Thin laptops

Processor: 1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo L7100 (800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
Graphics: Intel X3100
Screen: 13.3-inch WXGA+ (1440 x 900, 300 nit) LED backlit display
Memory: 2GB (up to 4GB configurable)
Storage: 64GB SSD
Optical Drive: Ultra-thin DVD Burner
Starting from £699

For better or for worse, many consumers are demanding their laptops be extraordinarily portable and efficient. As a result, we’ve seen incredibly slim laptop models unveiled from the Apple with the likes of their MacBook Air model as well as Toshiba’s update to it’s Portege R500. Both of these are ultralight thin laptops designed for maximum portability and versatility, even if they lack the processing power and hardware configuration options of their bulkier counterparts. In that vein, the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 series brings to the table what many consumers like about the MacBook Air, such as 13.3-inch display, a thickness of less than one inch, and a full size keyboard. It also adds additional features that the MacBook fails to provide such as a built in DVD burner, WWAN connectivity and GPD capability.

In terms of design, the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 is a recognizable black, square-edged case that measures in at 0.73 of an inch think and weighs anywhere from 2.9 pounds to 3.5 pounds. The weight differential will depend upon the configuration of your choice. In particular the weight of this thin laptop is dictated primarily by your choice in battery and optical drives. A definite improvement over other Lenovo laptops, this ultraportable still manages a number of features that many users will find comforting. It comes with a ThinkVantage button placed above the keyboard, a fingerprint reader for additional security, and a keyboard light towards the top part of the display. The Lenovo ThinkPad X300 has also been revamped to appear just a bit more attractive. The lid and wrist have been equipped with a soft matte finish. The power, mute, and ThinkVantage buttons also glow when pressed and the front edge has no ports or switches. Like other Lenovo laptops it comes with a 1.3-megapixel Webcam as well as a noise-canceling digital microphone designed for easy Web conferencing. Overall this thin laptop makes for a great exercise in minimalism, and should serve any user well in most business or work related functions.

The drawbacks? The biggest flaw for the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 is definitely the price. The base model for this laptop clocks in at a hefty $2,476. Much of that price is due to the X300’s solid-state drive, which helps applications launch faster and reduced boot time. It also serves to have a longer lifetime than a traditional hard drive with moving parts. It’s rivals like the MacBook Air, however, offers a low-cost configuration that utilizes a traditional spinning hard drive. The X300 does not offer such a configuration. Despite this slightly higher cost, it’s still below the price point of a MacBook Air that’s equipped with a solid-state drive.

Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 brings in a number of features like a full-size keyboard and broad display as well as everything a mobile user should need into a lightweight case, and should definitely be taken into consideration if you’re in the market for an ultraportable laptop.

Tags: thinkpad, x300