ThinkPad X1: Is it Real?

Bemoaning the fact that Lenovo doesn’t make a ThinkPad as thin and light and beautiful as the MacBook Air, I recently purchased a MacBook Air (and wrote about it HERE and HERE). But now comes news that Lenovo may be (assuming this is real) launching a MacBook Air killer as soon as next month. Here’s the auto-translated word from the German site Tell-IT:


13.3 "Premium Notebook: ThinkPad X1

Highlights:

The thinnest ThinkPad ever built

Outstanding, unique performance in its class (the new Intel ® Core ™ i5 built in 32nm technology)

Quality materials and elegant appearance

Highly resistant ( meeting of 8 million U.S.. Specs **, display from Corning Gorilla Glass)

Outstanding multimedia capabilities (Dolby Home Theater v4, HD-VOIP properties)

LED Backlit Keyboard

USB 3.0, eSata, 4-1 Card Reader, Digital Display Port (HDMI, DisplayPort 
mSata interface (SSD via mini PCI slot)

Up to 10 hours of electricity network independently

Outdoor panel with 350NITS luminosity


Most stunning, of course, are the pictures:

X1-FrontViewSideLeft

X1-RearView

X1-KbdDetail

X1-FlatViewFromSide

X1-FlatViewFromDown

X1-T4xThicknessComparsion

In case that bottom one isn’t obvious, it’s a thickness comparison between just the lower deck part of the new ThinkPad T420S and the entire body of the X1.

Also, some specs are relevant here, good, indifferent and bad.

Good: Weight (3 to 3.8 pounds), processor (second-gen i5), ports (USB 3.0, RAM (up to 8 GB), display (Gorilla Glass)

Indifferent: Battery life (up to 5 hours)

Bad: Price (~$3000 in international markets, though it will surely be less in the US – but how much less?), 1366 x 768 screen resolution (hopefully you can get 1440 x 900 as an option)

Of course, the big question, put simply: Is it real? And if so, how much will this thing cost in the US? And when?

Discuss this Article 3

whiplash55
on Apr 24, 2011
The Air is still running 2 generation old hardware, and as far as know OSX still doesn't support trim.(but you're running Win 7) The X is running Sandy Bridge from what I've heard, but you loose the great keyboard. The new Samsung Series 9 looks very cool as well and is running around $1700.

rickhamilton620
on Apr 25, 2011
It is real: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/24/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-confirmed-faster-c...

Regretting that MBA purchase yet Paul? :P

MusK
on Apr 25, 2011
Since your recent MacBook Air purchase, please look at this article:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/04/22/apple_to_begin_production_...

Next month they will be selling refreshed MB Air with Core i5 CPUs...

Also, for the X1, it looks like it's confirmed:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/24/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-confirmed-faster-c...

Regards,
MusK








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