Full review of Lenovo X300
Although it looks completely different (apart from its measures,) the Lenovo X300 is a direct competitor to the MacBook Air; it's a 13.3" super-slim, business oriented laptop that fits into a standard size interoffice envelope. Another striking similarity is the price tag - just like the SSD-equipped version of the MacBook Air, it will set you back roughly $3,000.
A major selling point for the X300 is that is has all the things that the MacBook Air is missing right out of the box. There's a built-in optical drive, three USB ports instead of just one, and a removable battery. Lenovo has still managed to keep the entire package very slim and light. It weighs only 2.93 lbs., actually a little less than the MacBook Air does.
Lenovo is hardly known for exotic and one-of-a-kind design choices, but the X300 is a notable exception. Although it's obviously more discreet than the MacBook Air, it's definitely eye-catching with its incredibly slim frame.
Lenovo touts the X300 as the "no-compromise" ultraportable, and that's certainly no understatement. A 64 GB solid state drive is part of the standard equipment, and so are a 1440x900 LED-backlit display and an Intel Core 2 Duo SL7100 CPU - every part designed to keep power consumption down while not compromising on performance. To save some additional battery time, the Intel processor is of the low voltage variety and is only clocked at 1.2 GHz, but it seems to perform well enough for office tasks and media playback.
The integrated Intel graphics chip (GMA X3100) is not sufficient for any demanding 3D tasks, but then again, those who buy this computer are probably not looking to play Crysis on it. Besides, integrated graphics is the right choice if you're looking for a lengthy battery life.
When you use the 6-cell battery and swap the optical drive for another 3-cell battery, Lenovo claims that youâ ll have enough for a 10-hour battery life. This claim turned out to be slightly exaggerated, but we still managed to squeeze out 6-7 hours worth of average use, which is probably more than enough for most users.
Lenovo has clearly paid a lot of attention to detail on the X300. It has a biometric fingerprint reader for improved laptop security, and a tiny integrated webcam at the top of the lid. The comfortable full-size keyboard does not flex, and the touchpad is likewise comfortable, with just the right size and two scrolling areas. The trademark ThinkPad pointing stick is also present for those who can't live without it.
All in all, Lenovo's X300 is a full-featured ultraportable that should suit any traveling business user who can afford it.
Lenovo X300 Technical Specifications
* Processor 1.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo L7100 (Low Voltage)
* Memory 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2
* Harddrive 64 GB Solid State Drive
* OS Windows Vista Business/Windows XP
* Weight 2.93-3.51 lbs (1.33-1.59 kg)
* Screen 13.3 inches
* Screen resolution 1440x900
