x121e -Trackpadbuttons +Fingerprint +Logolight

Translating the Chinese Service Manual, it appears that the x121e will not have trackpad buttons, ala the x220.

They put this trick/odd status light in their logo. Google Chinese to English translation:

Some models may get a fingerprint reader.

Manual: offthebeatenpath: Lenovo X121E incoming soon

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The buttonless mouse seems displeasing to me. I like the controls on the x120.

 

Looking again at the PDF, the battery seems integrated, with a new hinge design that would preclude a 9-cell battery because the screen hinges around the back of the battery.
[Edit: What I meant by "integrated" was that the battery was set deep enough into the body as not to stick out from the back.]

Also, they passed up the chance to make the palmrest longer, which could have made typing more comfortable for some people.

I speculate that the new lid will not open as much as the x120e, ala a Mac.

The speakers seem to be moved on top, which is good.

It appears to retain HDMI, and for some reason VGA. Lenovo will get rid the the VGA port when they pry it from their....

There appear to be no less than 3 status indicators for battery and sleep, at various assorted places around the computer, for some unknown reason : )

The people in China will be relieved to know that the x121e has a FCC approval sticker. Phew!

 

The ThinkPad Edge models have the power/sleep indicator light in the logo so maybe this will be showing up in all ThinkPad models going forward with the x121e being the first.

I wonder if you will be able to add an mSATA SSD to the x121e?

 

Blargh. Do not want.

 

What's with those L-shaped channels above the keyboard? Are they for the lid hinges? Strange design.

 

Nice find! A few corrections, though:

If you look at Page 23 of the PDF, you'll notice the battery is removable, and will likely max out at 6-cells, as on the X120e (may extend out bottom?).

Yes, this new hinge design differs from that of the X120e and classic Thinkpads--it will have a more limited angle that it can be opened.

The speakers are still on the bottom (hence the mesh grille on the bottom front edge, same as the X120e). The top section you're mistaking as the speaker grille is part of the battery, I believe.

VGA is very useful still, even though it is an outdated port. I use it far more often than the HDMI port, since most projectors still only accept VGA-in.

That's a 3D image. The grooves are rectangular, and straight. Look at the hinge design for some of the IdeaPads (ie: Y470) and you'll know what I mean.

 

-New Hinge Design. ! It looks a bit like my Latitude 2110 hinge design, which I don't exactly like. It isn't going to open to 180 if that is anything to go by. Idk about durability, probably worse imho.
-Fingerprint reader. This is a good change
-Buttonless trackpad. meh, <3 Trackpoint.
-VGA is still very useful for me. If anything, drop HDMI in favor of DisplayPort

All I have to say is why. The X100e/X120e chassis is perfectly fine, why mess with it.

*hopes this is a fake and the X121e will share the same chassis as the X120e.*

 

I did not mean that the battery was not removable, just that a larger battery could not go further back.

The photos in the manual are quite coarse, but I believe that the speakers are in front top.

Although it may considered old fashioned, a DVI port would have made more sense as it can carry analogue as well. As long as the signal chain carried HDCP, it the digital side could have been converted to HDMI as well.
[I would have preferred DVI over VGA. Perhaps the HDMI could be converted to DVI so I can run my monitor.]

I also liked the x120e, and I was going to buy one the week the stopped production.

It would be interesting if they had a Llano option, but that would want 9 cells, and a little more fan.

An E-450 powered x121e might have better gaming performance than a x220.

 

built in battery ? for god sake. hopefully not finalized.

editted : looking from page 27 and 83.seems like battery still removable.

 

One again, what I meant by "integrated" was that the battery was set deep enough into the body as not to stick out.

I do not understand why they don't put the mics near the camera where they should go. Electret mics are really small, and they could put a through hole for noise cancellation.

 

ah ic. didnt note your previous post. was looking at the pdf and ur 1st post only. . design wise. the more i look at it. looks like and edge thinkpad.
or is it x220 with 11,6 inch screen.

 

It looks exactly like the edge photo I saw a while ago... I'm not sure if it's really a successor to the x120e though, it's only been out for a few months.

 

Looks just like the E125-
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E125 makes early appearance at Computex, we go hands-on - Pocket-lint

Minus the silver trim round the edge of the screen, ports and buttons in the same place.

I am guessing X121e for business (matt black with fingerprint reader etc) and E125 for consumer (glossy with chrome)

 

that would be an excellent guess.

it's much like the Edge 11 and X100e/X120e sharing the same basic platform.

 

I'm looking at the E125 keyboard compared to the X120e keyboard next to it. Maybe its just the angle, but it seems like the E125 (thus hopefully the X121e) keyboard is deeper than the X120e keyboard. The X120e keyboard is a bit shallower than the rest of the Edge keyboards, so the chassis change allowed a full Edge keyboard rather than the shallow one?

Also. What is the point of moving the hinge. Its not going to open to 180 now, and it will force larger batteries to extend downwards instead of backwards. I think extending back is better than extending down from my experience with the Latitude 2110 6 cell that extends down.

 

It looks like it may be the same keyboard as the X1. I wonder if it's backlit?

 

I kinda doubt that it would be backlit take into the consideration of the price of the x121e. I would guess they would implement the backlit keyboard on the premium edge line.

 

I'm holding back on buying an x120e for this new x121e. Would anyone know when it's due and whether it will have the AMD 350 or a later chip? Or something else altogether?

 

dont think will use E350. and i got feeling it will come in 2 "flavour"

 

It would be another difference between the E125 and the X121e if they chose to do that.

On the APU, I would expect the E-450 to be the top end option. 1.66GHz Zacate + Turbo for graphics I think.

 

There's a PDF of the service manual online for the x121e, and there are no references to an E-450, only the E-350 and possibly an i3 with integrated intel graphics.

 

Any idea when it might be released? Thanks

 

Lenovo's ThinkPad X121e business laptop gets listed in Europe | News | TechConnect Magazine

x121e in the news today with a few photos and limited info.

 

i3 with the Intel 3000... there's no way that thing won't run warm.

 

I'm thinking about this one.

 

Here listings for both intel and AMD


lenovo-thinkpad-x121e-nwn6uge---core-i3


lenovo-thinkpad-x121e-nws5qge-8-gb-ram

Called these guys they stated less than 2 weeks ....

 

Here is posting on engadget:

Lenovo launches 11.6-inch ThinkPad x121e for Europe, the Japanese market -- Engadget

 

For those interested, there IS a US model planned.

Lenovo Support - ThinkPad X121e 3051-52U support

I'm glad I got my X120e, this thing is hideous and tres un-Thinkpad. Although looking at the port locations, it might be possible to retrofit the Core i3 board in my 120e chassis. Now if only I can get the HMM to verify...

 

While the x120e and Edge 11 were obviously based on the same design the x121e seems to be more closely related to the Edge line. The displays seem to be exactly the same but with black trim on the X and chrome trim on the E whereas with the x120e it was a bit more utilitarian or "ThinkPad-like" in design. It will be interesting to see if they actually offer it CTO with a 128G SSD and fingerprint reader outside of the spec sheet.

 

While the x121e look sexy I don't see a reason to upgrade from the x120e. However after a couple month of using the x120e, I see myself getting a laptop with larger screen in the near future.

 

Which is why I don't understand why did they make the X121 look like that. The Edge was supposed to be the "ThinkPad that doesn't look like a ThinkPad", so why did they mess with the X series? What's the differentiation now, chrome and black trim?

 

From the photos it appears that the x121e has a smaller keyboard than the edge 11 as the gap between the keys and hinges at the top is wider on the x121e.

My favourite small computer to date is the TPx41 on which I run W7 comfortably. It has a 12" screen. I tried a 10" screen netbook but both the screen and keyboard are far too small. I'll try the x121e and see how good it is.

I use for browsing and word processing only. Any thoughts on AMD/Intel? And what will I be getting more than on the Edge 11?

 

Maybe markets they sell the Edge 11 vs the X12xe?

 

Agreed. I'm glad that I bought my X120e when I did. I couldn't live with the new design on a day to day basis.

Since the palm rest is already small enough on the X120e for normal typing, I would imagine that the keyboard on the X121e would require one to type in a "walking-zombie" type of position with your fingers constantly hanging. I have average size hands and I would say that moving the speaker to the top of the computer was a bad idea since it meant sacrificing space on an already small keyboard.

 

I just spoke to Lenovo who say it won't be available at all in the UK. So it appears that we get the worst of both worlds: No x120e and no x121e.

I'm now seriously considering getting the Edge11. I'm using it for browsing and wordprocessing only so a comfortable keyboard is extremely important. Equally important is weight and battery life. Can someone please comment on what I would be losing out on in the Edge 11 compared to the x120/121?

Thanks

 

So we have to make do with the older i3 Edge 11 (at £500+)or stump up even more for an X220(£800+)?

 

If the edge is a i3 or c2d, I won't miss the x120e. Aside from the price and a slightly better gpu the only difference is the look. The x120e's E350 has a weaker processor. The only major upgrade in the X120e is the optional fingerprint reader and a slight power boost.

 

Its an original i3, but the main reason i dont want an edge 11 is the built, we have a few edge 15's at work and they are horrible to use!

 

The Edge 11 i3 Dual Core (380UM, 3MB Cache, 1.33 GHz). The x220 seems an awesome little sucker: 12" screen, about 1.3kg and 8 hour battery life but with a c.£1000 price tag. I think the Edge 11 should do it but I'll see what others think.

 

Looking at the specs, I don't see the AMD E-450 processor, only the E-350. The Intel processors they have chosen don't seem appreciably faster than the AMD, and I suspect that a E-450 might be faster in graphics than the Intel.

11.6-inch Lenovo X121e specs include AMD or Intel processors

I am still not pleased by the lack of trackpad buttons. In the real world, buttons work. Lenovo is doing this weird schizo thing whereas they will never give up the trackpoint, while adopting a new button-less trackpad which offers more style than substance. If I wanted form over function I would buy Apple.

 

Have you actually used a MacBook? Their glass trackpads are great plus they are actually large enough for multitouch gestures to work. The one on the X220 is ridiculously bad so I cannot imagine the X121e being any better. You need to either learn the trackpoint or use a mouse. I've adapted to the trackpoint pretty well.

 

Yes, I have used a Macbook Pro with the glass on top. The glass is nice, but moving the whole pad is too much to ask me to do all the time. The trackpoint is a joint aching exercise in frustration for me.

I use computers a lot, more than most people. One of the reasons I am interested in the x12x line, is because the keyboard operates with little forces. On the positive side, I often use a mouse --even when writing. I don't think anyone likes the X220 trackpad; The most positive thing I have read about it is that it was less error prone than some of the other trackpads without buttons. Marketing people should not design computers.

Multitouch is a poorly implemented toy on MS Windows, anyway.

The x121e doesn't look any bigger than the the one on x120e, does it?

 

I think the primary reason they switch to the buttonless trackpad on the x220 is so they could use a large trackpad. Alot of space is taken up by the three trackpoint buttons and the new 16:9 the aspect ratio just add salt to the wound.

The glass trackpad on MacOS is great on both Window and on OSX, I just like the trackpoint alot more better. BrendaEM, have you try using trackpoint before, you will just disregard the trackpad if it starts to grow on you.

 

Disgusting. The X120e had much, much, much better industrial design than this junk.

So much wasted space. Mixing glossy plastics with matte plastics? Ew.

Was considering the X120e once they updated it, hoping they would just put the E450 into the current X120e and call it a day. Definitely going to a MacBook Air now.

 

yeah. apparently E450 wont be ready yet. was hoping that newer series will come up with those processor.

 

I have a trackpad on my T61P, but hey require too much pressure. My guess is: they must have been designed by some heavy-handed man who doesn't know enough about female anatomy : P

"If it doesn't make you blush when you use it, it's probably not a good HID," Brenda Make

 

Agreed. Perhaps they had to make it less of a competition to the x220 for corporate customers. Those probably wouldn't want to be found dead with a toy like that.

 

Video of X121e with E-350 here:
YouTube - ‪????????DO. WITH LENOVO ?????????????!????‬&rlm;

I hope they get rid of that glossy crap before the release in the US.

 

IMO x120e is wayyy better that x121e.

 

It's interesting that the new trackpad does not appear any larger than the old one, nor is there any more handrest.

It's still looks like a good little laptop, but it appears that the x121e was a dis-improvement.

The x120e, won best CES; should we change it? Of course. : P