Second-hand thinkpad x301 owner's thread.

They are terrible. Keep them adjusted for max view-ability. It will help eye strain. I use mine 8 hours a day. The profile link is in a previous post. You might still be able to dl it.

 

Have you adjusted the DPI at all or done any other zooming changes?

When I'm reading a page, the top seems to be bright but the bottom is darker. But as you mentioned, if the screen is adjusted at a certain angle, it will help. From what I've observed so far, this screens requires tilting back further to get good and even color.

The color profile requires a password when I tried to open it.

Thanks.

 

Congratz to your X301! It's a really fine machine.

The screen issue really has two sides to it. You see, if calibrated, colors are outstanding! Brightness is superb as well, but contrast and viewing angles are average. Not more and not less. I have a few degrees of tolerance vertically, so it's not actually that bad. I find that it is not necessary to keep adjusting your screen, even if your head moves. I can usually manage, even outdoors. The X301 performs well in the sun too by the way.

Regarding the color profile, I sent you a PM.

 

Nope. 1-1 view. I don't have any variability from top to bottom on the brightness of my display. That only happens on my unit when the display is tilted too far back. Too far inn an dI get a haze on my display. This is how I know where the sweet-spot is.

What I find is that, during the day, I tend to move my notebook around on my desk and change my position in my chair. I tend to adjust my display a couple of times during the day, but only in a small 10-15 degree range.

 

Is it possible to get the password for the profile please.

thanks

 

Hey guys, I am considering buying an X301, I currently have a desktop, and a W520 and I want something that is more portable and lighter.

I have recently discovered the X301 and it seems to be perfect.

I have found one that is in great condition for about $240 and am wondering if this is a good price, 4GB ram 120GB SSD.

Anyways, what is the max amount of ram supported I've read 16 and 8 and am not sure which one is correct.

Thanks for the help!

 

240$ is a good price.

Maximum RAM is 2x4GB.

 

Agreed. $240 is a very good price for a 120gb model. You want a unit as close to mint as possible. My X301 is still my main everyday work unit and is going strong. I love it.

 

Hi,

X300 owner here, could I have the PW for the color profile, excited to try it out. Thanks!

 

I am not able to send you private messages for some reason.

 

He needs to have 5 posts before he gets PM privileges.

 

OK thanks for the info. I won't be checking up on him, so when he gets 5 posts he should just contact me.

 

Well I currently just put in an offer for a X301 on eBay with a 128GB SSD and 4GB RAM. I've been looking for cheap, portable machine to more easily take with me to classes.

Hopefully they accept the offer!

 

Sorry if I missed anything or didn't do enough research. I was just wondering if the hard drive is 1.8 or 2.5? Nice machines you guys have there BTW.

 

the X30x uses 1.8 inch drives.

 

2,5" drives can be used via the Ultrabay. However, the IDE interface limits transfer speed to only 100MB/s. Nothing to worry about on a hard drive, but an SSD might be significantly slowed down.

 

A mSATA drive, coupled with a 1.8" adapter, can serve as the main drive. (These days, 1.8" drives are hard to find and can be expensive.)

Did that for my T410s.

 

the mSATA to 1.8 inch adapter doesn't always work with the X30x machines.

 

Thanks. It's been almost a year since I acquired my X301 and not a hiccup. The display is much better with 600X's profile. Even though I have a tablet folio for travel, I tend to still take my X301 along for more serious work. The keyboard is second to none and I have ~ 8+ hour battery duration with a combination of 2 6 cells and a 3 cell bay battery.

 

So are you spoiling your X301 Bronsky?

 

We've spoiled each other. The X301 is primarily a desk-bound notebook. I have a Fuji Q552 tablet that travels with me most of the time. I tend to use the Fuji's pen while on the road to edit and mark-up documents being generated by my office. The X301 comes along when I'm working on larger documents, like appellate briefs.

I am truly spoiled by the Keyboard. I can not only effortlessly keep my speed up, but never have to give a thought to the placement of my hands on the keys. They just fit. Key travel is ideal. The display is also the perfect size for more lengthy work. I have tried a number of the new keyboards and they don't compare to typing on my X301.

Color me happy with the decision to buy the X301.:thumbsup:

 

Hi,

IM a "new" owner today wohooo!

 

Thanks to this thread, I just bought myself an X301.
~$320 for a 9400 and 128G. I already own a FHD T530, which I use at the university for programming and everything, so X301 is primarly going with me to classes. After everything I've read here, I'm sure it won't dissappoint!

 

I just got my x301, what an amazing machine! So light yet feels so solid. The keyboard makes me want to not stop typing,

And @600X, can I please have the color profile for the display? Thanks.

 

Congratulations on your X301. The weight was the first thing I noticed about mine when it arrived as well. Hope you get as many trouble free hours as I've had with mine.

 

Greetings. Your enthusiasm was so contagious that I just joined the club.
Lenovo ThinkPad X301 13 3" 4057 D53 U9400 1 4 4 GB 128GB SSD Warranty | eBay

By strange coincidence the seller offers free pickup and my wife and I made plans months ago that take us within a few miles of the seller on Thursday. It's under warranty, but it expires 8/4/13. So I could use some help in way of suggestions for methods for thoroughly testing it.

I'm a retired CPA who in the last 14 years (5 before retirement) have used a Dell C840 Latitude with a 1600x1200 display, an XPS 13 and an Alienware M11x. The Alienware was overkill for the turn based strategy games I play such as HOMM3. I tried a Y500 but at 15.6" the machine was bigger than I wanted and the FHD was too small for my aging eyes.

 

Great price.

 

You guys are making me want to add one of these to my collection . I have a T61, X120e[my wife mostly uses it] and a macbook. The X301 will fit in somewhere lol.

 

With such a short list many of them will fit in somewhere. Be careful, it's costly

 

Not to mention that ThinkPads can be pretty darn addictive...

 

I found myself searching for an X301 over 20-30 times - and every time I thought - do I really like one? Yes! Do I really need one? No.. If an X301 this time, why not a 600X next time? Oh, wait, did someone just say S31 piano?

 

I didn't need an X301 either...

But I wanted one because it is literally the ThinkPad of my dreams. So I got myself one anyway.

 

I don't need one either, but they seem like darn good machines and I've always been partial to 13 inch displays. I have been thinking about a macbook air, but the X301 is much cheaper now and definitely more durable. I'm debating between the X301 or an ssd for my unibody macbook. Who knows, maybe both are in order

 

After all, it's all about money and dreams. I'm usually focused on a single machine for day to day work, and don't have enough money, space and time to become a collector..

 

I have to agree with you on that. I've used mine 8-10 hours a day for a solid year. It is no museum piece.

 

When I started shopping a few weeks ago I made a list of what I wanted: 14" or less, 1600x900, minimum 4gb RAM and backlit keyboard so I could use it in the dark.

Well, I played the specs game and shelled out $1200 but thought the 15.6" size too big, the trackpad had to be turned off to prevent erratic cursor leaps, unlike my prior Alienware the backlit keyboard was hard to read in the dark, full HD caused eyestrain while surfing the 'net, etc..

I returned the machine, looked at my list again and remembered reading this thread. I bought an X301 off ebay for $300, received it Thursday and have used it continuously since. It's been perfect except for a few scuffs on the top lid and a battery that has cycled 458 times and gives just over two hours of power. Not only is the keyboard excellent but the trackpad is the best I've ever used and its size and position keep it from being accidentally triggered. The one negative, cpu/gpu speed is occasionally noticeable but massively outweighed by the positives,

I'll be getting a new battery and keeping my eye out for drives to go in the $20 ultrabay carriers. I'm very happy with the X301.

 

Does the X301 cpu stay pretty cool?

 

As long as you put it on a table it stays surprisingly cool. Due to the position of the battery the palmrest is always cold anyway, the DVD drive takes up most of the space as well which leaves only a small area to produce heat. As long as the fan is turned on. it actually stays cold, even on a hot summers day,

 

I've had no heat issues with the X301. The fan will work hard at times, esp. with modern graphics, but it handles the stress fine.

 

Speaking of the CPU, any ideas on how hot I can let the CPU? Like temps are considered *safe*? TPFanControl in smart mode lets the CPU run as hot a 65. Is that safe?

I took apart my x301 and reapplied thermal paste, I think it runs cooler now, stays at 45-46 with BIOS fan settings.

 

The CPU can take up to 105 degrees Celsius. Anything under 70 is considered cool for the CPU itself. 40 to 65 is pretty much the normal range of an X301.

 

Thanks 600X, my concern was unnecessary!

 

Just found this post about the X301.
Just got to say i just picked one up few weeks ago. The 9600 1.6Ghz,with Win7Pro coa.
It came with 4 gig ram and the 250gig drive.No speed demon but OK .
I installed a new 8 gig HyperX ram kit and a Lenovo Samgsung PM800 128gig SSD. WOW did the SSD ever wake up the system.
I now have a mint X301 with 8 gig ram , 128gig SSD, new battery with 9600 1.6Ghz.
Only thing i like to upgrade now is the Wifi 5100 card to the 5300.

 

Let us know how that turns out as I would like to upgrade mine as well.

 

Will do.
But I only have the Apple Express as my router and only about 10' away from it.
I'm getting a full single at 300Mbps anyway.
But I seen the Lenovo 5300 cards for under 20 bux on eBay so it's a cheap upgrade.
I use the display port to my 50" TV. Does 1080p fine. Just wish it handled sound through the display port.

 

I have a 5300 card in my X301. I don't notice any difference compared to the 5100 in my W500.

 

I'm still looking at an X301, but I ran across this on ebay. Seems like a pretty good deal.
Lenovo T410 Refurbished Vista Business 2GB RAM 160GB HDD 2 4 GHz i5 CPU | eBay
The listing has ended, but I'm sure they will relist since they have 10 of them when it ended.

 

It's a good deal, but how I like to say, it's no X301.

 

You do have a point there.

 

The X301 really is in a class of its own. It's special and can't really be compared to other ThinkPads. It has its downsides but if you really appreciate its upsides (extraordinary build quality, good speakers, thin & light yet fully equipped etc.) it will serve you well.