Lenovo ThinkPad X200


The Lenovo ThinkPad X200 is an update and evolution of the ThinkPad X61 12.1" screen ultraportable and, as the name suggests, borrows a bit from the design cue of the much praised ThinkPad X300 ultra-slim laptop. To be sure, the X200 is not as expensive nor as cutting edge as the X300, the high-end features and supermodel thin X300 outdo what you'll get design-wise with the X200. With that said, the ultraportable X200 certainly has a lot to like about it, offers better performance than the X300 and has a more reasonable price. This review will delve into the features and updates the X200 has to the previous X61.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X200 is an ultraportable business laptop, but certainly some consumers that want a portable and durable laptop might also be interested in this notebook. Like its larger brothers from the ThinkPad line, the X200 shares all of the same rugged features, and now even has the comfort of a keyboard that matches the size of the larger ThinkPad T400 and T500 series. Thanks to the new widescreen design the X200 is now wide enough to support larger sized keys.
Although the X200 is indeed smaller than its ThinkPad counterparts, it still packs the same power. Our review unit comes with a new Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.40GHz processor from the Intel Montevina family, and it's definitely no slouch. The option for speedy SSD storage, 4GB of RAM and Intel Turbo memory can all contribute to a powerhouse in a small package.

With all this newly found power under the hood you might be wondering if the X200 is a power monger that will drain the battery like it's its job and generate so much heat you can warm your nearby coffee. This is not the case, incredibly battery life capability has increased over the X61 and the laptop remains very cool, indeed cooler than the X61.

Specifications of the X200 being reviewed are as follows:

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.40 GHz (3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz FSB) (Montevina)
  • Chipset: Intel GM45/ICH9-ME
  • Memory: 2GB DDR2 667MHz (1x 2048MB) (can support up to 4GB of DDR3 Memory @ 800/1067MHz)
  • Hard Drive: 7200RPM 160GB SeaGate Momentus (ST9160823AS) SATA
  • Screen: 12.1" widescreen 1280x800 LCD, 200 nits of brightness
  • No built-in Optical Drive (need X200 UltraBase for this capability)
  • GPU: Intel X4500 Integrated Graphics
  • Network/Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300 (802.11 a/b/g/n) 1Gb Ethernet Card, built-in Verizon WWAN and Bluetooth (56 Kbps modem optional, not installed)
  • Inputs: 95 Key Keyboard with Three Button Touchpoint
  • Buttons: Power, ThinkVantage, Volume Up and Down, Mute, and WiFi/Bluetooth On/Off Switch.
  • Slots:ExpressCard/54mm, SD card reader (5-in-1 media card reader optional, not installed)
  • Battery: Nine Cell Cylindrical (4-cell, 6-cell and 9-cell options)
  • Dimensions (with large 9-cell battery in): Width: 11.61 inches, Depth: 9.2 inches, Thickness: 0.8-in - 1.4 inches
  • Dimensions (with small 4-cell battery in): Width: 11.6 inches, Depth: 8.3 inches, Thickness: 0.8 - 1.4"
  • Weight: 4-cell battery starting at 1.34 kg / 2.95 lbs, 6-cell battery starting at 1.47 kg / 3.24 lbs, 9-cell battery starting at 1.63 kg / 3.58 lbs
  • Operating System: Windows Vista Business
  • Extra Options: Web-cam, fingerprint reader, 56Kbps modem, 5-in-1 card reader

Design and Looks

It's so easy to write about the look of any ThinkPad notebook: it's black, everywhere, and if you have a problem with that then look elsewhere. Cheek aside, there are noticeable design changes from the X61.

The most noticeable change we see between the X61 and X200 is that the display is widescreen instead of the "standard" 4:3 ratio aspect screen seen on the X61. The question is, when do we start calling widescreen standard for a notebook screen? There are few laptops left that aren't widescreen so this change comes as no surprise. We thing the switch is for the better due to the lower overall system profile, more spacious keyboard and ability to more easily view two windows side-by-side. Some people will no doubt be miffed by this change though.
More subtle design changes include red accented mouse buttons coming back from the ThinkPad days of old. The volume control buttons have gone from a silver color on the X61 to black on the X200. The power button look changes to that we saw on the X300, except it is not backlit.

For a business notebook the look of the X200 works as it is clean and professional. We do wonder if the relentless push for new designs on consumer notebooks won't spill over more to the enterprise business space and force the ThinkPad team to shake things up just a little eventually. We're seeing with the new ThinkPad SL line some introduction of consumer design features such as a glossy screen and glossy lid. The leaked pictures of the new Dell Latitude E series indicates that company might be willing to put their neck out in a bet that business buyers might just like a notebook that's not bland looking.

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