Product Notes: Lenovo ThinkPad X200

August 12, 2008

In July 2008, Lenovo announced the ThinkPad X200 12.1-inch widescreen, which is based on Intel's Montevina laptop platform. The ThinkPad X200 supplants the ThinkPad X61 and is expected to become generally available in September 2008.

Changes

The biggest single change for the ThinkPad X200 is that this generation of the X-series does away with the 4:3 screen - only a widescreen is now available.

The ThinkPad X200 includes many of the newly available Montevina features. Newly available optional features include Ultra-Wideband (UWB), WiMAX , and Intel's Turbo Memory 2.0. Both UWB and WiMAX will be available later in 2008.

The ThinkPad X200 has received a Silver rating from EPEAT and is Energy Star 4.0-certified.

Ordering Notes

Several notes when ordering a ThinkPad X200:

1. The ThinkPad X200 retains much of the same basic design of the previous generation ThinkPad X-series notebooks, but switches from a 4:3 12-inch display to a 12-inch widescreen display. It weighs from 3.0 to 3.6 pounds, depending on battery size. The X200 uses the same power supplies and docking solutions that X61s used.
2. All ThinkPad X200s include Penryn versions of Intel's flagship Core 2 Duo processor.
3. Having at least 2.0 GB RAM is essential for the optimal functionality of a modern notebook.
4. As with any lightweight notebook, ISC suggests that LSPs consider purchasing both a high-capacity (9 cell) and a low-capacity (4 or 6 cell) battery along with an extra AC power adapter for the ThinkPad X200. Providers may also wish to consider Lenovo's range of port replicators and docking solutions, which include a port replicator, a mini dock, and a full dock.
5. The X200 includes many connectivity options including 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, WWAN connectivity from AT&T and Verizon, and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR. The 802.11n standard has still not been finalized as of August 2008, and so currently shipping 802.11n products may not work correctly in the future without a firmware update. ISC no longer discourages their purchase and use, but advises that the buyer beware. ISC believes that Bluetooth is a good choice for most X200 users and that WWAN connectivity is useful for many 'road warriors'.

See ISC's Notebook Computer Purchasing Guide for more configuration hints. As of August 2008, configuring a ThinkPad X200 to the Lightweight Notebook specification can be done for approximately $1,750.

ISC sees the ThinkPad X200 as one of the best of the high performance lightweight notebooks available in late 2008. The University's Computer Connection will have at least one X200 configuration available as soon as possible.

--John Mulhern III, Lead for Client Technologies, ISC Technology Support Services (August 12, 2008)