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Mossberg Previews Lenovo ThinkPad X300, Pits Against MacBook Air

QCassidy352 said:
how could you know that? all available evidence suggests it's the 1.2 Ghz, so if you have better info, please do tell.
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I am confused as well--what is "all available evidence? the MR article cites the Gizmodo article that very plainly states that the thing is rocking a full-on 2.0 GHz Merom+SR CPU:

MacRumors said:
On the other hand, Mossberg notes that the X300 makes fewer tradeoffs. Below is a table of some of the key differences between the machines. Lenovo has yet to publish official specifications, so the below is compiled from Mossberg's preview and Gizmodo's leaked specs.
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gizmodo said:
At a glance, some of the major features include: a 13.3-inch LED backlit 1440X900 screen, an ultralight 2.5 pound form factor, and Intel Merom Santa Rosa Dual Core CPU (2.0 Ghz / 880 Mhz ), a 64 GB SSD, up to 4GB of DDR2 PC2-5300 memory, and 4 hours of battery life. Hit the gallery for the full details.
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It looks to me like the MBA only has three or four advantages over this laptop:
1. It's not butt-ugly, in fact it's beautifully designed and it's made out of sturdier Aluminum
2. It has the awesome Multitouch trackpad
3. It runs Mac OS X legally and easily.
4. It might have better battery life, depending on configuration... I doubt it will if you put a spare battery in that drive bay.

Seems like the X300 has the MBA beaten to the floor in terms of performance, hardware features, screen real estate.

Edit: I also meant to say that I hope this and subsequent speedbumps to it, probably at a faster pace than Apple's speedbumps, mean that Apple will be driven to update the MBA with better specs sooner than they otherwise would. Hooray for competition, I say.
 
Marion said:
Well, so far I'm not that impressed :confused: by the width and depth of these new super "slim" laptop (either MBA or X300).

If I remember, more than 6 years ago, the T4x series of IBM was 12" x 10" x 1" with a 14.1" screen (up to 1400x1050). You had the option for the best processor around :) and was able to fit the biggest 2.5" hard drive available :) (super easy to swap). There was option to switch the CD/DVD burner for a 2nd HD :) or another battery or nothing to save weight. You had all the necessary ports (even parallel, which I agree is not really useful in these modern days) and 2x pcmcia slots. Weight was between 4 to 5 pounds. :(

Today we have the MBA 13" x 9" X less than 3/4". That is 117 square inches compare to 120 for the T4x series. :( To gain 3 square inches, you need to go for a smaller screen:mad:, less ports:(, lack of HD flexibility:mad:, no CD/DVD:( and no way to change battery on the fly:eek:. Also, less processor power:confused: and less max RAM:(. On the pro side you're gaining a bit more than a pound :D and a slimmer design:), but at what cost? Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think the techno humanity did such a great step within the last 6 years :confused: (comparing the pros and the cons).

It's my 2 cents. :p
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The highest concentration of smileys ever. Congrats. This ultralight certainly sounds like a winner. Small yet extremely customizable.
 
arn said:
Those are the same source (gizmodo).

arn
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Hey arn, that's all well and good but YOU sourced gizmodo too and gizmodo says 2.0 ghz! Mossberg doesn't seem to give a processor speed, from what I read. I'm very very curious where you got the 1.2 ghz number from. Thanks!
 
redrabbit said:
Hey arn, that's all well and good but YOU sourced gizmodo too and gizmodo says 2.0 ghz! Mossberg doesn't seem to give a processor speed, from what I read. I'm very very curious where you got the 1.2 ghz number from. Thanks!
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I didn't write the story, longofest did. Though I presume he got it from this pic, which was linked earlier in the thread

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w21/ryengineer/2f811946.jpg

or these
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/08/lenovos-upcoming-x300-ultraportable-leaked-by-best-buy/
http://www.macworld.co.uk/business/news/index.cfm?newsid=20409

arn
 
I just saw the MBA in person for the first time today and WOW it was beyond words incredible. Having said that, as a video guy, and just general use, the MBA is really for a VERY SPECIFIC demographic I think. For who it targets it is awesome, but I think that target is very limiting.
 
So is this computer out now? It looks like Lenovo have done a good job.

PS The graphics card in the MacBook is fine unless you hard core game on a laptop (who does) or do high end video editing. So its fine for normal use.
 
As far as I can tell from those specs, the X300 isn't the clear winner.

For most users it's about simplicity on the go, not 'what you can fit in'. As obviously a second computer, the extra cost of the X300 goes noted.

When I am on the go, I don't need 3 USB ports and I rarely if ever need a CD drive (since the MBA I have been thinking about my CD usage... I probably use it less than once every 2 months... no joke).

It all depends where your priorities are. The x300 does have a great screen resolution, but again as a second computer... you wont be needing to fit everything on it.

The MBA is lighter, prettier, faster and cheaper. I know which one I would buy.
 
SpaceMagic said:
For most users it's about simplicity on the go, not 'what you can fit in'. As obviously a second computer, the extra cost of the X300 goes noted.

When I am on the go, I don't need 3 USB ports and I rarely if ever need a CD drive (since the MBA I have been thinking about my CD usage... I probably use it less than once every 2 months... no joke).
Click to expand...
Sure, some people might never need more than 1 USB, ethernet or optical drives on the go. But I'd wager that most people do use (some of) them at least occasionally, even on secondary to-go computers. And then simplicity is to just throw the laptop and power supply in the bad, rather than deciding which of the dongles and hubs or drives to pack before every trip.
 
SpaceMagic said:
As far as I can tell from those specs, the X300 isn't the clear winner.

For most users it's about simplicity on the go, not 'what you can fit in'. As obviously a second computer, the extra cost of the X300 goes noted.

When I am on the go, I don't need 3 USB ports and I rarely if ever need a CD drive (since the MBA I have been thinking about my CD usage... I probably use it less than once every 2 months... no joke).

It all depends where your priorities are. The x300 does have a great screen resolution, but again as a second computer... you wont be needing to fit everything on it.

The MBA is lighter, prettier, faster and cheaper. I know which one I would buy.
Click to expand...

If you don't need them you wouldn't really need to use them. They could just go unused.

I think the thing with the notebook is that at least there's an option to have them included, unlike the MBA. Straight away this broadens its market appeal. It almost seems as if the MBA was deliberately limited for the sake of that extra touch of thinness.

Having said that, if what you're after is something with style and simplicity I don't doubt the MBA is enough for you. Also, for Mac users one of these two products is obviously not an option.

All in all, it's pretty silly to compare two products when one isn't even released yet. Once it's released I'd still say it would require each person to use both over a period of time to decide which was the better product over a broad range of issues.
 
pondie84 said:
Once it's released I'd still say it would require each person to use both over a period of time to decide which was the better product over a broad range of issues.
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Haha, sorry, but thinking about one's needs, wants, demands and preferences, one can actually pinpoint which one is the better product (build quality aside, perhaps).
If not, then you're suggesting that we all should go out an buy several laptops in order to choose, and that noone can gather information on specific products, nor can make an informed decision. It's certainly not something one has to use both for at an extended time to do. Albeit, perhaps you were just trying the diplomatic route on these forums.
 
CPU clarification

Sorry for the confusion folks. The CPU is from various resellers sites (Best Buy) which cite the CPU as the SL7100, which runs at 1.2 GHz. Should have made that clear in the post.
 
...weird...

Marion said:
Well, so far I'm not that impressed :confused: by the width and depth of these new super "slim" laptop (either MBA or X300).

If I remember, more than 6 years ago, the T4x series of IBM was 12" x 10" x 1" with a 14.1" screen (up to 1400x1050). You had the option for the best processor around :) and was able to fit the biggest 2.5" hard drive available :) (super easy to swap). There was option to switch the CD/DVD burner for a 2nd HD :) or another battery or nothing to save weight. You had all the necessary ports (even parallel, which I agree is not really useful in these modern days) and 2x pcmcia slots. Weight was between 4 to 5 pounds. :(

Today we have the MBA 13" x 9" X less than 3/4". That is 117 square inches compare to 120 for the T4x series. :( To gain 3 square inches, you need to go for a smaller screen:mad:, less ports:(, lack of HD flexibility:mad:, no CD/DVD:( and no way to change battery on the fly:eek:. Also, less processor power:confused: and less max RAM:(. On the pro side you're gaining a bit more than a pound :D and a slimmer design:), but at what cost? Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think the techno humanity did such a great step within the last 6 years :confused: (comparing the pros and the cons).

It's my 2 cents. :p
Click to expand...


....weird.... I'm feeling observed....
 
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