My new X200S

[JasonX200]

So I've received my new X200S yesterday. The options are pretty much the same as many of yours, except for a few differences. First is Windows 7 x64 is preloaded, so full Enhanced Experience. Second is I have the WXGA (1280x800) LED display, which is an option just offered quite recently. Everything is else is somewhat standard for most users here (SL9400, 2GB ram, 9 cell battery, no finger print reader or camera, Thinkpad BGN)

Everything works great and build quality is almost perfect. The only problem was the battery sat a little loose, but is fixed now and is rock solid.

Regarding the screen, it looks very nice. The resolution is just about as small as I would like it to be, any smaller and I might have to strain. At full brightness, it's almost as bright as my HP DV5 (which is an "entertainment" notebook).


Windows 7 is alright. Startup time is kind of quick, it's hard to determine a precise time since I've only started up three times (and with updates two of those times). Shutdown time is actually surprisingly fast. Complete shutdown in about 7 seconds.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. And no, I won't rip open the display to check the LCD connector. Not yet anyways...

Edit: I forgot to mention that this laptop cost me ~$750 new from Lenovo.

[sugo]

What do you think about the backlit LED LCD in terms of viewing angle, color contrast and backlight bleeding? Thanks.

[JasonX200]

Perhaps I'm lucky, but there is no backlight bleeding on my unit. The viewing angle is pretty good left-to-right, I'd say about 20degrees on full brightness and I can still clearly read what's on the screen. Up-to-down viewing angle isn't as great as I'd hoped, pretty much the same as any other LCD panel. Color contrast is also pretty good. The display is only very slightly bluish compared to my HP and Sony Laptop, however, it's nothing I could notice unless the were all next to each other.

After a few more startups and shutdowns, Windows is useful in about 25 seconds (I have a logon password, so that screws up the timing a bit) and shutdown is still at about 7 seconds. Enhanced Experience seems to be working well, since I still have all the ThinkVantage stuff on the laptop.

I'll have pictures of the viewing angles later tonight.

[magnusansky]

Hi JasonX200

How did you tighten your X200S' battery? Mine does seem to have about a millimeter of give/slide on the right hand side.

Thanks

[sxr71]

The fix I've been using for the battery issues on every Thinkpad I have is to fold a piece of paper or even paper towel and place it between the battery and the battery holder so as to hold the battery still. It creates a small gap between the battery and battery holder but it was my simple solution.

These machines are otherwise solid but having been through 4 generations of X-series Thinkpads one would wonder when they finally figure out a way of eliminating this battery play issue in this series of laptops. I think it's about time.

[mattbiernat]

in my x300 the battery is completely immobile but the placement of the battery is also completely redesigned.

[icantux]

What exactly is this "Enhanced Experience" supposed to be? Some sort of registry tweak or something?

I'm running Win7 Pro x64 on my X61 (T7500, 4GB RAM) and the thing starts up in 18 seconds (max) to a full-working desktop; shutdown is less than 5 seconds. This is on a fresh install as well... leaves me wondering.

Congrats on your x200s.

[fjs08]

I'm in the market for a small, thin "netbook" type laptop and ThinkPads have always been my favorite.
I have an older t40p that I use a lot now.
X series looks very nice, but I'm not a whiz on this stuff and I don't really understand the differences between the x200, x200s, and the x301's other than they seem to be much more expensive.

I'm looking for mostly a "netbook" type computer with a camera so I can see my grandson while we travel. Light, small, thin is paramount plus I want that ThinkPad keyboard.

Oh and does your battery fall out of the new unit??? or is it just loose??
Seems strange.

Thoughts on this??

Thanks.
Frank

[csv96]

At < 2.5 lbs, the Thinkpad X200s is lighter than most netbooks on the market (except the new Sony Vaio X-Series). I think it's the ultimate netbook killer.

[TheOfficefan]

At < 2.5 lbs, the Thinkpad X200s is lighter than most netbooks on the market (except the new Sony Vaio X-Series). I think it's the ultimate netbook killer.

I have both an x200 and a Samsung NC10 netbook. While their weights are similar, their footprints are not. To me, this, and their price, are the top features of netbooks. 10" netbooks are just so easy to carry around.

As for the x200 being a netbook killer, with their prices $800 and up, I don't think they accomplish this. However, my x200 is a way superior machine.

Aside from the cost, the beauty of the x200 is its very small form factor and powerful cpu. Also, you can hook it up to an external monitor and use it like a desktop. If you can afford it, the x200 is a great machine.

[kiwimeat]

At < 2.5 lbs, the Thinkpad X200s is lighter than most netbooks on the market (except the new Sony Vaio X-Series). I think it's the ultimate netbook killer.

I agree with this sentiment.

I took delivery of a X200s last week that I purchased new off Ebay for US$875. All up it cost me AU$1100 including courier shipping. It is also important to note that the cheapest local price for an X200s is more than AU$2000 (or US$1900 at current exchange rates).

I'm extremely happy with it. Very similar specifications to the OP, except that it only has the 4 cell battery & 3 GB of RAM. Mine was running Windows XP but now has a 500GB hard disk running Windows 7 32-bit. I have also upgraded the warranty to 3 years.

Here in Australia, the bigger than 10" netbooks are close to (or exceed) AU$1000 so getting a far superior machine for marginally more is fantastic. I was considering the Inspiron 11z, Samsung N510 and Acer 1810TZ but the Thinkpad beats threm all in my view.

[obarriel]

I have just got a 2nd hand x200s (wxga+ led display, sl9400)

I am quite satisfied with it, but I wouldn't pay the price it cost as a new laptop. The only clear improvement over previous generations thinkpads from the X series is the more powerful components. Build quality is above average, but perhaps not as good as some older thinkpads (specially for the led panels, that have a flexing screen case).

For a TN the screen is quite good, of course nowhere near a Flexview screen, but I have seen much worse screens in laptops. I like its great resolution, perhaps it was the only thing that made me decide for this x200s instead of a X6..

I agree that the x200s is very light but it is not as portable as netbooks