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List Price: $1,299.00
Sale Price: $1,049.99
Today's Bonus: 19% Off
This computer is phenomenal. Don't be lured into unnecessary upgrades like more than 4GB of RAM, the IPS screen, the USB 3.0 slot, or the i7 processor. With the i5-2430M processor, 4GB RAM, and the 128 GB ssd harddrive, this is PLENTY of machine for 95% of all users, except perhaps for folks who intend to use it for high-end gaming or a very heavy load of video editing. Trust me, I'm a very experienced computer user and I use high-powered applications like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. This little thing has plenty of power.
Here's what I LOVE:
best keyboard available on a laptop, and better than most full-size desktop keyboards too; if you're a serious writer, this is the ideal choice for a very portable machine with a phenomenal typing experience. Some people don't like the fact that Lenovo swaps the location of the Fn and CTRL keys in the lower left corner, but you can swap them back in the BIOS and, if desired, affix keyboard stickers over the buttons to remind you that they're swapped.
superb trackpoint and above average trackpad... I disable the trackpad to save power (although it's very good on this machine) because the trackpoint is wonderfully precise and doesn't require you to remove your fingers from the home row of keys when using it. If you have a Lenovo keyboard, you really should try to get used to the trackpoint... it's outstanding and it's a feature I've always missed whenever I've owned other laptops.
good TN screen... you wouldn't know it from all the internet hype about the IPS panel, but the standard TN screen is great and I actually prefer it over the IPS "Premium HD" panel because it uses less power and still allows very good viewing angles for normal laptop use. I chose to avoid the IPS Premium HD panel because there have been so many reported problems with it, including image persistence, pixel bleed, and light leakage. The only shortcoming on the TN screen is in the accuracy of its color reproduction. I've had more accurate color, but you will only notice it if you put it side by side with another monitor displaying the same image and scrutinize them closely. Still, if I were to do a lot of serious photo editing, I'd probably connect to an external monitor.
the i5-2430M processor is very powerful... it runs all my software fine, even on its lowest power setting
the 128GB ssd harddrive is wonderful... no moving parts to worry about getting damaged in transit, no seek noise when accessing files, and much less heat than a spinning drive so the fan rarely even turns on to cool it
quiet fan... I've never had a laptop this quiet, period. I can't believe how silent this thing runs. Note that people who have bought the i7 processor version have had a different experience, including problems with the fan kicking on repeatedly and at its highest setting (which is still reasonably quiet, but much louder than I ever hear out of my i5-equipped machine)
super fast boot/sleep/shutdown... with no tweaking except to disable unneeded services, it powers on and boots into the windows environment in 22 to 26 seconds. Shutdown takes 9 seconds or less. Sleep takes 3 seconds after closing the lid, and about 5 to 8 seconds to resume from sleep. I am very impressed!
battery life... with the 6 cell battery, I EASILY get 4 hours of battery life WITHOUT bothering to try to conserve power (i.e., no dimming screen, turning off wireless, etc.). In fact, you can stream video for well over 3 hours on the 6 cell battery. If you dim the screen a bit, turn off wireless, and use the "Battery Stretch" function, it is possible to get 6 hours EASILY, and up to maybe 8 hours if you're not doing anything processor-intensive. I've seen other laptops make claims to this kind of battery life, but they are usually exaggerated by 50%. In this case, I'm quoting real numbers for actual use. In fact, this weekend, I didn't recharge for three days straight and did plenty of e-mail checking, web surfing, and brief video watching (YouTube) in that time. After three days (i.e., probably a total of 5 hours of active usage, plus all the standby time between uses) I still had 23% battery left over. I almost bought the 9 cell battery, but now I'm glad I didn't because it would've added weight and I simply don't need more battery than this.
excellent stability... everything I plug into this laptop is recognized immediately: thumb drives, VGA projectors, an optical mouse, a backup drive, etc. It all just works. Not one connection problem or delay in device recognition yet. I've had plenty of other computers (including some with the same Windows 7 operating system) that did not work this trouble-free with some of those same devices.
very low heat... I HATE how warm the keyboard gets on the MacAir 13" and especially the 11". On the x220, you don't have to worry about that kind of discomfort at all. It runs very cool (and silent, as I said above).
not a lot of bloatware: even a lot of Lenovo's applications are not pre-installed. I uninstalled some Windows features, the Windows Live programs, the "Business-In-A-Box" installer application, Google Chrome, and Lenovo's Active Protection System (which isn't needed for an ssd, since there's no hard drive needle). Then I installed Thunderbird, Firefox, MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint, and Lenovo's Rescue and Recovery backup software. I also activated the installed Norton Internet Security anti-virus software and then used Lenovo's System Update to update all the drivers and software. That's it. Done! This thing came much, much cleaner than any of the last five other laptops I've purchased, most of which came with an insane amount of pre-installed trial-ware.
DOWNSIDES? Not really any for me, but...
Small drive?: The 128 GB drive may fill up quickly due to all the space occupied by the OS, the Lenovo applications, and the programs you'll want to add in. After installing all the programs I use, mine still has 40GB free. That should be plenty of space for most users, unless you want to store a TON of music, videos, and pictures on your hard drive. In that case, I'd recommend an external drive, a larger ssd, or perhaps a more affordable high-capacity HDD. Having experienced the quietness, speed, and battery efficiency of the ssd, I'll NEVER go back to a laptop with a spinning hard drive.
No keyboard backlight: I've heard many folks wish for a backlit keyboard, but I'm a touch typist so I don't really understand the desire for the backlighting. If you need to see the keys for some reason, a quick keyboard shortcut (easy to find in the dark) activates the x220's very bright "think light," which illuminates the keyboard quite effectively. I don't use the thinklight either, but I prefer it to backlighting because I can leave it turned off. To me, backlighting is an additional drain on the battery for little benefit except, perhaps, style points. (And I say that as someone whose last laptop had a backlit keyboard... yes, I've experienced them, but I don't understand the desire for them.)
Aesthetics?: I think the Lenovo/IBM all-black business look is very classy and professional. But I realize there are folks who believe their electronics need to "express" their unique identity and personality. I belong to the digital generation myself, but I've grown up enough to realize how stupid it is to believe my electronics need to express "who I am." For one, it's pathetic if "who I am" can be reduced to a statement made by the color, texture, or stickers on my electronics. For another, it's naive to think that "personalizing" my electronics is anything other than falling prey to a marketing gimmick designed to part me from more of my cash. The simple, black, functional look of the x220 is something that I can carry into a professional meeting without looking like I'm young and naive about professionalism. But admittedly, it's not "sexy" enough to attract the ladies and win me any dates. That's fine, I'm already married. I've met a gazillion people who think a MacAir is more "awesome" because it has sexier curves and is stylishly thin. Frankly, I don't notice the extra half-inch of thickness or the additional third-pound of weight in my briefcase. I DO notice the MUCH better performance (faster processing, cooler-temperatures, and much better keyboard) over the MacAir and the other PC "ultrabooks" I looked at (especially Asus and Toshiba).
Simply put, this is the best laptop I have ever owned. It comes as close to a perfect, seamless computing experience as any computer I have ever used for business or pleasure. (That includes about eight desktops and nine laptops over the past 20 years). I cannot recommend this computer highly enough. However, beware the high-end configurations (IPS Premium HD panel, i7 processor, etc.), as those users appear to have a much higher number of problems with heat, noise, CPU throttling, screen distortions, and other such problems. It may be that those higher end options tax the system a little beyond what can be comfortably contained in this diminutive form factor. With my configuration as recommended above, it simply works--and works beautifully!
[UPDATE 5/22/2012: Five months later and I'm still thrilled with this laptop. I've only experienced two issues so far. At one point, the automatic Lenovo updates quit working so I missed a Microsoft update and a driver update. When I tried to manually update, it told me my updating software needed to be updated but then froze up. One call to Lenovo tech support and within 3 minutes I had spoken with a representative who directed me to re-download the update software from the website. I did that and ten minutes later problem fixed. The other problem is that on very rare occasions the computer has not gone into sleep mode when I close the lid and thus, gets very hot when I tuck it away in my briefcase. There have been no long term problems as a result, just some surprising heat build up. It seems to occur only when I go several days (or whole weeks) without powering down. It has happened three times total in five months, and in every case, I had not shut the computer down in several days. I really can't complain about either issue since it is to be expected that automatic updates and sleep features might stop working if you aren't rebooting on a semi-occasional basis as you should with any computer. This thing has really performed superbly and I just have to be a little more diligent about shutting it down to reboot every three or four days to keep the maintenance processes refreshed and running well.]
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There is a place for tablet computers, but if you have any amount of typing to do, the convenience of the wonderful keyboard and the access to real 'work' programs such as MS Office, make this lightweight, portable computer a real winner. I have been buying some version of this Lenovo portable since the earlyl 2000s.
Best Deals for Thinkpad X220 12.5" 128GB 4G
Overall this is a pretty decent notebook. It's pretty small and portable. The battery is bulbous, so it's a lot thicker than a Macbook Air, but the weight is about the same.
PROS:
Docking station for about $150 you can get a docking station, which you snap the computer onto and you can plug in all your peripherals, including dual monitors. This is something that I couldn't find any solution for a Macbook or Macbook Air, which are apparently designed to only use a single monitor. The docking station has been flawless for a year with no problems at all. This was a major need for me so I could completely replace the need for a desktop computer.
Flash harddrive I got the 128 GB flash harddrive (instead of the traditional spinning drive). It was more expensive and less memory, but it really does speed the thing up.
Small size it's 3 pounds the smallest PC I could find with a true i5 processor (not some crappy netbook).
CONS:
Webcam/Microphone The microphone is "noise cancelling" so when I play a ukulele and sing, it is nothing but choppy static. I spent hours on the phone with their tech support trying to figure out a way to get my own microphone plugged in and working. It turns out there is no input for a microphone, only an output for a headphone. They claim you can use that as a microphone input but they lie, it isn't possible. So if you want to Youtube or Vlog or anything that uses the webcam, this is not the computer for you. I paid extra to have the webcam and microphone and that is regrettable since it is completely useless to me.
Battery The battery life was great out of the box, about 8 or 9 hours. But after one year it is more like 2-3 hours with minimal use (sporadic web surfing). It seems the battery is designed to impress reviewers out of the box, but not meant to be used for more than a few months.
SUMMARY:
It's a bit disappointing that laptops have not come very far since my first one in 1989. Maybe it was 5 or 6 pounds and less power, but the look and feel was not that different. I really wanted something like a Macbook Air small, light, portable, but with the capability to run Microsoft Access and without the annoying quirks of a Mac. I'm a Windows user. Also I wanted it to be easily hooked to desktop peripherals. I wish this thing was about half the size and twice the power, but apparently there has not been a big push to improve on the basic laptop design. This was a lot of money for what it is, since I think I could have paid half as much for basically the same thing, just a little heavier. If you don't need a microphone/webcam, then this thing will not disappoint too much.
Honest reviews on Thinkpad X220 12.5" 128GB 4G
hey, it's a work computer. but while i have now an 8 year history of getting lenovo x-series (which combine near-ultrabook portability with a decently sized screen and good performance) going starting with an X60 through an X200 to this one, hey, the X220 is by far the best one.
not just because it has the latest processor, but simply because the usability has increased.
performance... the WEI reports 6.3 because of graphics, but 6.3 isn't shabby at all. in fact it is pretty awesome considering the price-performance and the fact that, only a year and a half ago, a $220 i5-661 would barely get you a WEI of 4.2. this thing flies if you have realistic expectations, and drives two 1920x1200 monitors running simultaneous HD streams without breaking a sweat. it remains *quiet*. quite the little powerhouse.
it's built well, i continue to love the keyboard, and the only thing i use is the mouse-knob (but that shows my keyboard centric style, hey i have a blackberry too :)).
battery life is amazing considering performance it reports 5.40 hours remaining at 80% battery as i type this, and i am not even running it in Power Saver mode, and yes, this is the small battery.
so i guess i have to come up with some negatives to make it look like i am not bankrolled by Lenovo (which i am not). my complaint is the display. how come my $499 ipad has basically twice the resolution of my high powered work laptop? what is it with laptop vendors sticking to oh so 5 years ago 1366x768 resolution. you know guys, us users have figured out there's stuff like retina displays out there, so there's no excuse.
other than that, no complaints: this thing has the traditional built quality of a thinkpad (my mom still used my old abused X60s that was over 5 years old and still works like a charm acting as my music server after she got my old X200, which looks pristine). in a nutshell: if you want a great compromise between performance and portability, if you value built quality and reliability, and you just want to work on a computer... you can't really ever feel like you made a msitake on this little workhorse.
PS: for the linux crowd i dual boot Win7 64 bit and Ubuntu 12.04 on this x220, and it works like a charm.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Thinkpad X220 12.5" 128GB 4G
For more comprehensive and words speaking to the greats of this PC, I definitely recommend the other reviewer's on here. At least the one which preceded me on dates. But its bulky so I thought I'd try for something more cursory.
Simply put, this is the best laptop I've ever used. For the last four months or so I've been hunting, reading and researching on all the new 'Ultrabooks'. I never had given one iota of thought to this computer; simply put I'd only ever used it with HDDs, which coupled with its complete business look it wasn't appealing to me. The others I had the privilege of trialling were:
Sony X Series (1.5lbs Carbon Fibre PC 2010; Atom, 2GB RAM & SSD)
Macbook Air 11" (Aluminum 2011; Intel 2GB & SSD)
Asus Zenbook 13.3" (Aluminum 2012; Intel i5, 4GB & SSD)
Lenovo IdeaPad u300s 13.3" (Aluminum 2012; Intel i7, 4GB & SSD)
I also read a lot on the Toshiba Portege 13.3 as well as the Dell 13z. The latter really attracted me because of the Gorilla Glass; the former I liked because the materials its made of make the whole thing feel extremely light.
However, both the Toshiba and the Sony feel way too flimsy (the screen is near-bendable). The Zenbook's keyboard is incredibly stiff and reminded me of tapping my fingers on the Shop Class table. And the Macbook's is just like the IdeaPad's, as in its decent enough. On all of them, the displays were solid. I think in design, I probably liked the edges of the IdeaPad the most.
But the ThinkPad? Seriously it ships with Microsoft Professional 7 which I have to say is far and away faster and slimmer. ThinkPad also didn't come with lots of pre-installed overcomplicated 'bloatware' (Sony, Toshiba, Dell). And because of its softer materials, it actually feels LIGHTER than the MacBook which is considered the pinnacle; you 'feel' the 'heft' of the Zenbook, as well as the Dell.
The 12.5 screen is a good compromise between the two series for the other firms. And to be honest, the design is something which is growing on me; its sort of nice to be seen as plausibly professional even when just personally working in a cafe. Most of all for me, however, was how whisper quiet the fans were. Lenovo's was audible and I was aware it was there, but not a nuisance like the MacBook Air can get when you use video with it. The Sony was incredibly load for literally everything you did after 30minutes of on use.
In sum, I'd really say you should give this a go before discarding it out of hand. The keyboard's layout actually is more convenient now that I've used it, particularly the oversize Delete key and the additional 'Forwards/Back' Keys around the arrow pad (much more responsive than say, 'Alt-Left Arrow'). In addition, the pointer in the middle is actually quicker to navigate than having to reposition your two hands every time you want to navigate the PC.
PS: Oh yea they have a .8lbs add-on to the battery that gives you up to 20hrs of battery life. No, that's not a typo. And the software it comes with is actually useful; Windows Backup isn't very user-friendly; Lenovo's is.
