X301 vs. T400s?

I'd appreciate your opinion on which is better for business use (no games, no high-end graphics) -- the X301 or the T400s.

I'd like a fairly light, portable laptop, with built-in optical drive, and

1. Fast Web browsing.
2. Viewing online videos.
3. Viewing DVDs.

If I get the T400s, I'd get the display WITHOUT Multi-touch. And I'd get an SSD for either.

Can you tell me what the pros and cons are for these two?

 

T400s:
biggger screen
heavier by 0.5lb
bulkier
much faster
cheaper

For the uses you want them, these machines would be an overkill. Watching DVD's would be better in the T400s since it's 14" but you wouldnt notice a dramatic difference. However the quality of the screen isn't that great compared to other notebooks (although it's good if you compare it to other thinkpads).

If you are going to be carrying it with you in airplanes etc I would go with the x301 since it's more portable.

 

I've said this before in other threads, so I might as well put my .02 cents in here as well.
The T400s was meant to be a cross between the X301, and the T400. In other words, it's for people who wanted a performer like the T400, but also somewhat thin as well (like the X300/301). So, the T400s was born. It's not AS thin as the X301, but it's quicker, and has a bigger screen. I'd recommend the T400s for anyone that travels (but not a very frequent flier ie. 2 times a week/month), or someone that takes night classes in college.
The X301 was designed from the very beginning as the "top of the line" ultra portable. It runs on a low voltage processor, and therefore will not be as fast as a T400s. It is also thinner, lighter, and as a smaller footprint (due to the 13.3 inch screen). It's also MUCH more expensive as well. The X301 is perfect for those that travel a LOT, go to classes everyday, and that need to carry around a laptop all the time. The X301 is one of the best Thinkpads I've ever used. It's one of the most durable (rubberized feel almost throughout the entire machine, super quality keyboard, multi-touch touch-pad, SSD drive as standard, etc). I would say if budget is no problem, then by all means get the X301. I've used/tried almost all of the current thinkpads (T400s, t400, t500, X301, W700) and to me at least, the X301 just "felt" better then all of them. And, it's so light that most of the time you won't even know you're lugging it around.
On a side note, of you google "t400s vs. X301" there is a detailed comparison between the two laptops that you should read.
Either way, both are premium laptops and are both Lenovo's flagship computers.
Good luck with your choice !

 

The reason why I bought the T400s was that I needed an portable laptop and also pretty powerful. That automatically makes my choice the best since the T400s is one of its kind. Any other 13 - 14 inch is either CULV(useless for me) or really not worth the price (Vaio Z or Dell Lattitude E4300)

 

Consider the X200s, too. It's just a slightly different mix of the same batch of pros and cons. Its weight, performance, and thickness are all somewhere inbetween the other two, but it's cheaper, has a smaller footprint, and has higher pixel density.

 

I don't really see the use of the X series. They are just overpriced CULV laptops with lenovo design.

 

The X301 uses only a primary 1.8" drive and it's optical bay is too thin to allow a HDD to fit in. The T400s also uses 1.8" but can have a 2.5" via the 9.5mm optical bay so provides a more versatile storage setup.

Have you looked at a 12" Toshiba R600? Has 2.5" HDD, 7mm optical drive, uses SU9400 cpu like X301 very light weight, or a HP 2530P, same 1.8" + 2.5" setup like the T400s, but slightly smaller, weighs less and can be specced to a SL9600-2.13 CPU.

 

So in one post CULV is useless to you, and then in the next the X series, which is faster than CULV laptops, is just an overpriced CULV laptop? I don't get your logic.

 

You are misleading people with those comments as they are obviously wrong.

As an example the X200 can be had with CPUs up to the P8800 2.66GHz, while the majority come with the P8600. I fail to see how that differs from the T400s in terms of performance.

Even the lov voltage X200s can be had with up to SL9600 CPUs.

The X-series has the same kind of performance as bigger machines (with integrated graphics) but with smaller footprint and lower weight. It is especially relevant for frequent travelers who don't want to sacrifice performance.

 

THE HINGE DESIGN on the R600 is not as good that of the Thinkpads bar the SL series. Toshiba is no longer the laptop that people flock to. Personally the T400s is a better buy than the X301, because there are more accessories for the ultrabay bay slim slot. In addition to the fact that you have the eSATA and dock connector.

 

The X300 has quite amazing battery life with the Ultrabay battery and 6-cell battery. If the X301 is as good (or better), then it's a good choice if you're often disconnected and you're interested in a lightweight laptop. Web browsing doesn't really require much CPU horsepower. The optical drive you're better off without, if you have another machine to rip and transcode the movie such that it fits on the harddrive and takes advantage of the hardware decode, which is present in both laptops.