Lenovo ThinkPad X200 review

Let’s get this straight: the X200, like all of its ThinkPad stablemates, isn’t particularly good-looking – at least not in the traditional sense. Spend a few moments with this laptop, however, and its allure soon becomes clear. All the ThinkPad hallmarks are there: the smooth, matte-black lid, the utilitarian straight edges, that keyboard, and the red trackpoint nestling in the centre.

Look closer and you’ll find the slightest hint of glamour – the familiar matte-black lid has a slight sparkle to it. The X200 is tiny, too, and with a weight of just 1.55kg, it’s very light.

There are some compromises here. There’s no optical drive and, to keep the laptop’s footprint as compact as possible, no trackpad either.

However, the trackpoint is supremely accurate, so much so that we never missed a traditional trackpad while we were using it. And, when it’s set in the centre of such a perfect keyboard, it would be churlish to complain.

Security is at the forefront, with a fingerprint reader and TPM 1.2 chip ready to keep sensitive data away from prying eyes.

And, for an ultraportable, the X200 is uncommonly sturdy. Sony’s VGN-Z21MN/B pips the Lenovo to the post in several regards, but build quality isn’t one of them. In terms of reliability and longevity, the X200 wins.

Performance is a bit below what we’d expect, but it’s still fast. An Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 and 4GB of DDR3 memory is a potent combination, as the score of 1.23 in our benchmarks testifies.

Far more important is that battery life is strong. Light usage saw the Lenovo’s 5,200mAh battery last more than 7hrs 30mins and, impressively, it also managed just short of two hours in our heavy-usage test. Add the optional nine-cell battery and the X200 will be effortlessly capable of all-day computing.

Partner the X200 with a docking station and an external display and it can replace your office PC. Sling it in a bag and its embedded 3G, extended battery life and light weight make it a perfect travelling companion. There simply is no better business ultraportable.