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Lenovo ThinkPad X300  (Source: Gizmodo)

  (Source: Gizmodo)
Lenovo readies an ultra-light notebook of its own

It seems quite convenient that just days after the launch of the MacBook Air that a new lightweight notebook from Lenovo finds itself leaked onto the web. We're not ones to sweep such items under the rug, so here's the skinny on Lenovo's latest and greatest.

According to Gizmodo, the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 uses a Merom-based 2.0GHz "Dual Core Hybrid LV" processor with a 12W thermal envelope. The hybrid nature of the processor could mean that it is related to the special processor that Apple worked with Intel to develop for the MacBook Air.

The ThinkPad X300 features a 13.3", 1440x900 LED backlit display, two DIMM slots for a maximum of 4GB of DDR2 memory, fingerprint reader, touchpad and trackpoint inputs, webcam, and a full-size keyboard.

When it comes to connectivity, Lenovo throws in everything but the kitchen sink. Physical connections include three USB 2.0 ports, three internal PCI-E slots and GbE. Lenovo covers the entire wireless spectrum with Bluetooth, 802.11n, Verizon EV-DO Rev A, Cingular HSDPA and WiMAX options.

Surprisingly, Lenovo lists just one internal storage option for the ThinkPad X300: a 64GB solid state disk (SSD). There is no mention of a HDD, but surely there will be one available, otherwise the X300 will start off as an extremely expensive notebook. For those looking for optical storage, Lenovo hasn't forgotten about you and they do in fact include a DVD burner onboard.

Most importantly, Lenovo managed to pack all of these features into a 12.5" x 9" x 0.73" - 0.92" frame that weighs 2.5 pounds. The 2.5 pound weight is likely calculated with a 3-cell battery. Lenovo lists an upper limit of 3.17 pounds which probably takes into account a 6-cell or 9-cell battery.

We don't have any information with regards to pricing or availability, but stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

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Yet no one will know about this...
By matthewpapa on 1/18/2008 8:10:43 PM , Rating: 5
Yet no one will know about this... Even though the X300 specifications meet or beat those of Apple's new MacBook. Too bad Apple has so many people eating out of their hands.




RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By stmok on 1/19/2008 9:39:05 AM , Rating: 5
Well, that's what Apple relies on.

(1) People's ignorance of computers.

(2) Visual stimulation. (ie: Looks are everything)


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By Mudvillager on 1/19/2008 11:32:53 AM , Rating: 2
Look and feel is very important, that's why you can make those sacrifices with Apple.

Although I must say that I'm incredibly impressed that Lenovo has been able to cram so much into so little space and also that they've been able to keep the weight down so much. They should've left out the DVD burner though (to me optical media today is what the floppy was to me 7 years ago, i.e. dead), but that's just my personal opinion...


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By spluurfg on 1/19/2008 1:47:44 PM , Rating: 2
Gee, I dunno... When they started to phase floppies out, hard drive discs were in the 100GB or so range... 1.44mb is pretty pathetic by comparison. An 8GB DVD is still pretty handy, since hard drives are pretty much 1,000GB max, and much less for notebooks...

Although I agree that it's not something that one uses every day anymore, it's probably still at the point where it's just irritating enough not to have one. E.g. let's install a new app, oops, let me search for my USB disc drive.


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By Mudvillager on 1/19/2008 3:08:27 PM , Rating: 2
I agree - unfortunately it's still needed. But imo an external drive does the job (in fact I don't even have an internal optical drive in my desktop PC, just an external one hidden in the closet most of the time.)


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By MatthiasF on 1/20/2008 1:35:34 AM , Rating: 2
Where do you backup your stuff? Tape drive?

Blue light DVD burners are really the next step for easy, cheap backups, so I'm not sure where you're going with your "optical is going the way of floppies" opinion.

I guess LTO1 tape drives are getting sorta cheap nowadays ($400).


By CyborgTMT on 1/20/2008 5:22:47 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
Where do you backup your stuff? Tape drive?


Um... NAS.


By Samus on 1/19/2008 6:02:12 PM , Rating: 2
I think IBM Thinkpads look great. Big and black. Just how I like it.


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By JustTom on 1/19/2008 7:06:14 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
(to me optical media today is what the floppy was to me 7 years ago, i.e. dead)


And how are people going to install software?


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/19/2008 7:52:18 PM , Rating: 2
I install most of my software on my "optical drive-less" Eee PC with a thumb drive or over the network.

I've only actually used an external optical drive twice with it.


By CyborgTMT on 1/20/2008 5:19:44 AM , Rating: 2
I have to agree about the optical drive. On all my laptops over the years I think I've used the built in drive only when upgrading, reinstalling or changing the OS. Even on my desktops, only one has a optical drive loaded on it which is shared across my network.

I've recently purchased an EEE and I don't see any reason I'll ever have to use an optical with it.


By JustTom on 1/20/2008 10:03:47 AM , Rating: 1
Good point, however software is seldom, if ever,sold on thumb sticks so some sort of optical media drive is needed somewhere in the process.

I should have phrased my original post better, however I don't see his analogy between floppy media and optical media as accurate, at least as of yet.


By kelmon on 1/20/2008 8:17:34 AM , Rating: 2
There's this thing these days that the cool kids call the Intra Web or some such. Even major applications like Photoshop can be installed over the Internet and almost all my software comes this way. The only reason not all my software is installed that way is that I have disks for some of the applications and using them is often quicker but the alternative is definitely available.

We're going to have pretty much the same arguments with optical disks as we did with floppy disks but the fact is that they aren't needed anymore. Personally, I'm waiting for the games industry to wake up to this so that you don't need to have the damned disk in the drive to play a game.


By 91TTZ on 1/21/2008 9:22:59 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
They should've left out the DVD burner though (to me optical media today is what the floppy was to me 7 years ago, i.e. dead), but that's just my personal opinion...


By 7 years ago, the floppy had already been replaced by higher capacity installation mediums. There was no point in including a floppy drive when nearly all programs came on CD-ROMs.

With no optical drive, how are you going to install programs on this? Nearly all software still comes on CD-ROM or DVD. The lack of an optical drive would really cripple a laptop.


By bhieb on 1/21/2008 10:08:54 AM , Rating: 2
How do you watch movies on a flight (legally that is)? A DVD you own cannot be legally ripped to disk. So you either have to buy it again, make an illegal copy to disk, or not watch it. If you travel one of the best things about these are the portable DVD player aspect.


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By gochichi on 1/19/08, Rating: -1
RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By stmok on 1/19/2008 11:16:35 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I don't even know why I even try to address the Windows zealots. I guess I just feel that you guys are talking smack you don't know crap about. I guess that's why.


Sorry dude, I'm NOT a Windows user. Linux, BSD, and Solaris is more my game.

You address the "Windows Zealots", because you're an Apple fan. Plain and simple. When someone talks negatively about Apple, you have to step in! Because seeing people criticizing Apple is YOUR soft spot.

Look at their operating system, your beloved OSX...Guess what's under there? Open source technology. They repackaged it and made it all pretty for those who know sweet f**k all about Unix.

Underneath that prettiness is the same girl you can meet without paying a premium to Apple. Now do you get why I say "ignorance"?

Why do you think its more robust compared to Windows? Its FreeBSD and Mach under there.

quote:
More beautiful things are worth more, that's just life. If a girl was equally nice to another girl and was prettier, she'd be more desirable. Some for men, houses, cars, all the way down to mechanical pencils and a can of corn. It's a fact of life, open your eyes already.


That is the most terrible analogy you can come up with.

You can't compare women with materialistic goods.

The most pretty girls are often the least secure about themselves. They're rarely confronted by decent guys, and are often hooked up with jerks, losers, or older men who have one thing in mind. To fuck them.

The most beautiful things in life are the ones you create yourselves. It gives you an immense satisfaction and fulfillment. Not things you buy, use for a period, then throw away.


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By kelmon on 1/20/2008 8:22:21 AM , Rating: 2
I don't understand your point. Are you suggesting that it's a bad thing that computers are simpler these days? That anyone can use a computer without a degree in nuclear physics? Windows 95 was just a UI over DOS but no one seems to suggest that this was in some way dumbing-down computing. Ignorance has nothing to do with it. Get over yourself.


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By inighthawki on 1/20/2008 1:37:13 PM , Rating: 2
I think what he is trying to say is, that macosx, being just a mod of unix to achieve a goal is much like windows itself as well, coming from DOS, that putting something on top of it doesn't justify the afterimage.


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By kelmon on 1/21/2008 3:39:34 AM , Rating: 2
Sounds like IT snobbery to me. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter what an OS is based on as long as it does its job well. Mac OS X does a good job of bringing the strengths of a UNIX operating system to both the public and developers. I don't see why people in IT should be thumbing their nose at it because you are not using a "plain vanilla" installation of FreeBSD and spending your time at the command line. Only a total muppet writes a complete program these days unless you absolutely have to since you can (and should) use existing code libraries and therefore concentrate on what makes your application "special" - why should an OS be any different and not get the commendation that it deserves?


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By zsdersw on 1/21/2008 7:05:05 AM , Rating: 3
There is only one group of true snobs in IT.. and that's the Apple fanatics. Accusations of snobbery elsewhere in IT are more hyperbole than anything.


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By robinthakur on 1/21/2008 10:20:59 AM , Rating: 2
I think its more of a chip on the shoulder of the rest of IT users who imagines the rest of the world see them as sweaty geeks who spend all their time with their pc's, whereas Apple users by comparison are seen as sophisticated media types who rejoice in the sleek design, whizzy interface and reassuring expensive of their chosen (Asus-manufactured) pc's or slouched in Starbucks on college campuses with their iBooks. They're two seperate markets. People who buy Apple's are happy to pay more and wouldn't be caught dead using a device which looked ugly and they know they are paying for it.

It doesn't make either of you wrong, they just have different priorities to you. Apple's designs will justifiably generate more buzz, because they are alot more visually appealing than their competitors, to be quite honest (see the picture above). This tends to translate well in a media obsessed with image. Remember that Apple had many years in the proverbial wilderness and nearly went bust before the iPod changed the world in its favour. Since then, every product launch has been covered by the iPod Halo effect which makes the Media go gaga for Apple like its a fashion designer or something.

There's also nothing to stop pc manufacturers spending similar amounts on designers, so their products look as good, so quit complaining. I'm sure all PC users can appreciate the beauty and simplicity of design of Apple's designs, even if such streamlining does occasionally clash with your sensibilities to customise (replaceable batteries etc).


By inighthawki on 1/21/2008 1:06:56 PM , Rating: 2
"People who buy Apple's are happy to pay more and wouldn't be caught dead using a device which looked ugly"

I'm not sure i understand your point here. Not everyone thinks Macs look beautiful (for example me). Personally the MacBook Air looks like no more than an average looking laptop, but i have seen far better looking PC Laptops in my days in my opinion. Now this is my opinion, i'm sure there's plenty of poeple to disagree with me, but you can't make comments like that and not sound extremely biased. And if you are trying to sound biased, at least try to make it sound otherwise.


By inighthawki on 1/20/2008 12:18:40 AM , Rating: 1
"Really? Is that why they'll the only company that actually describes the processor that you're buying? Cause those PCs couldn't be trickier. Should I buy a computer with an E4500 or one with a TK-47? SAY WHAT?

Compare that to, 2.0Ghz Core 2 Duo. (That's more informative, don't you think?)"

It's sad because those lines right there prove your ignorance...and no, i don't think so...

First and foremost, a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo says NOTHING. This day in age, the frequency of a processor means almost squat, it has a lot more to it such as the instructions per clock, etc. Those with any kind of knowledge whatsoever should already know the difference between processors, and if not at least be able to look up benchmarks. Sure you may be right that the average idiot would see a computer with a Celeron and a 1TB hard drive and think its good, but this same person wouldn't know crap when it came to their "2.0Ghz Core 2 Duo". Surprisingly when it all comes down to it, Apples are overpriced and they do indeed bank a lot off of ignorance, and i'm sorry if you had to hear that, but it's the truth.

Need more proof, why don't you go look up the breakdown on the iphone, i almost forgot how they were making such a high profit off of it. Most hardware usually does turn in nearly as much profit until it becomes a standard to manufacture.

So please, next time you post, use some more common sense, and a tad more knowledge.


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By UNCjigga on 1/21/2008 4:55:40 PM , Rating: 2
Well, it helps that folks will actually see the MacBook Air in a mall or shopping center (Apple Store, Best Buy, etc.) ThinkPad X300 probably won't have the same distribution. Do they even sell Lenovo ThinkPads in retail stores, or is it just the cheaper Lenovo "consumer" laptops for under $800?


By Nooorm on 2/13/2008 3:20:26 PM , Rating: 2
Some Thinkpads are in "Business" retail (e.g. BestBuy for business, Office Depot, etc.) Who knows if the X300 will be.


RE: Yet no one will know about this...
By kelmon on 1/19/2008 12:23:50 PM , Rating: 2
Is this Apple's fault or Toshiba's? Nothing is stopping Toshiba from marketing their product to the degree that Apple does but they don't and that's their own fault. Whether you like Apple or not, it's difficult to argue that they don't do a good job at making their products attractive to buyers and, more importantly, getting people to think about them.


By kelmon on 1/19/2008 12:29:53 PM , Rating: 3
I have no idea why I was talking about Toshiba. Kindly replace all references in my comments to "Toshiba" with "Lenovo".


By robinthakur on 1/21/2008 9:49:43 AM , Rating: 2
It doesn't have the same "I need that NOW. Where's my credit card?!!!!!" sensation that the Air gave me. It just looks like another ugly (albeit well-built and probably powerful) laptop.

Case in point nobody in the office is talking about this laptop today. On the day after launch of the Air most people in the office here had already pre-ordered having whipped themselves into a frenzy over how gorgeous and sleek the Air was. AND I work in an IT department in a gold partner MS company lol.

The bottom line is lament all you want, but Apple sure know how to sell a product and make an impact in its target market! I'm guessing you aint it.


By robinthakur on 1/21/2008 10:25:00 AM , Rating: 2
It doesn't have the same "I need that NOW. Where's my credit card?!!!!!" sensation that the Air gave me. It just looks like another ugly (albeit well-built and probably powerful) laptop.

Case in point nobody in the office is talking about this laptop today. On the day after launch of the Air most people in the office here had already pre-ordered having whipped themselves into a frenzy over how gorgeous and sleek the Air was. AND I work in an IT department in a gold partner MS company lol.

The bottom line is lament all you want, but Apple sure know how to sell a product and make an impact in its target market! I'm guessing you aint it.


By chucky2 on 1/18/2008 8:33:08 PM , Rating: 3
...and completely own the Latitude XT (and pretty much everything else out there).

Chuck




By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/18/2008 8:42:37 PM , Rating: 2
The Latitude XT is actually a nice tablet, it's just WAY too expensive compared to its competitors.


By chucky2 on 1/18/2008 9:32:47 PM , Rating: 2
Unless one is getting a business discount, whatever possible streangths the Latitude XT has are dwarfed by it's insanely inflated price. Even when trying to meet in the middle, it's still too expensive at that point, absurdedly so.

Chuck


By chucky2 on 1/19/2008 12:57:29 AM , Rating: 2
And speaking of a nice tablet, looks like Axiotron finally is taking orders for their Modbook - an Apple laptop converted into a tablet.

Looks pretty cool: http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbook

Chuck


By 9nails on 1/19/2008 5:01:54 AM , Rating: 2
Is there even a market for tablets? It seems that notebooks still sell despite tablets ever being created. Tablets have failed to capture any significant market share. They are a low sales item and you won't find much competition in that area until sales improve. Yes, chicken before the egg analogy applies. Simply, you won't find better tablets until there are better sales in the market segment.

Personally, a keyboard works for me - and touch displays still lack the brightness and clarity that I look for.


By davepermen on 1/19/2008 6:29:08 AM , Rating: 2
you obviously never used a new one, like the hp 2710p i own. display is great, and there is definitely a marked.. if just to turn around the display and position it like that to better show stuff (used very often by me).

the tablet gives one much more freedom you'd never imagined before, so yes, there is a marked. everyone around me would love to have one. there's just the issue of being quite pricey, so most people won't buy it as it's out of their range..


Fake?
By GRIdpOOL on 1/19/2008 9:01:39 AM , Rating: 2
I noticed that the display resolution is 1440x900....
That is a resolution of a widescreen display, right? That looks like a 4x3 standard display on that model. I understand that these are "leaked" specs, but I just want to be set straight here. I am just skeptical due to the fact that I WANT THIS THING SO BAD! All of the "thin and light" systems out there try to leave out the optical drive.... I want to keep it! This looks perfect.




RE: Fake?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/19/2008 9:49:34 AM , Rating: 2
I did a rough measure of the screen dimensions with a tape measure and got 2.25" x 1.4375". A 16:9 screen resolution works out to 1.78. The screen on the X300 works out to 1.56. A 4:3 standard screen would be 1.33.


RE: Fake?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/19/2008 9:55:19 AM , Rating: 2
Let me add that 1440x900 = 1.6. Given my crude use of a tape measurer, 1.56 is pretty close.


RE: Fake?
By squeezee on 1/20/2008 5:51:08 AM , Rating: 3
I don't see why breaking out the tape measure was necessary in the first place, 1440x900 is a fairly common 16:10(1.6:1) aspect resolution.


RE: Fake?
By 91TTZ on 1/21/2008 9:41:56 AM , Rating: 2
How do you know that the pixels are square?


Why is Apple support ignorance?
By gochichi on 1/19/2008 9:52:26 PM , Rating: 2
Seriously, the Windows zealots can't give it a rest.

If this article is true, it looks like Lenovo WILL come out with something great. It's not out yet, so there's the difference on the coverage (and here we are, so obviously it has SOME coverage).

You say Mac users are ignorant zealots, they're just relatively satisfied customers. I would say that the very most stupid Mac user is probably stupider than the most stupid Windows user but guess what, he's getting more done, more out of his computer.

A lot of people that have Macs are quite bright and successful non-geeks, so they opt for the less geeky option. It's not a crime. Besides, Mac OS is plenty for geeks too. In my Computer Science program, 1 in 3 people use a Mac, the other 2 of 3 would never say it's an ignorant choice. Pricey choice yes, but not ignorant. I use an older 12" Dell with a Matte display (something you just can't get on a PC it seems). I don't think it's that great either, but it offers a better value than any new laptop, for my needs.

I think that it just depends on your needs. The price isn't THAT bad for what you get with Macs. You just can't find a retail store that carries a PC laptop with a decent screen... they just don't sell them without that reflective gunk. Gunk aside, the display is still low quality.

This Lenovo, 2.5lbs 13" is going to cost as much or more than the MacBook Air, if not, if it's $500.00 cheaper, I'll buy it. It's that simple.

History has shown me many many times, that any time a PC is nicer or as nice as a Mac, it's way pricier.

Now don't get me wrong, a PC desktop can give a Mac desktop more than a run for its money. Dollar per dollar on a desktop, a PC is the better deal by far. You start going Lian-Li, top end motherboard and a couple of video cards in SLI and for most people the PC is going to be the most impressive of the two. But with laptops, it's quite different.

Please tell me I'm wrong. Don't say I'm ignorant, b/c that's just a lie. I know my hardware up and down. I am not getting a Mac anytime soon, but I will continue to recommend them, I think they set people that have other good aptitudes free from judgmental geeks. It lets them do their thing.

9 times out of 10, if you spend as much on a PC as on a Mac, you screwed up. Now, if you get a $300.00 PC that does everything you need, good for you, I think the value sector is where you get the most bang/dollar.

I think for a lot of you it's hard to wrap your head around the idea that many people are comfortable paying an extra $1000.00 for a better quality laptop. They know they'll use it quite a bit for the next 3 years and it's not a big deal to them. It's not your money, get over it already.

Non-geeks should spend their money however they see fit shouldn't they? I'm sure it's going to save them some headaches and such. And they'll look good, (particularly girls, girls with Macs look really cute). I love the ThinkPad look, I think most people dislike that look. I don't think they have a right to call me ignorant for liking the way a ThinkPad looks.

Though I personally prefer the look of the old school Lenovo, the MacBook Air is clearly more premium looking. It should cost more, but you'll see that it doesn't.

Finally, Mac Aluminum cases last EXTREMELY well. They'll look great for years to come. They look fragile but are actually quite robust.




RE: Why is Apple support ignorance?
By inighthawki on 1/20/2008 12:46:22 AM , Rating: 2
I'm actually quite glad you made a post down here, now i can attack you more directly.

"I would say that the very most stupid Mac user is probably stupider than the most stupid Windows user but guess what, he's getting more done, more out of his computer."

This is a very biased opinion. It is just as easy for me to say that in a fully pledged business environment, PCs are far superior. Even in a lot of home/office setups, PCs do almost everything a consumer can want right out of the box, not to mention the vast amount of software available from 3rd parties that can do anything a Mac can plus more. If the average Mac user is stupider, then you're only enforcing your point that there's a good chance they are ignorant and over payed.

"I use an older 12" Dell with a Matte display (something you just can't get on a PC it seems)."

I would definitely like to point out that not everyone likes a matte display. Often times, especially in my opinion, glossy displays look a lot more polished and well made than a matte display.

"The price isn't THAT bad for what you get with Macs...Gunk aside, the display is still low quality."

I've seen many laptops, including Mac laptops, in my days, and i can tell you for sure that the displays on any PC laptop is perfect for almost any need. The screens on modern laptops are fine, and most of the time, comparing a pc and a mac, the pc will have better hardware for the price.

"This Lenovo, 2.5lbs 13" is going to cost as much or more than the MacBook Air"

I'm not really sure why you even bothered to say that, very ignorant comment especially considering there's no pricing available. If it is, congrats, but don't count your chickens before they hatch.

"History has shown me many many times, that any time a PC is nicer or as nice as a Mac, it's way pricier."

really, I'm sure if you can give me a Mac laptop, i can find you one, if not more, pc laptops that are of same quality, for much cheaper.

"I know my hardware up and down."

According to your post above, i would say you know as much as being able to look at a clock frequency and a brand and telling about how good it is...

"9 times out of 10, if you spend as much on a PC as on a Mac, you screwed up."

Again, seriously biased. Depends what market you're speaking of. I can find a high performance gaming pc for under the price of an average mac computer for example.

"I think for a lot of you it's hard to wrap your head around the idea that many people are comfortable paying an extra $1000.00 for a better quality laptop."

It's fine if someone feels like spending the extra $1000 on a laptop, especially if it fits their needs. But firstly, "many" people do not have extra thousands to spend on a laptop, especially just to be a mac. And again i stress, "better quality laptop" is a very biased comment.

"And they'll look good, (particularly girls, girls with Macs look really cute). "

Surely you can't be serious. Anyone ignorant enough o buy a computer to make themselves "look" better deserves to be ripped off in whatever fashion.

"Finally, Mac Aluminum cases last EXTREMELY well. They'll look great for years to come. They look fragile but are actually quite robust."

And that's perfectly fine, most laptops do seem a lot more fragile and aluminum casing is a nice addition. Last time i checked, however, aluminum is dirt cheap, and if this really has much of a difference in pricing, then it's just not worth it.

And to conclude, i am going to let you know that i have nothing personal against Macs at all. If it suits your needs, PLEASE go get one. Overall, however, the point stands that PC's, especially home-built ones, can be purchased at prices tens of times cheaper than a mac and work just as well if not better (or occasionally worse). I could guarantee you, that if Mac OSX was able to be used on any PC just as easily as windows or linux, Apple would sell many fewer computers because a lot of the point of a Mac is the OS itself. Many programs are designed to work with OSX and not windows, and are a lot of times handfuls more efficient. With that being said, i would love to see your rebuttal of the argument.


RE: Why is Apple support ignorance?
By robinthakur on 1/21/2008 10:40:27 AM , Rating: 2
If you knew much about the sort of people that buy Mac's you'd know that price isn't a big concern. The fact that Apple's demographic is small, relatively, to the rest of the market is proof of this. They are objects of desire far removed from the standard Dell's and Lenovo's and are not positioned on the same level. I'm quite sure that pc's offer better value, but that is missing the point. Apple has always thrived on its faux-subversive 'think different' mantra and this differentiates them in the market place along with their premium price. If you are waiting for a cost effective piece of Apple kit, keep waiting. The iPod was the free first hit, the rest you have to pay for!

Also do not make the mistake of judging other people's purchasing decisions and abilities based on your own, they are two different things. After all, having read alot on here you'd think that the iPhone was a colossal failure and with the best will in the world, that's hard to swallow :)

I'm not saying that the people that buy Apples are overpaid or stupid, its their decision and they vote with their hard earned money.


RE: Why is Apple support ignorance?
By inighthawki on 1/21/2008 1:12:11 PM , Rating: 2
OK i do have to apologize for putting in statements regarding money; however, this does not change the fact of the OS itself. Most, if not almost all people i know with Macs got them because they like OSX better than linux or windows, and surely that's not a crime, but making OSX easy to install on any PC would definitely lower Apple's sales. One of my teachers is a die hard apple fan, and he even complimented my acer laptop because it looked nice, yet he wasn't sure whether he wanted to buy an apple/pc because of OSX/windows, respectively. Point being, if OSX was widely available to PC users, and PCs are actually that much cheaper, it seems it would be likely that many would use PC hardware over Apples computers.


By UNCjigga on 1/21/2008 5:21:10 PM , Rating: 2
Bingo. While the attractive design and "feel-good" (smug?) advertising definitely attracts a fair share of sheep, the bottom line is that Apple is winning more converts on the strengths of OS X and their retail presence. I think a lot of the hardware geeks on this site assume that most Mac users aren't tech savvy, are easily swayed by "pretty things" or just can't recognize good value.

Truth is, a Mac is a good value to those who don't need the power or versatility of a PC. Spending 2 grand on a Mac isn't a big deal for someone who won't upgrade for 3-4 years. I imagine most people complaining about Mac pricing will spend $500 a year on upgrades during the same time period. OS X is much easier to use than Vista and a great OS for laptops (Expose and Dashboard make multiple windows on small screens a breeze). Many common applications included in iLife or iWork ($79) are cheaper than the most popular MS software on PC.

Consumers also like the AppleCare plans and in-store service options for Apple. You can get a PC at BestBuy and hope their GeekSquad can help you, but its not the same level of support you'll get from a genius bar at an Apple store. Believe it or not, Apple Store employees are actually pretty knowledgeable about their product. A GeekSquad guy won't know all the ins and outs of every HP, Toshiba, Acer, etc. that they carry.


displayport ftw
By 8steve8 on 1/18/2008 9:39:27 PM , Rating: 2
gotta say this easily beats out the air.

added it to my table of ultraportables..

why doesn't this have a penryn?

http://steve8.selfip.info/?p=41




RE: displayport ftw
By dcalfine on 1/19/2008 11:35:47 AM , Rating: 2
because no one has penryn yet
intel didn't do its homework

I'm not sure I agree with you that the X300 beats the Air. Sure, it seems more powerful (and the screen resolution is definitely a winner) but the gesture-based trackpad and backlit keyboard make the MacBook Air more usable, despite its thinness.


RE: displayport ftw
By djcameron on 1/19/2008 12:24:21 PM , Rating: 3
Forget the trackpad, this one has the IBM "nipple". Waaaay better.


RE: displayport ftw
By zsdersw on 1/21/2008 7:08:56 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
intel didn't do its homework


Very few claim that Intel isn't "doing its homework" these days.. because everyone else knows better.


We have a winner!
By nortexoid on 1/21/2008 7:49:49 AM , Rating: 2
The screen resolution seals the deal...no competition!




RE: We have a winner!
By jconan on 1/22/2008 3:40:51 AM , Rating: 2
at least the 1440x900 is still better than macbook pro air's resolution specification: (Supported resolutions) 1280 by 800 (native), 1152 by 720, 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, 800 by 500, 720 by 480, and 640 by 480 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio

I think I'll also get the x300. Wonder what the price is gonna be. Wish they also popped in a G8800m with it


Integrated GPS and 7mm Optical drive
By dickeywang on 1/19/2008 3:39:05 AM , Rating: 1
If you look at the x300 features (figure) listed gizmodo, there is an option for integrated GPS.Also the height for optical drive is 7mm instead of 9.5mm as the one on the T-series.
Although it seems the x300 won't come with the thinklight feature, which is useful when the laptop is used in a dark room. Also the performance of the integrated Crestline GPU is a big unknown.




By ChoadNamath on 1/19/2008 4:54:07 AM , Rating: 2
I'm a little confused about whether or not it has the ThinkLight. The "technical features" has it listed under both "supported" and "unsupported." Looking at the picture, it looks like there might be a ThinkLight in the center of the bezel.


Wow
By pauldovi on 1/18/2008 8:11:44 PM , Rating: 2
Now that is a nice notebook. :)

I was always hoping for a widescreen X series.




thats why...
By Randum on 1/19/2008 1:34:08 AM , Rating: 2
great example why people shouldn't pee their pants when seeing apple put out anything-either someone already did it...or its just old technology packaged in a new "exciting" way...




No 2.5" hard drive
By ChoadNamath on 1/19/2008 2:01:57 AM , Rating: 2
It looks like the reason they're pushing the solid state drive is that it doesn't support 2.5" hard drives. So it's either using a 1.8" option or only offers solid state. I'd much rather have a 2.5" hard drive option and be able to use a 5400 or 7200 RPM drive than have an optical drive onboard. I guess these are the kind of compromises you have to make, though. I really like that they're finally making their ultralights widescreen, and the weight reduction is nice too, although it's probably significantly affected by the switch to SSD. Either way, I'm a big fan of Thinkpads, and really wish I could afford one of these.




Why is Apple support ignorance?
By gochichi on 1/19/2008 10:30:38 PM , Rating: 2
Seriously, the Windows zealots can't give it a rest.

If this article is true, it looks like Lenovo WILL come out with something great. It's not out yet, so there's the difference on the coverage (and here we are, so obviously it has SOME coverage).

You say Mac users are ignorant zealots, they're just relatively satisfied customers. I would say that the very most stupid Mac user is probably stupider than the most stupid Windows user but guess what, he's getting more done, more out of his computer.

A lot of people that have Macs are quite bright and successful non-geeks, so they opt for the less geeky option. It's not a crime. Besides, Mac OS is plenty for geeks too. In my Computer Science program, 1 in 3 people use a Mac, the other 2 of 3 would never say it's an ignorant choice. Pricey choice yes, but not ignorant. I use an older 12" Dell with a Matte display (something you just can't get on a PC it seems). I don't think it's that great either, but it offers a better value than any new laptop, for my needs.

I think that it just depends on your needs. The price isn't THAT bad for what you get with Macs. You just can't find a retail store that carries a PC laptop with a decent screen... they just don't sell them without that reflective gunk. Gunk aside, the display is still low quality.

This Lenovo, 2.5lbs 13" is going to cost as much or more than the MacBook Air, if not, if it's $500.00 cheaper, I'll buy it. It's that simple.

History has shown me many many times, that any time a PC is nicer or as nice as a Mac, it's way pricier.

Now don't get me wrong, a PC desktop can give a Mac desktop more than a run for its money. Dollar per dollar on a desktop, a PC is the better deal by far. You start going Lian-Li, top end motherboard and a couple of video cards in SLI and for most people the PC is going to be the most impressive of the two. But with laptops, it's quite different.

Please tell me I'm wrong. Don't say I'm ignorant, b/c that's just a lie. I know my hardware up and down. I am not getting a Mac anytime soon, but I will continue to recommend them, I think they set people that have other good aptitudes free from judgmental geeks. It lets them do their thing.

9 times out of 10, if you spend as much on a PC as on a Mac, you screwed up. Now, if you get a $300.00 PC that does everything you need, good for you, I think the value sector is where you get the most bang/dollar.

I think for a lot of you it's hard to wrap your head around the idea that many people are comfortable paying an extra $1000.00 for a better quality laptop. They know they'll use it quite a bit for the next 3 years and it's not a big deal to them. It's not your money, get over it already.

Non-geeks should spend their money however they see fit shouldn't they? I'm sure it's going to save them some headaches and such. And they'll look good, (particularly girls, girls with Macs look really cute). I love the ThinkPad look, I think most people dislike that look. I don't think they have a right to call me ignorant for liking the way a ThinkPad looks.

Though I personally prefer the look of the old school Lenovo, the MacBook Air is clearly more premium looking. It should cost more, but you'll see that it doesn't.

Finally, Mac Aluminum cases last EXTREMELY well. They'll look great for years to come. They look fragile but are actually quite robust.




Well.
By Locutus465 on 1/21/2008 4:48:05 PM , Rating: 2
Don't I feel out-dated as far as laptop tech goes lol!! I'm all excited because I just bought my self a $599 HP Pavilian DV6000 series. I'm upgrading the RAM to 2GB (system max I think actually), and depending upon performance after that (this will be my VS 2005 development machine) I might upgrade to the fasted HDD I can find for a laptop.

Anyway, this sytem is pretty decent for the bucks, built in wireless, 4 in 1 card reader, DVD Burner, came preloaded with Vista Home Premium which is good for me. The only major weak point (for me) is the GeForce Go 7150M graphics chip, a tad slow for heavy vista effects such as the "rolladex" task switching thing. And honstly, at least for me... Even when traveling this laptop is hardly an issue, it doesn't weigh all that much at all.




Why?
By pauldovi on 1/18/08, Rating: 0
RE: Why?
By daBKLYNdoorman on 1/18/2008 8:23:56 PM , Rating: 1
Alright, whatever you say.

I've been to the Apple Store a few times and if I wasn't the gamer that I am, I wouldn't mind switching to a Mac.


IMO, Lenovo's notebooks are just ugh.
By daBKLYNdoorman on 1/18/08, Rating: -1
RE: IMO, Lenovo's notebooks are just ugh.
By dblagent on 1/18/2008 8:13:33 PM , Rating: 5
I actually love the trackpoint, it is much easier to use for me and I am much faster on one. I love working on IBMs and Lenovos just so I can use those. Try one, you might like it!


By noirsoft on 1/19/2008 1:31:55 PM , Rating: 2
While the original poster may have stated it a bit inelegantly, I personally hate the trackpoint. I used one for years on an old IBM laptop, and it was slow and clumsy (or fast and imprecise depending on the acceleration value) compared to a trackpad. I won't buy a laptop if it has one (like some of the ones with both a trackpoint and a trackpad)

The ones on some of the super-mini portables that have the trackpoint in the upper right corner for thumb use are batter, and probably the best choice for that size of notebook, but trackpads are orders of magnitude more precise.


By Locutus465 on 1/21/2008 4:50:15 PM , Rating: 2
I agree, the trackpoint is nice, actually nice to have the options available to you... I hope they've started including a "turn off touchpad" button like my new HP has. That's critical as far as I'm concerned, that's the one thing I hate about using laptops... the mouse going crazy while I type because my palm brushes up against the touchpad.


By VooDooAddict on 1/18/2008 8:14:38 PM , Rating: 2
Umm I do. Especially on ultra portables.

Both is best in my opinion. If you are sitting on a cramped train you may only be able to effectively use one or the other option.


RE: IMO, Lenovo's notebooks are just ugh.
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/18/2008 8:15:22 PM , Rating: 2
I love the trackpoint. I can't stand rubbing my hand against a trackpad. I plug in a mouse whenever I can to avoid using trackpads.

But with trackpoint, I feel right at home without the need for an external mouse.


By Dennis Travis on 1/19/2008 5:25:12 AM , Rating: 2
Agreed on the Trackpoint. I love the Trackpoint and it's one of the reasons I love Thinkpads so much.


RE: IMO, Lenovo's notebooks are just ugh.
By Schadenfroh on 1/18/2008 8:15:34 PM , Rating: 2
The trackpoint (what you refer to as " the read mini trackball thing") is much better than a touchpad.


RE: IMO, Lenovo's notebooks are just ugh.
By Cylee22 on 1/18/2008 11:23:25 PM , Rating: 2
I also personally love the trackpoint. I recall back in the day when lots of laptops used it. Why are they now relegated to only a small amount of laptops now?


RE: IMO, Lenovo's notebooks are just ugh.
By iiiceaser on 1/19/2008 3:11:11 PM , Rating: 2
I think anyone who can touch type should love the little "nipple", "trackpoint", or whatever you want to call it. I have an old Dell Inspiron 8100 with one; and I will never own another laptop that doesn't have one. If you're coordinated its a very small learning curve until you can manipulate the trackpoint faster and with more accuracy than you could ever dream of using the ridiculously clumsy touchpads (which note to the originator of this post are far older and more outdated). The best touchpads nowadays are the ones with the little button where you can deactivate them on the fly.

I often wish I had a trackpoint on my desktop keyboard so I didn't have to pick my hand up off the keyboard to move a mouse.

Again, back to the originator of the post. He/She places more importance on aesthetics than on what the hardware can actually do. You can't get mad at the ignorant though, they don't know any better...


By masher2 (blog) on 1/19/2008 3:43:14 PM , Rating: 2
> "I often wish I had a trackpoint on my desktop keyboard so I didn't have to pick my hand up off the keyboard to move a mouse"

Several companies sell standalone keyboards with trackpoints on them. Here's one such:

http://www.partstore.com/Part/IBM%20Corporation/IB...


RE: IMO, Lenovo's notebooks are just ugh.
By psychobriggsy on 1/20/2008 8:12:38 PM , Rating: 2
No it's not.

It's entirely subjective.

I love trackpads - move the cursor, scroll a window, click by tapping with one or two fingers. You just can't do that with trackpoint, it's so limiting. In My Personal Opinion.


By Tamale on 2/9/2008 2:14:54 PM , Rating: 2
ha.. with the HP nc8430 point stick you can:

move the cursor
scroll a window (press middle button and the point stick scrolls)
click by tapping on the stick
drag by pushing harder on the stick

i love track point sticks, but i can understand if people don't, so what I don't understand is why more laptop don't put both on. it's not like you can't disable the one you don't like and it's not like including one limits your ability to include the other..

if the EEE pc had a pointing stick that'd be awesome..


RE: IMO, Lenovo's notebooks are just ugh.
By Flunk on 1/18/2008 8:25:48 PM , Rating: 2
Who cares that they all look like black bricks, they last forever.

It also helps that since they rarely update their style your notebook will not look dated very quickly, unlike say Apple where if your notebook is last year's model you are already horribly passe.

durability > looks


By DokGonzo on 1/19/2008 4:47:53 AM , Rating: 2
I actually love the Thinkpad look and I bet many others do too. It's a kind of understated elegance, minimalistic approach, like the Monolith from 2001 Space Odyssey...


By Gumby16 on 1/18/2008 9:18:57 PM , Rating: 2
I've been using a Lenovo 3000 N100 for almost two years for both work and personal use. I love it. I've never had any problems. The security features were fantastic. The thing is rugged as a friggin' sherpa. I've also used various models over the years from Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, and HP. And I'd have to say that the Lenovo's are the best of the bunch (in my own opinion). They may not look pretty, but I'm not buying them for looks. I'm buying them to work and keep working.


By stmok on 1/19/2008 9:34:40 AM , Rating: 2
There's only 3 reasons why I only buy ThinkPads when it comes to notebooks.

(1) TrackPoint
(2) Build quality
(3) Linux compatibility

Throughout all these years, the ThinkPad name has yet to let me down in these three areas that are important to me.


RE: IMO, Lenovo's notebooks are just ugh.
By iFX on 1/19/2008 10:00:16 AM , Rating: 1
People making a hell of a lot more money than you.


By GoodRevrnd on 1/19/2008 3:33:42 PM , Rating: 2
oh man this one made me laugh out loud

seriously though, trackpoint >>>>>> horrid touchpad


By kelmon on 1/19/2008 12:28:10 PM , Rating: 1
I'm running a MacBook Pro these days but when I had an IBM ThinkPad in the dim and distant past I really did like the nipple rather than the trackpad. This was possibly because it acted a bit like a mini joystick and I knew where I was with one of those whereas a trackpad was all new to me. Whether I would feel the same today is debatable since I'm now on my (I think) 5th laptop with a trackpad only but I can't see that I'd be against it and the option to choose what you prefer is always nice.


By davidedney123 on 1/20/2008 4:34:46 AM , Rating: 1
Once you get outside of the market of consumer dross laptops a lot of them have trackpoints - the entire Dell Latitude series for a start. When you spend more than $499 you get to have things like a trackpad AND a trackpoint.

As for the styling, I really like Thinkpads and always have - no bowing to stupid trendy fashions, just chunky industrial design. In enterprise IT the things you look for in a laptop are very different to the things that attract home buyers. I would say that the Thinkpad X and T ranges are the best built laptops in the world, and by a mile too.

Additionally, for those who seem to think that everyone else making subnotes should give up now that Apple are in the game - the first time I see a Macbook Air in a corporate environment I will eat a lightbulb.

Dave


Why do you do this?
By diego10arg on 1/18/08, Rating: -1
RE: Why do you do this?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/18/2008 8:18:43 PM , Rating: 2
I don't think I compared it to the MacBook Air at all in the article. I simply mentioned the MBA in passing in the first paragraph due to the timing of the "leak"


RE: Why do you do this?
By diego10arg on 1/18/08, Rating: -1
RE: Why do you do this?
By daBKLYNdoorman on 1/18/2008 8:30:38 PM , Rating: 5
Don't you get it? He's not comparing the two notebooks. He's just mentioning the MacBook Air because it was introduced just this week and its very similar to the Lenovo notebook he's writing about.

It's like saying "I brought an Intel quad-core today, but AMD just came out with their Phenoms. I wonder which one is better...".


RE: Why do you do this?
By diego10arg on 1/18/08, Rating: -1
RE: Why do you do this?
By baseball43v3r on 1/18/2008 10:18:21 PM , Rating: 2
yea that is so funny it almost made me laugh. not. so the Quad-Core and the Phenoms could be in the same market niche so the could be related, kind of a stretch isnt it? These 2 laptops affect two vastly completely different market segments, and there simply is no comparison except in the fact that they are both laptops. one is meant for ultra-connectivity and one is meant for ultra-portability. So no they couldnt be related. and who cares if he uses the word airmac in his article? dont be so offended, he wasnt bashing it, he was only using it to put some context to how the article was "leaked"


RE: Why do you do this?
By djcameron on 1/19/2008 12:37:49 PM , Rating: 1
Heaven forbid we desecrate the alter of the almighty Apple by using the name Lenovo in the same breath. Maybe Brandon is enebriated! All praise the almighty Steve!


RE: Why do you do this?
By robinthakur on 1/21/2008 10:46:26 AM , Rating: 2
I think he was an Apple basher not a supporter...! Some people are just too sensitive. Is it forbidden to have a sense of humour here or just strongly implied?


RE: Why do you do this?
By shabby on 1/18/2008 8:32:51 PM , Rating: 5
You're right, the macbook air and this laptop have nothing in common.
The macbook air is a barebones laptop that makes a fashion statement while this one is a feature packed one which can be used for everyday tasks.


RE: Why do you do this?
By robinthakur on 1/21/2008 10:57:30 AM , Rating: 2
OK...and out of those two which is likely to sell more? Which everyday tasks can't the MBA do just as well as the Thinkpad pray tell?

Different markets but don't paint the MBA as pointless, it just comes off as ignorance on your part.


RE: Why do you do this?
By munim on 1/18/2008 9:16:28 PM , Rating: 3
Why not? Ultra portables, just because one lacks a bunch of features doesn't necessarily put it into a different market, haha.


RE: Why do you do this?
By michal1980 on 1/18/2008 10:33:59 PM , Rating: 2
because if you compare the MacAir to most other ultra portables your left wondering WTF. Wheres all this other stuff.

The apple is like a hot blond. Fun... as long she doesnt speak.


RE: Why do you do this?
By stmok on 1/19/2008 9:41:58 AM , Rating: 2
That's unfair to blondes!


RE: Why do you do this?
By djcameron on 1/19/2008 12:42:51 PM , Rating: 3
I wish I could vote! That's one of the best comments I've ever heard!


RE: Why do you do this?
By robinthakur on 1/21/2008 10:53:37 AM , Rating: 2
If the Macbook is the hot blonde then this laptop is the plain girl with the buck teeth, eye-patch and acne.

Seriously I guess its specs are nice and it will find an audience, but a big decider on the ultra portable market is the look and feel of the product! I know they are built like tanks but still...

Seriously I think the Air looks like a very gorgeous and usable product. The proof will come with sales numbers and you'll realise that blonds have more fun!


RE: Why do you do this?
By chance1138 on 1/22/2008 5:48:49 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
If the Macbook is the hot blonde then this laptop is the plain girl with the buck teeth, eye-patch and acne
*edit* and the degree in astrophysics.


RE: Why do you do this?
By baseball43v3r on 1/22/2008 8:55:23 PM , Rating: 2
seems like your basic arguement is that since its pretty it is better, regardless of its functions (or lack thereof).

too bad if you ask the hot blonde for homework help, all she's going to do is look pretty, because you cant communicate with her, wheres if you ask the plain girl, she can direct you the section in the library, help you study, and get you to finish your homework.

but your right, looks are everything.


Dell XPS M1330
By dajeepster on 1/18/08, Rating: -1
RE: Dell XPS M1330
By amanojaku on 1/18/2008 10:48:51 PM , Rating: 2
What makes you say that? It looks nothing like the M1330! Jeez...


RE: Dell XPS M1330
By 8steve8 on 1/19/2008 1:36:23 AM , Rating: 2
no its very different from that laptop


RE: Dell XPS M1330
By davidedney123 on 1/20/2008 4:41:08 AM , Rating: 1
The only similarities between the two come from the fact they are both 13" subnotebooks. As much as I like the M1330 it's not particularly well built and doesn't feel like a high quality product to me - it's better than most consumer level stuff but not a patch on a Thinkpad, Dell Latitude or one of the HP business range in terms of materials or build quality, other than the fantastically good keyboard on the XPS!

Dave


RE: Dell XPS M1330
By Techno Pride on 1/20/2008 9:23:51 AM , Rating: 1
Nope. The Ethernet port is in a different position. And that Dell is actually a Samsung, which is why it looks so nice.

If those weren't *that* expensive to begin with, I might actually buy one myself. The M1330, that is.


RE: Dell XPS M1330
By dajeepster on 1/21/08, Rating: 0
RE: Dell XPS M1330
By mino on 2/17/2008 8:34:00 AM , Rating: 2
Maybe, once, You will undestand...

That the specifications themselves tell very little about a notebook.

Regardless. To say a Thinkpad is just a DELL rebrand, well, I am quite surprised so little people reacted to your insult.


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