Lenovo ThinkPad X130E Released

Source: Lenovo

Lenovo is now allowing online orders of their new student-friendly ThinkPad. Their price is starting at $429. (I don't know why they say they're "from $938." That's some bullshit.)

After the jump, my thoughts on the changes Lenovo have made to the new X130E as compared to the older version.


Oh good, you made it past the jump. I was worried.

The most obvious change to the X130E compared to the older versions, and even the other ThinkPad models, is the rounding of the corners. I believe this choice was to make it more accessible to schools, who don't want kids to stab themselves in the eyes with the corner of their laptop. This is pretty take-it-or-leave-it for me. Doesn't make too much of a difference.

A good improvement, though, is the rubberized top cover. As I noted in my video review, the older X120E is somewhat slick, lending it to falling out of your hands rather easily. The rubberized surface on the top of the X130E should ensure that little hands (and your hands, should you choose) don't let the computer slip and fall.

Source: Lenovo

The overall style of the computer.... Well. It's a ThinkPad. I'm a fan of the matte black look which they've kept going all these years, but as compared to the X120E the X130E, to my biased eye, looks bulbous and less slick. Figuratively. Also literally. See above. They do now offer the rubberized section in multiple colors, which is cool, particularly for schools who want to be able to color-code their netbooks. (This option doesn't currently seem to be available in the online ordering system)

Style aside, the changes to the chassis, particularly the rubberized lid, are definitely favorable. And, in a particularly favorable move, Lenovo has moved the speakers from the bottom of the computer to the top, above the keyboard! They still put the microphone underneath your palm (Ugh), but this computer is an incremental upgrade, and I don't think it's designed to change everything about the X120E.

What originally attracted me to the X120E wasn't just the sleek looks. I originally got it because of its AMD Fusion E-350 processor, which combines a CPU and GPU into one unit. The X130E doesn't forget its heritage, and brings the offering up to speed with the minimum of a dual-core processor. (The older version had the E-240 single-core processor as an option. Eww.) It's 2012 and this was definitely the right decision. Phones are beginning to all have dual cores. It's time for your netbook to follow suit.

NotebookCheck.com - The options for X130E CPUs, plus the E-350, which is in my X120E.

Also added to the lineup is an Intel option. Not only can you choose up to the AMD Fusion E-450 (50MHz faster CPU, up to 100MHz faster GPU, as compared to the E-350), but you can also choose an Intel i3-2367M CPU in combination with the Intel HD 3000 graphics. This Sandy Bridge processor not only has a lower TDP than its AMD counterparts, meaning it should use less power and produce less heat, but it also has hyper-threading and significantly improved benchmarks (On the order of 50% or more, up to about 100%). Its graphics processor likewise features improved gaming benchmarks. Unfortunately these upgrades come at a cost of about $100 over the E-300, or $60 over the E-450, as of the time of this writing.

CPU Summary: If you can afford it, go for the Intel option. Sandy Bridge is efficient and has far superior IPC (Instructions Per Clock) to the AMD processors.

As far as the other options for the computer goes, it looks as if Lenovo is looking to nickel-and-dime everyone. Bluetooth, which I had expected to be a standard feature, is a $20 option. Various other options seem to be around to get a couple more dollars out of buyers.

My verdict? If I could somehow throw $100 into my X120E to get a X130E, I would definitely do it. However, as it is, I am pleased with mine. If somebody comes asking for a suggestion on a small but powerful computer, I'll probably point them toward the Intel version of the X130E.

I'd love to do a full review with this computer actually in my hands, but it's probably not in the cards. It's the way it works when you have to buy everything you review. And you're poor. :-P

EDIT: I mistakenly reported that the speakers were on the bottom of the computer, under the palm rest. This has been fixed.