Thinkpad x20x (s/t/i) Owners Thread

I used desktop computers for 20 years and all those keyboards have the CTRL key in the corner. My little finger just naturally goes to the corner for that key and having the ability to switch with FN is a big plus for me. Thanks for the info.

 

should i order as pointing device only the trackpoint, or should i oreder it with both the trackpoint and the touchpad ???

 

Ever used the trackpoint? It takes a while to get the hang of it. You may want to get the touchpad too but from what I understand, it's pretty small (but works well).

I ordered the currently offered sale item as-is with no changes to the configuration. Changing anything will probably slow down your order.

I use a mouse most of the time anyway so the touchpad isn't an issue for me. I just turn it off on my T410 so it doesn't interfere with typing.

 

i was making my configuration, and i see x201 is no longer available with webcam integrated... is this true? :S is that a laptop withuot webcam, even a bussines laptop should have webacam...

 

That's true. At the moment, they are only offering the 3x3 antenna screen which has no webcam. The 2x2 screen does have the integrated webcam but they must be out of stock right now for the X201. You can always get a USB webcam for $25 or so and clip it onto the screen bezel at the top.

 

You can configure it with the webcam if you get the regular model and not the limited offer model.

 

Just some thoughts on my X201 (enhanced model) after 2 months of owning it...

First the bad:

• fingerprint reader sucks, takes me like 10 swipes to get it work, but when it does work its good
• integrated camera, Lenovo documentation and include software completely lacking; I've used 3rd party app to test it out but...I'll still never use it
• modem, completely useless, never use it
• LED screen verticle viewing angles disappointing
• default colors look totally washed out, but thankfully just go into Intel graphics properties and adjust the Saturation for more pop
• no HDMI (or even display port)
• powered USB doesn't recognize all USB devices, for example, can't charge PS3 controller
• battery wobble, needs to be tighter fit as it moves in/out and up/down too significantly
• strangely I've experience my wifi shutting down occasionally for no reason -requires a reboot to fix
• screen dimming for no reason - thankfully another member here found a fix and it has worked beautifully
• not sure if this is considered a bad point (maybe I'm expecting too much from a i5-540 system), but I find the battery (6-cell) performance during sleep mode and powered off mode still drain the battery rather quickly...

Good:

• overall design aesthetics are beautiful
• keyboard has solid touch, excellent key layout
• touchpad is fantastic
• heat levels are low, bottom is warm
• sound levels are low, can faintly hear the fan but a little more of the HDD spin
• bootup is pretty fast imo with my HDD 7200rpm
• solid build quality, latch on screen is awesome
• battery performance during use is impressive but it heavily depends on the screen brightness level
• 2 speaker stereo sound
• integrated 5-1 media card reader
• 3 USB 2.0
• surprisingly Lenovo support, I'm impressed!
• shipping time, amazing - 9 business days, from purchase to my door
• price is simply amazing all for under a grand

If I had the choice I would easily do it all over again with the X201. But if the X201s was available I would go for that one, reasons being primarily the camera is useless and the fingerprint reader poorly works (actually, the previous gen fingerprint reader works better than this newer iteration). The X201s weight savings would be a bonus and definitely the better battery life with lower power rated CPU.

Overall, I'm super happy with my X201, but I'm still looking forward to my next Lenovo purchase in a year or 2 when they've ironed out some annoyances

 

I can't have a webcam on my laptop. There are no cameras allowed in massage therapy classes where I am attending. There will also not be cameras allowed in the part of the spa I will be working on after graduation

 

Have you run the latest Lenovo updates? IIRC they had one recently that addressed this. Also, I bet you could just go into network connections and do a disable/enable of the wifi card there, rather than doing a reboot.

 

ThinkPad X201 - 1 Year Depot Warranty
Edit 3249CTO $1,424.00 1 $1,424.00
Processor: Intel Core i7-620M Processor (2.66-3.33GHz, 4MB L3, 1066MHz FSB) 1
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 1
Operating system language: Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 US English 1
Display type: 12.1" WXGA LED Panel, 3x3 UltraConnect II antenna; Wireless Broadband Upgradeable 1
Total memory: 4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM) 1
Keyboard: Keyboard US English 1
Pointing Device: TrackPoint with Fingerprint Reader and Touchpad 1
Hard Drive: 320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm 1
System expansion slots: 5-1 Media Card Reader and Modem 1
Battery: ThinkPad X200 Series 9 cell Li-Ion Battery 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 65W AC adapter 1
Bluetooth: Bluetooth w/ antenna 1
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 1
Integrated mobile broadband: Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable 1
Language Pack: Win7 Language Pack US English 1
Additional software application preload: Norton AntiVirus 2009 - 15 months 1



After apply the the coupon code, all this became 1,210.40!!! (but still thinking the webcam problem)...

What do you say?

 

Thanks - through ThinkVantage System update, there was a newer version of the Intel Wireless Wifi for Win 7 64-bit driver v13.02. I've got v13.01 installed but I hope it fixes that disconnect issue, as the new update mentions only added support for the newer devices...

 

Do you really have a need for Windows 7 professional and WiMax?
If you're going to use a webcam, it might be worth your money/time to either call them and see if a phone rep can configure the bundle package with a webcam or maybe look into configuring the non-bundle which can be configured for a webcam online.

 

Hmmm, maybe it was two updates ago then and you already have it....who knows...but it I guess it couldn't hurt to update if you were having trouble.

 

@marlinspike:
What's your opinion of Calibrize for calibrating the screen?

 

Perhaps better than nothing, but IMHO that's as much as can be said for a software solution. I saw your PM btw...I'll get around to it, but IIRC you don't have your laptop yet anyways, and I've come down with a cold and it'd be better for me to wait until I have a clearer head before writing out instructions on how to load the icc profile I'll be e-mailing you (it's not the simplest thing...)

Keep in mind that my ICC profile will only be close to correct for your monitor. Each individual monitor is slightly different (and in fact even the same monitor changes over time). It will give you an idea of what can be done though.

I use an Eye One Display 2. Something like a ColorMunki would be better for these LED backlit screens, but 1) I bought my calibrator before there were LED backlit screens and 2) a colormunki costs a lot more. There's probably something just as good for LED backlit as a colormunki that is less full-featured and therefore cheaper, but I sorta already have the i1 so I'm not going to spend time looking for it lol (actually, there might not be). If you're going to look into it, spectrophotometer tends to be better than colorimeter for led backlit.

 

Okay, thanks. I won't have my X201 until Tue. or Wed. so there's certainly no rush. Get well first.

 

Thank you, let me call them... I hope the offer of 1dimm do not end until monday so i can call! thank you

 

Hello, I purchased a fully loaded X201 about a month and a half ago. I am a long time Lenovo user. I sold it about a month after I received it due to the LCD screen. What junk! I was in shock that Lenovo would put such a crappy screen on such a high-end notebook. The clarity was average but the brightness was a total waste. It was about half as bright as any other LED backlit notebook I have used. In fact, my wife's little Samsung netbook beat it hands down.

I tried to write a review on the Lenovo site but they would not post it on the website. I guess they only post positive reviews. What scum.

My advice is don't waste your money on this mistake of a product.

 

??? I use mine 1 step below max brightness becaues max brightness is too bright.

 

If you are a long time ThinkPad user you'd know how much brighter the new screens are compared to the old ThinkPad screens. Brightness is also not particularly good indicator of a good screen. Everyone's different, but my screen is rated at the same brightness and I use it at seven or less. Anything more is too bright for me and it's not good for your eyes anyway. Half the brightness would me the other screens are 400 nits and they're aren't many 400 nit brightness screens that I aware exist. Lastly, perhaps your screen was defective. It seems rather foolish to sell it before exploring your options.

 

how do you guys measure power usage? i see people in this thread quoting "8w" or "10w"?

 

Sorry, I should have posted my question in this thread. It's here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/497138-thinkpad-compatible-wi-fi-cards.html

 

Wouldn't you know it, my X201 shipped today. Looks like I'll get it on Thursday (I elected to get 2-day shipping)!

 

Hello, I called the lenovo sales number, and they are charging me about 250$ more for adding WEBCAM!!!!! :S I dont know what to do, if just wait until other offer is available.. or buy without webcam..

 

That probably means you can't get the bundled deal with the webcam.

 

Mr. Marlinspike,
should i get this one? price changing the WIMAX by the 3x3 wireless card, and keepting windows 7 pro 64, is 1.180$ (i think is very good), but i want webcam for my travels...!!!! Dont know what to do!!! Is this config as cheap as i see or can it get back soon with the webcam?

 

I have no idea what future sales will be like as far as which screen will be offered. I will say that the last sale-bundle didn't allow for the webcam either.

 

Shipped today? No, you won't get it in 2 days. No way. Not if you're in the United States. I opted for the 2-day shipping too.

Mine shipped on June 28th and I just got it today. Ordered it on June 24th, manufacture date on the box says, June 27th, shipped on June 28 and I got it on July 6th. Granted, there was a 3-day holiday weekend in there and it sat in U.S. Customs in California for 3 days. That "2-day shipping" only applies after it clears U.S. Customs.

 

These pre-configured "sale" X201's will cost you a LOT more if you start adding features to it. You can get an external, USB webcam for $25 in almost any office supply or computer store. They just clip onto the top part of the screen and they often work better than integrated ones.

 

I think the 2 day is 2 days once it gets under way in the US. I was hoping it meant they pushed customs, but I guess not. You'd think customs would operate more smoothly given how much they do this, but I guess not.

Anyways Ray...I've kinda been waiting...I mean...last we heard you were going home to wait on it. What's the news? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

dont know what to do, other laptop i´ve been watching is the HP envy 13.. but dont know what to do haha

 

@marlinspike:
I'm really happy with it so far. Charged up the battery to 100% (it came at 50%) and I'm now in a coffeeshop using it on battery with wi-fi.

I applied your color profile and that helped the display quite a bit. It had more of an impact on the X201 than it did on the T410. (Which, I'm sure, makes sense.)

I have the infamous battery-wobble that everyone talks about - but it doesn't seem bad. I hope the idea that it's intentional, to account for heat expansion is true. This is, without a doubt, the "cutest" laptop I've every had. And the i7-620m is very snappy. Everything seems to happen just a tad faster than on the T410 (i5-520m). It doesn't seem to be impacting battery life as much as some have said, but we'll see. It runs cool and quiet, so far. No issues, no complaints.

I'm wondering why my T410 has a Hitachi HDD but the X201 has a Seagate. Whatever they have on the shelf at the moment, I suppose.

 

Yeah, from the sounds of your other post under non-intensive use the i7 doesn't use much more wattage.

On the HDD, must be that they just use whatever, as my 320gb 7200rpm HDD is a Hitachi.

Makes sense that the profile helped more on the 201 than the 410 since I made it on a 201...just make friends with a photographer and use his calibration device lol.

 

congrats hope write a thread like this soon! jejej

 

I'm totally satisfied with it just the way it is now (the display). I don't do a lot of photo or video editing but I do watch movie rips now and then and the new profile helps a lot with that. Maybe you should patent or copyright it and sell it... lol.

Anyway, just noticed there is a new BIOS update for the X201: 6QET46WW (1.16). It was released the same day my X201 shipped so I had ver 1.15. Just flashed the new one in and everything is working okay.

 

carefully reading the x201 i configured in website, i see when selecting win7 pro, theres a "DVD Recovery" thaht appear in the list. Why does it mean? Would it be that lenovo won´t supply the partition to make the recovery?...

 

I'm assuming they don't have the Pro Edition imaged for a recovery partition (for the X201) so they'll be sending a recovery DVD with it. Just guessing. Strange things pop-up sometimes when you change the default configurarion. Like, you can't get the webcam with the 3x3 antenna screen... and other oddities.

 

I am looking to buy a tablet convertible and the Lenovo X-201t costs about $700 more than an equivalently configured HP Elitebook 2740. The Lenovo gets the nod in most reviews, but only by a nose. Can anyone tell me if it is worth the extra $ for the x-201t? Thanks

 

Is there a tutorial/link somewhere about how to apply an ICC profile?

 

Also, on the bundled webcam question, if you are patient Lenovo will eventually have a sale that includes it. I"m typing this right now on an x201 with an integrated webcam that I got during a recent SPP sale about a month ago. i520m, 4gb RAM, 320gb HD, 2x2 screen w/ webcam, bluetooth, 6200 wireless, 6 cell battery, Windows 7 professional, 3 years onsite warranty... all for $950 US. I saved on taxes by having it shipped to my parents in New Hampshire where there is no sales tax, and the shipping was free.

 

So you didn't get yours until yesterday. Well, you're going to hate me, then...



Maybe mine actually shipped before yesterday. Who knows?

 

That is amazing! How did you get that kind of shipping speed? Are you related to the CEO of Lenovo or UPS?
Mine took 9 days; yours took 1 or 2 (international dateline factored in).

 

Well, I´ll wait, and check it every day until they make the special sale!! If not, I´m asking about the HP envy 13, but cannot find opinions.

 

From my extensive history of laptop ownership, I can say, unequivocally, that HP sucks.

 

As soon as my new acer gets here and I swap in a new SSD, keyboard and CPU , I'm replacing my 1410T with a convertible tablet. I have been looking at all of the current convertibles. Funny, when I configure the two, the HP is more expensive. Here are my configs:

Lenovo X201T I7-640LM/W7Pro64/4GB/128GB SSD = $2,600

HP 2740 I7-640M/W7pro64/4GB/160GB SSD = $3,055

What I have left out of the mix are the display options because they really complicate things. I like the X201T 400 nit outside display ($50) but it does not support multitouch . The HP has a touch display for an extra $100 and an outdoor display for $250.

What configurations are you getting that make the HP $700 less expensive than the Lenovo? Are you comparing a CTO model to a preconfigured one?Are you adding in discounts?

I have been watching the Lenovo outlet and have seen a couple of X201T models in there at a significant disount. You might want to watch there. I've missed a couple of decent deals because I'm not ready to buy yet.

Anyway, good luck. Let me know if you find something really intersting.

Bronsky

Have you checked out the tablet site? A lot of knowledgable people there.

BTW, you need to update your sig. The week of 6/2 has passed.

 

Really?? even the envy series?
And what about the Macbook pro? I want to keep lenovo!!! I´m coming from a lenovo v200 (t7200, 2gb, 160gb, intel graphics... )

 

I've never owned an "Envy" so I can't speak to that (they're awfully expensive for an HP). All my HPs (and Compaqs, their subsidiary) were awful. But one of my criteria is Linux compatibility and HP just doesn't care about Linux users, they're in bed with Microsoft. From the old days, IBM/Lenovo have strived to accommodate Linux users and that's important to me, but probably not to most buyers.

As for the Macbook, (I've never owned an Apple product) they have terrific screens and good graphics capabilities, from what I've seen, but again, very expensive. In my opinion you can't beat the build quality of a genuine ThinkPad of the T or X Series (I've never owned an "R", "W" or "SL" Series)

 

I want LENOVO!!! just watching for now the MBP 13..! $1199, i cannot go without webcam, in my travels i use it to videoconference family.. I like the idea of a multimedia OS (would be MAC os there), and my real world OS (W7 :d).... Waiting just to see if really can i pay the $250 more for the webcam on the X201!.. Thanks four your help

 

Regarding the integrated camera:

I looked into it because I just ordered an x201i (I couldn't resist the $760 price tag). These are pre-built so you can't change anything about the configuration, and in the US they come without the webcam.

I found that one can order the webcam (FRU 45N2795) from Lenovo for $42. I looked into the service manual and the installation seems trivial (three screws to take the LCD front bezel off). Of course, there are multiple types of LCD screen and one should first check if the one in your laptop is compatible with a webcam and if it is pre-wired for it. I intend to do that with mine.

 

Just ordered the x201(the "Limited Offer" one). It'll be at home when I get there. I wish I would have read about the screen resolution here first, but I don't think I would have ordered differently.