Lenovo X1 - Another MBA challenger

[Hellhammer]

Screen: 13.3" 1366x768
CPU: Intel Core i5-2520M (2.5GHz)
GPU: Looks like Intel HD 3000
Storage: 160GB SSD
RAM: 8GB
Height: 21.5mm (0.83 inches)

The screen is a shame and it is not as thin as MBA but otherwise it looks interesting. I know we have many threads about the Samsung 9 but since there are so many of those, I thought maybe people are interested of this one too.

The CPU is the most interesting part since it is a normal 35W part, thus the IGP shouldn't suck that much either. The screen is a disappointment but 8GB of RAM sounds good.

No word on availability but a Swiss reseller is selling it for 2791 CHF which is equal to about 3200$.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4283/lenovo-x1-leaked-sandy-bridge-gets-thin

 

[Cerano]

no offense mate but I dont think any POS Lenovo can compare to a MBA in build quality. Anything designed by a chinese company cant compare.
Chinese and good quality should never fit together in a sentence.

And im chinese myself so please dont accuse me of being racist. Its just that Chinese goods suck so much even chinese people dont buy them

 

[Hellhammer]

no offense mate but I dont think any POS Lenovo can compare to a MBA in build quality. Anything designed by a chinese company cant compare.
Chinese and good quality should never fit together in a sentence.

And im chinese myself so please dont accuse me of being racist. Its just that Chinese goods suck so much even chinese people dont buy them

Lenovo is one of the few PC OEMs that has good build quality, especially the ThinkPads are very, very tough and well built. MBAs and other Macs are made in China and other Asian countries so that is the same. You are just generalizing Chinese people and companies too much.

 

[Beanoir]

MBA is made in China too..

Designed in US, made in China.

I've got a Lenovo as my work laptop, pretty good build quality to be honest, OK so it's not as chintzy as an Apple, but it's not designed to be.

 

[Cerano]

Lenovo is one of the few PC OEMs that has good build quality, especially the ThinkPads are very, very tough and well built. MBAs and other Macs are made in China and other Asian countries so that is the same. You are just generalizing Chinese people and companies too much.

nah I agree IBMs used to be tough but not so much lenovos. I have a T23 and T30 still functioning right here in my house

My X201 hinge broke after 3 months of use

 

[Cerano]

MBA is made in China too..

Designed in US, made in China.

I've got a Lenovo as my work laptop, pretty good build quality to be honest, OK so it's not as chintzy as an Apple, but it's not designed to be.

made in china is alright just like all our iphones, ipads and macs are. its the design bit i suppose. also QC comes into play very evidently and there is a great disparity between standards at different factories.

I know this because I have a business based in China and I deal with shady suppliers everyday. How else do you think they can manufacture external DVD drives for $2.81 USD

 

[stockscalper]

no offense mate but I dont think any POS Lenovo can compare to a MBA in build quality. Anything designed by a chinese company cant compare.
Chinese and good quality should never fit together in a sentence.

And im chinese myself so please dont accuse me of being racist. Its just that Chinese goods suck so much even chinese people dont buy them

Indeed.

 

[peskaa]

Specs are nice, and I'm very suprised by the 35W CPU part - particularly as they're claiming a huge battery life on these puppies. 160GB SSD over 128GB is also appreciated, and so is the amount of RAM - however, with all those high specs, it'll cost a packet.

Still, sticking with my MBA

 

[Boston007]

The ignorance is surprising sometimes -"It's made in China" LOL
And where do you think all your Apple products are made.

Lenovo makes solid computers, even after being sold by IBM.

This machine looks NICE. Those specs are solid

8G ram!!

 

[Cerano]

The ignorance is surprising sometimes -"It's made in China" LOL
And where do you think all your Apple products are made.

Lenovo makes solid computers, even after being sold by IBM.

This machine looks NICE. Those specs are solid

8G ram!!

read again

i mentioned that Apple Products are made in China but their build quality is impeccable you know why? Due to two factors

1. Better technical design than the Competition. Look at the M11x and all their hinge design issues

2. Better QC. Anyone in the industry knows that Apple holds its manufacturers to a higher standard than as per the norm in the industry.

I am saying that Lenovo lacks maybe one or both

 

[Hellhammer]

1. Better technical design than the Competition. Look at the M11x and all their hinge design issues

MX11x is not the same as Lenovo X1.

2. Better QC. Anyone in the industry knows that Apple holds its manufacturers to a higher standard than as per the norm in the industry.

Studies beg to differ:

Unless you have used this specific Lenovo X1 and MBA, stop talking about build quality because all you are doing is generalizing based on your opinion that all Chinese stuff has bad build quality. If you haven't used it or even heard from someone who has used it, then you have absolutely no idea about the build quality.

 

[TheMacBookPro]

no offense mate but I dont think any POS Lenovo can compare to a MBA in build quality. Anything designed by a chinese company cant compare.
Chinese and good quality should never fit together in a sentence.

And im chinese myself so please dont accuse me of being racist. Its just that Chinese goods suck so much even chinese people dont buy them

The computer you're using right now is probably Made in China. The parts inside are probably MIC as well.

Re: bolded text- is it correct to say "Way to generalize/assume" here?

read again

i mentioned that Apple Products are made in China but their build quality is impeccable you know why? Due to two factors

1. Better technical design than the Competition. Look at the M11x and all their hinge design issues

2. Better QC. Anyone in the industry knows that Apple holds its manufacturers to a higher standard than as per the norm in the industry.

I am saying that Lenovo lacks maybe one or both

1. The hinge issue has been rectified. Dell tech came up to my office with parts in hand the day after I called in and did the repair on the spot. Even gave me a free Dell portable wireless mouse for my inconvenience. No issues since (~4 months since repair now)

2. Build quality between my Alienwares, Macs and Sonys have all been consistently 'good'. Work IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad has been running for 3 years, no issues at all.

I'm not saying that the X1 is the best laptop in the world or anything, but your blanket statements (again correct me if I'm using this in the wrong context) are simply incorrect.

 

[aleni]

people in this forum like me will hate this kind of thread, there will be no MBA killer because they all are running windows.

 

[Beanoir]

I don't remember anybody saying it was an MBA killer....

Why do so many people on this forum take a dim view of anything "non Apple" it's kind of pathetic really.

 

[Twe Foju]

if the GPU is HD3000, then i still think it's not the Air Killer

and yeah +1 to the above post, no other 11 / 13 light notebook is the killer because they are all not using OSX

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Lenovo Thinkpad's are durable, well-spec'd corporate workhorses. Unfortunately, every one I've ever seen has had a craptacular screen. Murky, dim, not vibrant at all. Otherwise, great machines with ports and CPU's that are arguably best in class, and incredible keyboards.

Too bad looking at one all day is like trying to type on an etch-a-sketch. Horrid screens.....really bad.

 

[TheMacBookPro]

I don't remember anybody saying it was an MBA killer....

Why do so many people on this forum take a dim view of anything "non Apple" it's kind of pathetic really.

if the GPU is HD3000, then i still think it's not the Air Killer

and yeah +1 to the above post, no other 11 / 13 light notebook is the killer because they are all not using OSX

If it's not an Apple product, it's a piece of crap.

^ general consensus on this forum it seems, unfortunately.

Lenovo Thinkpad's are durable, well-spec'd corporate workhorses. Unfortunately, every one I've ever seen has had a craptacular screen. Murky, dim, not vibrant at all. Otherwise, great machines with ports and CPU's that are arguably best in class, and incredible keyboards.

Too bad looking at one all day is like trying to type on an etch-a-sketch. Horrid screens.....really bad.

Have you tried their newer models with LED backlighting? I find that those are far improved compared to their older models.

Looks like they're incorporating IPS into their new X220 as well so I think they're taking complaints about the screens seriously (...finally )

 

[martm]

I have always liked Thinkpad X series. Pictures and spec look really promising and tempting. Some more preliminary information can be found here: http://techprezz.com/2011/04/lenovo...d-images-of-ultra-thin-laptop-spotted-online/

In sum, if it had higher resolution display, i would seriously consider it instead of mighty and adorable Air.

 

[alphaod]

no offense mate but I dont think any POS Lenovo can compare to a MBA in build quality. Anything designed by a chinese company cant compare.
Chinese and good quality should never fit together in a sentence.

And im chinese myself so please dont accuse me of being racist. Its just that Chinese goods suck so much even chinese people dont buy them

I have even owned a Thinkpad before? I have owned several Thinkpads over the years and their build quality is impeccable.

And being Chinese doesn't give you right to insult your own country's products.

 

[entatlrg]

Lenovo Thinkpad's are durable, well-spec'd corporate workhorses. Unfortunately, every one I've ever seen has had a craptacular screen. Murky, dim, not vibrant at all. Otherwise, great machines with ports and CPU's that are arguably best in class, and incredible keyboards.

Too bad looking at one all day is like trying to type on an etch-a-sketch. Horrid screens.....really bad.

You're bang on with your post. The Lenovo screens SUCK. It's been their weak point for years, they know it, don't care and choose profits over Customer satisfaction.

IPS won't matter it's that fuzzy/milky/ag coating you have to get past.

 

[BENJMNS]

some of you guys are so ignorant it's really a damn shame esp since apple pays you NOTHING to use their products (smh).

thinkpads are as well engineered as any macbook if not better in the areas of durability since it's built for the business user. it's the porsche 911 to the ferrari 430. surely there may be more sexiness related to the latter, but the engineering and everyday drivability of the former is rarely equaled.

between this thin x1 and the other new x220, i'm really glad thinkpad is updating its line-up as they don't change the design very often which is the marque of quality industrial engineering.

i've been staring at my air screen for a good 6 months now...it's nice but there's nothing spectacular about it to render the lenovo ones as CRAP especially the IPS display in the x220.

i'm quite tempted to sell my 13 ulti... let's see what the refreshes bring from both sides of the camp.

 

[nebulos]

thinkpads are great. i have a 12" X61 tablet with a 1400x1050 display. i bought it used and it works flawlessly.

that chart shows 'lenovo'. i'd be interested to see what the stats are for thinkpads in particular.

this X1 looks pretty sweet, though $3K is a big chunk of change, and like most thinkpads, is not super beautiful. and no, it doesn't run OSX. but i don't remember having seen a 'performance ultrathin' before. is this the first?

people, don't be so close minded. and don't pretend/believe that Apple doesn't have its many, many problems.

all that said, i'm waiting very patiently for the upcoming Airs.

 

[nebulos]

... as for the lenovo screens, i can tell you my screen is not bright and is grainy, though part of that is the pen digitizer.

the mac screens, while very bright and vibrant, to me, are weird. they're too bright, and turning down the brightness changes the picture drastically, (though that may be a general LED problem).

as has been mentioned, the new X220 is IPS, which i can tell you: I don't know anything about. but i can tell you that all the display snobs out there are very happy about that. check it out.

i've never had a problem with thinkpad's screen, but i had a 2010 MBP for a bit, and i couldn't get used to the display. it was very, very weird on my eyes.

i'm actually worried this will happen with the air too, but we'll see.

 

[Hellhammer]

Comments at AnandTech say that electronics are very expensive in Switzerland. Someone guessed that the US price would be around 2000$, which sounds reasonable.

 

[stylinexpat]

With that screen resolution I would not buy it. Would prefer a 1440x900 screen resolution.