SarakshiAculeo

Firstly. The people who slate this product over design. I use to agree. But as soon as I bought and use one it ALL makes sense! The different colours make finding things easy, the layout makes very easy access to functions.

The best thing is build quality. a work colleaugue managed to drive over my case, the laptop survived with just a cracked screen, any other plastic laptop would have folded in half and died.

The cherry on the tasty cake is the LED keyboard light.

This isn't designed to be a designer item for your modern appartment. Its a workhorse plain and simple and for the business user who needs quality and features. The X-series is in a league of its own. If way way too expensive... *cough* eee pc.

maxreality

jehovah_king

Nooorm

sriramn

kidcoleco

menuhin

1. Plain, simple, smooth
2. Round corners
3. Symmetrical (including functionles screws >.>)

I'm not saying it doesn't look good, it looks damn good, but it's not like it takes a genius. If designers really wanted to compete w/ apple it wouldn't take a lot of thought.

luciusad2004

Ugly or not, you can't deny that this is an awesome machine. If I didn't use Macs, Thinkpads would be the only computers I would ever buy because of their professional grade.

GumbyJump

No, no, no. ThinkPads have had "Ultranav" (trackpoint/touchpad) for years. They added them because they were excluded from RFP business that required them. Some Gov/Ed customers require a touchpad. I just turn the pad off like most Thinkpad users.

Nooorm

78bash

78bash

The Volvo/Porsche comparison is really good .. I second that.

Personally .. I go for something that can take some abuse and keep working. And the keyboard .. I love it!! I wonder if the Thinkpad bashers here have actually tried using the TP keyboard for extended periods of time? You can even buy them packed up for use with a stationary computer!

LWA

jorgespain

jorgespain

I've used Apples for years, but every laptop I've purchased for my business has been a ThinkPad. They are durable, but more important, they are comfortable, as in ergonomically comfortable. ThinkPad keyboards are the best in the business, and the TrackPoint is worlds ahead of the touchpad for both comfort and health.

Currently I use a 1-year-old ThinkPad T60p as my primary computer, while my associate uses a brand-new R61. My paralegal has a two-year-old T42, and if any machine should ever require service (all are under warranty) my 9-year-old ThinkPad 600E is still fully capable of getting the job done. More importantly, any of us can pick up any of the ThinkPads and feel instantly comfortable. Keyboard layout is identical, the TrackPoint and its buttons are the same, and with the singular exception of the ancient 600E, all have the same hotkey commands and even the little keyboard light.

Apple has had some amazing laptops over the years (I'm a big fan of the 12" PowerBook), and my family currently has two recent MacBooks, but for serious business laptops, nobody matches IBM/Lenovo. The Air is a great concept, but the sealed battery rule it out for road warrior use and sorry, but aluminum dents. Cost me $350 to fix a 12" PowerBook case that fell a whopping 4 inches.

asiafish

For those who are so vehemently anti-Touchpad Nub... you can all lay down your pitchforks. This one has both Nub and touchpad. I can use either one equally well, though I think I slightly prefer the Nub. I've always felt most touchpads are overrated (though multi-touch is sweet).

I doubt this laptop will make much of a ripple in the consumer market... Thinkpads have never tried to market themselves to the average Joe. In my eyes, Mac Air and X300 are not true competitors.

alainiala

The new MacBook Air have a nice design, but I prefer the solid and reliable ThinkPad.

I have one and I can assure you that a ThinkPad really rocks...

Actually, both of them are wonderful. The choice depends of your taste... I particularly love the "dark side of the Force"... ;-)

Mary_Infinity

craig

This new one makes me quite moist as opposed to the Macbook air which just makes me piss myself laughing.

Sleeper_Service

The 3G intfc on the x300 sounds great, but in the US that will only work with ATT, so that means it is useless (until t-mobile supports it). I don't care about an optical drive, I'm not going to watch videos on a notebook anyway. GPS? I have a bunch of those devices, and I mostly use them when I am driving or walking, two activities that don't lend well to a notebook. I think it will come down to price and performance. At least the x300 can ship with XP, which I will install on the Air along with some version of linux (assuming I still get it). notebooks that only run ship with vista are non-starters (I refuse to pay for two MS OSes).

In any case, it's nice to finally have good options for ultra-lights.

kgsbca

Hmm. You must not hang out in a particularly technical biz. My experience sit that when alpha geeks get a choice (i.e., OS not imposed by IT) Mac share is over 40%. (Sampe from technical conferences and tech geek user groups.)

donh

Certainly Thinkpads are noted for ruggedness, but I have found my PowerBook to be their equal. My wife got her Thinkpad X30 at the same time I got my 12" Powerbook (getting to be around 3 years now). I travel about twice the amount she does and use my machine about 300% more. No issues on the PB. The Thinkpad has a cracked case and the screen is getting pretty dim. She had to send it back for service once for some reason I can't remember. The Thinkpad T-series I had before this PB also eventually developed a slighly warped lid and the latch on one side broke after 2 years).

These two datapoints prove nothing, but I do not think that the MacBook Pro line is as bad as some posters say.

Also, I find the price differential a moot point. Over the 3-year refresh cycle of my laptops the difference in price of MB(P|A) vs Thinkpad is minimal relative to the productivity gains I get from OS X. Its really less than a mornings work of billable hours.

donh

markgm

Sexy as hell??

You probably also have a Bill Gates/Flowbee haircut fetish.

JiAvW

zachsandberg

The advantage I see in such designs are that my newer T30 Series has the same minimalistic beauty as my "ancient" 12 year old Thinkpad 600.

I've soon too many laptops that were thought stylish when they were released that people today would cringe at owning - meanwhile, the Thinkpads fit any decor, any office color scheme, any environment - with a classy, professional look.

Of course, they are also easier to stack, and easier to carry other things with (due to their squarish design).

As great looking as I think they are, I buy them for two other more important reasons:
(1) They are some of the most durable laptops I have ever seen (both physically, and component wise - I used to be a tech at CompUSA, and in 2+ years, we saw 4 Thinkpads in for repair... one was packed for moving in a box that ended up being in the bottom of the stack (with a few hundred pounds on it - which bent the metal frame - pretty easy to fix) one was a software issue, one was a dead CMOS battery (10 years old), and the final one was the guy forgot his BIOS/SecureChip password). And mine, on 12 years, has needed nothing more than a CMOS battery and laptop battery replacement (and I do NOT take care of the machine - simply because it is a Thinkpad, and knowing thusly I dont have to be ridiculously gentle with it).

Yeah, they are pricey... but spending a little more has earned me laptops that last at least 10 years - instead of the average 2-5 (if you are lucky).

(2) I can't live without the excellent keyboards - and a TrackPoint (II/III/IV - dont care). Though I hated them for the first month I used the, I find them indispensable - and even bought a bunch of M13 desktop keyboards for my desktops.

To each their own though.

RobertMfromLI

However, the Lenovo fails because I want 12" notebook. Sheesh, is that so wrong?

13" is too big, they shouldn't have copied Mac on that one stat. Hopefully this will filter down into their 12" line.....

letchhausen

TheSecondHorseman

IMO:
Thinkpad = rugged, toughened, damn dependable machine, though a little overpriced.

Macbook = Metrosexual looking garbage that burns you, electrocutes you and makes you afraid to pull out the thing for fear of damaging it. Oh yeah, and also overpriced.

realyst2k

Also, long live the trackpoint! I absolutely hate touchpads, so it's great to see a company continuing to offer the superior trackpoint controller. It's a bit of a shame that they caved and added a touchpad too (but that's Lenevo I guess...), which seems especially out of place in an ultraportable.

snogglethorpe

Jack-it

Part of what makes Apple products sell well is that they're style statements. Loud and garish, muted and clean, metallic and pure, they've all been there. The question is, what will they think of next to make the current style outdated? Go AAPL!

I hope the X300 is real. My portable right now is a ultraportable Thinkpad and when it comes to work or work-like activities it's hopelessly brilliant.

AzNwiLD0

A modern thinkpad is a little like if they had stuck with making the 240 series volvos and you could get one with a modern engine and interior.

Personally, I think this is a great laptop because the X61 doesn't have a trackpad.. I love my thinkpad, but I'm just not a convert to the nubby thing.

jitrobug

Serious people who know about computers prefer ThinkPads for their PC needs. I like the MacOS, but when I need to WRITE, I need to use a ThinkPad -- it has the best laptop keyboard in the computer industry, bar none. I've kicked mine out of an SUV and dropped it from an overhead bin with no damage (none of this was on purpose).

I don't understand the anti-Thinkpad hate, it's like if your laptop doesn't have garish LEDs wasting battery power there's something wrong with it. Whatever, enjoy your asus... This X300 looks sweet.

omnibot2000XL

For me, their are very slick, very elegant and minimalist.

Contrast that with the ugly HPs and such.

kwanbis

1) The Porche will always look sexier and faster. If it were snowing, you'd rather be driving the Volvo.

2) Volvo sticks with its ugly grille for brand recognition. Everyone knows if a Volvo slams into a wall, you should check the wall for damage.

3) When you drive a Porche, your boss will think he is paying you too much.

4) When you drive a Porche around, you might pick up some women. Your wife would not appreciate that.

5) People who buy Porches and Volvos tend to have them for different reasons. You could own both if you could afford them, but you would drive one to work and one for fun.

They are both damn good cars. Does anyone spend time arguing about whether Porches are prettier than Volvos?

notbeinguseful

nym-ph

However, if I bought a laptop for my chichi girlfriend, It would definitely be an Apple. Sure.

vrnsn

gary_slamson.

rschultz101

uglylastslonger

tmweber

kaushalmodi

kaushalmodi

kaushalmodi

kaushalmodi

[skyscraper.fortunecity.com]
[www.wired.com]
[everymac.com]

macbigot

gizmo_dude

Geekyharrypotter

smcallah

If you're on windows and you're only using the Windows key for the start menu, you're seriously missing out. Windows+M (minimize all), Windows+D (show desktop), Windows+R (run), and Windows+E (explorer)to name a few.

asi

kittenman

ascradar

btw, why the hell is the Windows key so important? Ctrl-Esc. Try it. It works.

b33g33

Tentatreen

Mrbreakit

Also, I'd guess that the 2.5 pound system weight is only achieved by removing the optical drive and slipping in a cover plate. Its 2.5 > 3.17 pound range makes more sense then, unless the thing has an option for a larger battery pack.

Tony C

Ashe

Looking all over the place trying to find a wall outlet to plug in the power adapter.

So much fun.

I have used it on the go, and the sole fact that i can burn without a stupid external drive is reason to.

Your argument is silly. Next you will be saying: "Why would you want a bigger hard drive when there are tons of external hard drives with FW/USB2 out there...". Someone forgot that your laptop is supposed to be your PC on the go, and thus shouldn't sacrifice so much just to make it pretty.

diabolusunknown

have you ever used your DVD burner on the go??? i haven't, and there's tons of external DVD burners with FW/USB2 out there...

smokeonit

smokeonit

thecharlie

prodigal_son

iiviip3

"latest technology ranging from integrated DVD burner..."

their technology is even more advanced than apple's!

willyolio

yeah i would take OSX over Vista/Xp anyday, but you can't get it legally on x86...yet.

cubensis

wesrubix

fuzzycuffs

jeblis

Tech support is awesome, you're on and off the phone with them within 10 minutes as they do not question your judgment. I called once to say that the fan was making a strange sound and within 2 days had shipping labels, my laptop was completely replaced with no questions asked. They even allowed me to pull out the hard drive in the old laptop so that I could swap it into the new replacement laptop and pick up where I left off.
It's tough as nails too, I don't have to baby it like I did with my Apple Powerbook. I like to refer friends to this youtube clip of them crashing a Thinkpad into a wall at 30mph:
[youtube.com]

ichibanjay

menuhin

speakafreaka

thinkbook

Two words: DVD Burner

Ftw.

dcartist

"So why would anyone buy the MBA over this?"

Uhh... and I'm just throwing this out there... but perhaps, maybe, just maybe, because with the MBA you have the option to buy the HDD version for $1800 and get 16GB more space? And I'm not even going to the part about how one runs a better OS than the other, because that'd be subjective, but I will say that the MBA will run an OS that the TP can't ;p

@ry_ry:

"Why is it in the same ballpark as the MBA with everything the MBA doesn't have?"

Cuz it comes with a 64GB SSD as its only option, and believe me when I say that that is one expensive piece of hardware.

Let me put it this way; IF this is priced the same as an MBA @$1800, I would jump on it the moment it comes out, forget everything I've said above ;)

Dearhaw

Skorpius

That said, I'm a little disappointed with my current T60: it's given me a few too many internal hardware failures for me to be completely satisfied. Maybe it's cheap components or something, but I simply haven't gotten the kind of quality I was looking for. (Internally, at least: the case is solid as a rock.) I really, really hope this is more of an isolated instance than a general trend.

Also I absolutely love the nipple. I don't think I can ever go back to touchpads again.

CarrerCrytharis

CruJones

SchruteBuck

But it has nice features, better than the MBA. Needless to say, there will be a battery out there that lasts longer than 4 hours.

Why is it in the same ballpark as the MBA with everything the MBA doesn't have? Lenovo doesn't have to pay The Apple Tax :P

ry_ry

The spec sheets actually say 2.5" HD. This is great, since 2.5" SSDs are a lot cheaper than 1.8" ones.

My own thinkpad experience: Having owned an X21, X30, X31, and X41 tablet [which i'm typing this on now], i've got to say that thinkpad laptops are second to none when it comes to productivity. This X41 tablet has been thrown into my backpack every day for the past six months, used for at least 10 hours a day [I use it as my notebook at college], and it has held up great.

m0biusace

myotheralt

metonae

My PowerBook actually warped from the heat it generated, it couldn't sit flat on the table the case was so racked. The screen was awful too, just putting it a bag to and from work caused pressure points against the screen, revealing themselves as ultra bright spots when the laptop was running. And I know these problems weren't isolated to me.

A few months of toting your Air around will lead to the cover not closing correctly, or the keys rubbing against the screen when closed (that happened to me too).

From the specs and knowing first hand how durable ThinkPads are, I think this is ultimately the better machine for frequent travelers.

scribbins

seizure

Pretty much the business lines (aka good stuff) from companies get the nipples.

archercc

With that said, any of you think this would even be in the same $1800-ish ballpark as the MBA is smoking some seriously toxic shit. Can I have some?

Dearhaw

ferrdidly

SchruteBuck

asi

fusedinertia

macmovieman

the daniel

But that's just me. I'd rather have this than Air. But I already have a M1330, so none of the above.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

[steve8.selfip.info]

steve8

The only advantage the Air has is the fact that its all of 0.25" thinner. I fail to see the advantage of that extra thinness unless you plan on posting the damn thing...

poobear2

5 years ago Lenovo took over the consumer desktop and laptop portion of IBM (ie Thinkcentre/ Thinkpad)

there was a 5 year deal to get rid of the IBM name all together and that 5 years is up.

Look closer next time!

j4sk868

10-12" display, wicked small bezel, widescreen (so you can have a real keyboard) and built like a tank.

And for those bitching about the nipple. /yourself. You get the touchpad, leave us the nipple. Im much faster with it than anyone I have met using the touchpad (even the massive apple one).

archercc

aydiosmio

neonlazer

DO WANT

fuzzycuffs

That thing is way sexier than the Air.

I like black, simple, and monolithic. You don't need to be silver and curvy to be sexy. :P

Will it have an optical drive? I'm thinking not. :(

fuzzycuffs

As much as I love Leopard, I don't want to take my pretty MBP through a South American excursion, so I'm seriously considering one of these ultraportable Thinkpads instead.

nuclearlove

notamacnyc

For people who are image-conscious (i.e., Apple fanboys) the Thinkpad might seem like a heinous-looking device. But most people who've used one (even my Mac co-workers) will agree their quality is pretty much second to none. They're extremely solid and can take a beating like few other laptops can. Plus the Thinkpad keyboard and trackpoint is far and away the best I've ever come across, especially for touch typists. I hated the clit at first, but once you get used to it you can't possibly fathom a laptop without it because it's so much more efficient than any touchpad.

Ron-Mexico

Also, I do believe the Air just got its ass handed to it. In liquid form.

Ethan Allison

Some of us prefer it over glassy glossy appley crappely. But that may be an acquired taste, too.

k3davis

The IBM laptops are tough as hell - I should know since I fix the the units onsite as a contractor for IBM/Lenovo. Once you have tried them you'll love or hate them.. They are ugly and my wife refused to let my get one for her just because of that.. ;-} Most people like them for their toughness and keyboards.. IBM laptop keyboards have won awards for their designs including the trackpoint for about a decade.

These should be priced about $2000 based on IBM pricing and the specs.. But hey, take this post with a grain of salt since I work with IBM/Lenovo.. ;-)

alexander267

maxsquared

wolf-zhang

nappleheaded

nappleheaded

gizmo_dude

i recently (at least i think i) almost had my laptop stolen. its a real nice looking computer. small, sleek, has a swivel screen, and would be stolen under a minute if i ever walked away from it in public. i'm not saying you could just leave one of these thinkpads and not have to worry about it, but the pressure of it being would definately be alliviated due to its looks.

jrghoull

This laptop is made for the enterprise i.e. business users. The Mac isn't an enterprise computer. I'd buy one of these before an Apple. I like the fact you can get XP installed. And it has a DVD burner, GPS! and WIMAX!, ethernet, 3xUSB, and a standard SSD HDD! The $1700 Air doesn't have any of that!

notamacnyc

thechansen

So yes, there is IBM on there, but you are right that Levono is separate...i was going to define how but realized i really dont know much about their relationship with IBM.

rainfever

HaloZero

Also, their still sticking with that stupid nipple pointer? insipid.

rfaulder

j4sk868

I like this machine.

j4sk868

Fuck you, IBM aesthetic designers.

shiftyeyedgoat

NcSchu

xint

aynaiya

squirgle

kibets

SFKevin

At least they finally added the fucking windows key.

rainfever

nappleheaded