X201s or T410s

Hello everyone.

I'm web developer and need to carry my laptop with me all the time to meet customers. Screen realestate is really important and these 2 models have it. I'm currently carrying Macbook Pro 15 inches, with 5.5 lbs, it's really killing me.

I cannot make up my mind which one I should get. Which one has better screen?
I see that T410s has displayport. Can T410s (without discrete GPU) output audio thru displayport->HDMI?

Which one should I get? they're about the same price.

Thanks

 

Both will probably be a step down image quality wise from your MacBook. If weight is of paramount importance, the X201s seems the way to go.

 

I'm also a web developer. I have a 17 inch LED macbook pro at home and a LED X200s. I know a lot of people complain about the screen quality of the X200s, but I don't see a difference when looking at them straight up. From side to side, yes, there is a difference.
I highly recommend the X201s because of the screen real estate. It may not have any many pixels as the X410s, but the difference in size and weight are important.

 

You said that screen realestate is important to you, does that mean screen size or pixel count? T410s comes with a 14" screen iwth resolution of 1440x900. That resolution is also available on X201s, although a 12" screen. I have a X200, with 1280x900 resolution and honestly, the fonts are small enough that I don't want to resolution to get higher. You may want to check out how 1440x900 on a 12" screen look before deciding.

X210s without doubt is much lighter than T410s, and it also has much longer battery life too. Coming from a macbook you probably prefer touchpad to track point. Although X201s can be configured with a touchpad, the touchpad is really tiny, especially when you compared it to those on macbooks.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I came from T43p (IPS, 1600x1200, love it) and went to Macbook Pro since I sometime need to work with Mac fonts in the files i got from other designers and also need to double check that all browsers work fine (Mac OS make all the text bold, what's wrong with them). I prefer Trackpoint over Trackpad, but having both is better since my customers might want to use the Trackpad on it in the meeting.

Screen Real Estate i need is the pixels (1440x900) since my main software is Dreamweaver and Photoshop, less scrolling, the better.

For weight, as long as it's less than 4lbs, i'm good.

 

Hey, which choice did you make? If the X201s, how do you like it for the work you do? I am in a similar position, as you can see by this post...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/482037-x301-web-design-development-wait-x301s.html

 

I went with x201s. Small, lightweight, great resolutions.
A little regret I didnt get the new Sony Vaio Z instead (since it has everything included for the size and weight that is almost the same)

 

I've seen varying reports on the DP=>HDMI + audio w/o graphics processor. If memory serves, 720p is fine, but some had problems with 1080p source materials. You might want to check though...

The X201s does NOT have DP. You can get DP though, with the ThinkPad X200 UltraBase. It pretty much upgrades the I/O capabilities of the X20_ series to match the T410. Total weight of X201 + UB > T410s (close to a T410).

Capabilities wise, they're a wash if you get the UB. It's a matter of how often you'll use the additional I/O and data storage options to see which configuration is more convenient.

 

Yes, the Z sure is a beauty.

It took me a few months to decide on the Z11 or X201, nearly pulled the trigger on the Z on several occasions but ultimately went for the X. For similar config (cpu, ram, hdd) the Z would have costed nearly twice as much as the X since Lenovo has huge discounts (+35%). Sony, no discounts.

I couldn't justify the cost of the Z...but it certainly is a dream machine.

 

Spec-wise, it looks way-cool! The machine also demonstrates the flaws of buying by spec.

If something we take for granted like the HD is proprietary, what else on the system is Sony-standard rather than industry standard?

Build quality reports are mixed at best.

Sony support reports don't even make "mixed" status. They're pretty bad.

Sometimes, a dream spec is a nightmare product.

 

So true, which is why corporate customers don't use Sony laptops.

 

I'm a web developer (actually now just a web master) also and I own both a T410s and a Macbook unibody. I say stick with the Macbook Pro. The extra weight builds character and there is no better laptop for wowing your clients than a Macbook Pro.

 

hum..... interesting clients you got there.

 

I think it has to do with macbook pro are more aesthetic to the general public and macbook pro have better screen than the T410s.

 

I am really struggling between choosing a X201s or Vaio Z11 If I add a X25-M 160GB SSD and an external DVD drive to X201s, both will cost the same. I don't play games, I just want a light notebook for travel, tracking and perhaps developing s/w in a cafee or in a park. Screen size, keyboard and running Linux are important factors. Which one ?????

Pros of GVaio Z11
+ Great screen
+ Larger screen 13.1"
+ Stereo speakers
+ Stereo mic
+ GF Graphic processor
+ FeliCA card
+ Webcamera
+ i5 CPU
Price (128GB SSD, WiMAX, 4GB, i5520) : USD 2,020

Pros of X201s
+ Great keyboard
+ Works with Ubuntu 10.04
+ Durability
+ Upgradeable (storage, men, etc)
+ Battery life
Price : (160GB SSD, WiMAX, 4GB , 9cell battery) : USD 2,030

 

I've had the T410s for a while now with Kubuntu 10.04 running smoothly, dock included. Some minor hacks were needed. The ergonomics for the keyboard / dual-pointing devices are best-in class, and there are nice extra touches like being able to set the battery charging thresholds (to preserve battery life). The tool for this is even in the Ubuntu repos:

Code:

sudo apt-get install tp-smapi-dkms

Tp smapi - ThinkWiki

For me, the T410s is near perfect.

 

I think you get stereo mic as well in the x201s with webcamera and you can get i7.
Btw, what is that felica card?

 

X201s models here in Japan are not sold with a webcam and I heard that mic and speakers are of poor quality Is it true?
Does X201s have stereo speakers and how good are they?

FeliCA is a chip below the keyboard that can access cards with a Felica e-money chip here in Japan. Some videos: Sony Global - Video on FeliCa

 

I don't know if the X201s uses different speakers and mic, but the x201 speakers aren't bad for laptop speakers, which means they still aren't good speakers. I think people who have Thinkpad mic issues just need to go into the SmartAudio software and change it from voice recording to VoIP.

 

Cool... T410s seems to be a real babe . You have an i7 in it, rite?　I really don't like the bling bling look of Sony products, I like the beauty of simplicity that thinkpads represents. I may go for a T410s or Vaio Z11 rather than X201s.... Screen size is king for a developer like me. You know, as a geek, I am too ashed of using bling bling Mac and Sony stuff. Thinkpad has this retro solid look and is built for the battlefield. I love it, but for the same price you can get a full blown Vaio Z12 here in Japan. Sony is cheap and Lenovo is very expensive here.

 

Now guess WHAT!... Great news! T410s is out of stock here in Japan. This is definitely not Lenovo country. X201s is also out of stock, but there are some left at a shop in Tokyo. Nevertheless, this smart dude knows that he's the only one who has those babes and is selling them like they were made of gold. Now, I am going for a Sony crap trying to squeeze an Ubuntu 10.04 into it even thou Vaio X21 has Linux allergy. Xorg hack, hack, hack, kernel patch, Grub hack, OpenGL, hack, hack, hack...

BTW, small shops here are selling second hand X61 and X200s, though. USD 1,000 for a second hand lappy!!!!!!!!! Is it possible to run Compiz cube in them or is the GPU and CPU too weak for it to run smoothly?

 

T410s doesn't have i7 as configuration option, which is fine by me. The i7 would be total overkill for my usage and I prefer a cool running laptop with longer battery life that costs a lot less

I had to wait two months or so after the T410s was launched before they actually had them in stock to purchase. Lenovo isn't the best about having things in stock.

I've also got the new MacBook Pro 15 with high-res anti-glare screen. Ubuntu runs fantastically well on this laptop too. IMO, these two laptops are the best available (with the disclaimer that I am not a gamer).

 

unless the i7 is quad core, i don't know what real tangible benefit it has over say a i5 dual core. The small increase in clock speed and 1 mb of extra cache is not going to do much for the overall increase in system speed. You might as well invest the money to something that benefits you more, like a SSD or something.

 

I was referring to the low voltage version of i7 (25watt) found in X201s. Maybe that’s not an option when you buy a T410s. As a developer I am not a very big fan of Steve and his stuff like objectiveC, NextOS, etc. It’s maybe a personal think, but I am quiet allergic against Apple and Sony products.

If I need a main new computer, I would definitely go for a T410s, but since I have desktops with large screens (24icn) both at work and at home X201s wins for its weight and battery life. However, the resolution of X201s is too high and I would rather sacrifice a 1440x800 screen for a 1280x800 screen for something that is easer for my eyes. Not going for the X201 ‘case I could as well get a T410s with just a minor increase in weight.

I am seriously thinking of getting a X201s ….. X201s + Intel 160GB (G2) SSD + 9 cell battery + WiMAX with OS: Ubuntu 10.04 and Japanese Win7 Pro. I have to replace the Linuz kernel to 2.6.34 go get the TRIM working on the SSD, but that’s all. This will cost more than Sony Vaio Z12, MacAir and MacBook thou. Sony and Apple do not suit my engineering personality and philosophy how things should be designed and built, ThinkPad does.

For those who owns a X201s: are you getting used to the resolution? Is this something you'll get used to? I am a bit worried

Malin/Tokyo

 

Hi,

I had a T410s but have replaced it with a X201. My previous laptop was an X60 and I just couldnt get used to the bulk of the T410s. It may be lightweight for a 14 inch machine, but it was a step too far for me. I am much more comfortable with the X201.

G.

 

12.1" WXGA screen and no optical drive. Those were the deal breakers for me on the X201. I guess if I was flying economy class a lot, the X201 might make sense. But I'd rather have a 14.1" WXGA+ screen / built-in DVD burner with the T410s. My arms aren't that puny, I can lug around an extra pound.

 

Agreed, about the WXGA+ and ODD. That's why I'll have both. The T410 is terrific but for portability I have an X201 on order (should arrive tomorrow). I don't really need the 1440x900 (especially on a 12" screen) when traveling, or the optical drive.