Lenovo ThinkPad X300-An office de-light

The Lenovo ThinkPad X300, which runs on a Core 2 Duo processor chip and a massive RAM capacity of 2GB, features a 13.3 inch screen at a resolution of 1440*900 pixels which is quite impressive for an ultra portable like this. At this resolution, the icons and the text seem to be a little hard for the user to read. While working on a PDF or a word file, it would be a good idea to zoom in to see what you are doing. This drawback is compromised by the extra detail the user can get from watching movie or playing game. 

For an ultra portable pc, the keyboard is very important as it determines the user experience as the user will be working on it the most. The X300 has a complete keypad which is also featured in the 14″ and 15″ models of Lenovo ThinkPad family. For users that type in the dark a lot, Lenovo has added a small keyboard light on the right of the webcam. This small light is quite powerful as it illuminates the entire keyboard. Added to this, the buttons above the keyboard such as the Think Vintage, power key, etc all glow when pressed. 

While all the standard functions are included, the X300 also has a few high end tricks up its sleeve. In built GPS and WWAN connectivity are big hits for those who travel a lot and don’t want to get lost in the middle of nowhere. WWAN enables the user to surf the internet at high speeds wireless.  

The X300 also incorporates a DVD-burner for storing backup data or for watching movies. The optical drive is situated on the right of the system. The sides of the units also have a very thorough selection of ports, such as USB ports, SVGA ports, etc…There is a solid-state hard drive in the unit which is limited in size but has higher rotation speed than the normal hard drives.

The width of the unit is less than an inch and is very light, about 2.9- 3.5 pounds. This is the sleekest ThinkPad up until now. The X300 is built in a regular black case around a magnesium chassis which makes it ultra-durable. The lid and the wrist rest all feature an appealing soft matte finish. For added security measures, the X300 has a fingerprint scanner which saves you the trouble of remembering all your passwords and making access to restricted files as simple as all you have to do is swipe your finger over the reader. 

Both the touchpad and the red pointed Track Point are present. The track point is used for users who are accustomed to it while the other users can use the touchpad. The track point allows the user to move more freely and the material that is used for its construction is very unique as it makes the track point feel as if glued to your finger.   

The X300 also has removable battery, so in case you’re primary battery fails, you can insert the larger 8 cell battery for continuous use. Battery life is rated at 2 hours 45 min for the 6 cell lithium battery and 4 hrs 42 min for the 8 cell lithium battery. The 8-cell battery sticks out from the back a little. 

The only downside of the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 is the price. The base configuration will cost you about $2476. Upgrading the unit will further increase the price. But as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for”. So for the X300, which has an innovative design, has tons of features and all the cutting edge components, I’d say the price is alright. 

Overall, we should congratulate the Lenovo engineers for successfully incorporating portability and usability into one machine, namely the Lenovo ThinkPad X300.