X200 bezel? Garrrrgh!....

Who here shares the sentiment that Lenovo should complement the X-series' edge-to-edge aesthetics of a full-sized keyboard with a slim display bezel using a 13.3in screen that fits edge-to-edge - just like the X-series machines that came before when they were using 12.1in 4:3/5:4 panels?

/rant mode ON.

One thing that still bothers me to this day is the bezel around x200's 12.1in widescreen.

Now don't get me wrong. The X200 is an EXCELLENT machine, one I seriously consider getting in the future.

However if they can drop in a full-sized ThinkPad keyboard so that it sits edge-to-edge like what an X-series machine should, why did they wreck the design symmetry by using a smaller display panel that results in a thicker screen bezel?

Just check out the side-by-side comparison between an X200, X300 and an X61:




I would think that fitting a 13.3in widescreen to fill out all available space makes better sense both aesthetically and for viewing comfort. And for just a few grams or fraction of a pound more. It would help in some measure to recover the lost vertical inches from the move to widescreen, yet keep the bulk and weight of larger screen sizes at bay.

An integrated DVD writer is a weight liability imho since how often do we require DVD access apart from software installation and recovery. If one needs to access optical disks regularly, there's already proven solutions that allow you to make complete images that run on virtual drives (eg. Alcohol 52% Free Edition) that frees you from dragging stacks of disks around.

An X200 with a 13.3in widescreen is what an X210/X310 should be: powerful yet power-efficient with huge battery endurance options that retains the beautiful edge-to-edge aesthetics that mark the X-series.

The X200/X300 series should merge and be replaced by this hybrid design instead.

It makes more sense aesthetically and practically, since there are many who loves a higher resolution screen, and 13.3in is certainly makes for more comfortable viewing than 12.1in

Problems with the current lines are:

X200 series: Crammed screen that makes tiring viewing on TN panels, except for tablets.

X300 series: Pricey under-powered flagship models with poor battery endurance that rakes in a poor performance/price ratio.

Listen up, Lenovo! Just give the X-series machines a quality, edge-to-edge 13.3" screen with a thin bezel to match the edge-to-edge full-sized keyboard. And provide a wide range of:
a. CPU options from ULV to full TDP T processors.
b. Battery options.
c. Choice of quality panels.
d. Tablet options.
e. HDDs / SSDs.

Just keep it light, tough, strong and reliable.

AND YOU WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A WINNER! No need for an expensive, money-losing flagship model.

Merging them saves inventory, spares and streamline production lines.

Just my 2c.

/rant mode OFF.

 

Why does it bother you? It's just a tool.

 

personally I think the X200 should go back to a 4:3 screen... far more useful for the sort of applications business users tend to run and results in an overall smaller footprint. Why does *everything* have to be widescreen these days?

 

I think the main reason is for cost savings for the widescreen design. From everything I have read it is cheaper for LCD manufacturers to produce the widescreens rather than the 4:3 ratios screens. But I agree with you, why everything widescreen...

 

Thinkpad.Forever,
I think you make some interesting and good points. I think Lenovo might actually do as you are saying in the future. It looks like the current situation is a result of evolution and competition. It looks likt eh X series has been popular for a long time as Lenovo's ultraportables and then Mac went and created the MacBook Air. I think Lenovo is trying to compete with the Air using the X300 line and also kept the x61/x200 line since they were so popular and had a tablet option. Since they now have these 2 lines they didn't want to put the 13.3" screen on the X200 since it would compete with their x300 line, so they put the smaller screen in it. Maybe,as you say, they will eventually merge. All the companies are dealing with the ever changing landscape of competition and needs of consumers. Sometimes we want them to change faster than is possible.

 

They should definitely merge the x200 and x300 series. Offer 3-4 processor levels instead of 1 or 2, offer LED screen as an option. The x200 can definitely fit a 13 inch screen, especially if it is widescreen.

I have no preference between widescreen and 4:3, but I don't see 4:3 coming back. It's over.

 

I agree, I think all laptops can benefit with smaller bezels, the x200 is a good looking machine though. the widescreen looks nice, but it is very silly that it is widescreen when a 4:3 screen of similar size utilizes space much better as your picture shows

panasonic toughbooks are basically one of the only manufacturers that make laptops with very small bezels

 

one of the only...

http://ucables.com/img/extra/FUJITSU-LIFEBOOK-S652-R67653-0.jpg

Lenovo keyboard + Fujitsu display/bezel would = win.

 

The most annoying thing is to see the older Thinkpad which indeed has perfectly good, tiny bezels. So tantalizing... and enfuriating. Obviously the capability exists at Lenovo. Just do it.

 

I think part of the problem is the increasing number of wireless antennas. Most of the ThinkPads of old that had very thin bezels (e.g. T4x, x41, etc.) offered 802.11 ABG only, and occasionally Bluetooth.

Newer ThinkPads almost universally offer 802.11N (requires more antennas for MIMO), WiMax, and WWAN. As well as extra features in the lid like webcams. I think a fair portion of the bezel space goes to running the antennas and wires for all these devices. If you look at older thin bezel ThinkPads that had WWAN you will notice they usually had a stubby antenna sticking out one side (just like my Tablet).

Therefore, while I would certainly appreciate smaller bezels in the future, I believe there is a reason. Almost all of the current ThinkPads have pretty wide bezels, the x200 is just slightly wider than most (presumably to accommodate the full keyboard).

 

Possible. But the machine in that pic above has Intel 5300 AGN and WWAN. Of course, it isn't wafer-thin. So maybe the tradeoff is thin display bezel = thicker base?

 

I actually don't mind the "thick" bezels. My old laptop was an Averatec 12" laptop, with bezels just as thick as the X200's (judging from the thickness relative to the width of the keys) if not thicker. I never hooked my laptop up to an external monitor, since I felt it was a pretty good-sized workspace anyway.

Although I sure wouldn't mind smaller bezels, I wouldn't take it for a sacrafice in the keyboard size.

 

Well nobody wants a smaller keyboard. I think almost everyone agrees the x200 is at the limit of small keyboards which retain full functionality. They just need to squeeze a bigger screen in there.

 

They're not going to put a 13.3" screen into the X200 as long as the X301 exists. The X301 series will be around as long as Lenovo wants to offer a high-end ultraportable.

 

The ideal ultraportable if you don't mind the extra little bit of weight has now got to be the ThinkPad T400s, what a superb notebook.

http://www.thinkpadtoday.com/full-l...ad-t400s-specifications-gallery-and-video.htm

 

I really wouldn't consider the T400s an ultra-portable. It is extremely light and thin for a 14.1" notebook, but it still has the rather large profile of a 14.1".

 

Hi Fire Snake,

Good call about the real reason for the creation of the X300 series: MacBook Air.

But really, it's not a very good reason to continue a pricey, under-powered, endurance-limited design when MBA itself has since been panned for even worse limitations (eg. single pathetic USB port, unremovable battery, etc).

It makes more sense for Lenovo to put more energy and effort in spiffing up the real money spinners and workhorses in their product lines - the ones that users actually buy by the truckloads - not some money-losing flagship models.

Although your call is spot on about Lenovo being reactive to MBA as the actual impetus for the existence of the X300 series, Lenovo nevertheless ought to be more pro-active and responsive to the needs of its customers. This is all the more so since MBA is reaching EOL.

 

Hi jonlumpkin,

If it is indeed the case as you suggested, then I challenge Lenovo to come up with a superior engineering solution to a thinner, more elegant bezel that can accommodate a larger panel to reclaim the lost vertical inches from the move to 16:9 aspect ratio displays. If the top edge needs to be slightly thicker to accommodate the webcam (it'll be better if they can make that rotating to optimise display viewing), they can still keep the side bezels slim.

It is simply not innovative to just accept the status quo. After all, wasn't ThinkPad and TrackPoint the product of refusal to accept what's available then?

 

?? They came out about a month apart, so Apple and Lenovo were on (predictable) parallel development life cycles.

 

yea like im sure they didn't have inside scoop on their competitors < /sarcasm>.

no really I think the x300 is basically similar in style to the T4x series from a few years ago. They look almost identical (more so than say vs the current T series). I remember they shifted the T series design with the T61 with the widescreen design and other features. but with the X300 it was kind of a continuation of the old design style. i remember when I first saw the x300 I thought it was a newer version of the former T4x series or something. I had thought they just relocated that style of laptop to call it the X series. of course its a lot thinner but designwise the T4x and X30x is much more similar than T4x and T400 or T61

 

Hi BobXX,

I have to agree with you on this.

The X200 series has the advantage of battery-endurance through the wide range of battery options available which is currently lacking in the T400s.

In addition, tablet mode on a 14.1 incher will be rather unwieldy.

So while the T400s has its place for users who prefer its screen size and appreciate other features like the light weight, reduced profile, etc, maximizing the available lid area by dropping in a 13 incher screen not only makes future X200/300 series more elegant looking with a thin bezel, it allows for more comfortable viewing at higher resolutions.

There's no reason why they should stop at an edge-to-edge full-sized keyboard (which users clearly appreciate and will not look back on) when they could complement it with an edge-to-edge screen.

Denying this advantage to protect the turf of a money-losing "flagship" model sacred cow simply does not makes sense.

 

Never said they didn't. Just mentioned they were on parallel tracks as the original message seemed to imply the X300 was developed after the Air was released.

 

yea, i was editing my post but yea I think the x300 is basically a new version of the t4x style of design that they have stopped introducing when they introduced a more radically different t series beginning with the t61

 

Some interesting comments --- and I also wish the bezel on the X200/300 series screens was thinner.

But I have the opposite reaction to the X300/301: it really hits the perfect spot for me as a highly portable but all-around capable notebook (even if one can always wish for more cpu power, more graphical capability, and more battery life...). I like to have an integrated DvD drive even in an ultraportable. You may not need to use it often, but it's really to nice have when it does turn out you want to use it. That's one reason I didn't like the 12.1" X-series ultraportables.

I can understand how the X300 series doesn't quite fit the "12inchers" who want maximum portability and maximum battery life, and don't care about a built in DvD drive (I wonder if the 13.3" screen is one big reason for the poorer battery life on the X300, and if the X200 would suffer a bit in that respect if the screen were enlarged to X300 size at the expense of the bezel). I can also understand how the X300 series doesn't fit the "14inchers" who want a bit more grrr from their notebook.

The X300 was in development long before the macbook air was announced (and lenovo was taken aback when the MBA was announced), so I don't believe that lenovo developed the X300 to compete with the MBA. It seems more like they used it to try out new technologies, which are now being used in the T400s. That's pretty much an equivalent of the X300, with extra size (so it's not quite an ultraportable any more, which I think the X300/301 is in a practical sense) and extra power---except for the same integrated graphics; disappointing since discrete graphics is the thing I'd like to add to the X300/301 in a perfect world.

It almost looks like lenovo is heading back to the 12"/14" divide, with slimmer thinner 14" models replacing the current 13" ones. If so, that would be a great pity in my opinion.

 

The first thing I thought of when I got my X300 was that it was a born-again 600X. Perfect size, weight and feature-set for my needs. 18 months later, I still feel the same way despite the X61t and X200t that I've also used since then. ;-)

 

shouldnt lenovo try to fit a dvd player into the size of the x series? I mean sony can do it and that thing is powerful too.

 

They should also be able to fit a touchpad. But they really haven't tried to incorporate either into a 12.1" notebook yet.

 

yea. but the touchpad is a little tight though. after a full sized keyboard and standard sized trackpoint buttons, theres not much room. they probably don't want to fit it for the sake of fitting a touchpad and turn the thing into a gimmick. the last thing anyone needs is a gimmick. if they fit small touchpad in there you can expect an uproar from touchpad users. i personally dont care cause i dont like touchpads anyway but i like that they add it in anyway cuz it looks better as a space filling feature

 

Me too -- I have used my X300 non-stop since it came out. ;-)

X series + touchpad + DvD drive = X30*.

 

That's why I said 12.1"

 

I know you did. I'm just not sure it's possible to cram all that stuff into a 12.1" frame without making too many compromises. That's why I find the 13" models the best.

 

The HP Elitebook 2530p offers all that, with a little extra weight, of course.

And yes, I agree that the X300 & X301 are awesome.
(Though they keep getting hated on by these darn X200 and X61 owners )

 

I think the HP elitebooks are also terrific notebooks --- I had in fact been looking at the HP 2510p as a possible ultraportable to buy (since I wanted an internal DvD drive) just before lenovo announced the X300, but I couldn't reconcile myself to the the 4200rpm hard drive in that model (my old IBM X41 left me with a permanent aversion to slow hard drives).

So I've never used one of the Hp elitebook ultraportables; but my unconfirmed guess is that it would be more cramped than I'd like---it's that more than any weight difference that would bother me.

This isn't to knock those notebooks (or the X200's) -- they just fit a slighlt different niche than what I was looking for.

 

The new 2530p's a little better with an SATA 5400rpm harddrive as opposed to the older 2510p's PATA 4200rpm drive. Of course, you can always drop in an SSD for additional performance.

I know not much cross-shopping occurs between the X200 and 2530p, people who get the X200 say they don't need an optical drive or a touchpad and would rather save the weight while people who get the 2530p are willing to gain a little bit of weight for both of those features. I'm just saying that it's more than possible to fit both into the form-factor of a 12.1" notebook.

 

The 2530p is Ok but to my mind the new t400s is far better, it has been specifically designed to have all the features and benefits of the T series with the design elements of the X300 Series. Its certainly not cheap, but its a staggering notebook. Light, powerful, and with some really well thought out features.

http://www.thinkpadtoday.com/full-l...ad-t400s-specifications-gallery-and-video.htm