X61 or X200?

i've been offered by my company to exchange a 3 months old X61 with 8cell with an X200 with 9cell with the same specs.

I'm really stumped by this.
X61 pros: regular screen (great for documents!), firewire, great performance so far, great battery.

X200 pros: webcam, express card slot, updated technology, great performance and battery life, a bit better screen but wide (sucks in my opinions).

anyone care to share comments, or made the switch himself and can express his thoughts about this? thanks.

 

I would switch, why not right? As you stated, there are many advantages over the x61. Myself, I own the x61, but the update isn't significant enough (IMO) to update and spend the extra cash. If its not costing you anything, i'd go for it!

 

Where the hell did you get your cons from...? Wide screen should only be a factor if you are worried about the physical size. You have more resolution in both directions.

The firewire could be a factor...but I never use it except in audio equipment. And if you are exchanging why don't you test the x200 anyways? I sure if you HATE it someone else wouldn't mind it.

 

The X200 has an LED screen which makes a huge difference. I don't think widescreen is a problem either - it isn't stealing real estate from the top, it is adding to the sides.

 

It does not have an LED screen...

 

atleast its brighter, but no, not led screen

but better battery life, faster, ddr3 memory, and more....

 

The x200 also has a true full size keyboard (exact same one as the T400). This is an ancillary benefit of going with the widescreen. The x61 has a good keyboard, but it is a little compressed on the side keys (enter, shift, control, backspace, etc.). I also think that the widescreen allows the x200 to fit into the little nook vacated by an airline tray table, because it is about 1 inch shorter than the x61 when open.

 

You see why it's so difficult?? I knew I can count on you guys.

Regarding the wide screen, I've meant that the 4:3 screen is more convient to me as I read a lot on the screen. In a wide screen you have to scroll more.

Maybe I should take the x200 for a test drive and see how it goes.

 

Didn't you mean " pros" ?

 

That's only true if you get an x61s with an SXGA (1400x1050) screen [are these even available?]. If you are comparing an x200 with a WXGA screen (1280x800) against an x61 with an XGA (1024x768) screen, you actually are able to read a little more top to bottom, and a lot more side to side on the x200.

 

Ya...we already mentioned you do not lose ANY resolution from the x61->x200.

 

I think he meant pros? Cause if that's the cons, the pros would really be something.

 

sorry guys, I've meant pros ofcourse. fixed it.

 

I would not get an X200. I would save the cash for the X200s. now that does have the LED screen and a 1440x900 resolution. The screen is bright and nice.
Only downfall is no camera and no WWAN. Neither is a non selling point for me.
I never use the camera and i have an external WWAN express card

X200s can be found for as little as $1550

Like others have said the keyboard is a full keyboard. This was a major decision maker for me as i never liked the compressed keyboard on the X6x series.

 

The x200s is probably a good option if you can go that route. The screen is much better (LED, brighter, more power efficient, better color, thinner, roll cage, higher resolution), and the laptop is also a bit thinner, lighter, and more power efficient. If you opt for comparable battery life, as opposed to comparable batteries, the x200s actually becomes much lighter because you can get 9 cell performance with only a 6 cell battery and a 2.8 pound package. You do lose integrated WWAN and a camera, but you have to weigh those options. The integrated WWAN is very convenient because it is always with you, may be more power efficient, but is actually less flexible than a 34mm express card or USB modem. The camera can be nice for VOIP, but it is worthless for pretty much anything else.

 

I think the x200s has it's benefits, but you have to consider the less powerful processor. I for example run a virtual machine on top of my computer, to accomplish some basic tasks. It seems to me a lot of load on a ULV processor.

 

If only there were a LED screen option for the X200. But then nobody would get a X200s.

I'd go with a X200 over X61. From all accounts it sounds like a very solid quality machine. Sometimes a new model turns out to be cheaper and lesser quality than an old one but this doesn't seem to be the case here. The X200 is better than the X61 is every way unless you really don't like widescreen. But, as people mentioned it has a higher resolution both vertically and horizontally so you're not losing any screen space.

 

I think that the LED screen is the cause of the price difference, so I don't think will see an X200 with a LED screen with the same price anytime soon.

 

The LED screen is part of the price difference, and the cause of almost all of the benefits of the x200s over the x200. Although I find it hard to believe that this should command a $300+ premium when an LED option is less than $100 on the T400.

 

The x200s has the option of LV or ULV processor.

 

The prices for Top Seller models seem to fluctuate quite a bit from the various resellers. I paid $1442 a few days ago for an x200s with the 1.8Ghz LV processor, 2gig of ram, 160gig 7200rpm drive, etc. I just missed a better deal that would have put the price closer to $1400.