Pull The Trigger On Thinkpad x220?

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Bisectors Fore

Limp Gawd
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Aug 24, 2008
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I posted a thread on here a couple months ago looking for advice on a new laptop to take to school with me, and the feedback I got was pretty unanimous in favor of the Lenovo Thinkpad x220. Unfortunately it was a one-day deal at the time, and I wasn't quick enough to jump on it with such short notice. However, college is getting very close and I am still in need of a computer.

Today on Lenovo's website I noticed that the x220 was on sale for ~$800, or around 50% off. It looks pretty good to me and I'm tempted to go ahead and order one since the e-coupon is only good until tomorrow. Just wanted to get some outside advice before I push away 800 clams. For example if there are any tweaks to the configuration that would be advisable etc, or if I am overlooking an option that makes more sense elsewhere. Really though if you just want to tell me to go ahead and buy the x220 that's fine with me; it'll make me feel more confident about the decision. :D Thanks!
 
I love my x220T. Going to be using it for grad school. I had an x200 before that, non-T. Excellent laptop(s).
 
Mak said:
I love my x220T. Going to be using it for grad school. I had an x200 before that, non-T. Excellent laptop(s).
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Thanks for you input. Aside from the reversible display, the x220 and x220t are basically the same, right? Also I remember reading somewhere that the x220 has an IPS panel. Is that the case and if so does it matter what display option I choose in my configuration? Thanks again.
 
invoice2.PNG


That's the config I just ordered. Search slickdeals to try and find a promo code that works for you. Don't believe it's really 50% off, no way it would really sell for $1600 now.
 
Bisectors Fore said:
Thanks for you input. Aside from the reversible display, the x220 and x220t are basically the same, right? Also I remember reading somewhere that the x220 has an IPS panel. Is that the case and if so does it matter what display option I choose in my configuration? Thanks again.
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I think the X220 w/ i7 has USB 3.0. Otherwise, they are essentially the same. I think the IPS option is called Premium HD Display.
 
lathode said:
That's the config I just ordered. Search slickdeals to try and find a promo code that works for you. Don't believe it's really 50% off, no way it would really sell for $1600 now.
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Thanks, I'll check it out!

Mak said:
I think the IPS option is called Premium HD Display.
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Yeah, that seems to be what I've found as well.

Mak said:
I think the X220 w/ i7 has USB 3.0. Otherwise, they are essentially the same.
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I'm concerned by some reviews I've read that report problems with 1) the touchpad being too big which results in "phantom clicks" and erratic cursor movement from the users palms while typing, and 2) that the system fans were on often and made a lot of noise. From an owner's standpoint, can you share what your experience is with these issues? Many thanks.
 
lathode said:
invoice2.PNG


That's the config I just ordered. Search slickdeals to try and find a promo code that works for you. Don't believe it's really 50% off, no way it would really sell for $1600 now.
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Good god, that has the IPS optioned, doesn't it? What code did you use?
 
lathode said:
invoice2.PNG


That's the config I just ordered. Search slickdeals to try and find a promo code that works for you. Don't believe it's really 50% off, no way it would really sell for $1600 now.
Click to expand...

Wow that is a GREAT deal for an x220. Lenovos are rock solid and is my personal favorite laptop brand.
 
Chibo said:
Good god, that has the IPS optioned, doesn't it? What code did you use?
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Damn, I think it's even $20 cheaper now. Go through Mastercard Marketplace and search lenovo. You don't have to actually use a mastercard.
 
lathode said:
Damn, I think it's even $20 cheaper now. Go through Mastercard Marketplace and search lenovo. You don't have to actually use a mastercard.
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I will cry if there aren't crazy deals on the X220 in about two weeks. I have to wait to buy. :(
 
Bisectors Fore said:
Thanks, I'll check it out!



Yeah, that seems to be what I've found as well.



I'm concerned by some reviews I've read that report problems with 1) the touchpad being too big which results in "phantom clicks" and erratic cursor movement from the users palms while typing, and 2) that the system fans were on often and made a lot of noise. From an owner's standpoint, can you share what your experience is with these issues? Many thanks.
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1) I don't use the touchpad, so I have it disabled. I can't comment on what it's like when its not disabled.

2) My fans do not rev up and run at a really high RPM. You cannot hear the fan at all in a quiet room.
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys! Looks like I can shave another $120 off the price with that MasterCard MarketPlace option. :D I really want to take the plunge on this thing. At this point my main concern other than the touchpad issue is the lack of an optical drive, since I will be using it for schoolwork. I do have another PC with a disc drive though, as well as flash drives etc, so hopefully it'll work out. Any more input is welcome. :)
 
Bisectors Fore said:
Thanks for all the feedback guys! Looks like I can shave another $120 off the price with that MasterCard MarketPlace option. :D I really want to take the plunge on this thing. At this point my main concern other than the touchpad issue is the lack of an optical drive, since I will be using it for schoolwork. I do have another PC with a disc drive though, as well as flash drives etc, so hopefully it'll work out. Any more input is welcome. :)
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external burners are pretty cheap if you really need one.
 
By the way, if you're taking a lot of math and science classes, the x220 TABLET is better for you. It'll be better since you can write equations and such.
 
Bisectors Fore said:
Thanks for all the feedback guys! Looks like I can shave another $120 off the price with that MasterCard MarketPlace option. :D I really want to take the plunge on this thing. At this point my main concern other than the touchpad issue is the lack of an optical drive, since I will be using it for schoolwork. I do have another PC with a disc drive though, as well as flash drives etc, so hopefully it'll work out. Any more input is welcome. :)
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In the three years that I have used this form factor, I have needed an optical once or twice. I keep everything on flash drives/hard drives. The optical media is an archive that never gets touched for me.
 
Jack Flash said:
FTFY
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OneNote 2010 on a device like the x220 has a LOT of advantages over pencil and paper. Pencil and paper can be digitally manipulated or searched. The inking capability in Windows 7 is VERY good and should be even better in Windows 8 and any student can gain something from digital ink particularly for math and science studies.
 
heatlesssun said:
OneNote 2010 on a device like the x220 has a LOT of advantages over pencil and paper. Pencil and paper can be digitally manipulated or searched. The inking capability in Windows 7 is VERY good and should be even better in Windows 8 and any student can gain something from digital ink particularly for math and science studies.
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Admittedly my experience is limited to older, clunky XP tablets, but it's hard to beat 100 sheets of paper for $0.15.
 
Jack Flash said:
Admittedly my experience is limited to older, clunky XP tablets, but it's hard to beat 100 sheets of paper for $0.15.
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If you have to have a laptop anyway the difference in the additional cost of a convertible tablet isn't significantly more than the cost of pen and paper when compared to the cost of a college education. Moreover there are tremendous capability gains in a convertible tablet that lead to productivity increases that would more than offset the higher acquisition cost of a tablet.
 
jeremyshaw said:
perfectly searchable, too. (well, if you are well organized :p)
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Tell me how you can search thousands of pages of paper based handwritten notes instantly for keywords and phrases. Plus how would you email or embed audio, video, typed text and online content into paper based notes?

While that pen and paper based note taking is cheaper comparing it to note taking is like comparing a manual typewriter to a word processor.
 
heatlesssun said:
Tell me how you can search thousands of pages of paper based handwritten notes instantly for keywords and phrases. Plus how would you email or embed audio, video, typed text and online content into paper based notes?

While that pen and paper based note taking is cheaper comparing it to note taking is like comparing a manual typewriter to a word processor.
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of course, you completely missed the point of the post :p

Not suprising, since sarcasm is easily taken out of context to be berated :eek:
 
The Tablet functionality of the x220T is awesome. My math class this coming semester has all homework done online and you are required to scan in your scratchpaper for full solution credit. This tablet will help bunches since I can just use the tablet and skip the scanning. There is a rumor that my next semester physics class is switching to the same system of homework.
 
Sweet, the x220t is going to make your life SO much easier. Just print to PDF and you're done.
 
I go away for a day and the thread turns into debate over tablets vs. pencil and paper... :rolleyes: :p

Went ahead and ordered the x220. I can post specs later but right now I'm too tired. Thanks everyone. :)
 
Congrats! I think you'll like it. I've been using Windows Tablet PCs since they came out in 2002 and there is a LOT of debate over Tablet PCs and per and paper, one reason why I didn't pick up on jeremy's sarcasm.

Hope you enjoy and post back your thoughts when you get it.
 
For the guys bickering over OneNote vs. Pen/Pencil for notes........if you use Evernote, you can paste your notes (as long as it's JPG) and it will perform OCR on them and allow you to search. If you have premium, it will do that for PDF's. The handwriting recognition is pretty decent, at least for my handwriting which isn't too pretty.
 
Evernote is very nice but if you really need to use ink there's just nothing for most people that will beat OneNote. Ink is built right into the program and is a first-class input method.
 
Just my x220 via UPS today (sooner than expected). :D From my first impression I have say it seems like quite a high-quality system. Setup was a snap, the display is bright and crisp (I got the IPS option), the keyboard feels good, and the machine runs lightning-fast! With 6GB of memory and the quad-core i5 @ 2.5Ghz it's got almost the juice of my full tower rig packed into ~4 pound chassis. I'm still getting used to how small this thing is after my previous bulky 17" laptop, but in the end I guess that will just make it that much easier to transport with me. Overall I'd say I am quite satisfied with the purchase. Thanks for the advice everyone! :)
 
Congrats! I've really enjoyed mine thus far, it's a very nice device for the price and the performance is probably the thing I like most about it.
 
Bisectors Fore said:
Just my x220 via UPS today (sooner than expected). :D From my first impression I have say it seems like quite a high-quality system. Setup was a snap, the display is bright and crisp (I got the IPS option), the keyboard feels good, and the machine runs lightning-fast! With 6GB of memory and the quad-core i5 @ 2.5Ghz it's got almost the juice of my full tower rig packed into ~4 pound chassis. I'm still getting used to how small this thing is after my previous bulky 17" laptop, but in the end I guess that will just make it that much easier to transport with me. Overall I'd say I am quite satisfied with the purchase. Thanks for the advice everyone! :)
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The Core i5's are dual core with hyper threading, not quad core.
 
I just bought an Asus EEE slate windows 7 tablet. Was that a mistake compared to this?
 
Sabiancym said:
I just bought an Asus EEE slate windows 7 tablet. Was that a mistake compared to this?
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I have both the EP121 and the x220t and it really depends on what you really want. The EP121 is lighter and thinner but is a good bit slower and only half the battery life of the x220t with the six-cell battery. The EP121's AFFS+ screen is very nice and bright with great viewing angles, brighter than the standard IPS screen on the the x220t but it's glossy. The EP121's screen however DOES work better in bright light because AFFS+ is superior to IPS in bright light because it's transflective, some of the bright light actually helps the screen be visible instead of just blocking out the back light.

Also the pen and touch on the EP121 works better. The x220t has some issues with accuracy around the edges and some have complained about the x220's accuracy. Touch also seems a bit more responsive. But in real world use for note taking the x220 works very well for me.

I have an i7 in my x220t, and the performance is as I said significantly better, plays a decent number of modern games on medium settings and it's a great laptop with a great keyboard.

If I had to have one or the other for ALL of my needs I'd take the x220t simply because it's more versatile and powerful. If I was looking for a secondary device or something for ink note taking and very portable for a Windows machine I'd go with the EP121. It just depends on what you want, the x220t is a great convertible tablet and the EP121 is the about the best pure Windows slate on the market now.
 
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