Thinkpad X1 Carbon 2012

Second one only works with certain combinations.

i5/8gb/256gb - 2 works
i5/4gb/128gb - 2 works

i5/8gb/128 - only 1 works

 

yes, thx, but HOW WOULD i stack the coupons though?

i can't do it because it doesn't show a spot to ADD a second coupon!

please educate me!

thx.

 

At the shopping cart for B&N Gold you select "Activate eCoupon". Then underneath where it says enter code, you put in your newsletter code.

 

I see on various discussions that i7 with 8GB will be available in October. I have not confirmed with a rep. Anyone have info? I'd appreciate it and finally be able to pull the trigger on this

 

Can I ask why so many people are diehard for the i7/8GB combo? I really can't imagine how 400Mhz and 1MB of L3 cache can make or break someone's decision.

I get the "want the best" mindset because i'm the same way. But it's not going to keep me from pulling the trigger on this bad boy.

 

while technically, what you said does happen, in reality, if you were to watch the prices displayed, only the GREATER DISCOUNT (i.e. ONE coupon code) shows up, that means that trying to type in 2 coupons results in one discount.

kindly double check and see, please.

thanks so much!

 

Oh I'm going to get one for sure -- just trying to "future-proof" it as much as possible because I learnt the lesson the hard way with previous purchases. I usually multitask and RAW photo edit but lately I'm venturing into video

Also, I'm not particularly tech-y. Help if you have info. No one answered on a couple of pages back when someone asked about i5/8GB v. i7/4GB

 

Ah, dang, that's the one I ordered.

 

i5/8gb ram/256gb SSD ONLY ONE WORKS.

 

More than one discount is definitely being applied. I can test this by going to lenovo.com and inputting my newsletter code. I get 1124.10 for the base model. Whereas when I go through B&N Gold, the price is first 1061, then my newsletter code presumably stacks to make the base model 999.20 (even though it lists the newsletter code only as you described)

 

well, if you had gone to the regular Lenovo.com site, and merely used your email/newsletter code, you'd get that same price. hence the conclusion that only "1 coupon code was at work" - the greater of the 2 was functioning.

 

It's allowing me to use both the B&N Gold and Newsletter discount for a total of $375.80 off the i5/8gb/256gb

 

You may have misunderstood me. But I did go to the lenovo site, where the base model is $1124.10 after newsletter coupon.

However, at the B&N Gold site I used USXDISCOUNT and the price lowers to $1061, then after using the second coupon from newsletter, the price lowers again to $999.20 There are two coupon codes at work here. USXDISCOUNT along with my personalized newsletter code.

edit: At the very least, the B&N gold site somehow makes the newsletter codes better.

 

I've also just confirmed that stacking the codes works on everything but the 8GB version. Which kind of sucks... but the $400 price difference makes me not care as much.

Also tried with Discover CashBack 10%... I might get out the door with an $899 base model. Not bad, although it did take a couple cancelled orders.

 

Stacking codes will work on the 8GB version as long as you select the 256GB SSD upgrade. Weird, I know.

 

^^ He's correct... it also works if you add something from "Microsoft productivity software preload"

I tried most of the rest, nothing else triggers it. So close to perfection... but I don't need another 128gb for > $200 though.

 

I'm with you. If I could get double discount on i5/8gb/128 then I'd be sold. As is, I might just back off and go for the base model. At $999 it's a steal.

Am I crazy thinking 4GB will be enough? I'm not doing any heavy editing but I'm a pretty big multi-tasker. I'd just hate to be disappointed.

 

Yea, I should have said the supply chain on the Series 9 seemed to change with the Ivy Bridge machines. All of the Sandy Bridge machines we received had Sammy 830 drives, too. I wish the X1 Carbon used that drive.

 

Does the page being down imply they're changing their discounts?

 

Exactly... a $500+ difference for the memory and double the disk space is half the price of the computer!

Not sure if you're running Linux (as I am), but I've been running with 3GB for web development pretty comfortably... I think anything above that and I probably just need to focus more and close half of my 40 running tabs.

The way I see it... if we actually find a pressing need for more memory in 6~12 months.. I'm pretty sure we can find it, in either this model for <1k or maybe in an X2 Carbon with Haswell + 1080p.... one can dream.

 

Dunno. Hopefully it's for the cheaper if they are!

 

I've been following this thread for a while and really have been considering it in favour of competitors mainly for that keyboard and track point which I love.

I'm currently studying a computer engineering course at uni. I'm getting along fine right now with an i3, 8gb ram x121e for compiling some beginner level java and some light matlab work.

Reading what everyone else has been saying has got me wondering if a 4gb i5 would suffice. I really love the keyboard though, and a better trackpad, larger screen and lighter body is only good news, or would I be better off looking at something like the x230?

 

I ordered the 256GB/i5/8GB on the first day with an employee discount and another newsletter promo code attached. It definitely combined and brought it down to $1503 before tax. Before the coupon it was about $1597 or so. On the regular site, no discount, the same configuration is about $1880.

Lot of confusion and concerns in here but I'm just happy this beast is coming soon. The only thing I'm slightly concerned with is the display, since I know it won't look as good as the S9 or Zenbook P. I usually don't want to order a notebook before seeing it in person. But it'll definitely be better than the QX410 Samsung I have now. Finally a matte display with more accurate colors and vibrancy.. I'm gonna love doing my design and development work on it.

 

Just now I had two reps on chat tell me that RAM on i7 can be upgraded later, even as DIY. Am I going to get different answers if I ask again in5 hours?

 

Don't believe them. Lenovo's own service videos show the RAM is soldered.
Lenovo Partner Portal | Lenovo Service Training

 

Absolutely true

And it is, as if they were doing this on purpose, see the i7/8GB issue.

 

Which discussions have you seen? I can discuss anything too, but there has not been ONE official document stating this, from the beginning till today, always i5 w/ 8GB, never an i7.

The difference is about 10% CPU performance, nothing else.
Not too big of an issue, but just the fact that they are releasing the top CPU with less RAM than the slower CPUs is really really annoying. That's all. It is, as if they are deliberately screwing with our heads and flipping us off. The crowd that normally buys top spec and maximizes for it, sees itself in a position where it cannot. That's all.

As if you had to choose between the strongest engine or the best chassis/tires, depending on what you will be doing with it, it will differ and this is annoying especially as there does not seem to be a real reason for forcing us to choose between the two

I wil buy an i5/8GB, as the 8GB is more important for me(VMs), performance wise, than the 10% CPU speed.

Not seen anybody write that, yet. And indeed, it'd be a stupid reason for not buying the X1C.

Use your OWN brain. Check the pictures, it is soldered in, how COULD you upgrade that, other than by replacing the motherboard?
The only way, and that is probably possible of doing so, is to buy the i5 with 8GB and then upgrading the CPU to the 2667, but that's very costly, you'll have to throw the perfectly good old CPU away, net to nobody will want it on ebay and GL getting a new 2667.
Could we please stop asking this question? It's been answered at least 40 times in this thread, no, you CANNOT upgrade the RAM yourself, unless you swap the motherboard. I know hope dies last, but please let it go...

Don't let them fu** with your brain, this launch has been designed to do so....

 

It wasn't an official doc. I can't remember if I saw it on a forum or in comments after a review. I'll update here if I come across it again

Exactly my point when I spoke to them. They insisted that it's not soldered despite what I'm getting in this forum. So... I figured I'll check again when the India reps (who seem to have less info and leeway with pricing) are off and wait for the US (?) reps to clock in. I'm not in a hurry to buy but will for sure. I'd be slightly annoyed to find more options available shortly after launch

 

The X1 is too thin for a socketed CPU. It's soldered. There's no other way they could get it that thin.

 

Thanks. I guess I'll place an order soon if those codes are still good

 

For me it's the use of virtual machines. The X1C is by no means a workstation replacement, but when road warrioring the closer you can get the better.

 

Anybody able to access the X1 Carbon section of the Lenovo Shop/B&N Gold store. I woke up decision made, ready to purchase, and the site isn't working

 

search "X1 carbon" using the search bar found on the top right corner, then you should be able to customize your order.

However I cannot check out with the $990.2 base model. Anybody else can check out now?

 

They moved it from "Laptops & Ultrabooks"->"X Series" to "Laptops & Ultrabooks"->"Ultrabooks"

 

Have been trying to order an X1C and tried using the phone and the web. The phone option was the worst experience I've had in quite a long time. The sales rep "Raphael" said the only way I could get a discount is if I purchased a carrying case and a warranty as a bundle. Later when I said let's just cancel the order, she just hung up the phone on me. Now I'm on the phone for half an hour trying to get the order cancelled. What a disaster.

Folks, when given a chance, avoid the phone reps if at possible. They try to upsell you with extra warranties and accessories and how lucky you are that they can give you these valuable additions.

In my 15 years of ordering ThinkPads this is the worst I've experienced.

Just wanted to give a heads-up if possible and hopefully somehow let Lenovo be aware of this.

 

Lenovo's buying experience has always sucked. Apple by comparison lets you check the status of an order online, cancel, modify, and do all sorts of edits along the way. They only lock the information at certain intervals which is reasonable. Lenovo only lets you check the status and it's nearly impossible to get something cancelled.

 

That is nice that they are selling warranties that, as almost all reviews say, are already included with X1 Carbon.

engadget: "It comes with a three-year warranty, but it's always good to know you won't be expecting to use it."
laptopmag: "Lenovo backs the ThinkPad X1 Carbon with a standard three-year warranty that includes parts and labor. "
pcmag: "The system comes with a three-year standard warranty."
notebook review: " 3-year limited warranty"
the verge: "What I like about the X1C is the 3 year warranty it comes with"

Frankly, I am tired of all this bull Lenovo keeps saying and then not delivering.

 

The pre-built retail models likely do come with a 3yr warranty. I don't think Lenovo or IBM have ever offered standard 3-yr for CTO.

 

Yeah, its weird. The Lenovo site says a 1 YEAR WARRANTY!!!

the 3 years are pretty cheap, but I wonder why all the press guys got it so wrong

 

I don't think the press got it wrong. I think Lenovo sh_t the bed.

With all the drama and excitement around this flagship machine, there are a lot of corners cut. On paper (and speculation) it was a justifiable move from my current machine to the X1C, but not so much now.

On an unrelated note, I finally looked at the Sony VAIO Z... wow, looks like a more "premium" machine than the X1C.

 

Well, I went to the Sony Flagship Store here in Manhattan last week to check out the Sony Z 2012. Gosh golly, what a disappointment! It felt every bit as flimsy as every single other Vaio laptop I've ever felt.

The 1080 resolution was also ill suited for a 13.1" LCD. Every single webpage needed a "Control +++++++". Simply too tiny to read. That said, the IPS was bright and nice for viewing angles.

Still, for the big things, the X1C got them right. Witness the glass trackpad, the keyboard, the "just right" screen resolution, the build quality, the 7 mil spec tests, etc.

Chaque un a son gout.

 

Heck yeah the Vaio Z is a premium machine!

Full powered Quad core, 8gb 1600mhz RAM, 256gb Raid 0 hard drive setup (I've read 900mbs speeds), 1080p IPS, small/light/sleek looking, plus the battery slice option which I really like.

It's also about $2200 configured the way I just mentioned it....so out of the league for many. Though if you're paying $1700 for 256gb/8gb/i5 on the X1c, then maybe $500 more is worth it for 256gbRaid0/1600mhz/true quad core/better screen. For me it's not.

 

I meant more in general terms...

I do think the X1C keyboard, trackpad and resolution and general ThinkPad build are definite pluses.

However, backing out on the 3 year warranty, non-removable battery, no i7/8GB combo, non-upgradeable RAM, no IPS screen, proprietary SSD, and price point could have all been improved upon.

I'd be okay with the price providing some of the other items were spec'd better.

I kind of agree with you... I'm not really in need of a quad core, but a little better spec (IPS screen, i7/8GB, SSD options or standardization) on the X1C would have made it an easy choice. I configured a VAIO Z with i5, 8GB, and 256GB RAID SSDs, and the price is not too far off the X1C.



In any case at the very least the X1C should have better battery performance than is being reported. I would have been okay with another quarter or half pound of weight.

 

I dont know what the big deal is. The base price is also $150 than what was listed. I'd rather have a cheaper starting price and the option to choose my own warranty.

 

The MacBook Air doesn't come with a 3 year warranty, non-removable battery, has the i7 8GB RAM combo, non-upgradable RAM, no IPS screen, proprietary SSD and the price point could be improved.

So the X1 Carbon is nearly identical to the Mac on all of those areas. At the moment it doesn't offer the i7 8GB combo, but I can't imagine that is permanent. Also with the X1 Carbon warranty options, at least you can get accident coverage though it will cost $50 more than the Mac with AppleCare. I am comparing my EPP and discounted prices on each.

Unless the X1 Carbon has a glaring flaw, the features and prices are nearly identical to the main competition. AND it runs Windows which is a key feature for millions of people.

 

Well, if we go again to the review an look:

Engadget's laptop was i5-3427U, 4 Gb RAM and 128 Gb SSD and the price was: "the $1,499 ThinkPad X1 Carbon". On Lenovo store the list price for this model is: $1,349.00, add 3 year depot warranty and it will come down to $1,468.00, which is even $31 cheaper than in the review. Well, kudos to the Lenovo on that, but still they should have had communicated with the reviewers better on those price vs. warranty points.

 

The only flaw I see with the warranty options is the lack of an all inclusive package. They should bundle onsite, accidental, and battery coverage. That can be fixed easily enough.

 

I agree. The MBA was never on my radar, I need a Windows notebook for my business activities.

I suppose my gripe is that the X1C isn't enough of an improvement from what I already have; I so desperately wanted it to be.

 

The Vaio Z does NOT have an IPS display. Its viewing angles aren't much better than the X1Cs, though the screen might be a bit more vibrant.

As a side note, our friends at laptopreviews.com uploaded a video comparing the X1C to the Vaio S13 display.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Vs. Sony VAIO S13 Comparison Video - YouTube

It shows how the X1C's TN display is better than your average. I think the comparison is a little better than the Macbook Air's since this time, they're both matte.

 

Kindly note please that the Mac Book Air's battery life is substantially less when using Windows on it! Its stated battery life is for Apple's OS only. This was a big surprise to me even though the Mac Book Air wasn't on my radar either, but it was always there as a comp for comparison sake.

Regarding all the discussion about the enthusiasm for the i7 option with the 8gb RAM:

how much extra speed do y'all expect to gain from going from the i5 8gb option to the i7 8gb option (if it were to be available)? This would be useful for me to know, even on an approximate basis.

Thx in advance.