Lenovo may drop X30xl in favor of T410s

[beGi]

http://www.electronista.com/articles/10 ... d.to.sell/

[Skysurfer]

Is this good news or bad news for the higher-end Thinkpad consumer?

Lawrence

[Volker]

Considering that there was no i3/i5/i7 refresh of the x30* line this is hardly surprising.

[Yossarian1]

I've stated elswhere in this forum that the X301 screen size is popular, look at all of the other brands out there. Lenovo's desire for a ultra thin laptop made it cost to much. A X201 / T410s combination in the 13" screen would be nice option.

[Danoc]

That's one of the most impressive Thinkpads (like the Powerbook G4 12", which disappeared in 2006). But the price tag is excessive.

[xyz]

They should just do one more iteration of the X3--
But with an IPS screen that would be something ...
Other than the screen they are nearly perfect machines.. in terms of size and feel
Just a pity they came at a time when finances were like this..

[pianowizard]

The X30* were the last Thinkpads that got me excited. I agree it's unfortunate that this series will be canceled.

[sanjuro]

The X30* were the last Thinkpads that got me excited. I agree it's unfortunate that this series will be canceled.

There is room for a thin & light, ultraportable with a decent performance. Basically some cross between X30* and T410s without a DVD, decent LCD and a higher performing CPU than the ULV C2D in X301. Whether Lenovo can and will make such a machine, I don't know.

[wantathinkpad]

This was extremely disappointing. I have a 5 year old 14.1 T43. at 5 4.9lbs. THe size was perfect for me. I had looked forward to getting another 14 inch laptop but 3-4 years ago the industry made everything widescreen. I began searching at all the iterations of the T series and was shocked to find that the laptops seemed to be thicker, weigh the same and have a wide screen. 5 years later the X301 seemed like the best advancement. I had hoped to buy one (with a serious discount) next year. Now my hope are shattered. What will I do? Lenovo please help.

[sanjuro]

This was extremely disappointing. I have a 5 year old 14.1 T43. at 5 4.9lbs. THe size was perfect for me. I had looked forward to getting another 14 inch laptop but 3-4 years ago the industry made everything widescreen. I began searching at all the iterations of the T series and was shocked to find that the laptops seemed to be thicker, weigh the same and have a wide screen. 5 years later the X301 seemed like the best advancement. I had hoped to buy one (with a serious discount) next year. Now my hope are shattered. What will I do? Lenovo please help.

You can go the route of ebay or thinkpad forum market place. May be Lenovo will take pity and come out with an ultra-portable at 2.5lb or lower.

[wantathinkpad]

You can go the route of ebay or thinkpad forum market place. May be Lenovo will take pity and come out with an ultra-portable at 2.5lb or lower.

lol. I don't need an ultra portable. I will take a laptop 3-4 lbs. I still need a DVD burner drive. I feel as though 5 years later my next laptop should be thinner and lighter my T43 for roughly the same price or less since it has been 5 years. My T43 was a little under 5lbs. So I don't think wanting something 4lbs is unreasonable. I guess the T410s it will have to be. We will see.

I spent an entire year on this forum before I bought my T43 and I think I was battling between and R series and then 14vs 15 models. Quality didn't vary as much by models as it does/did now. We will see what changes in the next year or so and or how my needs may change (grad school etc).

[sanjuro]

lol. I don't need an ultra portable. I will take a laptop 3-4 lbs. I still need a DVD burner drive. I feel as though 5 years later my next laptop should be thinner and lighter my T43 for roughly the same price or less since it has been 5 years. My T43 was a little under 5lbs. So I don't think wanting something 4lbs is unreasonable. I guess the T410s it will have to be. We will see.

After lugging 5 or 6 lb notebooks for a number of years, I switched to X300 and its low weight was heavenly. It was light enough so that I had no compunction against taking it everywhere.

Now I am spoiled and I can't stand the thought of going back to 5 or 6 lb notebooks when X300 is completely obsolete. On somedays even X300 feels heavy now. So T410s isn't so desirable anymore, even though I would prefer a 14" LCD. I want my next computer to break the 2.5lb barrier. There aren't many near-full-size notebooks that are sub-3lb with a decently sized LCD and an usable CPU.

[wantathinkpad]

After lugging 5 or 6 lb notebooks for a number of years, I switched to X300 and its low weight was heavenly. It was light enough so that I had no compunction against taking it everywhere.

Now I am spoiled and I can't stand the thought of going back to 5 or 6 lb notebooks when X300 is completely obsolete. On somedays even X300 feels heavy now. So T410s isn't so desirable anymore, even though I would prefer a 14" LCD. I want my next computer to break the 2.5lb barrier. There aren't many near-full-size notebooks that are sub-3lb with a decently sized LCD and an usable CPU.

True. True. I tried to keep things in perspective. I understand thoroughly what you mean about going from an X series to something greater. However, I wonder if things need to be put in perspective. I don't believe there will be a notebooks for me that is 2.5 lbs. 3 lbs is realistic. It is almost like digital cameras. When they came out they were large but over the years they have become more thin and light. However, some are now too so small they are pointless for anything. Buttons are too small that you can't even click or so many useless megapixels.. There has to be something in between.

If the 3lb X300 is to heavy for you now the that 2.5lb laptop will eventually be too heavy for you. My 5lb T43 is not too heavy for me now. It is just that 5 years I know my T43 was not the ultimate laptop or an exclusive model such as the X301. 14 inch 4lbs laptops should be a standard by now.

[pianowizard]

5 years later the X301 seemed like the best advancement. I had hoped to buy one (with a serious discount) next year. Now my hope are shattered. What will I do? Lenovo please help.

Sony's flagship laptop, the Z Series, is even better than the X301. Slightly lighter, higher resolution (up to 1920x1080), higher screen quality, and better performace. Like the X301, it has a built-in optical drive. But it is ultra expensive!

[andyP]

I'd sooner drop an X30* on the floor than a Sony Z.

The Sony Z is a wonderfull system, but....... a little fragile, to say the least. Depending on what you're looking for the X30* may be better.

It's a shame X30* has been discontinued, but there were so many complaints about it not being dockable, I guess the T40*s was the response.

[dr_st]

Dropping on the floor aside - no trackpoint and crappy chiclet keyboard is enough for many users to negate the advantages in weight and screen quality.

X300 series is a nice and interesting novelty. T400s series seems to be its logical evolution. It addressed the main problems - limited expansion options, offered faster CPUs and a bigger screen, and at a relatively small increase in weight.

[lophiomys]

I considered the x300 series one step forward in the right direction,
towards classic Thinkpad qualities.

If Lenovo would have included an LCD screen matching it's price,
I'd have bought it right away, neglecting the WideScreen format
and the Windows keyboard. The T410s is not a logic successor of the x300,
because starting from the 14-form factor a WideScreen format is not
justified anymore, as it is by the width of a full size keyboard on small
notebooks. We'd need a successor for the Thinkpad 600.

I don't understand why Lenovo would want to discontinue the X300 series?
They should improve it and fit an IPS screen into it...

This brings to my mind one of the final scenes in the movie "Burn after Reading"
by the Cohen brothers, playing in the basement . Worth watching...
SCNR

[wantathinkpad]

Dropping on the floor aside - no trackpoint and crappy chiclet keyboard is enough for many users to negate the advantages in weight and screen quality.

X300 series is a nice and interesting novelty. T400s series seems to be its logical evolution. It addressed the main problems - limited expansion options, offered faster CPUs and a bigger screen, and at a relatively small increase in weight.

I agree with the poster, lophiomys above). I simply don't consider the T410s as a successor to the X301 because of the different size screen. I am/was willing to make the sacrifice for the weight and the fact that it came with everything else I needed. To make matters worse is that the X series were said to be of far better quality. As I said in earlier posts,t 5 years ago quality was relatively the same across the Thinpad line; screen size, weight and convenience were the determinants for your Thinkpad. If you wanted a home laptop you might get an R series. If you traveled a little you would get a T then determine which screen size you wanted. Now it seems quality varies by model. But luckily the T410s quality is said to be better than the T410.

While I can't comment on the screen quality of the X series, I am disappointed as a whole there will no longer be a 13.1 inch option in the Thinkpad line.

[dr_st]

But luckily the T410s quality is said to be better than the T410.

Says who? Lately there have been a couple of opinions to the contrary...

[wantathinkpad]

Says who? Lately there have been a couple of opinions to the contrary...

oh reviews. People have said the materials themselves were different. Are you referring to "reliability"? That I am not sure about. I thought I was reading in regards to materials, flex etc. I will have to do more.