notebook to get some work done, research, surf the web, etc. Nothing overly taxing on the system, but like everyone I don't want a slower computer than I have now.

I need a bright screen for daytime viewing in a vehicle, at least 6 hr battery life (preferrably more), WWAN, and a lot of durability as it goes in and out of my bag 10 times a day and bounces around in the truck. Plus the typical travel needs for the occasional business flight, vacation, etc as I always have a laptop with me. I really like the X200s size/weight, but I am a long time touchpad user. I can use the touchpoint, but will always miss the pad. Plus I am NOT thrilled about losing much screen resolution. I like the 1400x1050 on the T60p.

My concerns/questions

X200s:
No built in WWAN. (but seems not to tough to install)
Is a 12.1" WXGA+ readable or too small?
Battery life with 6 cell?
Can a 10+ year touch pad user switch to touchpoint?

X301:
How portable is it? It's wider than my T60p! Is the size usable in my setting?
Does the 6 cell take away the "sleekness"?
Battery life?
Performance?

HP 2530p:
WXGA? Ugh....
Is the screen as bright as the X series?
Overall is it compareable to X series at all?

The X301 has everything I need, but seems WAY expensive given the fact it is not that much smaller (albeit lighter and slimmer) than my T60, and appears to be a compromise in the performance department that relies on the SSD to make up for it? I plan on putting a SSD in the X200s, so that negates the X301's advantage. The HP has the 12.1 size I like and touchpad, but is not a Thinkpad and WXGA seems like less screen that I want.

What else is out there with a screen with higher resolution that WXGA? Sony Z series? What to do!

If the X200s had a touch pad I wouldn't be in this mess. Come on Lenovo!

[Marin85]

Performance-wise you will have to get the SL9400 cpu to compete with the T7200 in your T60p, it may even outperform the T60p cpu because of the larger L2 cache. The SL9300 can´t compete with the T7200 at all... As for the graphics card, the integrated 4500HD is much weaker than the one in your T60p, but this might be not so important to you. The SSD makes any machine noticeably faster. Both X301 and X200(s) use Montevina chipset and hence benefit from faster FSB, faster RAM and can utilize greater amount of RAM. That´s performance-wise. Regarding the trackpoint, it may take you a few days to get used to it, but I don´t think it would be much of a problem. It´s actually a very comfortable thing. At the very beginning you won´t find it very user-friendly though, but then after a few days I think you gonna even like it. The advantage of it it that you don´t have to move your hands away from the keyboard.

Regarding the resolution, if you have some spare time, just try to find some shop offering ThinkPads and have a live look at the screen. That´s the best way to find out if it fits to you or not. It´s really a personal preference.

Marin

[ssd_thinkpad]

Regarding the resolution, if you have some spare time, just try to find some shop offering ThinkPads and have a live look at the screen. That´s the best way to find out if it fits to you or not. It´s really a personal preference.

Yesterday I was ready with 3.000 $ in my hands to buy an x301. It was a perfekt buy. Then I saw it's vertical resolution: It's comparable to 11'' 4:3 screen. The x61 and the x40 next to it looked superior. You'll have to know if your applications use widescreen format. it is very important that you actually do test their screens live. Going from T60 with its 14 '' vertical resolution to a 11'' 4:3 vertical resolution is a big step downwards.

Regarding size and weight, for me weight ist much more important than size. T400 and x301 share around same size. T400 with its 14'' wide screen has 12'' 4:3 vertical resolution. It is much heavier.

If you want to use x301 for six hours, you should replace its dvd drive with an additional battery for around 125 $.

[akao]

Yesterday I was ready with 3.000 $ in my hands to buy an x301. It was a perfekt buy. Then I saw it's vertical resolution: It's comparable to 11'' 4:3 screen. The x61 and the x40 next to it looked superior. You'll have to know if your applications use widescreen format. it is very important that you actually do test their screens live. Going from T60 with its 14 '' vertical resolution to a 11'' 4:3 vertical resolution is a big step downwards.

No. The 12.1" x40 and x61; and the 14.1" t60 have a standard display resolution of 1024x768. (There are higher DPI options for t60 and x61.) The x300/301 resolution is 1440x900, which is the same resolution as the current 15.4" Macbook Pro. 900 > 768.

You may be talking about physical size -- but I'm not sure why the shortness matters, if it displays more. Perhaps you're just complaining about the DPI, but I'm just speculating.

[ssd_thinkpad]

You may be talking about physical size -- but I'm not sure why the shortness matters, if it displays more.

I meant physical size. x301 display resolution is too high for me, I had to adjust its dpi to 125%.

[crutch]

Its interesting I came across this thread.

About a month to two months ago I was trying to make the same chocie. Fortunately I had a good sales rep at CDW who sent me both to look at and compare side by side. Actually it was the X300 and not the X301 but its the same difference.

Let me tell you, the X300 is the winner hands down. FWIW, I had the version that was 1440 x 900 resolution, DVD drive and the 6 cell battery.

First, the 2530p felt like a brick when you held it in one hand and the X300 in the other. It felt MUCH heavier.

Also, the 1280 x 800 resolution on the 2530p was horrible. It was not crisp and sharp at all. The X300 had a very good, clear screen.

You can't go wrong with the X301.

Hope this helps.

[Sine]

I tried the X200s a little while ago for about a week, and here were my impressions (coming from an X40:

Pros:
-Mega fast!
-Light
-Pretty tough
-Great battery life
-The stripes are back

Cons:
-For me, 1440x900 on a 12" screen is unusable, period. Eyestrain, headaches, and a lot of squinting were the result, even after a week of use. Going back to the DPI on the X40 was physically a big relief
-Ugly bezel
-Mushy keyboard compared to older models
-Didn't feel as solid as X40 or X61s

One thing that may be the cause of my keyboard complaints is Lenovo's attempt to save weight. Look at a picture of an X200 keyboard here, and notice all of the little pieces of metal cut out. On my X40 and X61s, this backplate is solid. The other thing that got me was the form factor. It's wider than my X40, but it's just as tall! WTF, Lenovo? I'll never forgive them for that bezel, it makes no sense. OK, rant over.

[g1tigi]

I've had my X200s for about a month now. I'm a resolution freak so it was important to have 1440x900--it took a bit of time to get used to (after transitioning from my T30 1024x768), but it's quite comfortable at the moment.

Other people have covered most of the general things I'd say, so I'll say other things

-if you're looking for durability, the x200 is sturdy, but do note that there's a big space (0.5cm?) between the screen and the laptop on the rear...so a lot of junk could potentially lodge inside there if you tend to keep a messy bag.
-also note that the matte finish tends to rub off (as I'm sure you have experienced with Thinkpads in general); though I was surprised how only after a week of ownership, a small area had already rubbed off on one of the corners (despite using a laptop bag)
-a 6-cell battery should easily get you at least 6 hours without having to sacrifice much performance or productivity (plus, it doesn't stick out like the 9-cell)
-the keyboard feels quite sturdy actually. Sure it's not rock-solid like my old T30, but it is certainly solid enough such that you won't notice any flexing during regular typing. That said, there is very noticeable softness in the upper right-hand region between the F12 and delete key.
-extremely light. With the 6-cell, you'll be easily in macbook air-land--i.e. 3 lbs.

edit: just noticed today that the keyboard is actually really weak at the mouse buttons...*shrug* doesn't really impact my button clicking usability as having this problem with keyboard keys would.

[akao]

-if you're looking for durability, the x200 is sturdy, but do note that there's a big space (0.5cm?) between the screen and the laptop on the rear...so a lot of junk could potentially lodge inside there if you tend to keep a messy bag.

The bezel drives me crazy to no end. I can't wait to until someone comes out with a portable laptop that doesn't have a bezel.

[swann]

I'm about to make the same decision. I've been using the x60 with medium batterie pack for almost 2 years & I'm quite happy with it. I like the compactness yet the fully functional keyboard. The trackpoint is fine, so I don't miss a touchpad. But since I switch my employer, I've to choose a new subnotebook.

I thought the x200 would be a natural choice. But then wondered why the x301 is even thinner yet has optical drive (though it didn't bother me to have the drive in my previous docking station). Unfortunately due to the new screen ratio the x200 isn't as compact as my x60 but almost as long as the x301.

Thus is there any reason to choose the x200 or isn't the x301 the much more straightforward choice (provided that you don't have to pay the bill yourself Or is there a x201 about to be released that's really the most compact subnotebook with a fully functional keyboard?

[ssd_thinkpad]

Thus is there any reason to choose the x200 or isn't the x301 the much more straightforward choice (provided that you don't have to pay the bill yourself

Reasons for a x200(x)
- more battery life for a cell. Concerning the x200 has no dvd, a x300 with bay battery instead of dvd has also very great battery life!
- lighter if you do not overload it with big batteries
- docking option (most important one - for me)

I'd take a x30x, anyway

[swann]

Hm... why do you mention the docking option? Isn't there any for the x301?!?

[ssd_thinkpad]

Hm... why do you mention the docking option? Isn't there any for the x301?!?

x30x series has no docking connector. You can only use a usb docking solution but going this way, you have to at least plugin two cables (usb + ac adapter) instead of just putting it into a docking station. Plus you can only use inferior usb to dvi solutions which can not display full screen flash videos.

[swann]

x30x series has no docking connector. You can only use a usb docking solution but going this way, you have to at least plugin two cables (usb + ac adapter) instead of just putting it into a docking station. Plus you can only use inferior usb to dvi solutions which can not display full screen flash videos.

Thx for this information. I'd never thought that the machine that comes with more power & is thus even more likely to replace a desktop is not equipped with a docking connector. I wonder what our Chinese friends gonna to omit with the next release...

[ssd_thinkpad]

They wanted to build a very thin machine, and a docking connector needs some space. This model should also have a 10 inch screen with foldable keyboard at first, so I am not so sure if they just wanted to build another x model but more an outstanding new product. You can read more about it on lenovos blog.

[jeroen020]

I considered an X301 but in the end opted for the x200s for the following reasons:

- Better battery life (I have a 4 and 6 cell)
- Regular sized hard disk (I should get my 500 GB 7200 rpm this week)
- Dock that supports dual external monitor out (For me, it drives both a 30" at 2560x1600 via DisplayPort and VGA at 1920x1200 - that's a <3 pound laptop driving 6 million pixels of screen real estate when I'm at my desk!)

[ssd_thinkpad]

You'll also get high battery life if you take a x301 with 6 cell battery and 3 cell bay battery. This should be comparable to a 9 cell x200 accu. x301 can also connected to monitors digitally, I am not sure if you can have an additional monitor connected by vga connector. SSD drives are the future and as far as I know there are no differences in price regarding their size.

Coming back to buro and first plug multiple cables into your notebook may be not so comfortable as just putting it into a docking station, though. Also the x200 is available as tablet version which has nice ips panel.

[Nubulin]

I ended up ordering the X301. I am still not totally convinced, but I could not get used to the trackpoint and 1280x800 was out. There are a lot of compareable computers out there: some smaller, almost all cheaper, but ThinkPads always seem like a real tool for real work and not a mobile DVD player like other laptops.

I could care less if my laptop had ANY display connectors as it will never be hooked up to a monitor. Any laptop in a dock makes a poor replacement for my i7 workstation with a 30" dell and a 24" Dell (soon to be 2nd 30").