Type: Ultraportable, Business, Small Business
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
RAM: 2 GB
Weight: 3.7 lb
Screen Size: 12.1 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Storage Capacity: 160 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: External
The Lenovo ThinkPad X300, introduced last February, is easily lenovo's greatest gem. But though it's as close to an impossible act to follow as an ultraportable can get, it has one major flaw—it costs $3,000! This was done, presumably, to give its other X-Series siblings such as the ThinkPad X200 ($1,199, direct) room to flourish. The X200 isn't likely to trump the X300 anytime soon, but it does have several things that make it a terrific business ultraportable. It's one of the first laptops to receive Intel's latest Centrino 2 platform (codenamed Montevina), including a powerful 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor that has a very favorable affect on battery life. Furthermore, every wireless technology imaginable is at your disposal, and your savings account won't take nearly as big a hit as with the X300.
The X200 is a faster machine than both the X300 and the X61. In fact, for now it's the fastest lenovo ultraportable. That's not to say that the X300 won't get a similar speed treatment. As a Centrino 2 baby, the X200 runs one the newest Intel "Penryn" cores, which has support for the 1,066MHz Front Side Bus (FSB). The 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 not only has a very low thermal rating (25W), but it's a standard-voltage processor as well. This means that it runs at full speed without overburdening your battery. In contrast, the T-series processors found on the HP Pavilion dv5t and the Sony VAIO VGN-FW198UH are better performers, but they'll tax their batteries more than the P8600.
The X200's SYSMark 2007 Preview Overall score bested that of the Sony SZ791N by 17% and of the lenovo X300 by 41%. A 7,200rpm hard drive and 2GB of RAM helped its cause, but the processor and the new platform were the driving forces behind the superb performance numbers. It starts with internal WWAN connectivity, with your choice of AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. The upgrade prices for an AT&T and a Verizon cellular modem are $80 and $130, respectively, although service plans are still on the pricey side. Because it's one of the first Centrino 2 laptops, the X200 runs the new Wi-Fi Link 5300 chipset. The 5300 is the higher-end version of two Centrino 2 Wi-Fi chips (the other being the 5100), sporting a larger antenna array and greater range than the previous Wi-Fi Link 4965AGN chipset. Don't worry—Centrino 2 Wi-Fi is compatible with your current routers. Like the X300, you also have options for GPS (although you'll need to have WWAN as well, since it's on the same card), UWB (wireless USB), Bluetooth 2.0, and support for WiMax. No other ultraportable has such a wide range of wireless connectivity options.
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
RAM: 2 GB
Weight: 3.7 lb
Screen Size: 12.1 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Storage Capacity: 160 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: External
The Lenovo ThinkPad X300, introduced last February, is easily lenovo's greatest gem. But though it's as close to an impossible act to follow as an ultraportable can get, it has one major flaw—it costs $3,000! This was done, presumably, to give its other X-Series siblings such as the ThinkPad X200 ($1,199, direct) room to flourish. The X200 isn't likely to trump the X300 anytime soon, but it does have several things that make it a terrific business ultraportable. It's one of the first laptops to receive Intel's latest Centrino 2 platform (codenamed Montevina), including a powerful 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor that has a very favorable affect on battery life. Furthermore, every wireless technology imaginable is at your disposal, and your savings account won't take nearly as big a hit as with the X300.
The X200 is a faster machine than both the X300 and the X61. In fact, for now it's the fastest lenovo ultraportable. That's not to say that the X300 won't get a similar speed treatment. As a Centrino 2 baby, the X200 runs one the newest Intel "Penryn" cores, which has support for the 1,066MHz Front Side Bus (FSB). The 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 not only has a very low thermal rating (25W), but it's a standard-voltage processor as well. This means that it runs at full speed without overburdening your battery. In contrast, the T-series processors found on the HP Pavilion dv5t and the Sony VAIO VGN-FW198UH are better performers, but they'll tax their batteries more than the P8600.
The X200's SYSMark 2007 Preview Overall score bested that of the Sony SZ791N by 17% and of the lenovo X300 by 41%. A 7,200rpm hard drive and 2GB of RAM helped its cause, but the processor and the new platform were the driving forces behind the superb performance numbers. It starts with internal WWAN connectivity, with your choice of AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. The upgrade prices for an AT&T and a Verizon cellular modem are $80 and $130, respectively, although service plans are still on the pricey side. Because it's one of the first Centrino 2 laptops, the X200 runs the new Wi-Fi Link 5300 chipset. The 5300 is the higher-end version of two Centrino 2 Wi-Fi chips (the other being the 5100), sporting a larger antenna array and greater range than the previous Wi-Fi Link 4965AGN chipset. Don't worry—Centrino 2 Wi-Fi is compatible with your current routers. Like the X300, you also have options for GPS (although you'll need to have WWAN as well, since it's on the same card), UWB (wireless USB), Bluetooth 2.0, and support for WiMax. No other ultraportable has such a wide range of wireless connectivity options.
