02/25/2008, 10:50pm, EST
Monday, February 25thLenovo makes ThinkPad X300 official
Lenovo tonight preempted its own schedule and officially launched the ThinkPad X300, its own attempt at the new 13.3-inch ultraportable class effectively launched by the MacBook Air. The release system largely matches early details and exchanges speed for expandability while ranging between 0.9 and 0.7 inches thick and weighing as little as 2.9 pounds. Using the small CPU package as the Apple system, the X300 is clocked at a lower 1.2GHz but gains a drive bay that allows for an internal DVD burner or extended battery as well as three USB ports and gigabit Ethernet. It can also be upgraded to the same 4GB of memory as bulkier notebooks.
The X300 is touted as a longevity champion thanks to power-saving technologies: the CPU, LED-backlit display, extended battery, and a standard 64GB solid-state hard drive contribute to as many as 10 hours of continuous runtime while still providing a removable battery for long flights or other special cases. Frequent travelers can also load up the ThinkPad with 3G wireless, GPS navigation, or Wireless USB.
Prices officially begin at $2,799 for a stock system without a DVD drive or the extra wireless options beyond Wi-Fi, though buyers have the choice between Windows XP and Vista. Lenovo says the X300 should be available for sale tomorrow both through its online store as well as retail shops, though shipments from the online store will not begin immediately.
Filed under: computers
Other story tags: Core 2, MacBook Air, Lenovo, ThinkPad
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The curious thing is that X300 prices start at $2,799 compared to $1,799 for the MacBook Air.
What you give up in looks on a thinkpad you make back in the build quality. They are built like tanks and LAST.
Who cares if you can swap out the hard drive in five minutes with a single screw? No one wants lines on the bottom of the thing!
Keep in mind that people had been downloading music well before the iTMS came along. It's actually the concept of 'buying' digital music that is new, but many people had already gone digital with their music (be it from 'illegal' downloads or from ripping CDs).
This also means that (more than) one in ten bucks of the record labels' profits come from Apple. Since the trend is obvious, and pace is accelerated, labels are desperate for some serious competition to Apple, otherwise, they'll lose all control over their products and customers will win.
You should be desparate for competition as well, as competition drives innovation, lower price, and more control for consumers. Customers don't win from having a single source of content (otherwise people would've been happy with MS, AT&T, Comcast, etc).
I think you missed the point of the ad. Of course road warriors don't want to, and just don't, carry around peripherals and adapters. The point of the ad is "We pack more into this envelope then the Air does, in basically the same size.
Oh, and it doesn't weigh any more then the air, either.
I know that if I traveled as a road warrior, it'd be the Air, not the levono.
Well, duh. But you're also a Mac user, so you don't have much choice (not that you'd want choice).