New MACBOOK AIR vs x201

So... what's the word on this smackdown from those who have serious knowledge of one or both of these laptops?

 

new mean the new Macbook Air or the old superseded model?

What do you want to know?

 

Very different machines. The x201 has the processing power (probably 4 times as much). The Macbook Air has the portability, luxurious feel, and more graphics power. They both run ~7 hours (9 cell x201). The Air comes standard with SSD and boasts some nice standby times, but I've never seen them tested.

The 13.3 inch air has the wxga+ screen and a better processor. But if you just want a secondary computer, the 11.6 is really nice...also really expensive.

 

Nothing in particular; just looking for general thoughts. I mainly use Office, Web Apps (salesforce, 37signals), Acrobat PRO and Visio. The Air does look like a nice takealong with a hefty price tag. I've been telling myself it was the Mac machine I've been waiting for. I might go for it. I still don't understand how a stronger processor doesn't equal better graphics -- maybe someone can explain it to me in a nutshell.

 

The new MBA is thinner.

lol

I'd still take my X301 anyday over the new MBA

 

The apps you mentioned are not that CPU or gpu intensive. So either the x201 and Mac air is fine. The 13.3 inch air is more of a direct comptetior to the x30x. Notice how apple directly avoids the 14.1 inch and 12.1 inch segments?

If you are going to use an air as your daily portable workhorse, I would say the 13.3 inch is the most preferable one, due to the slightly larger screen size. the smaller version Air is more of apple interpretation of what a NetBook should be.

It is somewhat strange that lenovo do not have a 13 inch t or x series laptop.

 

Yeah...I agree! I wish there was a 13" Thinkpad. Personally, I think the 13" is a perfect size! No chance of the 13" coming back into the ThinkPad portfolio is there?

 

I do, too. I was very disappointed when the X30x series was discontinued.

 

A 13" with a AFFS or IPS WXGA+ LCD is a compelling offering. I guess you can't have it all.

 

...or if there were an affs option for the t4x0s series.

 

N...but I would hope that we could have the 13" form factor.

 

It seems weird that Lenovo decide to skip over the entire 13 inch segment. I would be happy if lenovo sold the t300 or even a t300s. It seems to be such a convenient form factor to not having anything in (other than the edge series).

 

Drop some water on the keyboard on both machines and then we'll talk.

 

the macbook air lacks a rj45 connector which might be a tad bit inconvenient depending on your usage habits.

 

Yes, I agree 100% that Lenovo should definitely bring back a 13" model. It is IMO, the perfect size for a laptop.

Back on topic, I went to the Apple store about 4 days after the new MBA was released, just to get some hands on time with it.
I left the Apple store actually impressed. It was SUPER thin, had a gorgeous screen, and a nice easy to use trackpad. Only thing I didn't like about the unit (and actually why I still prefer my X301 OVER the new MBA is):
1. No DVD/CD drive
2. No "track-point" (not expected either, but since I got used to them so much, I will not buy another laptop without it)
3. Too many complaints about dead pixels, heat issues, etc. (just google it for yourself)
4. It just didn't have that nice, rigid "Thinkpad" feel that I've been used to since 2008.
5. IMO, they (Apple) didn't upgrade the MBA enough to consider it an upgrade as far as the processor.

 

6: cant upgrade the RAM at all, you buy a 2 gb machine your stuck there, you buy a 4 gb unit thats MAXIMUM.

7: not enough storage options, upgradability or ports to be a serious laptop ... more of a hybrid laptop/netbook

8: where the heck is a WWAN feature for the supposedly mobile users they are targeting?

9: dont drop it, honest just dont!!!!, I have 2 of them here which are now spare parts.

 

you wouldn't want to drop any of Apple's laptop.

 

At least not in the case were there isn't someone looking at it and predicting it's going to drop and smash on the office floor. Yeah I grabbed my friends' laptop once, in the last moment....

 

One is a nice-to-have trinket*. The other is an actually useful tool.

Thread over?

*And it is also a lot less annoying when you use it as such, instead of in my case where I have to contort it into use as a tool.

 

I think Lenovo just wanted to make as much money as they can. A t300 or t300s would be too perfect no one would buy the other Thinkpads and pay for the premium stuff.

 

If there is such thing as a perfect laptop then lenovo should make one, I wouldn't care if lenovo profiteer from a perfect solution.

 

They tried that with the x300. I don't think Lenovo profited that much.

Building the Perfect Laptop

 

Your sig says air ('09) 17". MBA with 17" screen?

 

The X30x was so cool, I wish they kept updating it

 

air ('09) , 17" ('09/'10)