Product Notes: Lenovo ThinkPad X1

May 25, 2011

In May 2011, Lenovo announced the ThinkPad X1 13.3-inch notebook, which is based on Intel's Sandy Bridge notebook platform. An all new design, the ThinkPad X1 is part of a three system X-series lightweight line, which also includes the ThinkPad X220 12.5-inch notebook and the ThinkPad X220t Tablet PC.

Design and Changes

Though the ThinkPad X1 retains many ThinkPad design cues, there are many new features for users accustomed to previous X-series notebook designs. The screen is protected with glossy Corning Gorilla Glass, the keyboard is a backlit "chiclet" design, and the battery is integrated and non-replaceable. There is a single USB 3.0 port, a powered USB 2.0/eSATA "combo" port, and a generic USB 2.0 port, but there is no optical drive.

This generation of the X-series is built on Intel's Sandy Bridge notebook platform, which includes Intel's notably improved HD 3000 integrated graphics. The X1 has a 350 nit 16:9 13.3-inch 1366 x 768 "HD" LED backlit display yielding 118 pixels per inch. A 720p integrated camera is standard and video outputs include Mini-DisplayPort and HDMI, but no VGA.

Base RAM on the ThinkPad X1 is 4.0 GB, meeting the RAM specifications in the Notebook Purchasing Guide. The X1 uses the same power supplies that the X220 uses, but does not use Lenovo's standard docking solutions, relying instead on USB for docking. The X1 weighs 3.8 pounds with a travel weight (which includes power adapter) of 4.7 pounds.

The ThinkPad X1 is EPEAT Gold-compliant and Energy Star 5.0-certified.

Ordering Notes

Several notes when ordering a ThinkPad X1:

1. Lenovo allows the selection of various models of Intel's current Core i3 or Core i5 processors for the X1. Information Systems & Computing (ISC) believes that the Core i5 is appropriate for most users.
2. Though 128 GB and 160 GB solid state drives are available, ISC does not believe that they are currently an appropriate choice for many lightweight notebook users because the cost trade-offs are too great.
3. Providers may wish to consider Lenovo's range of peripheral accessories, such as the USB 2.0 port replicator.
4. Connectivity options include various Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi cards, Gobi multi-vendor WWAN connectivity, and Bluetooth 3.0. ISC believes that Bluetooth is a relevant protocol for most notebook users and that WWAN connectivity is useful for many "road warriors".

See ISC's Notebook Purchasing Guide for more configuration guidelines. As of May 2011, configuring a ThinkPad X1 to the Lightweight Notebook specification can be done for approximately $1,600. The University's Computer Connection will have an X1 configuration available to order as soon as possible.

Analysis

ISC sees the ThinkPad X1 as one of the most interesting lightweight notebooks available in mid 2011 and will follow up with a full review of the ThinkPad X1 as soon as testing has been completed.

ThinkPad X1 graphic courtesy of Lenovo

--John Mulhern III, Lead for Client Technologies, ISC Technology Support Services (May 25, 2011)