iPad instead of x200 series?

[ssd_thinkpad]

The new iPad weights 600g. With the camera adapter you can attach a quality usb keyboard. It runs 10 hours and has an IPS display. So, advantages of the iPad:

- 10 hours
- IPS
- display in portrait mode has vertical size of a 17 inch 16:9 display
- good keyboard with camera adapter and the new iPad Smart Cover - widescreen display
- average portrait "apple dock keyboard" (I hope it's available for the iPad 2, too)
- you can carry the "screen" alone
- price and weight. To put it in perspective, you can buy two iPad 2 and it's less in both weight and price than one x220.

Disadvantages, which are advantages of the x200 series:
- no "open" computing (looks more like a Nintendo where you can install what Nintendo allows you) - the one big disadvantage for me
- you can not attach more usb products
- no mouse
- bulky as keyboard and mouse are not "together"
- no flash (added)

Please help me let the list grow!

[pit1337]

You can't (officially):

• choose OS,
• see flash in web,
• etc.

It's just limited by the mobile version of MacOSX.

[ssd_thinkpad]

Thanks pit1337! I added it to my list. More ideas, please

[yak]

I actually have both. X200 is my main machine of choice, iPad was a gift. Since I got it, I noticed that I tend to browse the web on it instead of the X200 (unless I'm working on the ThinkPad at the moment or need flash). But other than that I don't have much use for it, the X200 with its power and openess gives me much better experience when doing any other tasks. Especially since I'm a software developer, you can't really write software on an iPad

I don't want to call it a toy but as it is, the iPad can fill only 10% of my computing needs.

[ssd_thinkpad]

But other than that I don't have much use for it, the X200 with its power and openess gives me much better experience when doing any other tasks. Especially since I'm a software developer, you can't really write software on an iPad

I'd never code software on an iPad, too! But do you code on the thinkpad display, or only when connected to your external display? I am thinking about

1. getting an x200s which is both my mobile computer and my computer at home with docking or

2. getting an iPad and stay with my T60 at home connected to docking station at home

I just think the x200 screen is so small - on vertical size. For browsing it's so much scrolling. The portrait mode iPad has the vertical height of a 17 inch 16:9 display!

[erik]

why not just get an X200 tablet with multitouch?   you'll have a good display and ipad-like device rolled into one.   you'll also have a slim chassis and low-voltage processor like the X200s, solving your (respectfully speaking) odd and flawed idea of trying to cram an NV X200 into an LV X200s base.

[ssd_thinkpad]

Thanks for your ideas! I do not have so much a purpose for having a tablet, I am just interested in 1. low weight and 2. much run time.

x200s mod solution: I already have a good option to buy an x200s, and then I would just buy all x200 display parts new from ibm shop, and then do the AFFS mod. I heard the refresh rates from the x200 led tablets are rather low, I know that I really had a hard time with the x300 I bought and then gave back. The tablets are more heavy, too. I think they start at 1,4 kg, right? I think with around 10 hours run time it would be 1,7 kg or so.

iPad Solution: The iPad weights 600 g and the official supported apple keyboard 340 g. Which makes it less than 1 kg with 10 hours run time. For bigger "jobs" I'd take my IPS T60 and an external power adapter. I think this might be a good solution.

[yak]

But do you code on the thinkpad display, or only when connected to your external display?

I work mostly with the external monitor (plus TP keyboard and a mouse). But at the same time I can always snap it out and pick up the work anywhere I go, exactly at the point I left it. I have all my data and apps with me and I don't have to sync anything. It's more difficult on a smaller screen but a bigger one would mean a heavier notebook.

[LenovoGringo]

The iPad is a pretty niche product. It excels at what it does best (surfing the net/reading) and is practically useless in "power hungry apps. IMHO, if you can survive with a netbook, you will thrive with an iPad.

The X220 is a different animal and is much more rounded. BTW, an IPS panel will probably be on the X220 as an option.

[pianowizard]

iPad Solution: The iPad weights 600 g and the official supported apple keyboard 340 g. Which makes it less than 1 kg with 10 hours run time. For bigger "jobs" I'd take my IPS T60 and an external power adapter. I think this might be a good solution.

I too have thought about this novel approach and I think it will be the ideal way to go when we have more capable iPad-like tablets. I like it more than using laptops for the reasons you mentioned:

1) You can rotate the screen into portrait mode.
2) Even the combined weight of the tablet plus an external keyboard is less than that of the typical ultraportable laptop (around 3 lbs), and much less than that of laptop-style tablets (about 4 lbs.).
3) On the days you don't need the external keyboard, you can leave it behind and just grab the 1.3-lb tablet. That's even lighter than the world's lightest laptop, the Sony X Series.

But I don't want to do this yet, because the iPad2's capabilities are still very limited, and the Motorola Xoom and other comparable products aren't much better. Hopefully, within 5 years or so, these tablets will be mature enough that they can truly replace ultraportable laptops.

[DAH]

hmm I have a T60p and an iPad, the camera kit has been turned into a joke by Apple. Apple has chosen to limit the output power of the iPad to 10 ma. This means most USB flash drives no longer work, unless you run it through a powered hub. Most keyboards will not work for the same reason...

If you jailbreak your iPad you are no longer limited to what Apple approves of....

The iPad can become a second display for my T60p....

The iPad is very handy for checking out networks in my opinion....

The iPad can run my T60p,with RDC...

It is so very portable, so easy to take with you...

It is about a willingness to learn new ways of doing things, seeing things....

It is not right for all, but you will be surprised how much you can adapt to working within it's limitations...

[sxr71]

I've been an X-series user for a long time and was an exclusive user. Then I got the Vaio X. Okay computer, but slow. Then I got the Macbook Air 11.6". My x200s is collecting dust. Despite this, I am looking into the X220s (if an "s" model is released).

Having an iPad, I don't think it could replace an X200s, but the Macbook Air certainly can.

[ZaZ]

Just to offer another option, maybe you want to look at the Asus EP121. It's a slate like the ipad with both pen and finger input. It's got an IPS screen, but uses an ULV i3. It'll have some processing power and runs Windows 7, though it will probably not match the 10 hours of battery life on the ipad. I believe it has an external keyboard. It's a little more expensive than an ipad, but less than a Thinkpad tablet. I like the ipad, but it seemed heavy for something you'd hold in your hand. I prefer to use my tablet on my lap when doing computer type stuff.

[pianowizard]

It's a little more expensive than an ipad

OMG, it's over $1K! But it looks very nice indeed. The 1280x800 is clever: in portrait mode, having 800 pixel columns is much better than 768.