Lenovo ThinkPad X1- thinnest ThinkPad with good performance
by James Kendrick | May 16, 2011 1:44pm PDT | Image 1 of 34
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 full frontal
ThinkPad X1- MacBook Air competitor. Read the full review at ZDNet Mobile News.
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you guys need a hire a professional photographer.
@gunn13
To be fair, it's not like this is an advert for the product. If they did go to all lengths they could to make it look good, including hiring a professional photographer, I'd be suspicious that the reviewer was in the pocket of the manufacturer.
To be fair, it's not like this is an advert for the product. If they did go to all lengths they could to make it look good, including hiring a professional photographer, I'd be suspicious that the reviewer was in the pocket of the manufacturer.
@Li1t CNET should hire a professional photographer.
how sad; brilliant specs; desirable, but oh so dated and almost ugly.... one day they will surprise us... and grow mkt share a heck of a lot...
@gunn13 couldnt agree more. horrible photos make the story (and the comp) much less appealing.
AND YOU NEED TO START PAYING FOR CONTENT
It may be thin but it still looks clunky.
About the only complaint I hear from my users about Lenovo products is that they look like old computers. With just a quick glance you can't tell the difference between a new Thinkpad and one that is 5 years old. The computer may be a heck of a performer, and specs are good on it, but the Air will always beat it on style and that is a lot of what your general user will look for.
Maybe the performance is good, but it is not airbook, if any one try competing, they better get right 1'st time otherwise
we will move on to the next one. I hope one day we can get a 17inch airbook both to Mac and PC
we will move on to the next one. I hope one day we can get a 17inch airbook both to Mac and PC
It may be light but it looks heavy and, as another reviewer aptly put it, "it looks clunky." Cosmetically, it doesn't appeal to me at all.
@Zinzanzum
Cosmetically, no computer apeals to me. I don't plan to date my computer, or just play with it. I buy it as a tool, to get work done. If it can do that well, it's down right georgeous to me!
Cosmetically, no computer apeals to me. I don't plan to date my computer, or just play with it. I buy it as a tool, to get work done. If it can do that well, it's down right georgeous to me!
Guys you're being a bit harsh. It is a tool. It is not elegant. It is not pretty. It is reasonably fast. Consider that 90%+ of these will run Windows as an OS.
Do garbagemen wash and wax their trucks?
Do garbagemen wash and wax their trucks?
Thinkpads are the Audis of the notebook world...performance rules!!
I agree Edward_Kalbaugh - performance over pretty
Wow. This isn't comparable to the Mac Book Air at all. Not on any aesthetic grounds anyway.
@TobinD You'd be better off saving your money for a good suite is you're into pretty. $400 can get you a nice one.
I for one am a lover of the Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad case. I love the square/matte features and regret getting my Acer instead of this beauty.
Wow. This gives a whole new definition to ugly.
Its OK to pay a premium for pretty. If you can convince your manager that you need to pay a lot more for the same performance, good for you. This is not as pretty as a Air, but Lenova creates great performance products. Has anyone tried using a macbook Air for anything other than email? Its a dog.
It's a computer, not an object d'art. Looking cool (Air) over performance, versatility, and durability tells me that you guys aren't serious about computing. Just keep on looking cool Air people and we'll keep on working with our real computers. My Lenovo always draws attention for it's size, keyboard, and fantastic performance.
This isn't a competitor to the MacBook Air. It's too heavy, uses conventional spinning disks, it's too thick...
Now I'm not saying the MacBook Air is **better**, this is faster (processor) for example. But they are SO different as systems that if you were sold on the MacBook Air this isn't going to change your mind. (Even if we ignore the OS question)
Similarly if you didn't like the MacBook Air (perhaps you need more storage or a CPU with better chops) then this might be the kind of thing you're after.
But let's not compare them, because they don't compare.
Now I'm not saying the MacBook Air is **better**, this is faster (processor) for example. But they are SO different as systems that if you were sold on the MacBook Air this isn't going to change your mind. (Even if we ignore the OS question)
Similarly if you didn't like the MacBook Air (perhaps you need more storage or a CPU with better chops) then this might be the kind of thing you're after.
But let's not compare them, because they don't compare.
Unless you guys are marketers, why does appearance matter? Who are you trying to impress?
My disappointment is the computer's inadequate screen resolution for the work that I do.
My disappointment is the computer's inadequate screen resolution for the work that I do.
Is it just me or are Lenovo designers stuck in the early 90's? If the outside looks dated the insides are suspect as well. I trust Apple to make something thin and reliable that is engineered thin and reliable. What does IBM know about that anyway? Sony perhaps could do it well, but X1 seems may as well be X-2000 CDR 3D Zoom XP edition to me, dated.
Doesn't even come close to Air.
ANYONE who uses words like "pretty" "sexy" or "gorgeous" to describe any laptop is seriously detached from reality! I have owned NOTHING but thinkpads since my fist one and the are TOUGH, RELIABLE, FAST, and are not for the "pretty" crowd as these are meant for people who do more than play solitare and spend all day on facebook or twitter! You want to berate a thinkpad put it shoulder to shoulder doing something meaningful like REAL work not fluff and pretty. As far as the looks, DON'T DARE change my thinkpad!!! I like the Darth Vader black with a hint of Batman Dark Knight thrown in! My Thinkpad HAS the fingerprint reader also, better than passwords for prying eyes! BTW I hated the fruity girly colors of the Macs a few years back also!
All this goodness ruined by sub-par resolution and a glossy POS display. X201s is still the high king of the final sexy Thinkpads (and yes, they are every bit as sexy to me as the MBA).
If form follows function, then this unit is meant exclusively for spreadsheets and cost/risk analysis reporting with appropriate crisp graphs and dainty charts. Very exciting stuff, IBM... 'scuse me, Lenovo.
It sure is not pretty! But call me weird or what, I rather prefer its look over mac air. It feel and look more like a work horse to me! 
I believe a lot would actually appreciate this old thinkpad look.
I believe a lot would actually appreciate this old thinkpad look. 
looks pretty and durable, but unfortuantly, runs windows.
It may have a faster processor than a Mac, but that doesn't mean it is faster. The Mac still wins this race, and this PC is 2 years behind the Air. Gets malware and viruses too. Hmmm... maybe if they marketed it with Ubuntu?
Macbook Air has plenty enough performance and i'm pretty sure the new model should soon be on it's way, should have even more power so forget this clunky looking junky PC.
Did I miss this? I'll keep my $350 Aspire 1551 if it costs as much as I think...
I currently own a HP Pavilion dv3510nr and all I want upgraded in it is the processor (from Centrino 2 2.0GHz dual core to an i5 >= 2.3 Ghz quad core) and the graphics (from Geforce 9300M GS to a directX 11 supported Nvidia graphics card) yet, retaining all the following features:
- Backlit keyboard
- Sticky function key
- Built in phone modem (use this for sending/receiving faxes thus no need for separate fax machine )
- Ethernet port (I think only the MacBook air lacks this standard feature
)
- Fingerprint reader
- Infrared receiver with built in slot for a remote
- HDMI port
- eSata/USB port
- Atleast three USB ports (may include the eSata/USB port)
- VGA output port (use this at the office to mirror my 13" screen to larger old monitors)
- A wide screen withing the range 13" - 15"
- DVD +/- RW dual layer support LightScribe optical drive
- Built in HD web cam
- Built in Mic
- Two headphone jacks + 1 microphone jack
- Touch sensitive media control keys (not necessary but love it)
HP used to make such wonderful laptops in the past; then for some unknown reason, began playing copycat with Macs
Anyone know if this thinkpad has all of the above built into it?
- Backlit keyboard
- Sticky function key
- Built in phone modem (use this for sending/receiving faxes thus no need for separate fax machine
)- Ethernet port (I think only the MacBook air lacks this standard feature
)- Fingerprint reader
- Infrared receiver with built in slot for a remote
- HDMI port
- eSata/USB port
- Atleast three USB ports (may include the eSata/USB port)
- VGA output port (use this at the office to mirror my 13" screen to larger old monitors)
- A wide screen withing the range 13" - 15"
- DVD +/- RW dual layer support LightScribe optical drive
- Built in HD web cam
- Built in Mic
- Two headphone jacks + 1 microphone jack
- Touch sensitive media control keys (not necessary but love it)
HP used to make such wonderful laptops in the past; then for some unknown reason, began playing copycat with Macs
Anyone know if this thinkpad has all of the above built into it? 
I bought a ThinkPad in 1997; bought another in 2003, because the first one by then seemed slow; and bought my current one in 2005, so that I could give the 2003 purchase to one of my children. The latter two machines are still in daily use. That kind of longevity in machines appeals to me. ThinkPads may be less beautiful than Apples, but they work and just keep on working!
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