Macbook Air vs. Just leaked Thinkpad x300

[Andrmgic]

Of course it will cost more than the MBA.. it doesn't come with a ****** 1.8" iPod hard drive. It comes with a 64gb SSD, which adds $1000($999) to the price of the Air.

That machine kicks the crap out of the macbook air in terms of features, is barely heavier and is a full-featured machine.

Unless it sells for more than $3,000, they've got Apple beat, hands down.

 

[robby818]

I am a happy X series user (22 --> 32 --> 40 (returned it because the 1.8" drive was too slow), and currently using an x61s.

I've been waiting for Apple to release an ultraportable for a long time and the Air seems like a viable replacement for my x61s.

The x300 caused me to reconsider though because i could finally get a trackpad in a thinkpad ultraportable and the LED screen would be a nice plus. I dont care about the optical drive but I like having more than one USB port and maybe an SD reader too.

Plus with the way lenovo has been discounting their laptops (my x61s cost $880 after all the rebates), the x300 could be very affordable. A lot of people have been comparing the retail prices of the PC ultraportables to the MBA, but for PCs they really dont sell for anythig near retail. Apples, yes, but PCs, no.

But I'd probably still run XP, which is now beginning to feel a little outdated. That's the main reason I'd probably choose a MBA-- I don't like or want Vista and XP is no longer doing it for me.

 

[ProPedderKustom]

Even though I believe that Thinkpads are great pieces of hardware, you still cannot compare them to an Apple. The operating system makes all of the difference in the world between the two...after all, if you have 3 USB ports instead of 1 but can't use them because the computer is always freezing or making you install new drivers, antivirus, etc. - it doesn't matter. This is the precise reason why I am making my second and final switch back to Apple - Windows just can't get things right.

 

[aiongiant]

i agree the os to me does make alot of difference
and plus personally i think the macbook air is wayyy sexier than the thinkpad
and i hate the stupid red mouse thing and colored enter button haha

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

According to Gizmodo, the weight is up to 3.17 lbs. Which, I believe, puts it heavier than the MPA?

Guess we'll have to see what the final specs really are. Pretty hard to believe it contains more hardware, is thicker, but yet ends up lighter (without going to very exotic materials).

No matter what, the aesthetics of the MPA make it hard to directly compare. I think I speak for others in saying the design itself is a feature. So, even if they do have the same specs and price, the MPA would have more value to many customers.

MPA = Mac Pro Air? Now that's a machine I'd like to see

 

[Baba Ganoush]

MPA = Mac Pro Air? Now that's a machine I'd like to see

Good Eye!

 

[sushi]

Personally, I like Thinkpads.

But for now, the MBA looks like a much nicer option than the Thinkpad 300.

 

[mashoutposse]

It's not "only a smidgen thicker." The Lenovo takes up twice the space by volume. Actually, you can stack up two MBAs and still end up with something thinner than the Lenovo. Also, the footprints are practically identical (0.3" difference on one dimension) -- it's a bit disingenuous to call it "smaller."

Additionally, it's lighter because of the usage of plastics over metals. I would say the tradeoff here is worth it.

 

[contoursvt]

Last time I checked, you could shove a MBA through a slot thats 0.76 inches in height vs the 0.92" for the Lenovo. Thats a tad in my books.

21% to 456% thicker, which is just a "tad" more than a "smidgen".

Footprint does look a bit smaller, though. I'll give it that much...

 

[gr8tfly]

Good Eye!

Ok. ok. Fat fimbers...

 

[gr8tfly]

Last time I checked, you could shove a MBA through a slot thats 0.76 inches in height vs the 0.92" for the Lenovo. Thats a tad in my books.

That might mean something the next time I try mailing my notebook...

Really, though, the less bulky it is, the easier it is to carry. Even if you carry it with the thick end. Sorry, I'm not buying it. It's still less volume, no matter how it's sliced. Good try, though.

 

[shadie]

I've had around 15 Thinkpads and the same number of Powerbooks, in my opinion the Thinkpads win on upgradability and endurance (still have 7 working)

Powerbooks win on style/innovation (only my PB145b, PB520c and PB12" still "work").

I still think the X300 will be a much better buy than the Air, but I do understand some people will pay for style over functionality.

X300 Already discussed here.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/419041/

 

[Cybergypsy]

Not for me super ugly.......

 

[shadie]

Not for me super ugly.......

Yeh, that's what I mean, form over function, like LV, Prada ect.



I'd also not call the X300 or MBA sub-notebook form factor, I mean what do you call an X61s or EEPC?

 

[NYCMacFan]

If anyone hasn't figured it out yet the MacBook Pro has better specs than the MacBook Air also..

This X300 will cost $2500-$3500 and compete with the new MacBook Pro.

MacBook Air is not meant to compete with this type of laptop.

But the MBA with SSD is at that price range. And the X300 is lighter, smaller, faster.

 

[Cybergypsy]

Yeh, that's what I mean, form over function, like LV, Prada ect.\





I'd also not call the X300 or MBA sub-notebook form factor, I mean what do you call an X61s or EEPC?

I think this is lost in the 80s, not into prada or any designer, just think it plain ugly.......

 

[Phil A.]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

personally the thinkpad is missing one feature that means I'm not even remotely interested in it: OS X!

 

[clevin]

let me contribute some facts,

 

[NYCMacFan]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

personally the thinkpad is missing one feature that means I'm not even remotely interested in it: OS X!

I agree, but I mean if you could put OS X on...

(And I actually don't want the optical drive or need extra USB ports. I just feel like Apple could have done more...

 

[NYCMacFan]

let me contribute some facts,

Thanks. Very illuminating and cool. I wonder how one would compare the old PB 12inch to the MBA. Was only 12inches, but with 4:3 very usable screen.

 

[MRU]

personally the thinkpad is missing one feature that means I'm not even remotely interested in it: OS X!

Exactly.... surely it boils down to how important it is to run Mac OSX and Apple /Mac Applications?

Only one offers a legitimate OSX solution, and the other comes with the resource eating and slow poke Vista.

Makes the decision so much easier than spec for spec comparisons which at the end of the day mean nothing if the machine can't run the applications you use.

 

[clevin]

Thanks. Very illuminating and cool. I wonder how one would compare the old PB 12inch to the MBA. Was only 12inches, but with 4:3 very usable screen.

yes, Let me make it right now. brb

 

[MacsAttack]

Unless you can buy it - it's vapor-ware. They are probably holding off a launch until the SSD prices come down some.

 

[Techguy172]

This thing is really nice and it defiantly challenges apples engineers it makes them look bad sure this thing is a little thicker but it has a smaller foot print way more power a built in DVD drive and a better keyboard. Kinda makes you think what steve said in his keynote look like B.S. people don't necessarily want the thinnest notebook but they do want the goodies that lenovo gives you.

But I can't wait to see apple's answer back to this machine it will have to be good with bigger storage and better components maybe more ports better battery life. It will certainly something to see. it will also need a price drop to sell.

 

[The Menacer]

MacBook Air is not meant to compete with this type of laptop.

It's not meant to compete with a 3 pound, 13.3" widescreen subnotebook?