May 2008
Lenovo Thinkpad X300: First Look
Lenovo Thinkpad X300
With products like the 7-inch Asus Eee PC, the under-3-lb. MacBook Air, and HP’s new 12.1-inch convertible touchscreen laptop, ultraportability is becoming a priority for laptop users of every stripe. Now, Lenovo adds a new ThinkPad to the mix of highly totable computers.
The ThinkPad X300, $3,060, has a 13.3-inch screen, is 1.1-inches thick when closed and weighs just 3¼ lbs—nearly as thin and light as Apple’s MacBook Air. It makes fewer compromises than the Air does when it comes to features, although performance suffers for certain tasks.
The standard configuration includes a 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 64GB solid-state drive, integrated webcam, microphone, stereo speakers, and fingerprint reader. Our tested model also included a built-in DVD burner, 2GB of RAM, gigabit Ethernet, and 802.11n Wi-Fi. Further options are available for mobile broadband or wireless USB.
Here's what we've discovered so far:
HIGHS
Portability and comfort. With a look similar to its larger ThinkPad cousins, the X300 has a black plastic case, squared edges, and a soft, rubber-like finish. While many other ultraportable laptops sacrifice ergonomics for portability, the X300 features a comfortable, full-sized keyboard and a relatively large display. The thin, LED-backlighted display is encased in a light and durable carbon-and glass-fiber case, which helps keep the size and weight down. The solid-state drive should also improve durability and protect against accidental bumps during travels.
Few compromises. A solid-state drive and Ethernet capability are standard on the X300. It also has options the MacBook Air doesn’t offer, like mobile broadband and wireless USB. The battery and hard drive are replaceable for possible future upgrades. The array of ports on the X300 is greater than those on the Air (there's one Ethernet port plus three USB outlets), but it lacks a modem, FireWire port, PC/ExpressCard slot, and a memory card reader—which most laptops offer.
LOWS
Relatively short battery life. The X300’s battery last only 2¾ hours—disappointing, considering that this model is meant for portability and easy travel. The MacBook Air, and other slim-and-light laptops such as the Dell XPS M1330 and Sony VAIO VGN-SZ780, can last more than four hours on basic battery power when running tasks such as word processing or presentation programs.
Limited storage space. While the solid-state drive has a total capacity of 64GB, only 43GB is available once system files and updates have been taken into account. Download a large collection of media files or install larger programs and you’ll quickly use up most of the remaining space. The Air’s 64GB solid-state drive has even less free space—40GB.
Mixed performance results. Performance is adequate for basic tasks like Internet browsing or e-mail. And thanks to its solid-state drive, the X300 is speedy at tasks like loading programs or running virus scans. But for processor-intensive work, like encoding QuickTime videos, photo editing, and similar jobs, the MacBook Air’s speedier processor makes it faster than the X300. Slightly larger laptops like the Apple MacBook or Sony VAIO VGN-SZ780 are faster than the Air and the X300. The X300’s integrated graphics handle 3D video games slower than workhorse laptops with discrete graphics do.
Undistinguished display and sound. The LED backlighted display provides a bright screen, but colors aren’t as vibrant and the viewing angle isn’t as wide as those we’ve seen on some MacBook or Sony laptops. The speakers are similar to others in the slim-and-light category, producing flat and tinny music.
BOTTOM LINE
If portability takes priority over performance, the ThinkPad X300 and the MacBook Air are both great choices. Choose the ThinkPad if you're running Windows, the MacBook if you use the Macintosh operating system. If performance or cost is important, take a look at our full notebook computer Ratings (available to subscribers) for other options.
The ThinkPad X300, $3,060, has a 13.3-inch screen, is 1.1-inches thick when closed and weighs just 3¼ lbs—nearly as thin and light as Apple’s MacBook Air. It makes fewer compromises than the Air does when it comes to features, although performance suffers for certain tasks.
The standard configuration includes a 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 64GB solid-state drive, integrated webcam, microphone, stereo speakers, and fingerprint reader. Our tested model also included a built-in DVD burner, 2GB of RAM, gigabit Ethernet, and 802.11n Wi-Fi. Further options are available for mobile broadband or wireless USB.
Here's what we've discovered so far:
HIGHS
Portability and comfort. With a look similar to its larger ThinkPad cousins, the X300 has a black plastic case, squared edges, and a soft, rubber-like finish. While many other ultraportable laptops sacrifice ergonomics for portability, the X300 features a comfortable, full-sized keyboard and a relatively large display. The thin, LED-backlighted display is encased in a light and durable carbon-and glass-fiber case, which helps keep the size and weight down. The solid-state drive should also improve durability and protect against accidental bumps during travels.
Few compromises. A solid-state drive and Ethernet capability are standard on the X300. It also has options the MacBook Air doesn’t offer, like mobile broadband and wireless USB. The battery and hard drive are replaceable for possible future upgrades. The array of ports on the X300 is greater than those on the Air (there's one Ethernet port plus three USB outlets), but it lacks a modem, FireWire port, PC/ExpressCard slot, and a memory card reader—which most laptops offer.
LOWS
Relatively short battery life. The X300’s battery last only 2¾ hours—disappointing, considering that this model is meant for portability and easy travel. The MacBook Air, and other slim-and-light laptops such as the Dell XPS M1330 and Sony VAIO VGN-SZ780, can last more than four hours on basic battery power when running tasks such as word processing or presentation programs.
Limited storage space. While the solid-state drive has a total capacity of 64GB, only 43GB is available once system files and updates have been taken into account. Download a large collection of media files or install larger programs and you’ll quickly use up most of the remaining space. The Air’s 64GB solid-state drive has even less free space—40GB.
Mixed performance results. Performance is adequate for basic tasks like Internet browsing or e-mail. And thanks to its solid-state drive, the X300 is speedy at tasks like loading programs or running virus scans. But for processor-intensive work, like encoding QuickTime videos, photo editing, and similar jobs, the MacBook Air’s speedier processor makes it faster than the X300. Slightly larger laptops like the Apple MacBook or Sony VAIO VGN-SZ780 are faster than the Air and the X300. The X300’s integrated graphics handle 3D video games slower than workhorse laptops with discrete graphics do.
Undistinguished display and sound. The LED backlighted display provides a bright screen, but colors aren’t as vibrant and the viewing angle isn’t as wide as those we’ve seen on some MacBook or Sony laptops. The speakers are similar to others in the slim-and-light category, producing flat and tinny music.
BOTTOM LINE
If portability takes priority over performance, the ThinkPad X300 and the MacBook Air are both great choices. Choose the ThinkPad if you're running Windows, the MacBook if you use the Macintosh operating system. If performance or cost is important, take a look at our full notebook computer Ratings (available to subscribers) for other options.
