Review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X201, X201s, X201
For:
- Excellent battery life
- Finally equipped with a touchpad
- Excellent performance
Cons:
- Screens at X201 and X201s would be better
The long-awaited new 12-inch ultraportable notebook ThinkPad X201 from Lenovo is an update of the popular series X200 on a new platform of Intel Calpella, one of the most interesting options for the processor which will be dual-core Core i7-640LM with a frequency of 2.13 GHz. In this review we look at the entire family of X201, including the X201, X201s and X201 Tablet tablet and learn how they are better than the previous model.
Specification of our Lenovo ThinkPad X201:
Processor: Intel Core i5-540M (2.53GHz, 3MB Cache)
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64bit
Display: 12.1 “WXGA 1280 x 800 with LED-backlit matte
Video Card: Intel GMA HD, Built
Memory: 4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB + 2GB)
Data Warehouse: 320GB Hitachi HDD 7200rpm
Wireless: Intel 6200 802.11AGN, Bluetooth
Battery: 94Wh 9-cell
Dimensions (WxDxH): 29,5 x 23,4 x 2-3,6 cm
Weight: 1,59 kg
Specification of our Lenovo ThinkPad X201s:
Processor: Intel Core i7-640LM (2.13GHz, 4MB Cache)
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64bit
Display: 12.1 “WXGA + 1440 x 900 with LED-backlit matte
Video Card: Intel GMA HD, Built
Memory: 4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB + 2GB)
Data Warehouse: 320GB Hitachi HDD (5400rpm)
Wireless: Intel 6250 802.11AGN, Bluetooth
Battery: 57Wh 6-cell
Dimensions (WxDxH): 29,5 x 21 x 2 – 3,6 cm
Weight: 1,26 kg
Specification of our Lenovo ThinkPad X201 Tablet:
Processor: Intel Core i7-640LM (2.13GHz, 4MB Cache)
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64bit
Display: 12.1 “WXGA 1280×800 with wide viewing angle, LED backlit, Multitouch, matt
Video Card: Intel GMA HD, Built
Memory: Memory: 4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB + 2GB)
Data Warehouse: 320GB Fujitsu HDD (5400rpm)
Wireless: Intel 6200 802.11AGN, Bluetooth
Battery: 66Wh 8-cell
Dimensions (WxDxH): 29,5 x 25,6 x 2,6 – 3,3 cm
Weight: 1,79 kg
Construction and Design
At ThinkPad X201 still the same wonderfully intimidating design style “mini-качок, like all X Series notebooks earlier. At first glance, it looks like another notebook series ThinkPad, the same angular and covered with a rubberized paint, but much smaller. If you open the lid of the display becomes clear that housing is so small as it could be done without reducing the size of its keypad. Using a large keyboard in a small package, however, has its consequences, and completely fit the wrist on the laptop when you can not print. Notebook Series X – the smallest in the line of ThinkPad, which in principle can be used full-sized keyboard.
Compared with other small netbooks and notebooks processors CULV, flooded the market over the last couple of years, the quality of manufacturing X201 simply magnificent. As a senior fellow of the line of ThinkPad, he retains strong screen hinges, stainless steel, solid keyboard, and sturdy plastic case, with a frame made from magnesium alloy. The lid and the bottom of the screen at the X201 and X201 Tablet is also made of magnesium alloy, while the X201s screen cap structure of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and the bottom of all plastic to reduce weight. Of course, in the case of smaller reductions in the loop looks a little less reliable and the body slightly bends, but everything is relative. This 12-inch notebook you can carry with you everywhere, without fear that it will break or wear out prematurely. Try to do the same thing with its low-cost rivals and you just do not like the result.
Ease of upgrade by the user and not forgotten. To simplify the upgrade memory and hard drive are provided side cover and the cover on the bottom of the notebook.
The screen and speakers
At that time, as the build quality exceeds the quality of the assembly of many notebooks CULV, X201 loses it as a screen. Compared with many of today’s 11.6 – and 12-inch screens, used in laptops for the retail market, the screens at the X201 and X201s have worse contrast and color saturation. Colors look dull and povyadshimi, and black color faded. Although, in principle, it is minus all the laptops for business. Vertical viewing angles are average, the colors begin to inverted already at 10-15 degrees tilt the screen forward or backward. Horizontal angles of all right, and colors remain unchanged even when looking at a very large angle.
Screens X201 Tablet, X201, X201s (left to right):
The screen in tablet X201 Tablet on the order better than the X201 laptop and X201s, he has much better color rendition and contrast. Viewing angles are also improved, and minimal color distortion, even at 45 degrees tilt forward or backward. The only remark to the screen X201 Tablet is its warm hue towards yellow orange. This gives the screen a few tired, not too pleasant, kind.
In tablet ThinkPad X201 Tablet mount the screen remains the same firm, as in the X200 Tablet, securely fixing it in three positions. As with the previous model, the screen is aware of several input gestures of fingers.
Screen backlight on all three models sufficiently bright for the office environment. We model X201 is the strongest, 250 cd. We X201s 232 cd, and a tablet only 182 cd. Although, if you need to frequently use the tablet outside the premises, the Lenovo offers for this model the screen with a specially high brightness.
In tablet ThinkPad X201 Tablet mount the screen remains the same firm, as in the X200 Tablet, securely fixing it in three positions. As with the previous model, the screen is aware of several input gestures of fingers.
Screen backlight on all three models sufficiently bright for the office environment. We model X201 is the strongest, 250 cd. We X201s 232 cd, and a tablet only 182 cd. Although, if you need to frequently use the tablet outside the premises, the Lenovo offers for this model the screen with a specially high brightness.
The keyboard and touchpad
All the new models in our review of the X201 keyboard is the same as the previous series X200. Looking at what significant changes have been made to the keyboard model T400s and T410, we expect to see them the same in the X201, but they are not. Feeling that someone is just a breath of relief … In general, the feeling when you print the ones whom we expect from a proven brand ThinkPad. Large 12-inch screen has allowed full-size keyboard, which was an improvement over the X61, which has been scaled-down buttons on the perimeter of the keyboard. Reason keyboard perfectly elaborated, it does not have any flexibility in the average force of pressing. Tactile sensations when you press each key, distinct, the keys emit a light and a quiet click when operated. For those who are planning to sit for a long time for a laptop for hours stuffing texts on usability keyboard Thinkpad few overdo it.
Keyboard ThinkPad X with protection from liquids, which would be especially nice for those who like to put a cup of tea or a can of Coca-Cola next to my laptop and do not forget to periodically capsize them at him …
It is a new feature of the new ThinkPad X is to use a small touchpad Synaptics. A series of X is always different, and not all for the better, because it is usually only used TrackPoint. Since most consumers prefer the touchpad, Lenovo did not cost much brains to guess that the X201 is necessary to equip them to increase sales. Moreover, our competitors, such as HP EliteBook 2530p, this tandem has long been used. Small touchpad looks a little strange at first glance, it is almost two times less in height than normal, but to get used to it quickly enough. During several days of testing, I mainly used it to them, not TrackPoint’om and felt no discomfort in use, including the commissioning of a few gestures with his fingers. At the touchpad excellent responsiveness, there is no delay, and acceleration along the axes are the same, excluding the occurrence of unnecessary ovals input.
Touchpad in a tablet X201 Tablet slightly less convenient than the X201 X201s, due to the fact that under his keys are rubber focusing screen, thereby preventing the little push button touchpad left end face of a large Maltsev. In this case, it is a compromise between the presence of the touchpad and rigidity to the structure, moreover, I must say that you get used to it gradually.
Those who prefer the classic look and TrackPoint ThinkPad X, can choose the configuration with only him, without a touchpad.
Ports and Features
A set of ports on the X201 has remained the same as that of the previous model. 3 Port USB, Output VGA, LAN port, slot ExpressCard/54, connectors for audio and modem. To increase storage capacity and data notebook is also equipped with card reader SDHC, located on the front edge. I certainly would love to see also a version of the digital video output, but since this is a laptop, primarily intended for business, VGA output for projectors are more appropriate.
On the other hand, do not forget that as an option for the ThinkPad X is a mobile docking station UltraBase, which is optional digital video output DisplayPort, an optical drive and a compartment for extra batteries. So integral option that half of the configurations UltraBase is already bundled with the laptop. Docking station to maintain the current connection interface, so that it suits both of the previous model, more precisely dock is the same as that used in the X200.
Productivity and performance
I must admit, when I heard that Lenovo will apply the Core i7 processor in the X201, in my head immediately arose the picture 12-inch gaming laptop or workstation. Although, in the end, it is certainly not the case and CPU Core i7-640LM, used in tablet X201s and X200 Tablet, primarily focused on maximizing energy efficiency, rather than on a stunning performance. And so it turns out that low-voltage Core i7 processors are slower than the CPU Core i5, which had already been with us for testing, which further confuses ordinary consumer, their inconsistency in names.
Compared to the X200 processor P8600, which we tested over a year ago, all before us X201 have advanced considerably in terms of performance, including the X201s with the new processor, Core i7-640LM. On average, the increase was from 30 to 50%, depending on configuration. 3D performance has risen, thanks to a new integrated video processor Intel GMA HD, at 63-106%, compared with the old X4500. It should be noted that the GMA HD chips in laptops with low-voltage processors have a reduced frequency of 266MHz, not 500MHz as in systems with processors Core i5.
If you are considering your future laptop, as a full desktop replacement, the new platform will not disappoint you in this. Complete multimedia notebook offers high-quality playback of Flash movies in the resolution of 1080p, it also effortlessly cope with decoding 1080p BlueRay movies or downloaded from the internet packed versions. So if you need performance more than they can offer twin netbooks or laptops processors CULV, a 12-inch ThinkPad X201 will be the best option.
Comparative results of processors wPrime (the lower the score, the better the performance):
PCMark05 characterizes the overall system performance (the higher the score, the better the performance):
3DMark06 characterize the performance of graphics and gaming capabilities (the higher the score, the better the performance):
Results of performance hard drives have HDTune X201, X201s, X201 Tablet (left to right):
Heat and Noise
X201 copes well with the heat produced by its components, even a model with a processor Core i5-540M. When a small load keyboard and support for the wrists are heated only by a few degrees higher than room temperature. At full load, the heating of course increases, but the temperature at all “prikasabelnyh” areas still are in the comfortable range. Fan noise is audible in a quiet room, but only when the system is fairly heavily loaded. We measured the sound-level meter level of fan noise in various conditions, the background level of 31.5 dB fan noise during low load was 33 dB, with an average 38 dB and 42 dB of peak load, 15 cm from the ventilation holes.
Battery life
All the tested models showed excellent battery life, even the X201 with an Intel Core i5-540M and a hard drive with 7200 rpm. Tests were conducted with the screen brightness set at 70%, wireless enabled and selected in a balanced profile in Windows 7. Must note that the X201 was equipped with a 9-cell battery, X201 Tablet 8-cell, and X201s battery with 6 cells.
Results:
During this test X201 with an Intel Core i5-540M and a hard drive with 7200 rpm consumed from 7.5 to 8 watts of electricity. X201s with a processor Core i7-640LM consumed from 6.5 to 7 watts, and X201 Tablet with the same processor from 7.5 to 9 Tues
I. .. If you need a balance of power and battery life ultraportable notebook, then we tested X201s with a 9-cell battery lasted included 11 hours and 50 minutes. Plus do not forget that there is a configuration ThinkPad X201 with more efficient processors, Intel Core i3-330M or SSD instead of hard drives, whose battery life will be even higher. So Lenovo hardly palter, indicating the maximum time of the new X series in 12 hours and 20 minutes.
Conclusion
Lenovo ThinkPad X201 is very good performance compared with the previous model X200. Users who prefer the touchpad now makes sense to pay close attention to the 12-inch ThinkPad. The new platform is able to provide a decent boost in performance, in some cases more than doubled. Battery life is also increased on all models, and best of all have shown in this model, equipped with energy-efficient processor Intel Core i7-640LM. If you all the time lacked the capacity netbook and notebook processors CULV, then pay attention to the Lenovo ThinkPad X201, in his little body conceals great abilities.
For:
- Excellent battery life
- Finally equipped with a touchpad
- Excellent performance
Cons:
- Screens at X201 and X201s would be better