Pre-owned x201 or x220 worth it?

Hi all!

So for about a year now, I've been eyeing Thinkpads as a possible foray back into Windows.
I've had a MacBook Pro Mid-2010 since new but lately (like 2 years or more) the performance just hasn't been there. Maybe it's the hard drive but until I get around to replacing that, I've pretty much been limited to my iPad.

So I started looking at the x100e and x200s, since I want something light. The MacBook broke a couple of my bags already with its 4.5 lb body.
But then I realized they are pretty pricey for the specs.
So I started looking at the x201. The x201s rarely shows up on the bay plus the i7 is prolly slower.
And now I started looking at the x220, but that one definitely goes for much more.

I guess my main question is, is it worth it to spend 150-200 for a pre-owned x201?
Is it worth it to spend more (300?) for an x220?
How about the x220i? It has an i3 though...

They are pretty light (x201) with the 4 cell battery and I'm assuming the i5 will feel quicker than my current Core2Duo.
Plus I've always liked the way Thinkpads look.
I used an x230 a friend has (he also has a 15in MBP) and it was quite nice.

Thanks!

-Leo

 

If you like the Mac, a 2010 variant still should be a pretty good notebook, though no longer a top performer. Perhaps investing in a SSD would help speed things up?

The X201s are indeed rare birds. Lenovo pulled the CTO option shortly after its release due to an inability to source the screens, though preconfigured models were available for a while, but expensive.

If you've got the cash to spend, I'd vote for the X220. While the performance difference will be modest, a X220 does offer a few key benefits - an optional IPS screen(highly recommended) significantly better battery life and the ability to use a SSD/hard drive simultaneously. Is that worth the extra money? I guess you'll have to decide on that one.

I'd agree, the MBP is a bit chunky for a 13" notebook.

 

X220 are pretty cheap, but the cheapest ones are usually non-IPS. As ZaZ stated, X220/X220i support mSATA as well as 2.5" SATA drives, giving a big advantage over X201. Also X201 is 1st generation Core processors, they are not as power efficient compared to Sandy Bridge 2nd generation.

 

There are some good deals out there. I looked at the new X240 and did not like the sealed battery, and the new click pad. I suggest looking at the X230 being that has Ivy bridge and the Intel graphics is much better then the sandy bridge. But expect to pay more. I paid 610 from an auction on Ebay which included the IPS display, 6 cell battery that only had 50 cycles on it, 880 days of accidental lenovo insurance, the 2.9 I5, 8 meg of ram, 500 gb HD 7200 rpm, and the full docking station with second charger. The whole setup looks brand new. Not a scratch. I think I got very lucky. I bought an original 9 cell lenovo battery for 80 bucks on Amazon. I see used prices seem to be rising since the newer X240 is expensive and Lenovo does not seem to be giving out much for discounts anymore.

The X230 IMO, is the best thinkpad. The last one that has a removable battery and none of the sealed battery nonsense, and a more traditional trackpad.
The X220 may have a slightly better KB but you have to go back a generation on the processor. But for graphics performance, I feel the X230 is better choice then the sandy bridge models before it.

Again, I don't know what Lenovo is doing. Putting a sealed battery in a ThinkPad should be illegal. Just make sure you find one with the IPS/matte display setup with windows 7. Windows 8 has no place on a thinkpad IMO.

 

The biggest differences between the X220 and X230 are USB 3.0 for the X230. You can get it on the X220 if you get the i7, though the fan tends to be more active on the i7 X220. The keyboard on the X230 is the chiclet style, which a lot of long time ThinkPadders abhor. I personally don't think it's that bad. Batteries on the X230 are chipped, which means your choices are limited when it's time for a new battery.

 

Oh? The idle power draw of the i7's should n't be higher... right?

Anyway: USB 3.0 is a weak trade-off for such a crappy keyboard layout as on the X230. Get an older mini dock plus; that has eSata; much more usefull for external storage than some crappy USB 3.0 port.

 

Yeah its very nice. Amazing if you ask me. I love my X230 I bought from ebay. But look at paying 500 at least on eBay. Worth every Penney if you ask me. But I would try finding one with the IPS. Makes a big difference.

 

Going from the MAC I would say to go with the X220. You will appreciate the touchpad on the x220 a lot more than the x201. The X220 touchpad might not be as nice as the MAC touchpad but its much better than the x201.

 

500 on eBay? If that's USD... that's a good deal. Over in Europe all you find for 500 in X220 is a cracked-case X220 with i5... and that's 500 GBP: USD840

 

Well just acquired a X230 for usd 390 usd equivalent in local currency. That is slightly more expensive then the X220 that I purchased for a friend recently. Had I not invested in Latitude series I would happily make the x220 my daily driver for the next couple of years. I have the habit of acquiring laptops on the cheap that come into the market and pass them on to those that are willing to pay the right price for good value laptops. This is already the year 2015 and yet I still find that them x220 & X230 are still good in fact even better than some of them haswells ultraportables that have passed through my hands.

 

X201 is quite long in the tooth by now...