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.
Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 3 year(s) return to base |
Physical specifications | |
| Dimensions | 295 x 210 x 35mm (WDH) |
| Weight | 1.6kg |
Processor and memory | |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 |
| Motherboard chipset | Intel PM45 Express |
| RAM capacity | 4GB |
| Memory type | DDR3 |
| SODIMM sockets free | 0 |
| SODIMM sockets total | 2 |
Screen and video | |
| Screen size | 12.1in |
| Resolution screen horizontal | 1,280 |
| Resolution screen vertical | 800 |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 |
| Graphics chipset | Intel GMA 4500 |
| VGA (D-SUB) outputs | 1 |
| HDMI outputs | 0 |
| S-Video outputs | 0 |
| DVI-I outputs | 0 |
| DVI-D outputs | 0 |
| DisplayPort outputs | 0 |
Drives | |
| Capacity | 200GB |
| Hard disk usable capacity | 175GB |
| Spindle speed | 5,400RPM |
| Internal disk interface | SATA 150 |
| Hard disk | Hitachi HTS722020K9SA00 |
| Optical disc technology | n/a |
| Optical drive | none |
| Battery capacity | 5,200mAh |
| Replacement battery price ex VAT | £78 |
| Replacement battery price inc VAT | £90 |
Networking | |
| Wired adapter speed | 1,000Mbits/sec |
| 802.11a support | yes |
| 802.11b support | yes |
| 802.11g support | yes |
| 802.11 draft-n support | yes |
| Integrated 3G adapter | yes |
Other Features | |
| Wireless hardware on/off switch | yes |
| Wireless key-combination switch | yes |
| Modem | yes |
| ExpressCard34 slots | 0 |
| ExpressCard54 slots | 1 |
| PC Card slots | 0 |
| USB ports (downstream) | 3 |
| PS/2 mouse port | no |
| 9-pin serial ports | 0 |
| Parallel ports | 0 |
| Optical S/PDIF audio output ports | 0 |
| Electrical S/PDIF audio ports | 0 |
| 3.5mm audio jacks | 2 |
| SD card reader | yes |
| Memory Stick reader | yes |
| MMC (multimedia card) reader | yes |
| Smart Media reader | no |
| Compact Flash reader | no |
| xD-card reader | no |
| Pointing device type | Trackpoint |
| Audio chipset | Conexant Azalia HD |
| Speaker location | Bottom |
| Hardware volume control? | yes |
| Integrated microphone? | yes |
| Integrated webcam? | yes |
| TPM | yes |
| Fingerprint reader | yes |
| Smartcard reader | no |
| Carry case | no |
Battery and performance tests | |
| Battery life, light use | 454 |
| Battery life, heavy use | 117 |
| Overall application benchmark score | 1.23 |
| 3D performance (crysis) low settings | 6fps |
| 3D performance setting | Medium |
Operating system and software | |
| Operating system | Windows Vista Ultimate |
| OS family | Windows Vista |
| Recovery method | Recovery partition |
| Software supplied | Lenovo ThinkVantage |
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