My PC's do the same, when the CPU setting is performance. In other words, even when the load is 1% the fans are still running and the drive does not spin down. I would be curious if you change your setting to power saving mode if that would change your experience.
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11" Air vs. Lenovo X201s
- Thread starter FX120
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I also use both the i5 X201 (work) and the 11.7" MBA (personal). I agree with the entire post above.
To me... the X201 seems huge and bulky... and that is after I downgraded to the smaller 6 cell battery (that does not stick out the back).
I think that the MBA screen is an advantage over the X201. he X201 screen is OK for reading my email while in a conference room, but I do not enjoy working on it natively. When I work from home, I connect X201 to my 27" iMac, which brings the X201 up to 2560X1440 which is nice. I just just bought a new Dell 27" monitor (2560X1440) for work which will support both my MBA and my X201 at the full resolution.... although I will be using it 99% of the time with the X201. I'll start using the new monitor in a week when I return from CES.
At work, I prefer using a Windows machine because my company highly standardizes on PCs. I find the X201 with the smaller battery a good fit for commuting to/from the office. It is also a good size to carry around the building and to my very frequent meetings. I am looking forward to upgrading my monitor from my current 24" (1920X1080) to the new 27" with ~ twice the pixels.
I do 100% of my personal (non-work) computing on Apple... and I love the combination of my 11.6" MBA and 27" i7 iMac. I also like using the 27" iMac screen as my X201 monitor when I am working from home.
My biggest disappointment in my setup is carrying both a work and personal machine during my very frequent business trips. In January sometime... I am going to load a "corporate certified" version of Parrallels/Win7 on my MBA. My hope is that when traveling, that it will be good enough to leave my X201 at home. I am hoping that the combination of my iPad (for most email reading)... and Parallels/Win 7 for everything else will satisfy my work requirements. I think that it will be a lot more comfortable to travel with just the 11.6" MBA and my iPad.
/Jim
If you are going to use Windows exclusively, get the X201. It may not be as pretty or ergonomic but Lenovo makes a good laptop and for Windows use it will just fare better.
I, on the other hand, am trying to come up with a way to get my company to get me an MBA. The 17" is excellent but I walk so much and for pretty decent distances in the office that I want something really light. I just use Remote Desktop for windows work.
I, on the other hand, am trying to come up with a way to get my company to get me an MBA. The 17" is excellent but I walk so much and for pretty decent distances in the office that I want something really light. I just use Remote Desktop for windows work.
If you will be running Windows, buy a PC.
It's that simple. Don't pay Apple's premium if you're not going to be running OS X. Yeah, the hardware is nice, but the drivers aren't as good in Windows as they are on OS X, not to mention the fact that a lot of the little feature (instant on, for example) are not present when running Windows.
Lenovo makes nice laptops. Pick one up.
It's that simple. Don't pay Apple's premium if you're not going to be running OS X. Yeah, the hardware is nice, but the drivers aren't as good in Windows as they are on OS X, not to mention the fact that a lot of the little feature (instant on, for example) are not present when running Windows.
Lenovo makes nice laptops. Pick one up.
I'll never understand why people compare any PC anything to any Mac anything. Macs run OS X. PC's run Windows. Or Linux.
As to Lenovo there quality is not nearly as good as the IBM Thinkpads were. I work for a very large company and we have had many issues with Lenovo that we did not have when IBM made Thinkpads. Or had them made for them under their quality control standards.
I have a work issued Lenovo T410 sitting here as well as several older Thinpads. The difference in build quality is obvious.
However Lenovo are much cheaper han Thinkpads were which were premium priced.
As to Lenovo there quality is not nearly as good as the IBM Thinkpads were. I work for a very large company and we have had many issues with Lenovo that we did not have when IBM made Thinkpads. Or had them made for them under their quality control standards.
I have a work issued Lenovo T410 sitting here as well as several older Thinpads. The difference in build quality is obvious.
However Lenovo are much cheaper han Thinkpads were which were premium priced.
Night Spring
macrumors P6
Macs can run Windows too. And I think Linux, also. Apple provides this functionality through Bootcamp.
Uh yeah..I know. My point is it makes no senses comparing a Windows PC to a Mac when PC's run Windows. If you don't care about OS X vs Microsoft's most recent mediocre OS then why even buy a Mac.
Night Spring
macrumors P6
Well, as a Windows user, I compare Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc etc, when choosing a new computer. Macs are just another hardware option to consider.
As to the first point, I would tend to agree with you. The question was presented due to the MacBook Air's unique hardware configuration. I would still think the Lenovo would be the best choice based on the original posters requirements. On the other hand, I don't think there is another PC laptop which has the same form factor as the Air.
I also agree with you regarding the build quality of the newer Lenovo's as compared the IBM's machines. The limited exposure I have had to them still shows them to be well built as compared to other current machines.
What premium?
Is there another 11.6" notebook at that size and weight, with that array of features for <$999/1199? There are a sizeable group of users who buy Macs purely to run other x86 operating systems. If you need an extremely lightweight, fast, durable computer with highly rated tech support, Apple's MacBook Air for me personally is the only name that springs to mind, especially for that price.
It's ironic the amount of people on here who defend Apple hardware vigilantly, but if you're running a different OS suddenly the computer is overpriced, implying that it's only worth purchasing a Mac for the operating system. Whilst for me, being a software person, the Mac software is the most important part, I would purchase a Mac with Windows if OS X did not exist in some hypothetical world. Apple hardware can and does stand on it's own two feet, as is shown by hardware sales being larger than OS X install base.
I don't disagree re: the drivers though.
63dot
macrumors 603
If you don't have a huge preference for which OS to use, then I say it's a pretty close call. It's a draw.
Lenovo has the faster processor going for it with a 2.4 Ghz i3 with 2 cores running 4 threads which is great and works well in my generic Gateway laptop with that processor at that speed, but the MBA has the SSD hard drive which will give a much faster seek time and works well in that great form factor.
If you want something with more longevity, get the MBA. The SSD is less likely to fail and the body is pretty tough.
Lenovo has the faster processor going for it with a 2.4 Ghz i3 with 2 cores running 4 threads which is great and works well in my generic Gateway laptop with that processor at that speed, but the MBA has the SSD hard drive which will give a much faster seek time and works well in that great form factor.
If you want something with more longevity, get the MBA. The SSD is less likely to fail and the body is pretty tough.
KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
What does that matter ? Users don't buy computers to run operating systems, they buy them to do tasks, tasks which are the same on either OS X or Windows or Linux.
Agreed!!
My old IBM Thinkpad was the best Windows laptop I have ever used (I much prefer OSX now for all my needs). The newer Lenovo's and Dell's are garbage.
BENJMNS
macrumors 6502
ahhh exactly my decision scenario a few months back...
the x201s is a fantastic machine, period. it's supremely quiet, efficient, light --> well engineered. it's definitely the more durable machine with its matte rubberized finish and the magnesium/carbon frame.
i chose the 13" mba because they no longer make the x201s. the x201s has the higher resolution screen. not sure why they dumped the better screen.
it'll really going to come down to a lifestyle decision than hardware/os. i'm not a fanboy of either microsoft nor apple, but i gotta say, all the griping about the windows OS within the apple camp is unwarranted. windows 7 really is a wonderful OS so kudos to ms for that. OSX has strengths in the areas of hardware/software integration like the trackpad and sleep mode. in terms of manipulating windows, organizing files, and simply getting work done, i believe win7 has the upperhand.
so if you're a college student, DJ, a graphic artist, apple may be better for you. if you're a traveling professional that uses enterprise applications and lead a lifestyle where surfing for the latest itunes tracks or messing around with panel color profiles is less interesting than making your six figure bonus, then lean towards the lenovo.
apple --> leans towards the consumer mkt
microsoft --> enterprise mkt dominant
honestly, if the x201s was outfitted with the latest trimmings, i'd buy it today and sell my mba. with that said, the new mba should be a proud moment for apple. along the hardware integration with software front, it kills just about any other piece of mobile computing gear out there.
the x201s is a fantastic machine, period. it's supremely quiet, efficient, light --> well engineered. it's definitely the more durable machine with its matte rubberized finish and the magnesium/carbon frame.
i chose the 13" mba because they no longer make the x201s. the x201s has the higher resolution screen. not sure why they dumped the better screen.
it'll really going to come down to a lifestyle decision than hardware/os. i'm not a fanboy of either microsoft nor apple, but i gotta say, all the griping about the windows OS within the apple camp is unwarranted. windows 7 really is a wonderful OS so kudos to ms for that. OSX has strengths in the areas of hardware/software integration like the trackpad and sleep mode. in terms of manipulating windows, organizing files, and simply getting work done, i believe win7 has the upperhand.
so if you're a college student, DJ, a graphic artist, apple may be better for you. if you're a traveling professional that uses enterprise applications and lead a lifestyle where surfing for the latest itunes tracks or messing around with panel color profiles is less interesting than making your six figure bonus, then lean towards the lenovo.
apple --> leans towards the consumer mkt
microsoft --> enterprise mkt dominant
honestly, if the x201s was outfitted with the latest trimmings, i'd buy it today and sell my mba. with that said, the new mba should be a proud moment for apple. along the hardware integration with software front, it kills just about any other piece of mobile computing gear out there.
That's basically it, Apple has hit the mark with the MBA. As with the last gen MBA we can expect to see some clones over the next year but it'll be tough for anyone to hit the MBA's combination of portability, performance and battery life.
KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
Your IBM Thinkpad was a Lenovo. Lenovo has been in charge of the Thinkpads for quite a while, before they were rebranded Lenovo Thinkpad. IBM was just buying them up from Lenovo and slapping their name on them. When they decided to drop the line, Lenovo simply asked if they could keep the Thinkpad brand and IBM gave it to them.
So newer/older Thinkpad, it's all lenovo made.
I'd argue it's true even on an Apple forum, hence all the people buying up Macs to run Windows because the task they need to accomplish only works on Windows still or is not yet up to par on OS X.
stylinexpat
macrumors 68020
I have the X201s and between the 11" AIR and X201S I would rather have the X201s but if it were between the X201s and the 13" MBA fully loaded I would rather get the 13" MBA. My $.02... I also have the 13" MBP. The screen resolution on the X201s is much better than that of the 11" MBA. Don't mistake the X201 screen resolution with the X201s as the X201s is much better.
I've tweaked the energy managment under Windows 7 now and although I can get it to run much more quiet now, it gets really hot.
Not sure which version I prefer, the noisy or the hot...
-KJ
Night Spring
macrumors P6
I solved the heat by using a program that controls fan speed based on the CPU temperature. It's probably noisy, but I can't hear the fan, so doesn't bother me. There are advantages to having bad hearing. 😛
🙂
Glad you got it working better.
I think you illustrate one of the main problems when compare the MacBook Air running Windows 7 and the Thinkpad. Windows 7 is well optimized for the Thinkpad by Lenovo and therefore the hardware performs at peak levels. The MacBook Air with OS X is well optimized by Apple to maximize performance of the Air. So even though hardware may be evenly matched, when you just load Windows 7 on the Air it requires some end user tweaks.
If you are just looking at hardware as described above and end user applications, wouldn't the MacBook Air win the decision hands down? Able to run windows 7 thus PC apps. In addition, the Air runs OS X and all Mac Apps. Now the Lenovo, only able to run Windows OS therefore limited to PC apps, unable to access OS X apps. The Air is 34% lower in weight in the 11.6 form factor.
Looking at it from that angle the MacBook Air would win.🙂
So, we are comparing two laptops...
One has nvidia graphics card with SSD vs one has HDD with intel graphics...
Really.
One has nvidia graphics card with SSD vs one has HDD with intel graphics...
Really.
jamesryanbell
macrumors 68020
Intel graphics are a dealbreaker. At least for me.
Not saying the 320m is a monster or anything...but...let's be real.
Not saying the 320m is a monster or anything...but...let's be real.
Yea we are 🙂
I am new to Macs but am really impressed with their quality, flexibility and price point. i have been a long time fan of the Thinkpad line so i really am into this discussion. Sorry.....Ok I'll move along now....ha ha ha