x200s and webcam

Please, does anybody know if there will be an x200s with webcam and WXGA+ screen?

If you look at the tabook of september 2008, currently there is no x200s with a webcam. But if you look at the video http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zz9ErmQg2eU, from Mark a lenovo employee, you see that the shown x200s model does have a webcam (at 5 min 22 sec).

Some forum posts say that the WXGA+ does not allow a WWAN nor a 2x3 antenna. Is it also true for the webcam? Does the model of the video have a lower resolution screen, as the x200 model?

I am going to buy an x200s in any case. I can live without the webcam, but if there will be soon a model with one, I would be disappointed not to have waited for it.

Thanks

 

I believe the model in the video (the one on " inside the box" where the tech blocks the camera half the time and has crappy framing) only has the WXGA CCFL screen that is also available on the x200. The only model with a WXGA+ screen is the LED variant. The LED is thinner, lighter, and more power efficient than the CCFL, but this reduced thickness I believe precludes a webcam and possibly the WWAN antenna. There has been some talk of an x200s with a webcam being available in Europe, but I think it only had the WXGA CCFL (only the LED is currently for sale in the USA).

 

Lenovo claims that the WXGA+ LED screen always come with a 2x3 antenna (even if you go with the Intel 5100 that doesn't use all these antenna). Not sure who spread the wrong rumor.

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and knowledge. So, will there be an x200s with WXGA+ and webcam? what does 2x3 and 2x3 mean? Is the 2x3 incompatible with the WWAN and with the webcam?

 

To break it down to you. This is what to expect from Lenovo regarding the X200s.

You will have 2 options with regards to the Screen:

1. WXGA+ (1440x900) LED backlight.
2. WXGA (1280x800) NO LED.

If you choose the first option then you will have no webcam (since Camera models can only support up to a 2 x 2 WLAN antenna design and this model is a 2 x 3 WLAN antenna design.) ,nor WWAN (although this option might be added as there is no proof as to why this won't be available). With this option you will also get the Roll cage technology with carbon fiber/glass surrounding to the screen.

If you choose the second option their will more than likely be the option for an integrated webcam and WWAN since the videos from the lenovo rep proves that would be the case. However, you will not have the carbon fiber/glass case and probably no Roll cage technology (not too sure on this). Also, there is a likelihood that the battery life on this option would be less than the other because LED are more energy efficient.

I hope this clarifies your choices...

 

Actually it's the camera that does not allow 2x3 antennas

http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cg...ubtype=CA&htmlfid=897/ENUS108-615&appname=USN

(about halfway through the page, footnote 3)

The way I understand it, that means you can either get a webcam and limited wireless options, or all the wireless options but no camera. I have not found any information regarding the possibility of webcam + led, but what jonlumpkin said makes sense.

 

The irony is that all preconfigured X200s models that come with a battery bigger than 4cell, which includes all the expensive, money-is-no-object models, use the Intel 5100 wifi card, so the bottom line is that not only you don't get a webcam on these models, you also don't make use of the 3x2 antenna even though it's there (the 5100 can only use 2x1).

Lenovo seems to be incorporating ZLS tactics (ZLS = Zero Logic Strategies).

 

Even though it's not true that it always comes with 5100 (I also assumed that it would be only shipped with 5100, after I looked through the US 3rd party shop offers - but some German resellers list models with the 5300 card), I fully support this statement.

Lenovo makes it so **** hard to purchase one of the Thinkpads because the models ALWAYS lack a certain feature that is available in another model of the very same series (and vice versa).
Example for the X200 line (! stands for not available): Webcam -> !WXGA+, WWAN -> !WXGA+, IPS/FFS -> !WXGA+, 2.4 GHz -> !WXGA+...

 

I have to agree with Thomas - I'm ready to spend my cash but lenovo are making it difficult! I want WXGA+ & WWAN and I can't understand why this option isn't available. I'll end up not bothering if I can't get it and it's a real shame as it's a fantastic machine. It's a business machine so where is the logic in not including WWAN in the highest spec? It makes no sense to me.