My mini X1 review (and why I'm probably returning it)

I've been using ThinkPads for the past 15 years so I've witnessed the changes (both good and pad) that progress usually brings.

I'm currently an X301 user and as many of you know, it's getting a bit tired. It still runs great but it's just not as snappy and "crisp" as more modern laptops. I tried upgrading to a T410s a few months back but the extra weight, poorer speakers and overall feel did not justify replacing my trusty X301.

Now the X1 came out and I jumped at the chance as I thought for sure this would be the ultimate X301 replacement. I thought all those users complaining about the screen were being just too picky. Here are my conclusions:

The screen
Users/critics were right; the loss of vertical real estate is just too much. I thought this was exaggerated in numerous blogs, but then I tried viewing Google/Bing maps and was surprised at how little real estate there was for viewing. I compared it to my X301 side by side and there was no comparison. Viewing maps on the X1 feels like looking out of a bunker. You just see of a slice of what the map is showing you.

The glare on the laptop was also too much to handle. I also play with a MacBook Air that has a glossy screen but the X1 seems to be even glossier than that. I believe the ads showing the X1 in outdoor/rugged use are deceptive. There is no way you can use the screen outdoors comfortably.

Weight and Size
I thought that the X1 would feel just like the X301 as far as weight and size go but the X1 feels huge. When I go back to the X301 it feels so much lighter and easier to move around. The X301 really does spoil you.

The good sides of the X1
Reviewers are right that the keyboard is the best one Lenovo has ever produced. There is not even a hint of flex or slop. Feels like the backplate is a piece of granite. Can type smoother and more accurately than on any other ThinkPad keyboard.

I do miss the traditional ThinkPad key layout but that may be a matter of just getting used to things. One thing that surprised me in a bad way is that the backlit keys are actually a distraction. Unless your eyes are directly over the keys, what you will see is light shining through all the key gaps. Quite distracting and I had to actually move my head directly over the keyboard to see what was backlit. I think the previous "ThinkLight" was a better solution.

Of course, the speed of the X1 is nice, but then again I think any i5/i7 keyboard with an SSD will feel fast.

For now, I think the best solution is for me to keep the X301. It's not that speedy anymore but it does the job and still feels best in the hand/lap. I just purchased a new Crucial SSD for the X301 but the X301 cannot see it for some reason. Too tired to work on it but maybe someone has a quick-fix.

Feel free to ask any questions.

 

should buy intel gen 2 160 gb ssd !

 

excellent review!

 

Can you give us any info on battery life?

I keep telling my-self that i shouldn't get one but i still want it.
Damn me and my curiosity.

 

My X1 arrived a week early but I'm on vacation in Hawaii. I should be gettting it tomorrow when I return home : )
So, Mr. bdoviack, your main concerns are the screen and the size of the x1??
Does anyone know a good matt screen film???

 

I didn't really test the battery life as I always try to be near an outlet. From what I could tell, the X1 was no better or worse than a regular ThinkPad notebook and appeared to have around a 3 hour range (with out the base add-on).

I still like the X1 and when I use it, I'm impressed with how speedy and responsive it is. They keyboard is a pleasure to use.

The X301 just feels better overall however. The screen size is larger, and it's better balanced and easier to move around. If I could put the X1 keyboard and processor in the X301, then I would have the perfect laptop.

 

You know I am looking for an X301 to add to the collection.

In all seriousness, what do you do with your laptop? The ULV Core 2 Duo processors should be fine for most office tasks, perhaps not compiling or running multiple VM's but that's not the primary purpose of the x301.

 

I have had an X301 since this January, when I got it at Microcenter for $700 or so. And I've loved it a ton, and its fast enough for basically everything I need it for. Its great for class, and it even can be convinced to do a decent job running MATLAB, as long as it isn't too serious. I would highly recommend one as well. I still get a sold 4 hours when my WiFi is off, if not more.

 

Hi MadzUser,

Yes, my primary issue is the screen size/resolution. Cover up the bottom 2 inches of your current display and you'll see how the X1 looks (not sure if 2 inches though are exact proportions to use but used it as an approximation).

This would be fine for watching movies but if you think that for the past few thousand years, we've had most of our written words in portrait format (books, posters, menus, even ancient scrolls!), it's enough to cause some frustration. Seems like such an obvious issue that you think laptop makers would see it themselves. Do realize though that the dollar trumps ergonomics. Hopefully someone can reverse the trend.

I'm actually writing this comment on the X1 and again, it's so nice to type on the keyboard. You actually look for an excuse to type.

Thought I should point out a few other minor annoyances (although not big enough to disqualify the laptop):

Minor fan noise
The fan does go on and and you can hear it and definitely more audible than the X301. If you prefer silence, the X301 is the way to go.

Left click doesn't always register
This may be specific to my particular laptop but sometimes left clicking doesn't always register. Seems that the sensor is in the middle of the button but the center of the button is quite far left (compared to other ThinkPads). Again, minor annoyance and probably fixable.

Speakers:
The speakers on the X1 don't sound (to me) as crisp as the X301. This may be because the speakers are at the bottom of the unit while the X301's are right on the top facing you. The X301 sounds clearer and more precise; the X1 just sounds loud (if that makes sense).

Speed:
Once again the X1 is much "snappier" than the X301. When you enter a website, it pops up instantly. The X301 has a slight delay loading everything but still more than enough for average use.

In summary, the X301 will do almost anything you need to do. I'm on my laptop perhaps 8 hours a day managing servers, databases, running Crystal Reports and other random tasks. It has enough power for 90% of what you will ever need to do.

A similar analogy is that you have a nice car that runs well, is paid for and does all that you need it to, yet whenever you drive by the dealership, that new car is always getting your attention. In theory, most of us never need more than 200hp in a car, yet people keep buying cars with more and more hp. Guess that's human nature to always want more.

 

Really interesting, i will upgrade my x301 with 8gb ddr3 , bay batteries and windows 7 pro 64 bit along with a c300 1.8 which is very smooth .