Product Notes: Lenovo ThinkPad X201

March 26, 2010

In March 2010, Lenovo announced the ThinkPad X201 12.1-inch widescreen, which is based on Intel's Calpella notebook platform. The ThinkPad X201 supplants the ThinkPad X200 and is a moderate update.

Design and Changes

The ThinkPad X201 is part of a three system 12-inch X series line, which also includes the slightly lighter but far less powerful ThinkPad X201s and the capable ThinkPad X201t Tablet PC.

The ThinkPad X201 retains much of the same basic design of the previous generation ThinkPad X200 12.1-inch widescreen notebook. It is about a tenth of a pound lighter than the X200, weighing from 2.9 to 3.5 pounds, depending mostly on battery size with a travel weight (which includes power adapter) ranging between 3.8 and 4.4 pounds.

The biggest single change for the ThinkPad X201 is that this generation of the X series moves to Intel's Calpella notebook platform. Most noticeably, the X201 now has an optional UltraNav trackpad, unlike the TrackPoint only restriction in previous 12-inch X series systems.

Like the X200, every X201 comes with a 12.1-inch WXGA LED backlit display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The optional webcam has been improved from 1.3 megapixels to 2.0 megapixels. The X201 uses the same power supplies and docking solutions that the X200 used.

The ThinkPad X201 is EPEAT Gold-compliant and Energy Star 5.0-certified.

Ordering Notes

Several notes when ordering a ThinkPad X201:

1. All X201 models include Arrandale versions of Intel's recently introduced Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors. Information Systems & Computing (ISC) believes that the Core i5 is appropriate for most users.
2. A 2.0 megapixel integrated web camera is optional on the X201. ISC suggests adding the web camera unless there is a specific local policy or security reason to exclude one.
3. Having at least 3.0 GB RAM is essential for the optimal functionality of a modern lightweight notebook, especially since all such models (including the X201) use integrated video.
4. ISC suggests purchasing the X201 with the UltraNav trackpad.
5. Though a 128 GB solid state drive is available with the X201, ISC does not believe that it is currently an appropriate choice for many users because the cost and size trade-offs are too great. ISC expects this assessment to continue changing throughout calendar year 2010.
6. As with any lightweight notebook, ISC suggests that LSPs consider purchasing both a high-capacity (9 cell) and a low-capacity (4 cell) battery along with an extra AC power adapter for the X201. Providers also may wish to consider Lenovo's range of peripheral accessories, such as the UltraBase media slice.
7. The X201's connectivity options include 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Gobi multi-vendor WWAN connectivity, and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. 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 hints. The University's Computer Connection will have a X201 configuration available to order as soon as possible.

Analysis

ISC sees the ThinkPad X201 as one of the better lightweight notebooks available in early 2010. In particular, the inclusion of standard voltage Core i5 and Core i7 processors makes the X201 one of the most powerful 12-inch notebooks currently on the market and justifies the 15% additional weight over its X201s cousin.

ThinkPad X201 graphic courtesy of Lenovo

--John Mulhern III, Lead for Client Technologies, ISC Technology Support Services (March 26, 2010)