x201: Some facts (and impressions)

Question About Re-installing OS:

Right...as I may have mentioned earlier, I am going to be installing the 64 bit of Win7. I intend to use an Win 7 Pro DVD that I already have and will back up the activation on my x201 and will use that to activate. Hopefully, there won't be a problem. I think a clean install is a necessity having looked through the installed programs.

But there are some points that I need clarity on and maybe you can help me out:

First: Should I download on a USB stick some of the more critical ThinkVantage programs? Like System Update?

Second, please take a look at the attached image. I have pointed to some apps with the red arrows. I have not seen these before. I would like to try them out before discarding them. Will Win 7 and/ or System Update be able to find them on their own, or do I have to go looking for them on an individual basis? The latter would be most time-consuming.

I am sure I will have many more questions to ask and observations to share - though I will certainly make it a point to re-read as many of the x201 threads that I can look up.

One last point - unconnected to the above.

I do find that the x201 needs a much lighter touch - at typing - than te R400. If I type lightly, I can't feel the any flex (which is most apparent in the upper right quadrant of the keyboard - from say F9/ Print Screen to even the Shift key). But if I press down on the keyboard as hard as I do so on the R400, the flex is very noticeable. That side of the keyboard does not seem to have much of a support.

From what I have read here the x201 keyboard should be a much tighter fit. Is there anything like the perforated keyboard for the x201 as there was for the R/T400? If yes, is there an alternative? The keyboard of the x201 does seem conducive to touch-typing though.

Maybe I need to re-learn how to type with a softer touch?

In closing, I have to accept the move from the 14" to the 12" screen was not bad at all. In fact, for some odd reason, I think the screen on the x201 is much "cleaner" and more crisp that the R400 - I am comparing them at the same levels of brightness/ dimness.

However, that being said, I will also say that I think the real sweet spot for me in terms of screen size would probably be around 13" - so, something like the x301 would be perfect.

 

Yeah, that's gonna happen anyways on Monday! I was just curious.

 

• Burn the Recovery discs. After that, you don't need the recovery partition.
• Get the Windows 7 64-bit ISO from Digital River. Burn it to a DVD.
• Use ABR utility to back up the factory-installed license key.
• Do a clean install of Windows 7.
• Use ABR to restore the license key.
• Install the ThinkVantage Toolbox, which will pull the latest drivers.

 

I wrote a quick clean install guide for another thread. Here's the link.

Slight variation - just have a copy of AV and System update beforehand on a USB drive. You don't want to go online without any sort of protection.

Three of the programs you have mentioned in your pic are for use with the WWAN card. System update will not pull these as part of your clean install, it will do once your WWAN card is installed.

btw, I don't miss the other programs much, only programs I use on the thinkvantage toolbox are the power manager, system update, and the hotkey / OSD drivers.

Not sure if you have a camera in your model, I see the drivers and software for the camera also installed.

 

How can you eat with a new computer waiting??? When I get a new computer I fast until I have my fill and can pry myself away to eat....that or my wife force feeds me.

 

Hahaha!!! Very true...but I am in a bit of a bind...I have to leave tomorrow for an work-related meeting. Came up suddenly and it so happens that I need to make a presentation. At first, I thought I would take the x201 on the trip - you know, like a first date - get to know each other etc. But now it appears that I am not allowed to take any electronic stuff like phones, usb sticks, laptops etc. into where I am supposed to make my presentation. So, it will have to wait...till I get back late on Sunday night.

@ v_310...Thanks, that is indeed very helpful. So basically, I should assume that between Win 7 and System Update, I would get all the drivers etc. for all the applicable hardware for the x201? Yeah, my model came with the cam...which will I looked forward to since I will be traveling a lot from now on. Just easier to connect with people. Did not have it on my R400 though - used an external cam.

Any comments about the keyboard?

 

Btw, I did notice slight flex on X200 keyboard too. Even though I don't see it on X200t, I still *slightly* prefer X200 keyboard. I can't describe it but I think it was maybe a little "softer".

 

Precisely! That is exactly what I meant by soft-touch on the x201!

Edit: Btw, can I get rid of this Intel Security Management thing? I don't think I have ever seen it before and I don't think being located when I am at the moment, this would work. See attached pic. Thanks.

 

Last evening I configured a x201 on the Lenovo-US site. I made up the same configuration that I have. It turns out that the price difference between what I could buy off the Lenovo US site (without any coupons or other discounts etc) and what I paid for my machine is only about US$175, which is not too bad. I would have thought buying the x201 in India would have more expensive.

 

^^^^ the x220 effect they need to clear stock ASAP!

 

not required! you can uninstall the app and disable Intel AMT in the BIOS (hit the thinkvantage key to get into the BIOS during startup).

AMT (Active Management Technology) is used in an enterprise setting to manage laptops, install updates etc remotely. Not of much use for an individually used laptop

 

Hmmm....today I had a couple of interesting experiences. I have not yet been able to install the 64-bit version of Win7. But before I get into that, I have to say that there is definitely a problem with the keyboard. That upper right quadrant really flexes and is appears flimsy - like something's missing under it. Maybe, I'll get the Service people to come and take a look and perhaps reset the KB.

Since I've not changed the OS, I've also not installed my copy of Office 2010, which I use extensively. So, I went back to the R400 to retrieve a document, which also afforded me an opportunity to work in the so-called "cloud" for the first time! I am just using Google Docs and nothing else and so are my colleagues with who I am working. We are even not storing anything locally. It's all up there! It's a very short-term project and we are trying this just as an experiment.

The second interesting thing is that I now understand the difference between a P8600 and an i5 processor. The x201 does feel snappier! I mean, it was noticeable. The R400 was definitely a little more sluggish. I was just opening and closing files and folders - multiples of them as I went about retrieving the files I was working with.

I like it thus far - except for the keyboard. Is there any replacement keyboards for the x201 (like there was for the the R/T400)?

 

i think the speed differences when open and close files, is probably due to the fact that you have more stuffs stored on your R400. Unless you have the OS in the same condition of installation, you can't really make a judgement on the application response time.

When i tested the speed of my T400 (P8600) with a new OS installation against the T410 having a i5-520m CPU, the speed difference was negligible for launching application such as browser and word documents. But there was a 20% speed difference when doing movie format conversion.

I think given that you have a new laptop now, it maybe a wise decision to get a SSD.

 

It's very expensive here in India. I am waiting till when I go overseas. I can hopefully pick one up then.

One quick question:

I see that on the right hand side right by the modem, there is a slot which is covered. It sounds as if it is hollow. That is the place where the DVD drive on the R400 is located. Is this where the HDD will go when I install a SSD? I suspect that if that get filled then the flex on the top right part of the keyboard will be somewhat mitigated. At least, I hope so.

Thanks

Edit: Maybe the difference in speed that I am noticing is due to the HDD? The R400 had a 5400 rpm drive and the x201 has a 7200 rpm drive.

 

the covered slot is where your hard disk is. you'll have to remove this cover and then put an SSD instead of the hard disk.

the apps opening up quicker can be attributed to the HDD rotational speed.

 

@v_310...Thanks. I really need to do something about the Keyboard. I looked up the part number and it is a NMB! If the HDD is located there, then what is located under the right side of the palm rest?

 

I don't notice any flex on my x200 keyboard. If I pound on my t400 I can see a minor amount. But I have yet to even see a tablet thinkpad in person so I cannot compare.

 

I have been complaining about the keyboard flex that I have on my x201. I discovered - as I mentioned in an earlier post - that my x201 came with the NMB keyboard. I was quite happy about that because I do like the NMB KBs the best. So, I looked through some of the older threads and found a fix for the keyboard. Basically, it involves cutting small strips of a business card and sliding it between the roll cage and the keyboard. The original post can be found here. See post#11.

I did this and the flex has - as the original poster mentioned - disappeared. Now the keyboard feels like a NMB one and, much to my relief, like the keyboard on my R400, which (after being replaced under warranty) is rock solid. Now, the x201 keyboard is equally firm and without flex.

I am falling deeper in love with the x201!

Edit 2: @v_310...if your keyboard does flex around the PgUp area down to the Backspace/ Enter key, try out the procedure mentioned in the link I put up. It really does help!

Edit 1: I am surprised by the amount of gap between the keyboard and the roll cage. It should not be like that should it?

 

I can't say "should" or "should not," but gaps at different spots do exist in different notebooks. I did mention about using small pieces of masking tape to eliminate the gap. I guess it's as effective as using strips of a business card.

 

Yes...absolutely you did! And, I do remember. I presumed (quite possibly mistakenly) that when you mentioned placing the masking tape, it involved opening up the keyboard.

Taking out the battery seemed a much less daunting task - if you know what I mean!

Either way, the problem is fixed - at least for now. I just hope those strips of card don't slide away into the innards of the laptop. In that sense, the masking tape might be a better option in the long run.

 

the gap is due to the different parts tolerance that the various parts manufacturer aim for, it is also due to the fact that there is less screw holding them down.

I had a X200 that was having lot of issues with gaps and stuffs, while the current X200 is rock solid in the keyboard department.

 

All done now! Win 7 Pro x64 installed. Now the cycle of updates - both Win 7 and Lenovo's is going on. I will be - hopefully - up and ready in a couple of hours. The keyboard flex has disappeared. I am a happy camper at the moment!

 

I was just configuring a x201 on the Lenovo UK website. I put in the exact same specs as my machine and to my surprise the total including VAT comes to GBP 1241, which is about GBP 120+ more than what I paid for it in India. Hmmm...very interesting! Btw, I included a 3-yr onsite warranty in the comparision. I would have though that UK prices would have been lower, but hey...I ain't complaining!

 

Mine it's cost 1.300 euro incl vat
i5 540M,4GB RAM|Seagate 320 GB HDD,Intel GMA HD,Windows 7 Pro x64
with ultrabase.

 

Including the ultrabase, I'd say that is cheaper than what I paid for it in India. There is a slight difference - you got the i5 540M while my X201 has the 560M though I don't know if there is a significant difference in costs. The ultrabase costs about 220 Euros in India.

 

How are you liking the x201 so far? Im still in love with my x200s to the point my wife is jealous.

 

Oh...I am loving it! I have become quite addicted to it. I also find that my typing speed has increased and is much smoother than before - no real reason for this I suppose given that the KB on the X201 is very similar to the R400. I was worried that the palmrest on the X201 would be a problem, but it turns out that it isn't. Nifty machine indeed! Real test for how the X201 and I gel will start either by the end of this month or the beginning of the next. A lot of traveling etc. As of now, it feels generally snappier (perhaps because of the faster drive and maybe the i5 chip - compared to the internals of the R400).

I did mention though that I had to wedge some strips cut from stiff business cards between the frame and the keyboard - from the battery section. After this slight adjustment, the KB feels firm and quite NMB-like (which is actually is!).

I may wait for a while till I order the ultrabase, but I am going to get it for sure. In this connection, I recently read somewhere that the X220 is more flexible in matters relating to the dock. Oh well!

I really do like the machine!

 

Here in Greece you can't see Thinkpads in stores so you have to choose from a photo/video or from a friend who has already one of this machines.

I choose my x201 from photos/video and i have to say this machine rocks i like it very much.

I have also a Latitude E4310 wich is cool business laptop but the thinkpad looks much-much prettier in my eyes.

 

Glad to hear you're happy with it, lineS of flight. One question (sorry if it's been covered). How would you characterize the text clarity? I've heard negative things about color/contrast etc, but my primary concern with displays is crisp text with as little "grainyness" as possible. I use notebooks 90% for writing. I currently use a 1600x900 14" and am fairly pleased with the text on it, and I'm looking for something smaller but am little concerned about the loss of pixel density; even some 1366x768 13.3 inchers have a level of grainy-ness I don't like. Seems like the 1280x800 falls between the two in density/pitch (on a 12.1). Anyone else feel free to give their experience as well.

I know there are notebooks in the 12-13" size range with stronger resolution, but they tend to be well out of my price range. I just don't want gritty text.

 

I write for a living too so I do appreciate your question. I can compare the x201 to the R400 that I have. Personally, I feel that text on the x201 is indeed crisp and very clear. I don't discern any kind of "grainyness". I think this grainyness is more evident in the tablet version because of the digitizer. Also, since i don't play games etc., I am not too concerned with the fidelity of colours and contrasts - though I do watch (occasionally) documentaries (in colour and B&W). For those limited purposes, I think the X201 screen works well.

 

computers are ridiculously expensive in the UK. For example the top end Macbook pro 17" is 700 pounds cheaper in singapore....for that saving u can buy another laptop lol......

 

Many thanks for the response. Sounds good. I don't game either, or use a notebook for any multimedia aside from occasional netflix streaming here and there. You mentioned that you had concerns with the palm rest, but it turned out ok. Only thing I would be concerned with there is if my palm/heel of my hand hung over the edge at all. I have small/medium hands, though. I guess there's no way to know unless I try it.

I just got a Lattitude E5420 and the thing seems enormous and bulky for a 14". It's nice-ish, especially the display, but I overestimated my size needs and underestimated my portability needs. The X201 (or x220 depending on price when released) is topping my list of candidates unless Dell comes out with a successor to the V130.

 

I used to read reviews of the X200/201 where often it was remarked that the small palm rest could be a problem for certain people. This worried me somewhat since I am working on the machine for 12-15 hrs a day most of which is spent reading and writing. A problem (or perceived problem) with the palm rest would have been devastating for me - if you know what I mean. I don't have very large hands either. So, when the X201 arrived, I found that it was not at all uncomfortable. In fact, if anything, I find that my typing as somewhat improved. Don't ask me why though.

 

A lot of people whom criticizes about the small size of the palmrest are mostly armchair.

 

Yeah...you get a lot of that in the field in which I work too!

 

Excellent. I may just pick one up. Only thing possibly making me hesitate is the upcoming Edge 220s and X220, though the X220 with IPS, seemingly its major advantage, may be over budget.

 

The palmrest is perfect as far as size is concerned. I have average hands and it fits like a glove. Now if you have giant monster hands I could see it being a slight issue, but then again I can see anything smaller then a desktop keyboard being an issue at that point.

 

does anyone know what the difference is between the X201 and the X201i?

mine is marked as X201 but i saw one in the shop with the marking X201i but i couldnt see any difference whatsoever....

 

i5 or i7 cpu (201) vs i3 (201i), if I recall correctly.

 

thats an odd practise. i wonder why they did that.

 

I was just viewing some videos on Media Player and in the process the Graphics driver crashed...twice. Any obvious reason as to why this happens or could happen? And, what should I do to pre-empt something like this from happening again?

Thanks.

Btw, I think the X201i and other "i" versions are always less expensive. The idea is I think to afford a segment of the market the advantages of the X or T or whatever series (that the "i" version is offered - I know only the X and the T) to more budget conscious customers by lowering the average specs of the machine. I don't quite understand this logic and it could be that I am getting this whole thing incorrectly.

 

Having had the X201 for sometime now, I thought I'd post my impressions and briefly compare it to my experience with the R400.

The specs of both machines are in my sig.

The X201 came out to be quite expensive - around US$1700 or so. But as you can see, it is also quite well kitted out.

When I was researching the X201, I had seen a demo unit at the Lenovo Outlet near (well...not that near!) my place. The machine was turned off and I was not allowed to turn it on for some reason or the other. But what I was most interested in was the keyboard. Testing the KB of the demo unit, I found that there was quite a bit of flex - especially in the top right quadrant of the KB. When I received my X201, I found the exact same problem. I was more than a bit disappointed. However, I did read some posts about how to fix this, which I did (I also posted about this earlier in this thread). Surprisingly, the fix worked and the keyboard is rock solid. It is an NMB too!

Some of you may know of the problems I had with the R400 which resulted in its getting replaced by Lenovo. The Keyboard was also replaced (with an NMB, no less) and was actually rhe benchmark I used to compare the two. As of now, I can't find any significant difference.

I will also have to accept that moving to a 12" screen required a bit of an adjustment. Honestly, I still think the 13" screen size is close to optimal (for me). Damn you...Lenovo...why did you kill the X301????

There is not too much of a difference between the screens. Or, at least I can't make out any difference. I use both machines for the same purpose which does not include extended watching of movies or doing image-related work. For my purposes, therefore, the screen is just fine.

Moving from a P8600 to an i5 was interesting. I find the X201 rather nimble as compared to the R400. But then again, it has been pointed out to me that most likely the difference is probbaly because of the HDD, which on the X201 is at 7200rpm and on the R400 at 5400rpm. Whatever be the case, the X201 definitely feels quicker.

To tell you the truth, the lack of the optical drive has not caused me any problems.

Now, what I do like about the X201 is the form-factor. I find it very light and compact. Leaving aside the looks (which I do like - I like the traditional ThinkPad looks anyway), I have found it very easy to move around complicated (to me) places like airports, on the aircraft, moving from room to room at my place of work and while taking a walk to the local coffee shop where I sometimes sit and work for a few hours. Very convenient!

I have (once - the only time I really tried) got close to 6 hrs with the 6-cell battery on the X201. In comparison, I was getting around 4.5 hours (with the same settings) on the R400. I find that around 6 hrs of battery life is good for me.

Some issues with the X201 (aside from the Keyboard issue I mentioned above):

(1) I mentioned about the Intel driver crash in a previous post. It happened twice or thrice in succession, but has not happened since. I am updated in terns of the OS and the ThinkVantage-gathered updates (including the latest BIOS update). I don't know what is going on here.

(2) I also seem to be having a problem with the Power Manager. I have made an independent post on that on this forum.

I did not face (and have not faced) any such issues with the R400. Btw, both have clean installs of Win 7 Pro 64-bit.

So, do I like the X201?

Absolutely, it is (to me) a very addictive machine. I can't help but (and I use the word advisedly) fondle it all the time! I do find the screen-estate a little cramped. As I mentioned before, I think the 13" would have been perfect.

Am I regretting not having waited for the X220?

No. For two reasons: (1) Because it would be released very late in my area and when it is released, it would be very expensive. (2) I don't see any benefits that I would gain by the using the X220 as against the X201. I don't think my usage patterns don't justify what I think will end up being the costs in the market-space that I am in.

Well, that's about it!

Cheers!

Edit:

I forgot to add that the X201 runs as cool (or very close to) as the R400, which is a definite plus from my point of view.

 

i just saw a X201i, it had the i5 480M. Thats not exactly low end. Still curious to know whats the diff

 

Ummm...I don't know then. Perhaps Lead_org or some of the more experienced folks here will be able to shed light on the matter.

On another note, what is the difference between the i5 540M that you have on your x201 and the i5 560M that I have on mine?

And, are you going to dump your x201 and move to the X220?

 

2.53ghz with 3.06 turbo vs 2.66 with 3.2 turbo. zero noticable difference in the real world though. i originally was going to buy the X120e because this is my secondary laptop. basically i'm doing an MBA part time and i have to write my masters thesis over summer, but in summer i'll be constantly travelling between malaysia, singapore, and the UK and i didnt want to commute with my dell precision which including power brick weighs in at almost 4kgs plus a 15" notebook isnt exactly comfortable to work on while on aircraft in economy class or at the local coffeeshop, not to mention the 130W power supply required by the dell is too high for the power outlet on aircraft, which supply a max of 65W. important when you take 12 hour flights frequently.

i only picked up the X201 because i found a fantastic deal for it on ebay. I paid a total of 700 for it including shipping, which made it only 100 bucks more expensive than the X120e i had configured, making it a no brainer. Its second hand, but it looks unused and the battery only had 2 cycles on it, plus its still got 2.5 years of warranty left.

i definitely cant justify buying a X220 for its price because its essentially just a secondary computer. in fact at 700 the X201 already stretched my budget because i originally intended to spend 500-600

i'm really glad i stetched my budget though, lovely little machine!!

 

i am a little jealous of the X220's IPS screen however.....

one of my businesses deals with fashion and i need a colour accurate screen, the colours on the X201 are dismal..

 

Unlike in your case, my X201 is my primary machine. So, I carry it everywhere I go, including to bed. I used ot try to do that with the R400, but as you noted with your Dell, despite it being smaller (and I suspect lighter), things were not very easy.

I had thought about the X220, but it makes (1) very little sense for me - my work does not demand a stellar screen - the screens on the R400 and the X201 work just fine. (2) I would have had to wait a long time get my hands on a X220, which I did not want to do. There is one last point - usually, I find myself buying (with the exception of the R400) machines that are just one generation behind. Perhaps this is the cautionary side of me coming out.

I paid a lot more than you did - nearly US$1000 more than you did for your machine, but it is totally worth it. Edit: I also try to avoid pre-owned machines if I can afford it.

 

yea, i noticed you paid $1700 for yours. i think thats a bit too much, considering the X220 was about to launch and it is around the same price, i dont get why you think its more expensive, i've tried configuring it and the prices dont seem to be higher. probably why lenovo isnt selling the high end x201's anymore, just the low end i3's to clear. plus the better IPS screen is only a $50 upgrade, which is very very reasonable IMO.

i avoid pre-owned too, this is the first second hand computer i've ever bought, i initially was just going to buy from the lenovo outlet, but the warranty would not have been valid internationally. also the over 2 years warranty remaining on the X201 removed some of the risk of buying a second hand unit. its been a fantastic experience because i saved so much and the unit really does look unused. i suspect it was a display unit, since the battery only had 2 cycles on it and the fact it looks in mint condition

lenovo outlet had new units for around 750-800. in fact there was one unit that came with a 128gb SSD for 829, that was a great deal...


i agree its such a pity lenovo killed the X300 series, if they'd removed the optical drive, and used the extra space for switchable graphics and a full power core i5/i7 processor, it would be the perfect main machine.

portable enough to carry around all the time, powerful enough to do desktop duty when docked.

also to add to your experience described in your post about owning it for a few weeks, i agree with most of your points, especially the one about cooling. its really awesome. mine runs silent and cool enough to use on bare skin (its 32*c in singapore so i wear shorts!!) for long periods of time when doing normal office work/surfing. it dosent even heat up when i leave it on the bed.
it does get rather hot however, when i played a game on it earlier, but thats to be expected.

 

Currently, at my location new ThinkPad models arrive quite slowly. And when they do arrive, they are usually priced at a premium - I am only referring to the retail market. Corporates/ Academic institutions etc. would most likely have their own deals involving discounts etc. Which is how I bought my R400 actually. It was one of a few units that a company did not pick up - so it was sold to me - brand new - at a throwaway price. No such luck with the X201 though!

The other thing is that I am not sure the reworked screen res in the X220 would work for me. I think what I have got on the X201 is the bare minimum - which is also why though I played around with the idea of buying a netbook, I ultimately did not buy it.

Yes, a X301 with SB, a 1280x800 min screen res or better, with the usual enhancements (minus the dvd drive) would be a perfect machine! But it ain't gonna happen though. I am on the look out for such a machine - not necessarily ThinkPad (since that ain't happening) - though an excellent keyboard, very robust construction and a good onsite international warranty service are some of the non-negotiable items on my list. I can't seem to find such a machine from any of the manufacturers.

 

you can use a mail forwarding service to buy from the US . i usually find that even after local taxes and shipping its still cheaper.

there are rumours that there will be a 13" vaio coming in Q3 with a super powerful external graphics card connected via thunderbolt. hopefully this is true and other manufacturers start doing the same thing. also i always wondered whats stopping lenovo putting a graphics card in the dock, since size of dock isnt really an issue a large cooling fan can be put there maybe even desktop graphics. that would be a nice way to get an ultraportable to do desktop replacement