The 14” Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is 18mm thin, weighs less than 3lbs, and is made toughed by a carbon fiber top cover and aluminum roll cage. That last bit is reassuring because  if I had to endure an MRT-sardinas-siksikan episode, the X1 would survive. Me? Hell no.
The matte black finish has this softness to it, so that using it – opening it up, closing it shut, lifting it, and carrying it around – is a tactile joy. There’s no flex anywhere and when the X1 is closed, the weight feels centered in your hand. Pause for a moment to ponder that. How many ultrabooks are a joy to hold?
But that same soft-to-the-touch finish can also be a bane, if you’re a slob: it attracts fingerprints, grease, crumbs, dust. Always be ready with a microfiber cloth. After you type, wipe, wipe, wipe.
There is nothing you can say about the wide-keys of the island-style keyboard, each spaced just right from each other and with the right bounce-back. I have just this peeve about the ThinkPad “look” – it’s no doubt iconic, but it’s also dated, and non-sleek: it reminds of old an Casio calculator. The trackpoint at the keyboard’s dead-center is very responsive, and also very old school. (Also, prepare a small toothbrush in case some crumbs fall into the trackpoint, you need to brush it away.)
The keyboard is also backlit, so you can still type that passive-aggressive Facebook comment in bed, with the lights out, while everyone else sleeps.
The huge trackpad is responsive.
The battery can last up to 8 hours – I got just above 7 hours but then I was pushing it with so many browser tabs open and some of them buffered YouTube movie trailers while I watched a film in VLC. A part of me thinks a serious business executive with an X1 will never do that. Another part of me seriously doubts that. Moving along.
As for the RapidCharge technology that supposedly charges 80% of the battery in 30 minutes, I didn’t have a stopwatch at hand come charging time. But I do remember being confused when I checked the battery some time after I plugged the brick charger to the wall socket: Was I really reading a low battery warning a while ago? And why is this almost fully charged? Never mind.
Just some specs to get out of the way before we get to the X1’s price.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Specs:
- 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-3427U (1.80 GHz, 3MB L3 Cache, 1333MHz FSB) (upgradeable to i7)
- Up to Windows 7 Professional
- 14” HD wide display with anti-glare option
- Lenovo Enhanced Experience 3 for Windows 7
- Up to 256GB SSD
- Up to 8GB of RAM
- Dolby Home Theater 4
- UltraNav® TrackPoint® and new larger glass touchpad
- Island-style six-row precision backlit keyboard
- 4 Cell Lithium Polymer Battery provides up to 8 hours of use
- Rapid Charge Technology, recharges 80% of battery in 30 minutes
- 180 degree LCD bending
- Intel HD 400 graphics
- Fingerprint reader, TPM and BIOS encryption, for advanced security
- Gorilla Glass LCD Screen with 1920×800 resolution
- Business ready with Intel VPro technology
- Optional 3G mobile broadband and hotspot technology
- HD Face-Tracking camera
- Dual array microphones
Now open your mouth, let your jaw drop slightly, hold it there, perfect. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon starts at Php 112,000.00 (suggested retail price). That’s two entry level MacBook Airs or four elegant Android phones.
While a consumer might susmaryosep at the price, we are not the target market. The X1 is aimed at business executives who rely on insanely sturdy Windows 7 notebooks and corporate level security. It makes perfect sense for that notebook to be a ThinkPad.
Also, here’s what “reliability” and “sturdiness” mean. The X1 has:
* Intel® vPro Technology which enables businesses to manage, protect, repair, and locate assets from anywhere in the world.
* Integrated Fingerprint Reader that allows quick, convenient access and secure login with one swipe.
* passed Military-Specification Testing covering eight parameters: high pressure, humidity, vibration, high temperature, temperature shock, low pressure (15,000 ft), low temperature, and dust. (Jason Bourne would like this notebook.)
Greats:
* Incredibly comfortable typing and trackpad experience in a slim package.
* The secure feeling that, because of the build, your data and the notebook are, well, secure.
* The bend-till-flat-on-the-table screen is great. When the screen and keyboard are level, you can prop up the X1 on your lap and read with the screen almost at eye level.
Gripes:
* The price. P112,000.00.
* The ThinkPad look. It’s dated. But that’s just me.
* Lenovo and Norton bloatware. Uninstall or hide immediately.
* Not a gaming laptop, don’t do heavy graphic or video editing work on this.
* Some heating issue, so don’t put this on your lap for long report writing.
* My not being a business executive, which rules out the X1 as a fit for me, even if I could hypothetically afford it, which is not the case.
