U260 vs Thinkpad x201

Can anyone explain the differences, I know one is a business book, but the U260 looks very stylish.


Does the X have more power? more sturdy?

 

I have seen only 1 IdeaPad (an undergraduate student in our lab uses it - it's the 14" version whichever that is), and I haven't actually used it much, so I'd summarize the differences between these two kinds in terms of build quality:

1. Ideapad: Junk.
2. Thinkpad: Great.

 

Well that kind of explains it doesnt it?
But the Ideapad look so nice in the commercial..high tech
but I have to agree I am rough with things and really want a durable machine

 

You're right, my post doesn't really explain anything.

But really.... IdeaPad just feels really cheap. I'll write to what I like about Thinkpad X200(t), as I haven't used Ideapad nearly enough that I can really compare every bit. I think it is the U-series Ideapad that this guy has, looks all black and glossy. Just yuck. I wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole.

The features I'd highlight for Thinkpads I use and used (X200 and X200t) and a little bit the old T60 are really good build quality. Not stylish-good like Apple (I like their metal cases) but more good as in terms of robustness and durability. More... "industrial" feel and look for Thinkpad? Can't think of a better word.

Otherwise, the real Thinkpad keyboard is simply amazing, the feel and size are just right on X200. Also now I got used to Trackpoint and can't use Touchpad anymore. Just doesn't feel right. The cooling is really great. Fan rarely goes on to the point that I can hear it in my office, even during some image processing and calculations I am doing. On top of that, laptop never got even close to hot. The dock station is absolutely a lifesaver for me; I didn't realize it until I switched to Thinkpad+ultrabase. And it's relatively thin and light, so fits into my backpack. It's also bug-free: unlike 4 other Dell computers I own/owned (Inspiron Desktop, XPS m1330 laptop, alienware m11x and m17x), NONE worked without major bugs straight out of the box. I actually like having something that just works, without waiting months for BIOS updates, new drivers, etc. Thinkpad online support (drivers, guides, etc.) is simply superb - you can find any information. You can also replace pretty much anything in this laptop without breaking a sweat. And it's all available, it's all online, replacement parts on eBay etc etc. As far as the screen goes, matte on X200 was OK for me. Nothing to brag about but it does the job and it's not freaking glossy, so it's actually usable in light environments. I also tried AFFS matte upgrade and really disliked it (in short, 30% less battery life and my inability to calibrate the screen without $100+ pro calibrator). Right now I have Samsung PVA screen on tablet (glossy) and I'm satisfied with it. I got 5-5.5 hrs on X200 battery life with 6 cell battery and getting around 5-8hrs on the tablet with 8 cell battery, which is pretty nice.

The thing you are correct - IdeaPads come with gaming-oriented dedicated graphics which what it makes it mainly different from Thinkpads. However, if you wouldn't use it to play games, it's a largely useless feature.

 

I didn't think the U150 was all that bad, certainly as good as other consumer based ultraportables I've seen. It also costs less. Like most things in life it's a trade-off.

 

So the U is kind of like every other ultra light, Sony, Mac Air, Dell Etc.

Maybe made in the same factory?
Was going to buy a Mac, But I did not want to be part of the FANBOY I AM BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE.......

thx for your comments

 

I've used an IdeaPad U160 for a while, and I didn't think it was all that bad, really. I thought it was quite well-built and durable, and the fit and finish was quite good - parts fit together well and the entire machine gave me a feel of quality. Granted, I think it is overpriced for what you get (for the same amount of money, you could get an X201).

Given Lenovo's use of the U260 as sort of a halo model, I'd imagine that it would be built to better standards than the U160. Yes, it probably won't be as durable as the X201, but it's certainly not bad either.

 

I wouldnt mind if Lenovo introduced new ThinkPad line, the Executive or Premium and started to offer something between U260 and X201
I like U260's design, wish it was adopted to ThinkPad
E220s isnt quite the same.

 

u260: more stylish, better screen, new chicklet keyboard, less powerful, thinner, less battery life

x201: traditional thinkpad styling, worse screen(viewing angle), traditional keyboard, more powerful, better battery life.

Those are the major difference, I wouldn't get either of them, I would wait til x220 comes out. x201 screen just doesn't cut it if you want to play to enjoy movie or photo on the machine. It might be acceptable, but it does not give you a good experience.

 

The IdeaPad has a 4cell battery. That's about 3-4 hours.

Thinkpad x-series has 6-8cell battery (I think). 4-7 hours.

source: http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/ipbook.pdf

 

I dunno 3-4 hours imho is a pretty low for device with a 12.5in screen and an ULV i core cpu. My Vaio TT with the ULV C2D can do at least 5.5 hours on a full charge at 50% brightness, wifi on, and optical drive on(even more if I turn of optical drive and lower the cpu consumption).

 

When will we see the x220