Lenovo ThinkPad X220 Review Discussion

[unreal25]

You could argue it, but the X220 (and 220T) are just better and without the need of voiding your warranty with the mod.

Some vertical real estate versus, well, every other category being better from power to battery life to native IPS support.

Except for the price, which can be a deal breaker for some. But that's the price to pay for wanting the newest tech.

Honestly, all these new 16:9 screens are annoying when coding, or well doing anything that requires vertical real estate. Which happens when you're oh... actually trying to do some work instead of playing games and watching videos.

[andrewmodus]

320GB Hitachi Travelstar hard drive (Z7K320)

This is a 2.5" 7mm ....????? Hmmm ...
X220 can not accept the standard SSD 2.5" 9.5mm ?
Please tell me I'm wrong.

[User Retired 2]

This is a 2.5" 7mm ....????? Hmmm ...
X220 can not accept the standard SSD 2.5" 9.5mm ?
Please tell me I'm wrong.

9.5mm 2.5" SSDs could be deshelled to fit into a 7mm tall bay. They may only be 2-5mm thick internally. However 9.5mm 2.5" HDDs cannot be shoehorned into a 7mm tall cavity.

Could a reviewer please see if a standard 2.5" 9.5mm HDD can fit into the X220's 2.5" drive bay?

[ismailfaruqi]

nando, does this x220 have express card 2.0 for DIY vidock?

[User Retired 2]

nando, does this x220 have express card 2.0 for DIY vidock?

The X220's Series 6 I/O chipset has pci-e 2.0 (5GT/s) ports on it. Only problem is whether Lenovo have complied to pci-e 2.0 electromagnetic spec between the I/O chip and the expresscard slot, including the expresscard slot itself.

Lenovo's doco doesn't say anything other than Expresscard. So best way to know for sure if it can transmit 5GT/s signals is for someone to try it. The other hurdle is hwtools, the maker of the PE4L/PE4H, have done their own pci-e 2.0 testing with a desktop system and have not been able to transmit 5GT/s signals using their mini HDMI cables, even with short 15cm lengths. My last discussion some weeks ago suggesting they were going to test other cables to make one that can transmit those signals.

There is one SB Acer DIY ViDock owner I know who has independently obtained a higher grade mini HDMI cable with which to test a GTX460 and a HD6970. Hoping to get those results out as soon as the testing has been done. Should be in the next week or so.

[vertigo_2_20]

This laptop definitely looks nice, and I have added it to my mental list of ones to consider upgrading to in the near future. But there are definitely things I wish Lenovo had done differently:

-Screen latch: as pointed out above, if controlled by a single switch, it can easily be manipulated with one hand

-USB 3 as an option on all versions, and not having to choose between USB 3 OR an always-on port; multiple USB 3 ports would be nice, too

-An optical drive: I understand it adds some, though very little, bulk and weight, but I consider it worth it, and would like an option with one (including BD option), perhaps a 13.3" screen model (also with higher resolution), as it should be doable while still keeping around 4lbs

-Quick access/instant-on for quick internet browsing or music playing

-Switchable graphics; as a side note, it would be nice if laptops started having video in so the output from a ViDock could be routed back in to the laptop, negating the need for an external monitor, though I wonder if a USB tv card, while not as ideal a solution, could work for this

-Backlit keyboard, or at least the option of a lighter colored one so it's easier to see the keys in the dark

-Speakers either above the keyboard or on the front of the monitor bezel, so the sound is actually directed toward the user, not into their lap

-Depending on the verdict of whether or not a normal 2.5" drive can be used, that could be a definite deal breaker for me

-Possibly a wider palm rest, not sure how (un)comfortable the X220's would be

On another note, does anybody know how performance and, especially, battery life are affected with an i7 versus an i5?

And finally, forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is meant by buttonless touchpad? I tried looking it up online and couldn't find anything actually explaining what that is. It looks to me like there are 2 or 3 buttons above the touchpad.

[Pseudorandom]

1. Any reason for cutting the screen latch is just an excuse imho.
2. They used to have an X series that had an optical drive and 13 inch screen, it was called the X300 series. It has been dropped in favor of the T400s series.
3. Instant on would be nice, but not that many people seem to use it.
4. Backlit keyboards would be nice, but what's wrong with the Thinklight? Maybe a backlit keyboard would be bad for keyboard typing quality.
5. I doubt they will support a ViDock back into the internal LCD unless Lenovo decides to release their own ViDock that does just that.
6. I don't like down firing speakers either.
7. The touchpad doesn't have buttons, the Trackpoint still does though.

[vertigo_2_20]

Yeah, I looked at the T400 series, and while decent, I'd rather a somewhat smaller screen and less weight. Also, they apparently don't have USB 3 as an option, nor do they offer BD as one.

I didn't even know about the Thinklight. I'd still prefer a backlit keyboard, but that's at least better than nothing. Still, to truly maximize its usability, the keyboard should optionally come in a lighter color, to be more visible in the low level of light provided by it.

So you're saying the buttons above the touchpad are for the Trackpoint? Couldn't they just as well serve as buttons for the touchpad, too? In which case, while I prefer the buttons to be below the touchpad, at least there are physical buttons for it.

[quickrabbit5]

-USB 3 as an option on all versions, and not having to choose between USB 3 OR an always-on port; multiple USB 3 ports would be nice, too

Definitely would have to agree with you there. Only having a USB 3.0 port with the i7 is disappointing, to say the least. Although I don't think I've seen any recent consumer laptop with multiple 3.0 ports.

-An optical drive: I understand it adds some, though very little, bulk and weight, but I consider it worth it, and would like an option with one (including BD option), perhaps a 13.3" screen model (also with higher resolution), as it should be doable while still keeping around 4lbs

When we're moving further and further away from physical media everyday and more towards services such as Netflix and Steam, optical drives are getting more and more irrelevant every day. Regardless of how often you would use one, trying to cram in an optical drive into such a small 12 inch chassis would force far too many design compromises that would sacrafice features used more often by other people.

-Switchable graphics;

I would love this as well, but managing any decent graphics card in such a chassis would probably cause it to start nearing vaio z prices.

On another note, does anybody know how performance and, especially, battery life are affected with an i7 versus an i5?

I was wondering this myself as well.

And finally, forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is meant by buttonless touchpad? I tried looking it up online and couldn't find anything actually explaining what that is. It looks to me like there are 2 or 3 buttons above the touchpad.

By buttonless trackpad they basically mean a clickpad, which is where the touchpad itself is the button (a la Macbook). The buttons are the top are for use with the trackpoint.

[vertigo_2_20]

When we're moving further and further away from physical media everyday and more towards services such as Netflix and Steam, optical drives are getting more and more irrelevant every day. Regardless of how often you would use one, trying to cram in an optical drive into such a small 12 inch chassis would force far too many design compromises that would sacrafice features used more often by other people.

I would love this as well, but managing any decent graphics card in such a chassis would probably cause it to start nearing vaio z prices.

Understandable, which is why I don't necessarily hold it against them on this model. If you're buying a 12" laptop, you are going for ultraportability. But IMO, a 14" and up begins to get into the range of too large to really consider, as I want a laptop for its portability. That's why I like the 13.3" size, as it's a perfect compromise. I'm disappointed that unlike many other manufacturers, Lenovo has decided to not offer anything in this range. Not only that, but their 14" isn't even an option for me due to lack of USB 3 and no BD option. If they offered a ~13-13.3" model with a BD and switchable graphics option, I would already have my wallet out. The other things I mentioned would be great if added, and I'd be willing to pay more for them, just like I would for an optical drive and switchable graphics, but I'd be willing to forgo them seeing as there aren't really any better options ATM (aside from possibly the new Sony Vaio CA or S laptops, but honestly I'd prefer a Lenovo, and I have yet to see a review on the Sonys.

Then again, my current laptop, a 6 or 7 year old Dell Inspiron 700m, is a 12.1" and weighs a mere 4.1 lbs, yet manages to squeeze in an optical drive and, at the time, a fairly top of the line CPU. I find it interesting that several years later, companies are having such a hard time making something of comparable size, weight, and features. Same with how USB 3 has been a standarized interface for over a year now, and yet most new laptops still don't have any ports for it, and those that do only have one; sometimes, as is the case here, only as an option. It seems to me the manufacturers simply aren't trying very hard, possibly due to low standards/demands of the majority of the customers, who are satisfied with something because it has good specs, instead of considering the fact the specs can/should be much better. /rant :P