What makes a ThinkPad "Elite"?

Looking at the product specs on ThinkPads that have regular and "Elite" models (such as X301), the only differences are in wireless card and OS version. Is that all that accounts for the $250 price difference between the two?

Starting with the standard model and setting those two items to parity, the price is still significantly less. So what else goes into making it "elite"?

 

I'm not completely sure on the X301's. It makes no sense. However, I know that with T500's if you start with an "Elite" model it is actually cheaper to configure than a lower end model that is configured the exact same way. So I guess some are worth it, others seem to be wacky.

 

I misspoke slightly; I see that the battery is also increased from 3 cell to 6 cell. However the standard model of X301 with all these upgrades is still cheaper. So unless something else is going into these "Elite" models I'm missing, it might just be a way to make more money by tempting you into the "deluxe" model...

On a humorous side note, you can now add an SU9600 processor upgrade and a multitouch trackpad to the X301, though combined will bring the laptop over $20,000. Obviously they are working on things...

 

$20,000... that would be another typo on Lenovo's part.

The Enhanced, Elite, and whatever rankings that Lenovo assigns is purely based on their base configurations: you can take the basic model and add upgrades to get the same specs as the top (but not vice versa). But, it may be cheaper in some cases to start from either the Enhanced or Elite versions. For me, it was cheaper to buy the Elite (which came with a 160GB 7200RPM drive standard) than a nearly-identical Basic model (whose only difference was an 80GB 5400RPM drive).

Basically, play around with the configurations, in some cases starting higher will end up lower.

 

Ah yes, one time, an "upgrade" to Intel graphics from an ATI HD3650 cost $9224. They must have had a serious shortage.
But yes, the Elite name is just a way to seperate the laptops. In the way that cars may come with trim levels like "Premium, Premium-Plus, Prestige" (from Audi Q7), Lenovo uses "Elite" to signify that it has some upgrades. The price should be cheaper, because Lenovo is almost certain that you're buying a more powerful computer, but whatever. It's like what Dell does (giving you 4 options to start from) except Lenovo actually names them.

But there's nothing special like a paint job, or "elite" badges everywhere, or anything like that.

 

Apparently, now if you remove the WWAN option in the T500 it increases the price of the machine by $9999. Makes no sense as to how they have so many issues with "typos", lol.

 

cparker09
i think tha's a wrong type from lenovo

i have try to configure enhanced and elite for the same spesicification and elite give me better price around $120 gap to the enhanced one

 

Hi there:

When I configured my T400, the Elite model, when all said and done, was cheaper than a similarly upgraded base model. I found a good coupon and made the buy.

Mark