Thinkpad x20x (s/t/i) Owners Thread

Drat! I missed the x200 ultrabase outlet sale (the site wasn't working Tuesday and now they're all gone.)

Newb here.....this is a stupid question, I know....but will the below item, also in the outlet, also read and burn CDs?

Thanks!
Quick Overview
ThinkPad DVD Burner Ultrabay Slim SATA- Compatible with the T400/W500/X200/X200 Tablet (Not compatible with past ThinkPad models).

Features and specifications
Average Access Time: 150 ms
Color: Business black
Device interface: SATA
Optical device: DVD Recordable
Optical device speed: 8X Max
Optical device speed: 8X Max
Read/Write

 

Better to look stoopid for a few seconds than buy the wrong product I say.

How much was the dock in the outlet? There was someone selling one on TP.com for $100 a few weeks back or you could try eBay too.

Timing is key in the outlet. They were selling 65w adapters that work with both my ThinkPads for $8, but I hesitated. Now they're gone. I'm looking for those and a four-cell for the X200, but I'm on no hurry.

 

This will read and burn CD's as well as DVD's. However, this is an ULTRABAY drive and requires either a two spindle machine (T400, w500, et. al.) or the Ultrabase. It will NOT work with an x200 without the Ultrabase.


ZaZ - They were selling the x200 Ultrabase as a 'Scratch and Dent' in the outlet for $75. There are also several x200 9 cell batteries for $45 ( link).

 

I returned my x201 and got an x201s coming next week

 

May i ask why so?

 

Not very happy with the screen of x201 and one of its speakers is DOA

 

Good move. The extra screen real estate, lower power usage and weight are all really nice.

 

Just got my x201, when I tested my speakers, it sounded like it only has one speaker. Does anyone knows where the two speakers are located if there are two speakers? Thanks!

 

Got my X201 on monday... i like it a lot but... the screen contrast would brighten out of no where, making things hard to read, only happen 2x but found it strange, a quick hibernate/wake up fixes it.

I also have that annoying cpu/fan? noise pitch whine , I don't hear it at all most of the time but when the room is dead silent it can be distracting...

Looks like its going back to Lenovo. Oh and as for speakers, I only hear it from one speaker as well... idk I thought it only had one. /strug

 

201s/t should all be mono speaker. goal is portability. not like your missing out on much anyway, they are still laptop speakers. from what i've heard, even premium laptop speakrs still suck . though the concept is sweet

Bump

anyword on display to HDMI? or Future base w/hdmi? I know vga is the buisness standard (for projectors) but the single HD audio/video cable is the prefered solution here at UCHSC

 

The X200T Tablet has stereo speakers. From the PDF:

Other features:
Optional integrated camera; dual array digital
microphones; improved touch capability, dual swivel
hinge, security cable slot, stereo speakers


Same as X201T:

Multimedia features
• 2.0 MP low-light camera (optional)
• Stereo speakers
• Noise cancelling dual array digital microphones
• Improved touch capability
• Sturdy dual swivel hinge

 

My laptop is X201 and it should have stereo speakers. However, I only hear one speaker.

 

May I know where it is stated that the X201 has stereo speakers?

 

X201 Checklist (?)
I will be opening my x201 box sometime next week.
What are somethings that I must check as soon as I open the box?
I guess, in general, LCD is important.
And it seems like some people are having troubles with speakers.
What else?

 

In the manual...

 

I got my new X201 4 days ago and only the left speaker is working. I checked the back of the laptop and I could see two speakers. Both are under the palm rest. X201 should have stereo speakers, but the right one is not working at all.

 

X201 has two speakers, they are under the palm rest. You can see them from the back. I have X201 as well. I got it 4 days ago and only the left one works. I have to either return it or has them to fix it at this point.

 

Hi
I am about to order my first think pad and have a couple of questions.
I am not sure about whether to order an X201 or X201s. The machine will be essentially a desktop replacement, I will need it to analyze vast data sets with millions of variables for thousands of people. I will spec any machine out with 8Gb RAM and an SSD.
A significant amount of time will be spent with the laptop plugged into an external monitor.

1. When I asked them about supplying a monitor (1920x1080), the Lenovo sales team suggested by email:
" the X201 will only support a max of 1280x800 resolution".
I have been led to believe this is incorrect especially if I use an Ultrabase.
Please can you confirm that this is the case?

2. I am naturally keen to get the smallest lightest machine with longest battery life, but am put off by the slower chip in the X201s (i7-640LM vs i7-620M), the carbon fibre rather than metal lid, the lack of camera and single speaker. Has any one seen/tried both and have some insight into which machine to get?

I was also tempted by the new Vaio z series,although it has a better screen, it is more expensive, less strong and has a worse keybord despite being backlit. Any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated!
many thanks
Dan

 

1. Dunno how exactly you asked, but they seems to have answered as if you asked for a built in 1920x1080 monitor. For external monitors, with the built in VGA I think you can hit 2048x1536, and even higher with the ultrabase digital out.

2. The wxga+ x201s has a better lid than the x201, it has a carbon fiber lid but with a magnesium roll cage.

As for your cpu power needs, best bet is to compare the processor you use to do it now with the i7-640LM/i7-620M in a common benchmark.

 

1) The tech was wrong. 2048x1536 is the limit for VGA (I've done 1680x1050 and others have done 1920×1200). DisplayPort supports 2560x1600.

2) This really depends on your unique needs. For most the LV chip should be plenty powerful but you may notice the difference in statistical packages. How long do your datasets take to run now (and on what hardware)?

 

At this point, maybe the question needs to be asked: Does anyone with an X201 have a WORKING right speaker?


This many people with problems, I don't think it's just a matter of a quality control issue letting a few slip.

 

Thanks for your comments
I was asking them to supply an external monitor as well as the x201 but they emailed to say it the x201 not be able to support a 1920x1080 monitor , I assume they are mis-informed.

Re: X201s lid: I saw a lenovo video on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6EYLw-tGwI
suggesting the x201s doesn't have the magnesium in the lid but only carbon fibre which is what the vaio z series has and is definitely more flimsy than the last generation x200 which i tried out?

Both the i7-640LM and i7-620M should be an improvement on my current machine. Do you think there will be a significant difference between them?

 

Thanks for the further reassurance on the external monitor front.

Regarding the analyses, these are mainly done on a cluster and can still take days, but I need to be able to interrogate and format the raw data locally so faster the better. I would prefer a more portable machine; but not if there is too big a difference in speed and other downsides previously listed.

 

In that case I'd say the most important question is if you want 1440×900 on the Laptop. With your work I think you might. When working with raw data, higher resolution tends to be more important for productivity than a few hundred MHz.

Also, don't worry about the lid. Although both the x201s and Sony Z use carbon fibre I assure you that is where the similarities end.

 

Thanks, I agree about the resolution, which is why I am keen to get a decent external monitor linked both at home and at work which would account for 70 - 80% of the usage making the laptop resolution less vital.
So 1 vote for the x201s, anyone else tried both X201 and X201s and have a preference?

 

If you are using it as a desktop replacement, I do not see the point of X201s. Its advantages are the higher screen resolution (negated if you use an external monitor) and better battery life (negated if you are on AC most of the time anyway). I think the better and faster CPU/GPU on the X201 will serve you well. (GPU is the same but clocked at a faster speed)

 

huh if you want a desktop replacement
you should consider T410s.

 

I thought there was a size and weight difference between the X201 and X201s, but otherwise what you say is correct.

 

Weight: X201: 2.89 lbs. (4-cell), 3.18 lbs. (6-cell), 3.52 (9-cell) lbs.

Weight: X201s: 2.48 lbs. (4-cell), 2.77 lbs. (6-cell), 3.11 (9-cell) lbs.

Battery Life: X201: 3.3 hours (4-cell), 6.6 hours (6-cell), 11 hours (9-cell)

Battery Life: X201s 3.6 hours (4-cell), 7.3 hours (6-cell), 12.2 hours (9-cell)

 

I did but need to carry it with me everyday so want it small as possible

 

btw how important is wwan to you?

 

Whilst we are talking batteries is it only the 4 cell that is flush with the machine? if i am going to order a couple of battery packs is a 4 cell and a 9 cell sensible?

Secondly, do I assume the 201 and 201s have the same dimensions?

 

I had gone for WWAN on the x201 quote is it not available on the X201s?

 

X201

4/6-cell: 11.6" x 8.3" x 0.8-1.4"; 295mm x 210mm x 20.7-35.3mm

9-cell: 11.6" x 9.2" x 0.8-1.4"; 295mm x 233.8mm x 20.7-35.3mm

X201s

4-cell: 11.6" x 8.3" x 0.8-1.1"; 295mm x 210mm x 20.7-28.7mm

6-cell: 11.6" x 8.3" x 0.8-1.4"; 295mm x 210mm x 20.7-35.3mm

9-cell: 11.6" x 9.2" x 0.8-1.4"; 295mm x 234mm x 20.7-35.3mm

 

Thanks, so best to get a 6 and a 9 cell battery pack.

 

here is the lenovo tabook
http://www.partnerinfo.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf
you can find all the detailed information

 

X201s does not come with WWAN. I think 6 cell is the most ideal, it is flush at the back and protrudes slightly at the bottom. 9 cell protrudes at the back and bottom.

Weight wise I think it is not as significant as the other advantages/disadvantages we've discussed. Differ by at most 0.5 pounds.

 

Thanks to you all for your excellent advice
I'll order my X201 in the morning.
Now I've decided exactly what to get, I want it here yesterday not in 2 weeks!

 

good luck =)

 

I hope that your X201's both speakers would work correctly. Please test it as soon as you get it and let us know.

I got my Thinkpad X201 5 days ago (today is Mar.22) and only the left speaker works. I am going to return it to Lenovo. A new machine that just came out of factory should not have any problems. I purchased the warranty which I was not planing to use it for a brand new laptop.

Lenovo either has no quality control or they knew that the X201 has this problem, but they shipped it out anyway, just hoping that their customers are stupid enough that they would not notice or they would just accept it as they way it is. I hope that anyone who has this problem will contact Lenovo and let them know that they need to do something about this!!!

 

Im a bit confused here, is it supposed to have stereo speakers? X200 had only one mono speaker if im not mistaken, isnt it the same with X201?

 

Nope. X201 advertises stereo for that particular model.

 

My x201t, ordered on 3/8/2010, with est ship date of 4/2/2010 just left Shanghai today, 3/22/2010! Wonder how much longer to get to San Francisco?

BTW, I received a pdf of a document Service Contract - ThinkPad Protection. It doesn't apply to CA and FL! Anyone know what this is?

 

I just got an update from Lenovo about the speaker issue. Here is the link:

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/x201-speaker-problems/m-p/216771

 

great news

 

Hi,

I am an ERP application developer. I need an ultra portable for coding and traveling. I am almost putting the trigger to order the new Sony Z. However, after I studied the review of Sony new Z 1190x, I decide not to order it because of the propiety SSD design and short battery power life. So I decide to switch to Lenovo X Series.

I am trying to make decision either to buy the X201S or X201 Tablet with multitouch screen. Based on the reviews, the X201T seems including more features than X201S but using more battery power. Can the X201T use the X201S 9 cell battery? Does anyone knows the actual battery life of X201T?

In addition, I have ordered a Crucial RealSSD C300 256GB drive. Does the drive fit either X201S or X201T?

Please provide me your owner's comments for both X201S and X201T. I am hard to make decision to choice one. Thank you so much!

Currently I owns:

17" Macbook Pro: Core 2 Due 17" (early 2007 non-Unibody)
Lenovo R400 and Lenovo T42

 

The tablet model uses a different battery than the other X201 builds. The 8 cell is the largest one available for it.

Any 2.5" drive should fit just fine, so no problem with the C300.

 

Drive will fit. Standard 2.5 inch form factor. Unless you need a tablet or obsess over having the best display there is little reason to choose the tablet.

The crucial is supposed to be a very nice drive. What did you pay?

 

I have an x200T with the 285nit LED SuperBright frameless display (non-touch). It is in fact extremely miserly with power consumption. With an SSD at normal settings and light use (10/15 brightness [easily plenty indoors], wi-fi on but not transmitting, and adaptive CPU currently idling) it pulls 6-6.5 watts. This translates to 8+ hours of light to moderate use.

The x200s should pull an identical amount of watts, but will last longer due to the 84WHr 9 cell vs. 66 WHr 8 cell battery.

The one wildcard is the multi-touch display. In theory the multi-touch should use little to no additional power than the non-touch display. It should go into a low power standby mode when not being touched (my display does this when the digitizer is out of range) and suffer little to no penalty. However, some of the reviews seem to conflict with this.

I would suggest you PM erik as he has an x200T with multi-touch display and see what his watts consumption is with identical settings to mine. If it is between 6.5 and 7.5 at idle I would say the penalty for multi-touch is little to none (the 0.5-1.0 delta is explained by my SSD vs his HDD).

 

not sure of my watt consumption but battery life on my EMT panel model has been excellent.   i can easily go all day (8+ hours) on a full charge.