Useful feature are dedicated switches to turn on the notebook’s wireless LAN and Bluetooth connectivity.
It also has the usual Thinkpad features, including the blue backup button (Vantage) to restore the OS and applications in a jiffy, as well as the light switch (now in a brighter white LED) to comfortably see the keyboard when typing in the dark.
Additionally, there is a dedicated volume control button on top as well as keys to control the media player together with the function (Fn) key.
On the productivity side, the X300 performed as expected — the machine is able to run all the regular productivity apps, surf the Web, play DVDs and MP3s, as well as run photo-editing software on average performance.
When it comes to battery life, it did not disappoint either as we managed to squeeze out more than three hours on a single charge.
Additionally, the DVD burner powers off when not in use to conserve battery life.
Disadvantages: Pricey; no memory card reader, default OS is Windows Vista (currently known as the worst OS in the world) and it is hard to recustomize for other operating system such as Windows XP or Linux unless you run it using on VMware. As with most products, however, the X300 has its fair share of drawbacks.
For starters, the X300 does not come with a built-in Flash memory card reader, which is really a shame as it is one of the must-have features in today’s laptops.
Then, there is the RM9,588 price tag, which clearly means it is targeted at the high-end market.
Conclusion
Ultraportable notebooks usually sacrifice a lot especially for multiple externals ports to keep their slimness and stay lightweight, but the X300 is really in a class of its own. It is very useful for technical troubleshooting guy. It is not meant for multimedia purposes. For photo editing, it is still cannot compete with Mac Book Pro.
Still, if you are willing to look past some of the drawbacks, the X300 is an ideal choice for road warriors who are looking for the ultimate thin and light notebook without sacrificing much of the features they need to be productive.
For starters, the X300 does not come with a built-in Flash memory card reader, which is really a shame as it is one of the must-have features in today’s laptops.
Then, there is the RM9,588 price tag, which clearly means it is targeted at the high-end market.
Conclusion
Ultraportable notebooks usually sacrifice a lot especially for multiple externals ports to keep their slimness and stay lightweight, but the X300 is really in a class of its own. It is very useful for technical troubleshooting guy. It is not meant for multimedia purposes. For photo editing, it is still cannot compete with Mac Book Pro.
Still, if you are willing to look past some of the drawbacks, the X300 is an ideal choice for road warriors who are looking for the ultimate thin and light notebook without sacrificing much of the features they need to be productive.
THINKPAD X300 Default Specification
Ultraportable notebook
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor SL7100 (1.2GHz, 4MB, 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 2GB DDR2 RAM
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Display: 13.3in with LED backlight (1,440 x 900pixels)
Storage: 64GB Solid State SATA Drive
Connectivity: WiFi, 10/100 Ethernet, 56k modem, Bluetooth
I/O ports: Three USB 2.0 ports, legacy ports.
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Battery: Lithium-polymer
Other features: Ultrathin DVD burner, built-in webcam, biometric fingerprint reader, TrackPoint and TrackPad combo
Dimensions (w x d x h): 318 x 231 x 23.4mm
Weight: 1.42kg
Ultraportable notebook
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor SL7100 (1.2GHz, 4MB, 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 2GB DDR2 RAM
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Display: 13.3in with LED backlight (1,440 x 900pixels)
Storage: 64GB Solid State SATA Drive
Connectivity: WiFi, 10/100 Ethernet, 56k modem, Bluetooth
I/O ports: Three USB 2.0 ports, legacy ports.
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Battery: Lithium-polymer
Other features: Ultrathin DVD burner, built-in webcam, biometric fingerprint reader, TrackPoint and TrackPad combo
Dimensions (w x d x h): 318 x 231 x 23.4mm
Weight: 1.42kg
