New X201 and X201s out ... no details really

Along with the tablet also seems the new X201 and X201s are in the new product showcase, but not much details unfortunately. But they do look really beautiful and with a track pad !! Now 2 speakers and all is well in my world ... if the screen is good and that is a BIG if... let's wait a few days.

 

Do you at least have a link?

Here you you find a review: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=462012

 

Here is the link ... it's part of the US Lenovo site:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...S/Landing_pages/Products/new-product-showcase

 

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...ECB9ADAD8E72CF6FD61&tabname=Features#tabstart

This says both the X201 and X201s have stereo speakers?

Also, I'm sure this is the same as the X200, but what's the difference between the 5-in-1 media card reader with modem and the 3-in-1 without modem?

 

Well it are not the first topseller models appearing on the net (one shop had them since Feb 1st) but.

http://www.compsource.com/searches/search.asp?keyword=topseller+x201

 

Am I right in assuming they will all have trackpads ... the X201, 201s, 201 T etc? I need the lightest, cool running and fast enough, and long battery

 

Engadget did a review of the ThinkPad X201 Tablet. It has a trackpad, a very small one. I'd assume the x201, x201s, will be the same except for the rotating tablet screen.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=462012

 

Review is up of the x201 on this site.

Screens are poorer than average. I expected that, but now the question begins if we can transplant a tablet led screen, or an aftermarket screen into these.

 

exactly my thinking ... are all the X201 series screens LED screens? Or is there a possibility to get a new X201 with a CCFL screen and then convert to a nice one with same connector? Please tell me there is a CCFL version with same connector as before ... if not we need a bright mind here to figure it out. The x201s in Europe will come with the same WXGA screen as a X201 is my guess

 

for what it's worth, the X200/X200s/X200si/x201/X201i/X201s hardware maintenance manual does NOT list CCFL-backlit screens or any CCFL related things for the x201/x201s/x201i

i'd interpret that as "No CCFL-backlit screens for the x201"

 

I love how stupid the left side of the palm rest looks with all those crooked useless stickers almost completely covering it…

 

what is the big deal with this CCFL - backlit?

 

LED-backlit screens are in general brighter than their CCFL counterparts, and use much less power, leading to longer battery lifetimes. Also, they can be made thinner, and get to max brightness instantly, unlike CCFL-backlit displays, which take a bit of time to gradually reach the set backlight level. So all LED screens is good news

 

Not to mention they last longer.

 

well the problem is LED does not agree with my eyes... so i wanted one with a CCFL screen so I can replace it with a flexview panel ... and thus get the perfect laptop ... the LED screens do not allow this conversion and that is a bummer !

 

Get an external monitor perhaps?

 

well I travel a lot so not an option ... maybe these LED screens are newer and better ....?

 

Who knows? Kevin might be the one who could answer that.

 

Since the new tablet is also going to be LED, couldn't it be possible to exchange with that screen?

 

Does it have a DVD/CD player/burner now?

 

No optical drive.

 

No. The only differences of note are the CPU, chipset/GPU, and touchpad. Everything else (including the Ultrabase) is effectively the same as the x200(s/T).

 

Are you sure about this, jl? A couple of sites (sorry, I can't recall which ones) reporting on the announcement say that all the new 201 versions will have webcams, which would mean a change from the 200s, which doesn't have one.

More generally, if the starting price for the 201s is $1599, that puts it about $800 more than the 200s is with the current 20 percent discount (expiring 2/24). For the relatively basic functions (word processing, personal website, internet and email) I utilize, it sounds to me like the 200s is the better value. Do folks agree?

 

This source is generally kinda dubious, but they claim that the X201s doesn't have a webcam:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...4ECB9ADAD8E72CF6FD61&tabname=Compare#tabstart

 

Does the x201 or the x201 have a roll cage (bottom and lid too)?

Will all x201/s screens be LED or is CCFL still an option?

 

I believe the CCFL option is gone. All 201/s/t screens will be LED backlit.

 

Thanks. I've read too many scary stories about LED-induced eye strain

 

LOL! Thanks.

 

the only x200s' I saw with webcams were some topseller versions equipped with the wxga led screen. None of the wxga+ options will have a webcam. Now weather they'll let the wxga+webcam screen a configurable option for the x201s, that has yet to be seen.

 

i reckon as long as you keep the brightness at a reasonable level you'd be fine...

 

I remember only one forum member that complains about LED-backlit monitors giving him a headache. However, that same member also gets a headache from cell phones and WiFi adapters, so it is possible that he is more sensitive than normal.

 

Yes that member would be myself ... most people i know don't have that sensitivity, so as progress goes on I may have to leave computers LOL. Having said that there seem to be a fairly large number of complaints from LED screens. Now it's not all LED screens and that is strange. I can look at my Samsung NC10 netbook and I believe that is LED. However I cannot do more than 5 min ! on my T400 which has LED. I am hoping for a solution whereby I can exchange the LED screen for a flexview CCFL. Though I really like the new X201 series I may have to get an older X200/s with CCFL screen but they are not available from Lenovo anymore and I cannot buy Outlet since I am in Europe.

 

would turning the brightness down help at all?

 

i have heard some people have got headache looking at certain colour profile, maybe try to play around with the gamma setting.

 

Never had it before I looked at LED screen of T400 really .... no clue as to why but it makes buying another Lenovo tricky. Gloss screens also do it, so not much choice

 

Actually, I read somewhere that turning down the brightness of the LCD is itself a cause for eye problems, as LED screens produce more flicker when not used at maximum brightness level (the flicker may not be visible, but it does affect the retina).

I understand that LED screens use less power, but the weight saving may not be so significant, and the CCFL screen on my four-year old T60 still works great. On the other hand, it might take some years for the LED screens in laptops (as opposed to the better quality LEDs in TVs!) to become better in terms of quality.

I only waited for the X201 because I wanted the touchpad (yes, I'm one of "those") and was hoping for a roll cage. Does anyone know if the x201 palmrest with touchpad can be fitted on a x200? Or if the x201 has a roll cage?

 

not really...look at what sony offers on its Z and F series...96% and over 100% Adobe RGB respectively

and they're all LED backlit

 

Hm, that gives me hope, though again, some people claim that Lenovo LED screens are of inferior quality compared to some other brands (Sony included).

BTW, this is the thread that discussed the LED flicker and brightness levels
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Serie...7;jsessionid=56DDE6311B853CDFD77B86102BFF808D

 

that is very very true...i'm just saying we've already sort of got to that point...the fact that thinkpads have rubbish screens is a different matter

but to be fair there are good screens available for the w700/w710/w510/x200t etc

 

Well, I don't mind the "quality" (my T60 has an XGA screen and is not particularly good in terms of color reproduction, contrast etc.), and the LEDs may even produce better image quality. My problem is the flickering and potential eye strain/headaches, and this seems to be related to the quality of the LED screen (rather than the quality of the image in terms of color, contrast etc. that it produces).

X200t sounds good, but it's too expensive and heavier.

 

Steveadore I have exactly the same issues as yourself and also read that t turning down certain LED Screens causes more flicker and eye strain. Let me tell you DO NOT GET a T400 LED. Luckily it was more for a co-worker... I simply cannot look at the screen at all ... it gives me instant eye problems. So yes my ideal would be the X201s with CCFL screen, and then replace the screen with a proper screen (IPS Flexview kind). Now I have used a Samsung NC10 netbook also with LED and I do not have the issue ... conclusion it may not be all LED screens but Lenovo certainly uses rubbish screens ... but we all pay top dollar/euro for them?

 

i'm not sure it's fair to draw a conclusion from your experience with just one LED display from lenovo.   like anything, there could be one or more factors at play here.

 

Erik I understand ... but really a Samsung NC10 has a better screen than the Lenovo machines and after just reading the new review ... it seems again that screen quality is lacking. Review on here somewhere by the way. I am OK replacing the screen for a flexview as some users here have done. I spent over 1000 Euro on a T400 ... and bad eye strain. Now I like Lenovo for many reasons but I need to be on the computer on average 4 hours a day so I need a machine of quality built all around. Now if all other manufacturers offered matte screens, i think Lenovo would have to up the ante ... they get a lot of business because not many are offering quality machines with matte screens. So if you've got it 80% right then why not add a nice screen for your customers. In this day and age ... I find that a must. If they offered a Flexview CCFL on a X201 as an option I would gladly pay 200 dollars more, no problem. But no options are given only on the Tablet ... Honestly I don't want to spend 1,500 Euros only to find out the screen hurts my eyes. And for me that is very much a reality, so when I say rubbish screens I mean they can do MUCH better if they WANT. Clearly it is a cost saving factor, but then one cannot claim to make the best laptops etc. I love Thinkpad since it is very quiet and runs cool, and it is fast (though T40o with Windows 7 is slow). X201s is my dream machine but with another screen.

 

i'm not arguing with you here.   i agree that some panels in the lineup are lackluster at best.   my point is that not all LED panels are bad.   i have an X200T, X100e, and Edge 13" in front of me right now (all of which are LED) and all three are pretty good.   the X100e really surprised me.

my father has a T400 with the LED WXGA+ panel and it's good, not great, but not horrible either.   he's in his late 60s and hasn't complained about it.   his eyes are pretty sensitive, too.

so, like i said, one bad experience doesn't make them all defective.   that's all.

 

when can you order these.its weird they have it in thier showcase but to order its all older models. any eta when they going to be sold.

 

early march.

 

Erik yes I know what you are saying ... but one bad experience makes one careful ... like I said I wish there were a way to have a X201s with a different screen, even if I can do it after buying one. The problem is the connectors ... let' wait and see if some of the real techies get a look at things. Do you think one would be able to convert an X201s and have a flexview panel on it? That would be the best laptop ever for me personally. due to travel I do like the lighter weight. That is one thing I did not like too much about the X100e, and it's a little too slow. I believe that indeed the X100e and Edge must have better screens as they did not have stock of those panels... they must be new.

 

The new tabook.pdf is released

Just saw the 3249-2EU for 1038 dollar, now we're talking!

 

Awesome! I'm downloading it right now!

 

Its amazing how they can make almost every model missing something.
Seems like 3249-2EU doesn't have a camera.