Thinkpad X1 Carbon 2012

I don't think it will, previous X1 was nowhere to be seen at least here in US

 

The screen is all but confirmed as TN now. Jerry, the author of the NBR review, checked using hardware monitoring applications and this is what was there in the pre-production model: "Unknown Model: LEN40A2" . Googling shows that the cguys at 51nb found this profile in a Windows update back in April. Lenovo IPS profiles are listed as Flexview. This is just confirmation, looking at the viewing angles in the NBR review was pretty obvious that it's TN. Pics from a few days ago before the release showed the T420s fru in what was supposedly a disassembled unit. This should give hope that it's not that screen and might be better.

% TPWHDPH% = TPLCDWHDPHG72_1.Install, Monitor \ LEN40A2; 14 "Wide HD + 16:9 High Bright 1600x900 H Gamut72 _1
ThinkPad MaxBright Display 1600x900

 

Quick question on this pic. Isn't this from the Russian review a couple of months back and likely a pre-production unit? I'd like to add some tear down pic links to the owners thread, but I would prefer them to be a real production unit in case there is a last minute change.

One example is the discussion around the SSD. This pic has a Toshiba gumstick. The reviewers from this week seem to all have Sandisk.

If someone sees some official production tear down pics, let me know.

 

ThinkPad X1 Carbon Vs. Lenovo ThinkPad T430s Screen Comparison - YouTube

Looking good.

 

NotebookReview included the X1 Carbon on their top 5 ultrabook list but put them at #4.. I guess it was based on some missing features and price mostly though. They still feel..

Despite losing points for price (starting at $1,399 in August) and a few missing features, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the best business-oriented Ultrabook we've seen to date. If you want a sexy laptop that is built to business standards and has an AMAZING touchpad then the X1 Carbon is probably your best option.

Best Ultrabooks for August 2012: Our Top 5 Picks

Excellent video, thanks for posting. Finally we can see a vibrant photo to see the vibrance. It looks great. I'm sure it lacks a bit to the IPS but this will definitely do for me. I'm so glad they didn't use a plain ol' TN.

I am going to love using this for my design work. Colors seem pretty accurate and steady.

 

Hey, that's my video! You beat me to posting a link here. I actually just put together an article with photos and video compared to the T430s and X220 here:

ThinkPad X1 Carbon Screen Comparison to Other ThinkPads

Bottom line, the X1 Carbon 14" screen is much better than other 14" ThinkPads.

Also, here's a direct link to a comparison with the X220 IPS screen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOkNKaKqzYg&feature=youtu.be

 

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I gave a nice thumbs up and comment on your video. Nice to have someone in here with some hands-on. Maybe you can answer a few questions for us?

1. Do you have a 128 or 256GB model? If so, what kind of SSD did they include, Sandisk, Toshiba, etc?
2. I'm reading your review, but from what I've seen, would it be correct to say the horizontal viewing angles are better than the vertical?

Thanks

 

Nice job. I created a reviews section in the owners thread base post and added a link. See http://forum.notebookreview.com/thi...kpad-x1-carbon-owners-thread.html#post8773169

 

Hey, thanks so much posting the video. One thing i notice that compared to x220 the x1 had very vibrant colors or is it just me... I particularly noticed that reds on x1 looked much better while x220 red looked more orange toned?

 

I could be wrong since I don't have them in person, but I almost think the X220 has a more natural appearance than the X1's over saturated look. But maybe I'm not as familiar with the source photo.

There's no doubt the X1 is brighter though. I wish the viewing angles were as good as the IPS but they seem sufficient.

 

This is true for all laptop LCDs.

 

Wow. This is very helpful. Thanks so much.

 

I guess that's kinda true. Good point. But I guess I should have asked if the horizontal angles are more bearable at least and visible vs. completely inverted like vertical.

 

x220 has 60% gamut, X1C has a display with 72% gamut. 72% gamut mean usually that whole sRGB palette is covered. So more saturated colors that are given with 72% is the standard that we should demand, and not judge it as "oversaturated". The colors are saturated just as they have to be, x220 IPS with lower gamut are rather "undersaturated" I would say.

 

I take it you're referring to me when I mentioned "oversaturation" with the X1C. I just said it appears that way from the picture and the x220 looks a bit more natural from the youtube video andrew posted. I'm not doubting that the X1C is more true to life. In fact, I remember the 3dnews.ru referring to it being a very good TN display which covers a wide color gamut. Here's the chart..

http://www.3dnews.ru/_imgdata/img/2012/06/07/630595/ltpx1c-cie.png

I remember you pointing the 72% color gamut on page 19 of this thread but where did you see that figure? I'm just curious because that's great if it is.

Edit: Notebookcheck.net actually puts the X220 IPS at 66% sRGB. I have yet to find the figures for the X1C.

Lenovo ThinkPad X230 2306-2AU Laptop Review - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

 

That's not the point!! The point is that computer become obsolete fast so why not use the latest technology out there for a brand new series?

 

The comparison to X220 is helpful. I have the X220T. I don't think the screen quality on the X1C is going to fly for me. The only thing to hope for now is that they offer an IPS option.

 

Just out of curiosity, what would be so much improved besides the handling of extreme view angles? Do you require these view angles when working with your laptop, maybe I'll learn some new interesting uses, and I thought i was already extreme in taking my tpad into the sauna

 

Because it doesn't matter? Why don't they put a Crucial M4 or an OCZ Vertex 4 into these (besides that they don't fit)? It's all about tradeoffs. Lenovo creates an adequate line of laptops, to meet varying needs. This laptop fills a *huge* gap that they've been missing for a while. Higher res displays in a portable powerhouse. As someone who's waited for years for them to finally get the picture, this laptop is a godsend.

 

Everything is a tradeoff. If there is no advantage of putting 1600MHz Ram into this machine, then why should they?

Just to make you feel that you have the newest and best?
Yes they would, if more people would now also slavishly follow the Ram MHz, then maybe the timing of the ram and then what...

They optimize for cost benefit. The 1600 cost more and do not deliver any benefit, thus they do not put them in. Putting the newest technology into these machines only makes sense if it improves them, which it would not in this case.

Additionally 1600 MHz might also have disadvantages. As you are aware, higher frequencies also mean higher power consumption, if I remember correctly, with power consumption increases with the square of the frequency. And that eg, would be quite bad for a laptop. This is also the reason why they put ULVs into these machines. They could fit in higher powered CPUs, the cooling could be managed easily, but then the battery endurance would suffer dearly. You cannot have it both ways. This is an ultraportable, the design goal is 100% specified in the category of it.

If you want a really high-powered laptop, get a Clevo gaming laptop with a Nvidia 680M, not a puny Thinkpad, they rock and require powerbricks that weigh more than an X1C

 

It's a giant step in the right direction.

 

I think that might be more just related to the extra brightness on the X1, it does appear more vibrant for that reason alone, the X220 doesn't suffer from the "red appears orange" seen on the Sony VAIO SE and HP Envy 15 IPS displays. At times with high spectrum colors the X1 is maybe a little over saturated, but nothing horrendous.

 

Would you recommend it to a web/graphic designer like myself? Color accuracy is important to me. Though I don't think it can get much worst than the Samsung QX410 display I've been using for the last 2 years.

If there is anything lacking in the X1C, I will be using a 23-27" IPS external display when I'm not on the go anyways. But for when I am on the go, I hope the X1C's display is sufficient.

 

I have really enjoyed my Dell U2711. I would like the new version that was just announced.

 

Anyone thinking of getting a T430U instead of the X1C? I mean discrete graphics and HALF the price. I can get a sweet monitor setup with $700 left over (or clothes, watches, torches, knives, etc). The screen on the T430U is the only thing holding me back... And I thought that Lenovo wouldn't shoot themselves in the foot this time around.

 

Now that the x1c has finally been officially revealed and reviewed, I'm just waiting for the t430u to be officially revealed. I would love to get the x1c, but the t430u is way more feasible for me in terms of price and is upgradeable. Because of that, I think the only thing that'll keep me from going for it over the x1c is if it has a crappy display and resolution.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

Thanks to Andrew Baxter from Laptop Reviews: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Vs. Apple MacBook Air Screen Comparison - YouTube

The x1 Carbon's TN screen is on par with the Air's...finally an above average TN for a high end TP!

 

Often times at work, I have people looking over my shoulders (some sitting or standing) staring at my laptop screen. It's some presentation or images I need to show them. So even though I won't use the laptop by myself at the extreme angles, but when I have other people over my shoulders, they will not have the best viewing experience.

Another thing I thought of is since the X1C screen can open all the way flat, it makes it a perfect laptop to have people standing around it to see whatever is being displayed. But since the screen is TN based technology, there will always be an issue.

All that being said, I have to say the TN panel quality is waayyyyy better than other TN panels shipping today. So kudos to Lenovo. At the end of the day, there's no perfect laptop...and that's the way it is.

Still have time to think about it before the release date.

 

Exactly what I'm thinking.
Andrew's video told me everything I needed to know about the display.

Conclusion: nice try, but for this price and q3 2012 it's not enough. No IPS, no go.

I'm sad to say that's probably the end of me being a Lenovo customer.

 

On the former page there was a post, in which somebody found registry entry or something like that, showing "H Gamut72_1" display. On the other hand, the color space chart in russian test is very close to sRGB space, so I've assumed that it is 72% gamut. Color reproduction could be however another story.

 

I have a T420s that I have upgraded to 16GB RAM and 500GB SSD - can I do the same upgrade on the X1C?

/Just

 

I see. I didn't even think to look at that codename for the gamut levels. Smart. If the color space covers most of sRGB, how does that differ with color reproduction and how the X1C might lack in that area?

Sent from my BlackBerry 9930 using Tapatalk

 

To my understanding, no you cannot. The memory is soldered in for the X1C and it appears to only come in 4 and 8GB.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9930 using Tapatalk

 

I also put together some videos comparing the ThinkPad X1 C to the MacBook Air (2012, most recent 13.3") for anyone who's interested. It's not a Mac Vs. Windows comparison, more just a look at the features and design:

Full comparison of MBA and X1C: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Vs. Apple MacBook Air 2012 Comparison - YouTube

Just screen comparison of MBA and X1C: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Vs. Apple MacBook Air Screen Comparison - YouTube

 

Andrew, thanks for the comparison!
Mind to share what kind of SSD your X1C has?

 

In the video you said that Carbon has "another USB 3.0" on the right side. Is this true? All other reviews said that it has one USB 3.0 on the left side and one always-on USB 2.0 on the right.

 

POWER BRICKS

I just had a short chat at the Lenovo site:

Q. I have two thinkpads and am thinking of buying a Carbon. I have four 90-watt power bricks set up at three desks plus one for my travel case. They all have the round plug tips. The Carbon brick has a rectangular power tip. Are you folks going to sell a converter or adapter so that a round tip can match with the rectangular power port? If so what is the part number and is it available now?

A. No, there is not an adapter like that unfortunately.

 

Why couldn't they offer a decent IPS display as an option for this notebook? TN's suck when using in your lap on the road. Having a stable image not affected by vertical angles is so much more comfortable for the eyes..

 

Andrew, thanks for videos. It's veryhelpful. Pictures are worth thousand words. Videos are worth a million words? hahahahaha

 

Very honestly, the only excuse I have for them is that they are STUPID. I do not see any reason for not offering the IPS and/or FHD on the X1C and T430(s/u) except that they are STUPID. I am very confident to say that I am really very frustrated and mad at these companies that do not know what they are doing and try to convince themselves, their employees, and they fans/apologists of what they do and they just follow blindly!

 

From the reviews/videos it looks like that we can not upgrade RAM and or SSD that is no no for me. I need your help on your opinion in getting X220 or X230 instead.

 

​

I'm sure Lenovo has a bunch of smart people doing the business analysis on the ROI for putting in an IPS display instead of a high quality TN panel, and it all made sense to them.

Speaking for myself, the customers that would buy the X1C has more money to burn and is willing to spend the extra money for a higher quality laptop. Adding on another $100 or so for an IPS display will not cause me to lose any sleep. I'm frustrated and let down as well. But oh well.

Enough complaining from me....

I still like my X220T.

 

There are owner's threads for the X220 and X230 models. Have you looked there?

 

I guess we are going to see what happens on 8/21 and beyond when the X1 Carbon starts selling. If the street price is low enough, people will buy it. The corp procurement department buyers don't care about screen quality. They certainly don't at my company.

The X1C will be a runaway success. The 1600x900 screen, backlit keyboard, glass trackpad, light weight and good looks will be enough for the majority of folks out there.

 

If Lenovo could justify the cost of putting in an IPS screen for mass production I'm sure their design team would've added them in.

I'm not going to complain about it, but I do love the design solution that they've come up with. You wouldn't use a business class notebook for Photo and Video production. A lot of people in that field prefer a Macbook in their hands. That leaves the IPS with the advantage of vertical viewing angles over regular TN screens. I've thought about it a little and I think I see their solution. I've been wondering why everyone from Lenovo kept pointing it out or why it was even there in the first place.

Its in the bloody hinges

I thought the reason they added in the 180 degree motion for the screen was for impact resistance. By allowing the ultrabook to go completely flat on impact, they reduced the stress on the hinges and distribute them on the magnesium roll cage and carbon fibre body. I thought "Ok, that's fine. Why didn't they just get stronger hinges?", then it dawned on me how perceptive the design team was when everyone complained about it. The 180 degree screen hinge is a decent compromise against the viewing angle problem with TN screens. If someone needed a better viewing angle on the go, they have the full 180 range to work with.

Its a pretty brilliant solution if I'd say so myself. I'd definitely grab myself one and even though the price tag is a bit of a premium, its the small engineering design details they put into it that just blows my mind.

 

I think you are right, at least if the price is right. That may include a slight premium over the competition, even.

 

Agreed. Lenovo is going to sell a bunch of these.

 

Finally a comparison that actually matters. If I can get a base model for use in grad school for less than 1200, I'm all over this. Easy and no question. This looks like a solid machine.

 

Agreed. Thanks so much for all the comparisons Andrew (rep given), it really helped me set my decision in stone. After months of deciding between different ultrabooks I have finally found something that will really be good for me with the work I do. Though an IPS or PLS would have been ideal for my graphics work, the TN on the X1C looks exceptional. It seems to hold up against the MacBook Air and I'm guessing MacBook Pro (non retina) so that's all I need to know. It's going to be a huge jump for me from my Samsung QX410. I'm likely going to be using an external IPS display for the nitty gritty work either way.

Bring on August 21st!

 

Here is the base post for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. The USA data sheet is now out so we have published specifications for the new model from Lenovo. See the section below for datasheets from other locales around the planet.

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System - Windows® 7 Home Premium or Windows® 7 Professional

ULV Processor Options
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3667U (2.00 GHz, 4MB L3, 1333MHz FSB)
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-3427U (1.80 GHz, 3MB L3, 1333MHz FSB)
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-3317U (1.70 GHz, 3MB L3, 1333MHz FSB)

Video Graphics - Intel® HD 4000 integrated NVIDIA N13P-GLP Optimus Graphics (2 GB VRAM, 128 bit) (The Optimus information came from the USA datasheet. This is probably erroneous information and the disposition is subject to confirmation).

Display - 14” HD+ Anti-Glare (1600 x 900) (300 NITS) Wide Viewing. (screen tech unconfirmed)

RAM - Up to 8 GB DDR3 1333MHz

Battery - 45Wh, Integrated, Up to 6.3 hours. Recharges to 80% in 35 minutes via RapidCharge.

Ports
(1) Mini DP
(1) Combo Audio
(1) USB 2.0
(1) USB 3.0
(1) 4-in-1 SD card reader

Networking
Ethernet via USB dongle
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 62055 2x2AGN
BT 4.0
Optional 3G WWAN - Sierra Wireless MC8355 - Gobi 3000(tm), Ericsson H5321gw Mobile Broadband Module

Dimensions - 331mm x 226mm x 18.85mm (13.03” x 8.9” x 0.74”

Weight - 1.36 Kg (2.998 lbs)

DATA SHEETS
USA - http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/thinkpad/x-series/x1-carbon/x1-carbon-datasheet.pdf
Australia - http://shopap.lenovo.com/au/en/pdf/X1_Carbon_DataSheet.pdf

PRICING (unofficial)
Engadget article on pricing

REVIEWS - this is going to be a hard section to maintain but I will try to put decent reviews here.

• X1 Carbon Screen Compared to Other ThinkPads by Andrew Baxter
• X1 Carbon Screen Compared to the MacBook Air by Andrew Baxter.
• Notebookreview.com review by Jerry Jackson.
• laptopmag.com review by Avram Piltch.

PICTURES