Justifying x201 for college?

So I'm starting college and I'm looking to get an x201 that will hopefully last me all four years and beyond. The problem is convincing my parents that it's a good buy at about $1300 for an i5-540, 4 gb of ram, 320 gb 7200 rpm hard drive, and a 9 cell battery with 2 years of basic warranty. They're balking at the price and I'm having trouble justifying it.

I tell them it will last me a while because it's a ThinkPad. They tell me that in the next four years there will be better stuff coming out that will out date my x201.

I tell them it's durable, they tell me (with the above in mind) why not buy a cheap laptop now and replace it 2 years down the road when said stuff comes out?

I tell them it's a very powerful computer, much more powerful than any laptop and computer we currently have, including my dad's netbook. They tell me I won't need the power of an i5-540 core if I'm in college just typing papers and doing light web surfing for a biology major.

I tell them it's better to upgrade the ram to 4gb and the hard drive to 7200 rpm now because it's too expensive to upgrade later. Again, taking all of the above into consideration, they say I won't need it.

Lastly, they ask me what happens if it gets stolen? $1300 just like that, all gone. I would've told them that no one would bother with a boring-looking ThinkPad and would go straight for the shiny Dells and MacBooks, but decided against it. They aren't the type to believe something like that.

I don't know what to do. I'd really prefer a solid, powerful ThinkPad than a consumer PC from HP or Dell, and I'm not really convinced by the ThinkPad Edge series, but I don't know how to make a case for an x201 when all my folks see is the hefty price tag adding to an already hefty cost for university. I'm considering a drop down to the i3 model, but I'd really like to partly future-proof it with an i5. I also considered a T410, but I think I'd regret not going with the lighter, smaller x201. So what can I do to convince them that it's worth getting the x201?

 

It's more expensive to buy a cheap laptop multiple times.
That said, it's not a good buy at $1300, at least not in the US. Wait for a sale, find a coupon. I got my X201 with i5-520m and 4gb ram and a 7200rpm hdd for ~$930 after tax.

 

Since you're considering this laptop, I'm assuming you're not doing hardcore gaming. Honestly, I agree with your parents in every way. There's no point in getting something that powerful/expensive...it's overkill for your needs.

 

All good points you've got there. But, it seems your parents are footing the bill, so they've got the right to have the last word on it.

But $1300 seems high since Lenovo often have those discount promotions - wait for the backtoschool promo coming soon. I wouldn't be surprised to see 30-35% off coupons.

What about going for the X200 or even better X200S? Amazing piece, more than enough power to get you through anything at school, plus S is lighter and has improved battery and that is important in your case.

Check the Lenovo outlet or even eBay, decent deals there.

 

you could consider an X201i with an i3-330M or i3-370M for around $800~875.   you'd get the build quality, long battery life, and an acceptably-powerful processor for less cash.   the i3 would still be powerful enough to last 4+ years.

search for models 3249-J2U, 3249-MCU, and 3249-MDU online.   you should find these at various resellers.

of course, you could also consider paying for part of the ThinkPad yourself and making up the difference.

 

Oh yeah, another thing. You said $ so I'm guessing you're in the US? If so, keep an eye on outlet.lenovo.com.

 

The $1300 price is from the "corporate perks members" site, which is lower than the default Lenovo price and the student discount price through my university. Not sure how to get the same specs for $930 (I'm in the U.S.)

I've thought about this long before I posted, so I can definitely see that my parents make valid points. An x200 from the outlet is a good option, especially since I was planning on getting an x201 without the trackpad anyway. I'm just a little worried about it because I've read stories about the bad customer service with the outlet and general hassles with purchasing from it (i.e. battery life?). I also have no experience with Vista/W7, so I don't know anything about upgrading to Windows 7, how I can do it, if my university will provide it, etc.

So if the full x201 configuration is off the table, it's between an x201i (with the i3) or an x200 (core 2 duo).

 

meemer, you need to look around for coupons. Logicbuy.com is a good place to start. When I got mine, there was a 20% off coupon. Even though it only worked on the regular site, that still killed the corporate site. Also, you can save $50 by getting the 520m, which is no slouch. $50 is $50. Also look at how much you can cut the price by getting a 1 year warranty.

 

I'd have to agree with erik on this one, the X201i is an excellent choice. The i3 offers about the same level of performance as my X200. Unless you've got a need to run the CPU at or near full capacity, you'd never notice a difference between the two. I think there are some X201i available via google shopping in the $750 range. The X201i will offer you all durability and portability merits of the X series at a substantial discount. The better performance performance of the i5 probably offers little value because typical notebook usage is not very CPU intensive.

 

I'm not sure I would cut corners with the warranty since it's going to be roaming around campus with him.

 

The way I see, extended warranties are for risk averse people, and because of that they don't make long-run economic sense. Service contracts are basically the highest profit items there are. If something does break, by the time that happens, there will be plenty of used parts on ebay.

 

Hey guys, I have a couple questions myself about the X201i that might help the OP too:

-Is battery life the same on the X201i? I want to get one with the nine-cell battery.

-Is the Intel HD graphics weaker with the i3 processors? How is the Intel HD with the i3 compared to an ATI Radeon 3200HD? Is there a way to make it able to clock as high as the i5 HD graphics chip if it is indeed weaker?

-Is build quality the same? Is there any differences?

-Is there a Thinkpad X201i with a 9-cell battery?

-Is the X201i a better deal than waiting for back-to-school lenovo sales for the normal X201? I can wait up to a year.

 

One more question.

-I have an extra pair of DDR2 2 GB sticks. Would putting in slower memory but with more capacity be better than littler but faster memory? Could this hurt graphics performance?

Anyone that answers my questions will be given rep.

 

If you can wait a year, wait a year. The successor of X201 will probably be out early next year (after Intel releases a new generation of processors).

X200 and X201 series laptops all use DDR3 memory, which is both physically and electronically incompatible with DDR2 memory. So your DDR2 memory will not work in either X200 or X201.

 

None of pre-configured X201i in the tabook come with the nine-cell battery. You can configure the X201i on Lenovo's website, but it's more expensive that way unless you can find some coupons. You might be better off just buying the nine-cell. Sometimes the outlet has them.

 

I think Thinkpads are pretty attractive. I'd probably rate them first than Macbooks. I like the simple design. Not that I would steal anything but if I saw a Thinkpad on campus I would drool over it. I think I may be the only person on campus with a Thinkpad...

Another possibility is looking at the HP and Dell business laptops.

I would definitely go with the x201. I got a T410 a couple months ago and I'm regretting it. It's kinda heavy to carry around and it is kinda big. Still, sometimes I enjoy the larger screen/resolution.

Parents are always difficult about these things but I would definitely, like what other people have already said, look for coupons/discounts.

Good luck on your purchase!

 

Another vote for a refurbished X200 here. You can get one for half the price at the outlet: outlet.lenovo.com

 

Is it worth getting 4 gb of ram and a 7200 rpm hdd if I'm getting the x201i?

 

4 gig maybe a good option if you have the 64 bit OS. 7200 rpm is helpful if you need faster application startup speed or file access speed.

 

Here's another vote for the X200. Unless you are going into a major where you're sure you're going to need some serious power(major coding, pro video editing, very hardcore math, research stuff) the X200 will have as much horsepower as you are going to need for a good long while. It'll take up to 8GB of RAM if you need the boost, the P8xx Core 2 Duo processors are pretty efficient as well as capable, and on the box itself it's got a decent port selection.

If you're concerned about warranty coverage I wouldn't recommend buying from the Lenovo Outlet. All their machines come with a one-year warranty, but it can't be extended beyond that. If you find a machine on, say, Ebay or Craigslist that has warranty remaining, you can extend it.

You'll find the X200 from about $500-800, depending on where you look. You could use some extra cash after that for getting some accessories... if this is going to be your only computer you might appreciate an Ultrabase with an optical drive, so you can hook up an external display, keyboard, and mouse when you're at home/dorm. Since the X201 shares the same Ultrabase, you'll be able to reuse the same equipment if you decide to move up to that model at a later date.

 

I know this is not the advice you want to hear, and this is not what this forum is about, but you are an adult now (or going to be one soon), so I am going to say it anyway.

Things in life are generally earned, not justified.

Take it for what you will, but this advice had helped me live a more fulfilling life. YMMV.

(End OT)

 

Psh, get them student loans and burn through paper like you're the government.

 

'Nuff said:
Klick me

 

The best argument you have has already been mentioned.... buying a durable laptop will, in the long run be a lot cheaper (and less hassle) than buying several crummy consumer laptops over the same time period. I know from experience that the cheap HPs and Dells will not last long unless you never move them. ThinkPads are built for traveling and can take a lot of punishment. I'm talking about the "T", "X", or "W" series, not the "Edge" or whatever other mis-use of the ThinkPad name Lenovo is doing.

 

If you can wait a year, that's your best bet. Intel has what they call a Tick-Tock chip design strategy, where they introduce new architectures one year, followed by a shrink/optimization the next. Their next architecture, Sandy Bridge is due out ~ Q4 this year. Sandy Bridge (microarchitecture) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Since Thinkpads get the latest tech, I expect new product some time in Q4 or Q1.

From what I've read, graphics performance will get the biggest boost in Sandybridge. Since the X200 ==> X201 doubled graphics performance, I expect the X2?? series will actually be able to play some games! If SATA goes through another upgrade to support SSD's, we may see a new UltraBase.

You're never going to win the argument of paying significantly more for a notebook with today's tech when "smaller, faster, cheaper" is just around the corner unless you include the cost/hassle of the cheaper computer failing. Computers with intermittent problems can be maddening. If the computer dies, you have to scramble to recover important data--like term papers/projects--while getting it repaired or replaced. Meanwhile, you're without a computer for awhile. Since products are more likely to fail while being stressed, when do you think a computer is most likely to fail for a student?

As a biology student, you have to draw. You simply cannot take notes on a PC when you need visuals. I'd go with a tablet.

1. You can WRITE notes on electronic copies of lecture notes without printing them and putting them in binders.
2. You can SEARCH the lectures electronically to find your written notes without paging through binders.
3. If you can get electronic copies of your text books, you can READ them in tablet/portrait mode without carrying the books in your bag. A portrait mode tablet has similar dimensions to standard 8-1/2 x 11" paper! Would you rather lug 30 pounds of books & lecture notes or a 5 pound notebook with spare battery?
4. You can SEARCH electronic books to find what you need including your highlights and annotations. This is critical during open book exams.
5. You can get the lojack option to find the computer if stolen.

If you're in a non-scientific class where you need not draw, graph or write equations; you can flip around the notebook and type lectures like a normal computer. You still wind up with a much superior screen. Personally, I do better using handwriting because my brain processes the data differently, but some people find typing much easier.

I found an ebay vendor that offers a fully loaded X201 Tablet (2985-C6U) with 3-year depot warranty for a little under $1,500! They ship an additional 2GB memory stick, giving 4GB total. I plan to buy from them. ellen mouse items - Get great deals on Computers Networking items on eBay.com!

I already purchased a spare power supply, UltraBase & DVD writer from the Outlet. If you watch the outlet, you can save a LOT of money on these accessories.

I do NOT recommend spending more money with Lenovo buying an upgraded hard drive. Their prices are out of line with what you can buy from a 3rd party.

 

the same model can be found for $80 less here.

'nuff said.

 

If only it didn't have the touchpad. That can be disabled in BIOS, right? I'm also hesitant to go with just 1 year of warranty.

 

you can disable the trackpad in the bios. Actually the trackpad on the X201 is not all that bad.

 

I don't see what it could hurt to have a trackpad. If you don't like it, just don't use it.

 

My model came with the TrackPoint only. I always use a mouse and don't like touchpads. But yes, you can disable the touchpad in the BIOS or via the mouse properties, UltraNav tab. One of the advantages of ThinkPads is that they come with a very detailed BIOS which allows you to turn on/off ports and peripherals and modify many settings that consumer laptops don't have.

Consumer laptops are made for people who don't even know what a BIOS is and even if they did, wouldn't bother ever even looking in there. One exception is Dell, which offers a more detailed BIOS than other consumer laptops.... unless they've changed.

 

We are so close to Sandy Bridge being released. Here is an idea that might appeal to you and your parents:

Buy some cheap computer now, like a netbook. Use it for the next few months. Sandy Bridge is Intel's next generation of processors that is set to be released for notebooks either before the year is over or in January. That means Lenovo has an X202 cooking. So, use the nextbook/cheap computer for now, then when Lenovo releases the X202 with Sandy Bridge cpu's, Sata-6, maybe USB 3.0., and other goodies, buy it. Then in 2012 when Ivy Bridge releases, swap that into your notebook and you will be good yo go until school is finished (Ivy Bridge is the 22nm shrink of Sandy Bridge and will be swappable with Sandy Bridge processors).

You like?

 

nice, but the cpu on the X series laptop is physically soldered to the motherboard, so you are stuck with the CPU that you bought when you ordered the laptop from Lenovo.

 

Maybe that will change with the X202?

 

I fully expect my X201 to last me at least 5 years. In 2015 I'll take a look around and maybe sell it and buy the latest model in this form factor. That is, if I'm still alive in 2015. (I sure hope so, I want my retirement payments back!)

 

unlikely.........

 

Hey meemer, I'm a student too, and like you the X201 was high on my list. However, after reading countless observations, the requirements of my major (Computer Science), and just the bottomline cost of things (do I really need to drop $1000+ on a laptop?), I ultimately decided to get a X200.

Why?

Well, the X200 is more than capable of doing anything I'd need to use it for. Very, very few people require Core i3, i5, or i7 laptops (or even desktops nowadays). On top of that, price - highest priority on my list to keep it as reasonable as possible. If you look around/scavenge, there are some great deals to be had! I found a "standard (4 cell, 2gb ram)" refurbed X200 for $550 (Buy It Now) on eBay. You can easily find some comparable prices on some reputable forums (Hardforums, Anandtech, here, etc). Luckily, I held out and eventually came across a deal on eBay I couldn't refuse: $750 for a X200 with a 64gb SSD, 4GB RAM, 9-cell battery, and still under warranty). What made the deal sweeter was the $60 Bing Cash Back.

You don't always need the latest and greatest unless you're doing some extremely heavy duty stuff. So save yourself the money, pick up the X200, and pocket the extra (especially being a soon-to-be-broke college student)!

 

I'm looking at the pre-configured x201i and really the only thing holding me back is the Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000. I'm wondering if it's going to be good enough for at least 4 years of on and off campus use.

 

The wifi adapter (abg) in my T40, a 7 year old laptop, still works perfectly fine. I don't see why the 1000 wouldn't.

 

Well said!

 

additional warranty can be purchased at any time before the original warranty expires.   coverage can be made up to five years total.   once you get your system, you can call the warranty department at 866-426-0005 to upgrade.

you can also purchase on-site coverage and accidental damage protection if you want.   everything depends on your needs and budget.

the 1000 is the best intel wireless card in terms of battery life.   it's specifically made to receive a good signal with low power consumption.

 

So deciding between the $797 x201i and a $725 x200 from ebay. Not so sure which to go with. I've also found some used x200 laptops for around $600, but those are auctions.

 

The X201, Core 2 Duo to Core i3 for only $77 more.

 

Unless you've got a need for the trackpad, I'd vote for the X200. The i3 and the Core 2 Duo offer about the same level of performance.

 

Last question: Is the LED screen on the x201 any better than the LCD on the x200?

 

I just found something weird. There's this ebay listing I'm watching that provides a serial number for warranty info. So I checked it and it confirms the warranty information. I also asked for a picture of the serial number on the box (auction says computer is factory sealed, unopened box) and it confirms the number.

But just for the hell of it, I entered the serial number on Google and found an auction that ended last week (no bids) that has the same computer configuration and specs from a different seller that has the same exact serial number. The auction even uses the same font and text color in the seller description.

Is there something fishy going on here? Or am I just paranoid?

EDIT: Just checked their info, both sellers have the same address and they both signed up within 8 days of each other. Think they may be the same person.

 

You're probably better off avoiding that auction, to be honest. It does sound fishy.

To answer your other question though, Lenovo/IBM laptops aren't known for the quality of their screens. I haven't read about this being much different with the X201. The X200's screen is upgradable to a AFFS one, however you'd have to be willing to open it up and change it out yourself.

 

Sometimes when laptops are not sold they get re-listed, but some paranoia isn't necessarily bad thing when dealing with eBay. I wouldn't expect the LCD on the X201 to be particularly better or worse than the X200. I didn't think my X200's LCD was that bad.

 

If the i3 has the same graphics core as the i5/i7, the 201 should have nearly double the graphics performance as the X200. I have not seen any i3-based reviews to verify this, though.

 

The i5 and i7 can overclock the GPU more than the i3 can but it seems to be a minor difference:

Intel HD review by Notebookcheck.net

I have a friend with a new laptop (Samsung R480) that has the i3-330m. He has the GMA 4500MHD. The Intel HD uses the GMA 5700MHD. My X201 will run certain games noticeably better than his R480.

 

Get a desktop or a larger notebook with at least a 8600GT if you're concerned about gaming, because gaming sucks on both the 200 and 201!

Not just because the graphics cards are weak in both, but a 12" screen is not for any serious gaming at all. And if you do light gaming, either will do the job. Saying the new HD is better than the old one, is like saying a 8800GTX is better than a 8800GTS, which the difference is not all that much.

If I were buying now, I would opt for the x201t over the x200t just because it is newer, but only if the price is very different. If it's a $70 difference between the core i3 and the x200t, the core i3 should win every time.

I'll put it this way...I wouldn't want to be stuck with either notebook being my main or only computer that is for sure!