The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    X200s vs netbook vs something else

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by adam7777, Sep 17, 2012.

  1. adam7777

    adam7777 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    HI

    I need a very portable and cheap laptop. I have the chance to buy an old $180 Lenovo X200s 1.6GHz 3GB, with vista and a 1.5 hour battery life. I can replace the battery and I have windows7 (64bit).

    Is this worth it (able to surf the net, MS office 2010 etc) or should I look at a netbook or something similar? Is it getting too old?

    12-13 inch screen is ideal but I can make do.
     
  2. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    4,982
    Messages:
    34,001
    Likes Received:
    1,417
    Trophy Points:
    581
    My R60e, which is even older, can do Office and Internet just fine.
     
  3. adam7777

    adam7777 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thanks ZaZ. Just checking my options as I need to purchase today. An older laptop is a little scary but if it is better than a newer netbook then it will be a good solution.
     
  4. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    4,982
    Messages:
    34,001
    Likes Received:
    1,417
    Trophy Points:
    581
    If you're looking for a used ThinkPad, I might suggest heading over to the Marketplace forum over on ThinkPads.com. They tend to be much more honest about what they're selling there than eBay or CL. That has a lot of value, particularly for a used notebook. As far as a notebook, your needs seem pretty modest. Any X series with a dual core CPU should meet them.
     
  5. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    A functional X200s for under 200 is a great deal, provided it actually works (no liquid/physical damage).
     
  6. adam7777

    adam7777 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thank you for your advice. Is the X200 a much better option than the X200s for today's software as it offers 2.4GHz vs 1.6GHz ?
     
  7. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

    Reputations:
    5,413
    Messages:
    10,711
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Unless you do rendering, or anything really CPU intensive not really. You would be best off getting an SSD for the X200s if it already doesn't have one.
     
  8. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

    Reputations:
    3,018
    Messages:
    3,198
    Likes Received:
    2,318
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Most (not all) X200s units came with a WXGA+ (1440x900) LCD which will give you the real estate of a larger screen on a tiny machine.

    I'd agree that such a laptop for $180 can be considered a steal, unless there's something seriously wrong with it.

    I'd definitely try before I buy if at all possible...

    Good luck.
     
  9. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    4,982
    Messages:
    34,001
    Likes Received:
    1,417
    Trophy Points:
    581
    I was my recollection, which may be faulty, that almost all X200s in the beginning were WXGA+, but then in the last 2/3 of the run, Lenovo started to have trouble securing the WXGA+ screens the X200s. As a result a pretty good chunk of the X220s have the WXGA LCD. That's not a bad thing as it means the AFFS mod is much easier.
     
  10. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

    Reputations:
    2,962
    Messages:
    8,231
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    216
    I second or third or fourth the x200s. Especially one with WXGA+. They're actually lighter than some (nominally) smaller netbooks/netbook-ish machines if you get a 4-Cell battery too.
     
  11. adam7777

    adam7777 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Good idea! What's the cheapest option for a small SSD. I only need windows 7, virus protection, browser word, and metatrader4?
     
  12. adam7777

    adam7777 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I just bought an X220- i5-2450M without the HDD for $400 aud, so I will still need an SSD. Are there any cheap sata III options that fit? After reading through the formums I see it needs to be 7mm.
     
  13. adam7777

    adam7777 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
  14. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

    Reputations:
    2,962
    Messages:
    8,231
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    216
    If you don't need the space, the 64GB drive should be fine.