X200s vs X301 from a X31 / T61p 15.4" I can't read

Hello,

I am consolidating laptops and need some advice on X200s vs X301

I have:
X31 - 1.6GHz, 2GB, 120 GB 7200RPM, 12.1"
T61p - 2.4GHz 3GB, 160 GB 7200 RPM, 15.4" 1920 X 1200

I find myself almost NEVER using the T61p. Literally I've used it less than 30 times over the past year. I find the text too small and the dpi tweaks result in unacceptable results in certain applications. It is simply too bulky. I use the almost 5yr old X31 daily, but it is getting to be too slow.

Cost is not really an object as I use these daily (except my T61p!!) , 10 hours a day until they die or pass them along in the family.

My concerns about the x200s - Screen resolution higher than x200 and would make it unreadable.

My concerns about the x301 - Slower processor and poorer battery life. I don't care about the DVD drive and would likely just get the 3 cell bay battery.

My use is pretty light processor wise, pretty heavy with many open applications (usually office), and some VS2005/7/8 programming.

I saw the X300 in person and find it terribly attractive and the screen seems just fine. The current price gap for me between similarly equipped X200s and X301 is $1000 (x301 with 128GB SSD vs x200s w/ 160GB 7200 HD)

I guess the question comes down to this
Is the screen real-estate worth $1000? Is there something else redeeming about the x301 I am missing?

 

The screen real estate is the same on the x200s and x301. Both of them use WXGA+ LED screens. The difference is that the screen on the x301 has slightly lower DPI (128 DPI on the x301, 140 DPI on the x200s, 147 DPI on your T61p).

The main advantage of the x301 is Thinness. It also features integrated WWAN, a webcam, optical drive, touchpad, and a DisplayPort on the laptop (the x200s lacks all of these). It also uses batteries that are inferior on a per cell charge to the x200s (especially the 6 cell [43.2WHr for the x301, 56.16 for the x200s]).

The x200s is focused on light weight and battery life. The x200s has a dock connector, card reader, standard 2.5" hard drive (easily swapped by consumer), modem, and a 54mm express card slot. The x200s can almost match the 6 cell x301 with only a 4 cell battery while remaining 14.7 ounces lighter. Or it can more than double the 6 cell battery life of the x301 by using the 9 cell and still be 4.8 ounces lighter albeit a shade thicker.

Both of them have great keyboards and use the same chipset. I wouldn't worry too much about clock speed (1.4GHz x301 vs. 1.86GHz x200s) with office applications/programming, as both should be adequate.

I would rather have the smaller size, battery life, and options for expandability/docking of the x200 series than the optical drive of the x300. The x300/301 is great because it's so thin, but the lack of battery life is really a concern.

 

WXGA on a 12" widescreen should be perfectly readable if you have XGA on a 4:3 12" screen.

Now WXGA on an 9" screen like the Mini-Note... that's a different story altogether.

 

Thanks for your replies. I agree that it seems there are limited upsides to the x301 vs the x200s. I just wish I could see a x200s in person to check out the screen.

 

The X200s sounds like a great notebook, perhaps the first truly lust worthy notebook since Lenovo took over in my opinion. The X301 is nice, but the price is too much to be a viable option for most. Even the $1,500 for the X200s is on the high side for most.

Yeah it's a bummer you can't see ThinkPads before buying. I'm not going to spend $1,500+ plus on a notebook I can't see or return without paying a 15% restocking fee, which on a $1,500 notebook is $225.

 

i think Best Buy for Business (some store within a store) has them on display?

MicroCenter does too...

i decided against the U110 based on how horrible its keyboard was at the store.. and the fact that 2 of the Sony laptops _on_display_ had broken screens - what do they break daily and they hadnt swapped them out yet?

it would be nice to compare x200s and x200 and x200t in person, and the various screens of each. im getting over the fact that the 200t CCFL isnt superbright, since the color dynamaic range is so perfect..

 

All three of them are pretty similar. They all use the same keyboards, docks, have the same connections, similar dimensions (x200t one inch longer and squarer, all three have same max height with the extended battery [lifts up x200(s), doesn't lift up the x200 tablet]). The x200s is the lightest (about 8 ounces less than the x200), and the x200t is the heaviest (about 4 ounces more than the x200), but all are quite manageable. They are all very solidly built with no flex, and I think they would survive abuse pretty well.

The main difference is screen type/quality. The x200 normal screen is reasonably bright, but it has bad viewing angles and only average color quality. The x200s screen is brighter still (due to the LED), and has a higher resolution/DPI, but it is still a TN panel with poor vertical angles and less than ideal color accuracy (probably good enough for most though). All of the x200 Tablets have IPS (actually AFFS+) displays, this provides superb viewing angles and color accuracy. There are 3 different screens for the x200 Tablet, the CCFL may be a bit dim, the LED active [mine] is very bright and outdoor viewable, the LED touch lies in the middle. The one concern of the x200 Tablet screen is a small amount of grain caused by the digitizer layer (this is a common problem with tablets), this doesn't bother me, but it is something to be aware of.

There is also some minor feature differences between the three. The x200 is the only one with a medium voltage processor, so it gets superior performance on processor bound applications. The x200s does not offer WWAN or a Webcam if you get the LED screen (the only reasonable way to get an x200s in my opinion). The x200 Tablet has decent stereo speakers (mono on x200 ), a dual array (noise canceling) microphone, and of course a Wacom active digitizer with 256 levels of pressure sensitivity. However, the x200 Tablet DOES NOT HAVE A THINKLIGHT because it has a screen that is flat on both sides.

I had an x200 normal, and am much happier with the x200 Tablet. The screen is superior, the weight is comparable, and the tablet functionality is surprisingly useful (I had my doubts). It would have been nice to see these in a store, but that is unfortunately very difficult.