Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, one classy Windows 8 laptop

There are only a few Windows eight laptops in production that we can consider to exist the 'high terminate', machines with exacting build quality and specifications to match. While many PC makers are content to button out hum drum machines with middling specs and and so and so functioning the aforementioned cannot be said for Lenovo and their ThinkPad range. Over the years their quality and reliability have become legend amongst the virtually demanding of laptop buyers.

The ThinkPad X1 comes in a trunk woven from Carbon fibre in a way like to that of the current crop of Ultrabooks. Lenovo seems keen on finally shunting the expect of their machines forrad and accept recently adopted Chicklet keyboards and of course the wedge shape body pattern we accept all come to recognize of late.  I'll be kick the tires on the X1 to see how well Lenovo accept melded the heritage of ThinkPad with the modern styling of an Ultrabook.

Specifications

The Lenovo X1 we take hither is fairly pimped out spec-wise, coming with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 3g Modem and an Intel Core i5 3427U CPU. It also has a fingerprint reader, 2x USB ports of which only one is USB 3.0, a mini display port and a carte reader. The device is without an Ethernet jack so must rely on Wi-Fi unless y'all invest in a USB accompaniment. The X1 has a fourteen" matt display with a resolution of 1600x900 but this ane also has some anti-glare treatment on it also.

Design

The X1 Carbon has the design cues of many modern Ultrabooks while dispensing with the indigestible and functional design of the more traditional X230 serial for a sleeker looking wedge shape. The body is function fabricated of carbon fibre and finished with the signature soft touch issue familiar to other non-Edge branded ThinkPads.

In Stretching out the overall pattern into a wedge shape they take been able to provide a large expanse of wrist infinite which has been lacking on the Ten serial machines of the past. It is at present very comfortable when typing for long periods as a issue.

Ability, vents, USB and Radio Switch

The matt cease combined with the night colours and potent structure evoke a feeling that y'all're  using some course of exotic military grade computing device that shouldn't actually be in the hands of the general public. The backlit keyboard and sprinkling of tiny greenish lights with flashes of red accents certainly add to that effect. The dark gray expanses are merely cleaved up across the device past the Lenovo and ThinkPad logos and some vents here and there. Otherwise it's all black, polish and precise.

The X1 weighs in less than my older X200 while giving me a much bigger screen display and far more superior ergonomic benefits.

Card Reader, Headphone Jack, USB and Brandish Port

Construction

The automobile is constructed very well indeed and has sturdy hinges on the screen which also let the display to lie totally flat with the main body. There are a surprising number of times when yous can put this odd configuration to expert use, one of those is to bring the screen to head height when using on the sofa. At that place are of course top undercover uses for such flexibility which we cannot and will not disclose here in the review.

When the chapeau is closed the laptop is totally solid and if you squeeze it in that location isn't any give and there certainly aren't any creaks or groans of any tell-tale cheap plastic. When the laptop is in use the lid will stay firmly in identify due to those hefty hinges but every bit the screen has a very thin bezel in that location is some degree of flex in that display. Being that I am used to the X2xx series that comes a piddling bit of a surprise equally I am well used to screens that do not flex in whatever meaningful mode. Because that this is clearly a movement to slim down the looks of the X series this type of flexing is likely unavoidable.

Backlit keyboard

Keyboard

Arguably one of the key differentiators on a ThinkPad laptop compared to any other machine on the market place is the quality of the keyboard. Actually it wouldn't exist out of place to throw this under the construction header as it is so primal to the overall build of the car. I have been using ThinkPad laptops for many years and take come up to dear their keyboards. The traditional sculpted keys on the X2xx of the past were recently replaced with the decidedly Mac flavoured Chicklet style keyboards over the last few generations.

This choice has alarmed many ThinkPad fans including myself, I had bought a ThinkPad Edge machine some years back and the Chicklet keyboard included was far from impressive. The spongy feeling and lack of feedback was a existent disappointment. The ThinkPad X1 I am pleased to report seems to have finally nailed this type of keyboard and strikes a not bad balance in terms of looking good but giving a bully typing experience also.

Primal presses are registered accurately and there isn't any sign of spongy response of weak structure. The backlight keys are also a marked improvement over the quaint little overhead lite from yesteryear. There is no doubtfulness at all that the keyboard on the X1 is a joy to apply and designed to really get work done over long stretches of time. Consider me converted on that front as I now prefer this to my older style keyboard.

Large Trackpad, buttons and Trackpoint

Trackpad and TrackPoint

I have to admit I'g not unremarkably a fan of trackpads often finding them clumsy and bad-mannered to use but the X1 has changed my listen. The Trackpad here is a good size and finished with a slightly matt/soft texture which added to my accurateness when moving around the screen. It also works incredibly well with the gestures in Windows 8. The winner here for me though is that the red trackpoint is still here and as e'er works incredibly well being both accurate and well suited to keep your fingers nigh to the keyboard at all times. As with nearly pointing devices its really nice to switch betwixt devices to reduce strain related injuries and then having both hither is a definite win.

Brandish

The automobile comes with a 14" HD+ screen which has punchy levels of brightness and has good viewing angles. The brandish doesn't have a super high resolution panel compared to many machines these days and tops out at 'just' 1600x900. Just my own personal preference is not for such high density displays on Windows machines especially for desktop piece of work. Any higher resolution would hateful having to bump up the DPI scaling in Windows which never tends to work well. If this is ever properly fixed in Windows then I would welcome much higher DPI displays with open arms.

Operation

The X1 I was supplied came with Windows 7 which I apace changed out for the rather more nimble Windows eight. Afterwards doing a clean install of the new OS, it takes this machine 20 seconds from pressing the power push to go to the kickoff screen subsequently I swipe my finger to login. As a comparing my aged SSD equipped X200 takes a full 45 seconds to get to the start screen in a similar way.

Due to the fast SSD and 8GB Ram, getting things washed on the desktop is just a breeze. The Core i5 CPU was able to chew through my usual daily tasks without breaking a sweat.  Photoshop piece of work was a pleasure on the big screen and the motorcar is more than than capable of being a good stand in for my workstation course desktop machine when on the motility. The system feels very responsive at all times and I never feel like information technology'due south going to run out of steam even when having multiple apps open, tons of browser tabs and my favourite twitter client open.

Peak Lenovo X200. Middle X1, Bottom ThinkPad Edge

As I have been testing this with Windows 8 installed I can report that WinRT app functioning is peachy. The vivid colourful starting time screen literally pops on the 14" loftier res brandish and switching between apps is extremely rapid. The new touch friendly side of Windows 8 is very swift anyway simply it is worth mentioning that the X1 tackles it all with silky smooth panache.

In utilise I have been seeing consistent bombardment life of a solid 4-5 hours with normal apply which information technology has to be said is certainly not best in grade. Loftier end Samsung laptops are able to all-time that by some margin but the X1 does benefit from Lenovo rapid charging. That technology can elevation up your supply in super quick time, 30mins and you can become at least eighty% of your battery capacity back. Very handy indeed.

But await, there is a touch version of the X1?

The Lenovo X1 Carbon has recently been updated with a bear upon screen to support Windows 8' new UI features. Because how much Windows 8 wants to be touched the Carbon model with the touch screen was certainly considered but ultimately rejected. A number of factors meant information technology wouldn't fit my needs; the first of those is that reaching over a fairly big laptop to touch the screen would be uncomfortable. The bear on screen would too add slightly to the weight and as well reduce the bombardment performance further. In short my Microsoft Surface will be my touch screen Windows viii auto for the time being until I find a form factor that is truly all-time of all worlds.

The first-class performance of the pointing devices and gesture support work really well on the X1 and has meant I do not need to touch on the screen. As this machine is to exist used mainly for desktop piece of work I would rather not have it covered in fingerprints and be in need of constant cleaning. I also do non similar glossy screens for working.

Determination - There can be just one

No laptop is perfect; every device is always a fine balance of features and performance. Lenovo as ever have walked the tightrope of class and office to produce an excellent device. The build quality is simply mind bravado, from the feel of the soft-bear upon finish layer over the carbon fibre body to the rigidity of the chassis, it all oozes class.

The keyboard is somewhat of a revelation and has actually converted me away from the older style keys of my X200. Like good things can be said nearly the typing feel and the seamless integration of gestures with the oversized track pad. The machine is both fast and remains active no matter what I accept thrown at it oft feeling markedly faster than any other machine I have used in recent times.

This is not to say that the Lenovo X1 isn't without some caveats, information technology simply has a unmarried USB iii.0 port when at that place are just two available. The screen does have flex, it isn't extreme but it does take away somewhat from the feeling of rock solid build quality. Lenovo take also opted to use a new type of charger which is USB shaped and is therefore incompatible with the existing chargers I take effectually the house for my other ThinkPad's. Battery fourth dimension is likewise an area where I feel information technology could certainly do with some comeback, v hours is rather low in this 24-hour interval and age.

Ane surprising criticism of these machines is that they are merely not available in retail outlets here in the UK. Despite the fact that y'all tin pick up their low end machines in about retailers the ThinkPad units are still only available through re-sellers or Lenovo directly. Maybe it is about time Lenovo opened up a showroom and sold these premium items to the general public?

Even with the few gripes here and there the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is as close to laptop perfection equally I have encountered as it ticks so many boxes for what I regard as essential. The obvious heritage of the previous generations has been expertly grafted into this Carbon fibre Ultrabook. It leads to an overall feel that should delight anyone who is lucky enough to encounter i. Quality like this doesn't come up cheap but my recommendation is to simply close your eyes and hand over the credit carte.

Price for this spec laptop should hit effectually the £1400.00 or US $1829.00 at fourth dimension of writing from Lenovo direct.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-review

Posted by: lowthertrallese.blogspot.com

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