ThinkPad X1

Isn't that a little bit pessimistic? Notebookreview's review shows the X220 and X1 playing tag all through the benchmarks. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Performance and Benchmarks They even say " The 12.5-inch ThinkPad X220 isn't much smaller than the new X1", which I take to mean that they both feel like imminently portable laptops. I realize that the MBA has its own advantages, but I'm not seeing much to brag about in the benchmarks on that same page.

LaptopMag's performance charts are more deceiving that I like, but here the Samsung Series 9 is called out for faster boot time, longer battery life, and lower benchmarks. Some of that can be blamed on the LV processor.

Apple and Sony have capitalized on the lower power requirements of the LV and C2D processors to make amazingly svelte products. Kudos to them! Their products will fit the needs of many people. On the other hand, Lenovo has given another option for those who are familiar with ThinkPad (at work, perhaps) and would mind owning one personally. They have two fine options in the X220 and X1. One has amazing battery life, all the classic ThinkPad cues, and a very nice IPS screen. The other has superior speakers, a screen that looks much nicer than most current generation ThinkPads do in 80% of normal laptoping environments, a superior keyboard, is thinner with a larger screen, and still sports a reasonable price. I think RapidCharge is not just a " aw, throw 'em a bone" gesture. My Walkman MP3 player has something similar and at four years old still has very good battery life. I seldom need more than 4 hours of battery life. I seldom use an optical drive. In the events that I would need either, I know it in advance and would be able to pack a slice battery or AC adapter. I'm an IT technician and a semi-pro photographer. I need higher resolution.

As I see it, Lenovo hasn't even made an MBA competitor. They've simply expanded the X line nicely by creating an alternative to the X220. Most likely, if the X220 has some characteristics you simply can't accept, the X1 will remedy it.

If anything, I think the pair that is X220 and X1 make the T420s look awkward. Its has little benefit over the X1 except for a removable battery, an optical drive, higher resolution, and optional discreet graphics. So yes, it is more modular and flexible. They all have their place. The reviews I've read are neatly divided into two camps. The reviewers "get it" or they "don't get it". CNET and PCMag don't get it. They say it fails as an MBA competitor. I agree, it doesn't compete with the MBA's key features very well. PCWorld, NBR, Engadget and several others get it. They say it's a fancy ThinkPad that non-business types will probably like.

If I keep rambling, NBR might charge me rent!

Concluding, so many of my friends prefer not to buy a ThinkPad based on looks. So I've sold some ThinkPad Edges and they LOVE em, glossy screens, glossy lid, and all. Now if I'm Lenovo and I want to A) NOT alienate loyalists, and B) expand my range of potential buyers, what would I do. I would build an X1. Except I'd put in an FHD IPS screen as a $350 option. ARGGGGH! Lenovo, you poor, poor thing.

 

True that! How I wish, I wish, I wish, the X1 had HD+ or FHD. Honestly, though, I think it's coming. Eventually. Remember David Hill's survey about IPS screens two or three years ago? I think that marks the beginning of Lenovo's realization (internally) that some of those millions of ThinkPads are being purchased by by 'consumers' - GASP - and that some consumers are willing to pay for bling + performance. We got the T510 and W510 with good FHD screens the next year. This year we get IPS in the X220 and what appears to be at least some forethought into the X1's color performance. (yes, yes, I like matte, too). I think they'll expand this trend.

Me, I buy ThinkPads for many reasons, but one is that the extended warranty is downright cheap. If you need it, that is . . . Try extending the warranty on an Envy or Sony Z.

 

Yea, who on earth would ever want or need such things?

Me!

 

Well then, your choice is easy.
You might have gathered that I am reasoning from multiple perspectives and with multiple buyers in mind. At work and personally I've dealt with R, T, W, X, SL and Edges and I'm often amazed how different users value different things in a laptop. Also, I'm surprised by how often an individual user will zero in on only one spec and demand it exclusively (usually because of an experience in his/her history). I'm just glad to see Lenovo expanding their 'territory' without limiting our current options. Just imagine of the T420s were what the X1 is - sealed battery, no Ultrabay, no discreet graphics. That would be limiting our options and potentially bruising (crippling is such a strong term ) sales in a small way. Still, I don't get the L, SL, Edge, charade . . . I think that experiment should end now and those 3 lines be chopped down to 1 line - something the Edge "S" series.

But that's just my thoughts.

 

I just want one to throw it from a ceiling and see if it works

 

Yeah, it may be, but it is justified. What I meant in terms of the X1 "not doing anything better" was with respect to the competition as a whole. Ultraportable lovers who favor:

portability and battery life - Samsung Series 9
HD+/great matte screens - Sony SA
thinness/lightness - MBA
power/versatility - Sony SA

The X1 doesn't do anything 'best' and that's what makes it forgettable. OK, it has the best keyboard, but that's already established by the Thinkpad line. It is a minor win that even an Edge can achieve.

With all due respect, the already existing X220 and T420s pair is what makes the X1 look awkward, not the other way around. The X1 doesn't offer anything more than the X220 (while the X220 does offer a lot more than the X1), and the T420s (which has basically the same footprint) offers a whole slew of options already discussed.

Well, you forgot: bigger screen, matte screen (which people prefer BTW), ability to dock with ultrabase, longer battery life, ultrabay capabilities, ability to take advantage of dual channel RAM (which leads to cheaper upgrades), 7 layer classic keyboard (more buttons = better since quality is about the same).

 

Thanks Oly, you made me look again at the x1. I don't get why people are so pissed about the offering. In my opinion, it's obviously targeted at the MBP/vaio/etc 13" market that cares a bit about looks and otherwise wouldn't consider the x220 or t420.

Personally, if I were to choose it over the x220 which I am considering purchasing, it would be because the size is bigger. That's the main reason. Well, that and keyboard looks amazing. I do wish it had a matte screen though =( We'll see if the price drops below 1k total with coupons and such I may pick one up.

I can also say that this is very appealing for a student. You get insane build quality which allows us to toss it in a bag and go, fast charges between classes and such if needed. And, important to a lot of students, it looks pretty nice. I really want to get the x220 though, but I'm crazy worried that the screen will be too small for me (replacing my 15" vaio and this is my only comp).

 

Alright, you win already. The X220 and T420s, as a pair, offer a wider range of options, are more versatile, and are superior to the X1 in many various ways.

Still, I have friends and colleagues who have never heard of NBR and wouldn't even know where to look or who to trust for a review. Many of them only do their laptop shopping at BestBuy. Some of them purchase $600-$800 shiny plastic 15", HD-screened, 4-hour battery, 6lb, junkers. They shop based on how the laptop feels in their hand, AT THE STORE. I agree, that's an ignorant way to shop, but so many people do it. You and I, we have priorities, we know how to read benchmarks, we appreciate expandability and many other things. That's what makes us IT pros and laptop enthusiasts. It's why my friends so often ask me which laptop I recommend in the $x00 price range for their next personal laptop. Hey, I know which laptops are my favorite, but it's nearly impossible to make them read the 500-ish forum posts (and real-world experiences) that were instrumental in forming my opinions.

I'm just saying that I already know some people who will be VERY interested in the X1 when their turn comes to upgrade.

 

Hey dibbs, nice to find someone around here who 'gets it'. One of my friends, who purchased a T410s about 8 months ago, was exuberant when I sent him links to several of the early and favorable X220 reviews. He loves his T410s in every way except battery life. When I showed him a real, live, IPS-panel X220 from work one day, he was deflated. For him, the X220 just wasn't what he wanted. It had a tiny screen, an "ugly" battery bump out back, was fatter than his T410s, and it didn't even have a DVD drive! I told him over and over that it was this battery which was responsible for the X220's good battery life. He nodded his understanding but repeated that he didn't like it. I have an X220 on my desk at the office right now, waiting for final configuration and deployment. I've been using it for the past two weeks and am well pleased by its speed, screen colors, and battery life. It's a solid machine. Would I buy one personally? NOPE. Would I buy an X1 with the current configuration options? Ummmm, . . . . probably not. I don't need a new laptop and I really, really, really want an HD+ (or higher) screen. Just watch; Lenovo will make some good changes in the next iteration. Witness the X100e.

Again, I applaud Lenovo on the X1. They haven't destroyed the current options (X220 and T420s), but they've created a product that appeals to folks who might not be all fired up about those very options.

 

Personally, I think the X1 needs - at the very least - two things:

(1) It should be usable with an existing series (or new, but that's stretching it) of ThinkPad docks.

(2) The battery MUST be user replaceable.

It would be nice if a better res to the 13" screen were present...but oh well!

 

had the x1 come with a higher res screen im sure it would be closer to $1500-$1550 once you click 'Add to Basket'

and a $1500 notebook the x1 is not...no matter how much gorilla glass/backlit kb/jazz you throw on it.

 

1. The dock would be convenient, but even the X30x series didn't have one. They both (X1 and X30x) use port replicators.

2. People always praise that Thinkpads last, without a user-replaceable battery, the DIY lifetime of the X1 is in question. It's one of the reasons (second to the keyboard) that people don't deem the X1 as a 'true' Thinkpad. But to me, I don't really care. A 5 year-old laptop is now considered ancient anyways.

HD+, it's the easiest way for Lenovo to improve the X1 and offer something that most of the competition (and the X220) don't have and set it apart. IMHO, it's the only hope that the X1/"X2" has left. Maybe Lenovo will even put in a 14" screen in the next iteration if 1600x900 13.3" screens are so rare/more expensive than their 14" counterparts.

 

dibbs- I am in total agreement. Im a student trying to replace my 14in wxga+ z61t. I know I "should" get a T420 (cant justify the T420s premium for my usage) but somehow I can't seem to pull the trigger-the machine feels too similar to my old one- id like to feel "excited" about a $1K purchase- shallow? probably. After deciding I could compromise on resolution without wanting to jump off a cliff......I Priced out an e420s with 3yr TPP for $900.... too much to spend on a roll cage-less edge with a plastic screen cover. My dad then surprised me with a tecra R840 which I returned due to flat keys..........sigh.

If coupons pop up that can bring an i3 X1 under 1k, I will definately buy. Im a clumsy, petite girl who travels often so weight and durability are key- (the palm rest on the x220 is too small/short for me). And to be honest, when I'm not in school my laptop is basically a video player/skype device. My z61 speakers never felt loud enough- so I am also really excited about the SOUND on the x1. Toss in roll cage, rapid charge (amazing for airports!), bright screen and backlit thinkpad keyboard....heaven. I hope.....

 

This is a bit off topic but....my z61t has its headphone jack right at the edge of the touchpad- a very convenient spot. Why is that no longer feasible?

Also- does anyone know the size of the HDD in the x1? I would like to replace it with the 2.5in 500gb 7200rpm in my z61t- but I cannot imagine they are the same thickness.........

 

The 2.5" hard drive in the X1 is 7mm thick.

 

I agree with a lot of what is said here. The T420 whether it be the "s" or not just doesnt seem to be much of a step forward other than 2nd gen intel CPU and USB 3.0. That coupled with the poor screen and trackpad reviews leaves me looking elsewhere.

I agree on the point that the x220's palm rest is non-existent but for me the real killer is the concerns I have over the 12.5" display being big enough for chart and spreadsheet analysis on the go, but it ticks so many boxes on other respects.

All in all, the X1 (pending UK retail price) will get my money. The only slight concern I've picked up on is that the width and depth dimensions are similar to the T420s. Presumably this is to get it down to the 2.1cm thickness. I'll draw them up on sizeeasy and post it up.

Edit: Sizeasy here

http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/32081-Lenovo-X1-vs-Lenovo-T410s-vs-Macbook-Pro-13-vs-lenovo-x220

 

Erm, you are aware that the screen in x220 has exactly the same resolution as the one in x1, aren't you?

 

mmmangoes, I'm not Lenovo and I don't know who David Hill and the rest of the designers originally targeted the X1 at, but it seems to me like it's gotta be someone like you. Someone who wishes to be excited at the thought of their new/recent ThinkPad purchase. Someone who recognizes a stand-out machine and don't spec-monger for weeks on end. The prices will inevitably come down and I'm convinced that an HD+ screen option will come eventually. I can't wait to try out an X1. Until then, I'm thinking Lenovo has a winner for those who just don't quite resonate with the X220 and T420s' admittedly excellent characteristics.

+1 for coupons
+1 for Rapid Charge and airports (or breaks during meetings)

 

One thing I have discovered after my ordering the X1 is that Lenovo does not include a mini displayport to VGA adapter. Since this is a "business" laptop one would think that this would be included as many (including myself) are probably going to want to use this laptop to give powerpoint presentations. It is not a big deal you can get one for about $24 from Newegg. Correction, the Samsung 9 series does not come with one.

 

Still debating on the X1. I am actually really interested and believe it would suit me fine if I decide to take the plunge. I agree it is a little overpriced but it will still be about the same price as the T420 I returned. I was considering the 160 SSD option but I don't think I can justify an extra $300. That would push it to a little over $1500 which I think is a little more than I wanted to spend. I wanted to keep it around $1200 which is what I can get the base model for (320gb HD, i5, 4gb, 3 year warranty, etc).

I know a lot of people are not that impressed with X1 and I can totally understand why. I am coming from a 3 year old R61 with a 1200X800 screen so the resolution won't bother me. I prefer a matte screen but the glossy screen isn't a deal breaker either (at least not for me). I was looking at a macbook pro also but really want to stay with Windows. I don't like the single dimm for memory because an 8GB upgrade will have to wait awhile because of prices. At the same time though, I won't be doing anything remoting demanding other than word, excel, remoting my work pc, etc. so the 4GB should be more than enough.

I am not totally happy with the battery life and doubt I will buy the slice option. It seems like it will be somewhat pricey and it ads a bit of bulk to the X1. I wish the battery life was longer but honestly I will probably be at home 75% of the time and if I do bring it, 4-5 hours should be enough (plus I would carry the ac adapter with me anyway). My current R61 only lasts around 2 hours if that so close to 4 hours or more should be fine (although I wish it lasted a solid 6 hours on the included internal battery).

Anyone think the 160 SSD option is worth it? It's actually cheaper than me buying it separate but I just don't know if I should even consider it. I am trying to keep costs down but I do know that the SSD will help with booting and improving the speed regardless. I have never used an SSD and I am still totally happy with a standard hard drive so I am not sure what to do.

I looked at the X220 but the screen is simply to small. Plus I like the fact that the X1 has more of a palm rest. The negatives for the X1 are not deal breakers but I can totally understand why they would be for someone else.

 

YOTR, it sounds like you've reasoned it out with yourself quite well and that's a good thing. I think it's fine to buy a machine that has specs you're not 100% perfectly satisfied with if you know beforehand what the problem/imperfect areas are. (I've done it myself already) Just be sure to take extra care of it in case you wish to resell it in the future.

You're right about memory and SSD prices - they will come down. I'd add that Lenovo tends to put new models on sale within 60 days of the launch. The X1 might be different, but if there's any way you can swing it, wait for a 20% sale maybe just before July 4th or perhaps even Father's Day. Watch Lenovo's own eCoupon page to find those deals. LogicBuy sometimes has exclusive coupons, too.

While SSDs are certainly better than HDDs in several ways (speed, heat, noise, dropability ) I don't think they are a 'no-brainer' upgrade at the current prices. The longer you can wait, the more performance and storage you'll get for the same money. I know that this has always been true of technology and that one can wait eternally and never buy anything new just waiting for the next big price drop, so don't take this argument too far. Just don't think that think SSDs are the magic bullet to solve all your computing woes. 160GB is enough for most folks, but it isn't a generous amount either. Oh, and I've worked on at least 7 different laptops and desktops with SSD. Having said that, if I were to wish to splurge on a new X1 I'd spend extra on an SSD (or slice battery).

 

Thanks for the response. I have gone back and forth on a few thinkpads and even a macbook pro. I liked the macbook pro but didn't like that fact that I might need to use boot camp regardless for some of the windows only programs that I use at work. I ruled it out for that reason alone.

The limitations of the X1 honestly don't scare me. The battery is somewhat disappointing but not a deal breaker for me at all. I would have liked maybe an extra hour or so of batter life but I am okay with 4-5 hours (probably closer to 4 hours from what I am reading). This would be my main computer which is something I am also okay with. I liked the X220 but again I needed at least a 13" screen if I was going to be using it daily.

I have been following the sales for awhile and one thing I have noticed is even during the recent doorbuster sale (and barnes and noble link), costcentral.com was still the same price and most of the time a few dollars cheaper for the same configuration. Plus cost central normally had it in stock ready to ship compared to the 2-3 weeks that lenovo normally takes to ship. Tax is what hurts ordering from lenovo.com, at least for me. Before tax, lenovo.com is usually right there with cost central, maybe a few dollars more. By the time I get done though, they are anywhere from $50-$150 more. Of course it helps that I am okay with the configuration that cost central sells because not everyone wants a 3 year warranty, more memory, etc.

I am still thinking about splurging on the SSD. The only other upgrade would probably be 8GB when prices come down. 160GB would be enough (that's what I have now) plus I am going to be buying a 1TB external drive. I will probably still just go with the base though as it is bigger drive and the speed increase of the SSD isn't something I absolutely need.

 

That may be, though for the configurations that I've bought in the past, Lenovo's sales are always cheaper. At work we bought several T420 in the last doorbuster sale for the same price we normally pay, though we upgraded them to the 160GB SSD and added a 3 year warranty to get to that price. Buying from Lenovo does have the disadvantage that you need to wait longer. However, my experience has been that paying for the $25 expedited shipping also makes the laptop get built up sooner, plus spend less time clearing USA customs. We've had new laptops in hand less than 10 days after ordering - not too bad.

 

Has anyone here seen any i3 versions on sale via resellers? I would like to get one for as far under $1K as possible ($1019 via b&n at the moment) before warranty extension- and I didn't think it would be too difficult since most people seem to be after the i5.... However, it seems that you can only order an i3 X1 via lenovo.com right now- and I find that a bit strange.

Also-I tried applying 10% off codes that have popped up in my cart while pricing out a machine (googleshop and a '10% off all thinkpads over $899') on lenovo.com- and although they took 10% off of the warranty extension price- they did not apply to the x1 at all! sigh......

 

I noticed that also. I would think the i3 model would be easy to get from a reseller but that doesn't seem to be the case. The best price I have seen is a little over $1200 at costcentral.com for the i5 model with 3 year warranty extension. It's actually a pretty good deal and cheaper than buying from lenovo. I am currently debating that model or the 160 SSD one.

 

Nice to see someone else having an X1 vs MBP comparison. I've been tearing my hair out over this comparison (Win7 vs OS X etc etc).

 

I had a 13in MBP comparison moment as well (test drove one- using it right now actually)- what clinched it for me is the keyboard- after owning a thinkpad I am spoiled for anything else. sneaky. doesn't help that I dont have the patience necessary to actually "get used to" anything else......

also- you can extend thinkpad warranties to 5 years (even post initial purchase)- not sure how long on the macs

 

I loved the build quality of the macbook pro's although the aluminum seems like it would ding/scratch easily. I couldn't justify the price even though thinkpads can also get somewhat pricey. I can get the 13" base macbook pro for less than the X1 but in the end I don't want to learn a new OS let alone have to buy a copy of Windows 7 to install on the mac.

 

I also bought a 13" MBP and used it for about 2 months. Nice machine, it certainly "worked", and there were some features it had that were ahead of most/all Windows laptops. In the end it was mortal, not as magical as it could have been and for the money there were better options. That's why I sold it and got a T410s.

If all <$1,000 Windows laptops would just vanish already, Apple's appeal would undergo a significant reduction. If you want a MBP, go for it. Keep an open mind and be honest with yourself about your likes/dislikes. We can still be friends. However, if you're looking to spend that much on a new laptop, there are a number of Windows lappies that'll make you happy, too. And the X1 is at the top of that list.

 

One good thing about Lenovo and the X1 is that they publish a Maintenance Manual. Which mean when the battery dies, you can replace it yourself and the instructions are quite clear and easy to follow.

 

really? I thought one of the downsides of the X1 is that the battery is not user-replaceable. Am I wrong?

 

depends, if by that you mean to swap the battery on the go, you are right, if y that you mean to change the battery when it wears out, you are wrong

 

I was looking at the manual and service vids too and wondered what was the point of placing the battery completely inside of the chassis. I thought the reason was to split up the cells and cram them into nooks and crannies to keep the notebook size down but it is just one big block. Maybe they wanted a single piece undercarriage I don't know.

 

It also cuts costs.

Has anyone ordered the X1??? What sort of delivery dates. Lenovo just slipped my ship date to 6/24 (I assume it is the 160 GB SSD)

 

Mine has stayed at 6/23. I did not order an ssd.

 

Perhaps we will see a proper "hands on" customer review of the X1 soon then.

 

I inquired about mine and was told the 8GB memory stick had it delayed.

 

I picked up a ThinkPad X1 (1291-26U) from CostCentral this weekend, and I have to say that I really like it so far. I understand that it might not appeal to the buyer who prefers the traditional ThinkPad styling and versatility, but it’s a great alternative to those models.

I just want to point out two things that I think have been overlooked in much of the discussion about the X1:

• This computer feels incredibly solid in the hand. There is no palm rest creak (like the T410), no flex around the DVD drive (like the W510), and no loose battery (like just about every ThinkPad I’ve handled). Of course, this perceived solidity means no DVD drive and no swappable battery. But that’s a design choice, and I accept the trade off. I believe that the X1 is attempting to bridge the perceived durability of something like the MacBook Pro with the actual durability of a ThinkPad. While a MacBook Pro 13” feels incredibly stable in the hand, I would never drop it from my desk for fear of ruining it. I wouldn’t be nearly as concerned if a ThinkPad (including the X1) fell from my desk. The fact that Lenovo is emphasizing the use of Gorilla Glass implies that they are appealing to users who value perceived durability. I want both actual and perceived durability, and the X1 seems to pull this combination off.
• My battery life has been above six hours, which is much better than I expected after reading the professional reviews. The reason for this is that the screen is bright enough that I don’t need to set it very high to make it comfortable to use. I understand that professional reviewers need to have a certain baseline that will allow them to compare screens across machines, but it would be nice to see this baseline based on actual brightness levels (say, 100-nit) rather than on software settings (say, "brightness set to 50%") that correspond to different actual brightness levels across different screens.

 

Can you post pics?

I was contemplating on either getting the VAIO SA or Thinkpad X1. In term of specs, vaio sa is a definite buy (except for screen but coming from dell 1420, i think it should be alright). But I like the keyboard+touchpad on the X1.

I don't do gaming on laptop, but having a discrete graphic is a plus. I'm doing a little bit of programming.

How far you can go with Intel HD3000? Photoshop?

How about heat/noise?

And one last thing, is this RAM will fit into the X1? Here's the link

Thanks.

 

I'll try to post pictures in the next few days. The keyboard and TrackPoint on the X1 are fantastic, and they are two of the main reasons I bought this machine. The touchpad's alright, but I'd prefer discrete buttons.

Photoshop shouldn't be a problem. Heat and noise have been reasonable so far. (The fan does run most of the time, but it's quiet.)

I don't want to make any definitive statements about that RAM. I haven't looked into RAM upgrades for this machine, so I haven't done my research here.

I think the SA also looks nice, but I wanted a TrackPoint. Good luck with your decision.

***OFF TOPIC***
Why doesn't Synaptics enable ChiralMotion scrolling in more of their drivers? I think that feature is one of the best scrolling methods yet designed, and Synaptics keeps pushing their inconsistent two-finger scrolling over their much better circular model. Until Windows machines get two-finger scrolling comparable to what you get on a Mac, ChiralMotion scrolling rules (and it probably still beats Apple's two-finger scrolling for overall utility.)

 

To find 8g sodimm ram is kind of nigh impossible just search, so far I have come up with nothing, I know samsung produces, and kingston, but Im not sure about the latter.

currently in their site its not available

 

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Ultralight Laptop Review - HotHardware

This review claims 45 minutes of battery life on the X1 under "balanced performance"

It claims 160 minutes of battery life under "maximum battery life"

Is this even possible?

 

Is what possible? That kind of crap battery life? It's possible but I certainly hope that isn't normal. X1 owners will scream bloody murder and call for a return or recall.

Whoever decided to add the Post icons to this sub forum should be shot. #LAME

 

The review from HotHardware is unfortunately accurate. I have had the laptop for about a week now, and it has never lasted more than 2 hours 15 minutes. And, all I do is working on Excel spreadsheet and MS Word. If I would have used Wifi and internet, my guess was it would die quicker. I talked to Lenovo Tech Support, and according to them, the 5 hours battery life is standby time. I certainly feel misled about this. My impression of battery life is a mixed usage of the laptop, not only standby time. 2 hours 15 minutes isn't even reach 50% of what it claims to last. So, I talked to my attorney about this, and he said that the 5 hours battery life is defined by industry standard, whether it is mixed usage or purely standby time. If it is defined by industry standard, then it seems Lenovo grossly overstates the battery life of this laptop. By the way, I am returning this laptop. If I am charged with the restocking fee, I have my lawyer written a letter to Lenovo, and possibly take Lenovo to the court.

 

Oh, when I was working on Excel or Ms Word, it isn't like I continually use it. There are times when I just stare at the screen thinking and analyzing, and so it is a good mix between stand by and usage.

 

Wow... and I was sooo excited about the X1 that I decided to sell my T420...
Thank you for your inputs, I am going to keep my T420

 

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review - Webcam, Performance, Battery Life
So laptopmag's claim of 4 hours and 11 minutes WITHOUT the slice battery is totally inaccurate? They said 40% brightness, continuous web surfing via wifi...

Even in our very own NBR x1 review, it states "The ThinkPad X1 with Intel Core i5-2520M processor delivered 5 hours and 51 minutes of battery life with the built-in battery. Our standard battery life test sets the screen to 70% brightness, wireless active and continuously refreshing a website on a 60-second interval, and Windows 7 set to the "balanced" power profile."(Ref. http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6125&p=4)

Why do you think there are discrepancies?

One possibility is that the reviews all claim a 6-cell integrated battery whereas products being sold state 4-cell integrated batteries. Is it possible for Lenovo to send out testing units with better integrated batteries???

 

I was also confused by the differences between these numbers. But my X1 gets a solid 5-6 hours of web surfing on Energy Saver mode with brightness set to 7. The 350-nit screen makes 7 much brighter than 13 on my last ThinkPad, and Energy Saver is more than sufficient for web browsing and Office applications.

 

I chat with the sales rep. about this, and she said it is a 6-cell. Either it's a lie or the battery is crap.

 

Sadly, could be both...