I’ve had a Lenovo ThinkPad X300 for a couple of weeks, so I’d say it’s time for an unbiased review. Its successor, the X301, has been out for quite a while; you’ll find most of this stuff still applies.
- The Lenovo ThinkPad X300
So, first off, this thing is advertised as a MacBook Air killer. Both machines are exceptionally thin and light, and they’re in the same price range. Would I pit the two against each other? No, for the exact reason that people declare the X300 a clear winner: the X300 is a no-compromise configuration, whereas the MacBook Air is essentially a proof of concept. Apple wanted to build a madly thin notebook before their competitors did, and succeeded. Sure, you’re paying the Apple Tax and you don’t get any extensibility, but at least you’re buying the thinnest notebook ever. Plus, it’s a Mac. If fashion statements are your thing, don’t let me stop you.
Obviously, many of you will argue that the ThinkPad design is dated. And again, comparing to Macs is beside the point, as many leading notebook manufacturers are coming out with designer machines. Well, it is of course a subjective issue, but personally, I’m not afraid to say I like the ThinkPad design. It’s not fancy or hip, but it’s definitely not an eyesore either. It’s a timeless design with a long-standing reputation. While you may be tempted to buy a new notebook in a year’s time because they radically changed the design, mine will be standing strong. But again, it’s really a matter of taste, and shouldn’t be the buyer’s primary concern.
Getting back to what matters, let’s talk specs. The configuration I’ve got is the 6477-17G. It comes with a modest 1.20 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of PC-5300 DDR2, a blazing fast 64 GB Samsung solid-state drive, and an Intel X3100 video chipset. Plus, it’s got a DVD burner, 802.11n, BlueTooth, the works. It’s obviously not a powerhouse machine, as that was neither Lenovo’s goal, nor mine. Still, the SSD makes a big difference. A clean install of Windows XP SP3 booted in about 10 seconds.
Where ThinkPads excel, of course, is build quality—yes, the Lenovo ones too. The X300 is no exception. The unit is made of a magnesium alloy, which gives it a sturdy feel. Unfortunately, it’s also a fingerprint magnet, but they wipe right off. The keyboard is very pleasant to use and doesn’t flex at all, which is rare in notebooks. The only odd thing about the unit’s design has to be that the WiFi switch is behind the screen—of course, that’s not really an issue, but more of a peculiar choice.
As you probably know, many notebooks tend to get toasty after using them for a while. Well, the combination of the magnesium alloy, the SSD and the low-voltage CPU literally makes the X300 a cool machine. Personally, I have it set to powersave, which keeps the outside of the unit pretty much at room temperature, without even needing the fan.
One thing I’ll give the MacBook Air fanboys is that the X300’s screen isn’t that great. Now, my previous notebook had a glossy high-contrast panel, so I’m going to dislike literally any matte one at first. But while the X300’s 13.3″ LED-backlit panel is certainly bright enough, it doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word dark. That being said, I’ve got a 40″ TV, so I don’t need an all-purpose panel on my notebook. Plus, all things considered, the X300 is still a winner in the screen department, as it’s pretty much the only notebook with a 1440×900 resolution at 13.3″, which really is a vastly more comfortable choice than 1280×800.
Let’s talk autonomy. Thanks to a promotion, I was blessed with a free 6-cell battery, along with the default 3-cell one. I’m not one of those guys who times how long the battery will last, but the 3-cell one gives me around 3 hours. As I rarely go that long without being near an outlet, the bigger battery isn’t even installed right now, making my notebook that tiny bit lighter. Nevertheless, Lenovo’s thought of all you busy on-the-go professionals: you can take out the optical drive and replace it with a second battery. I don’t really care about that option, but it’s a nice touch.
Finally, Linux support is pretty good. Xubuntu intrepid had some minor ACPI issues, but jaunty works out of the box. That’s quite the treat compared to the numerous driver installations required on Windows XP, but you can hardly blame an OS older than the machine, and Lenovo’s web site has a clear listing of what you need. Moreover, I’m back to Windows XP as the primary OS on my notebook. The reason? Apart from Xubuntu not offering much of a noticeable performance increase, there’s the fact that you don’t unleash the true potential of a ThinkPad unless you install (some of) Lenovo’s Windows-only utilities. Yes, there are alternatives on Linux, but frankly, they’re a poor excuse.
In conclusion, I think I made the right choice with the X300. It’s thin, light, stays cool and while not a number-crunching beast, it’s more than speedy enough for everyday use. Even if I hadn’t gotten it fairly cheap and with a free bigger battery, I still would’ve been satisfied. The X300 is, without a doubt, the best notebook I have ever owned.
As always, I welcome your thoughts in the comment section.
Let’s face it. We’ve all got tons of stuff that runs on batteries and we can all get pretty pissed off when those batteries run out—whether that means running to the store or finding the damned charger.
Ik vraag me af of ik de enige ben die vindt dat de genaamde 
