Review of Lenovo ThinkPad X100e 11.6' 250GB Notebook (35089CU)

Customer Ratings:

I didn't get it halfway out of the box and I was already intrigued. I cut my teeth on Toshiba's 20 years ago and have always had a laptop with a pointing stick. I can use a touchpad, but I feel crippled by them. My first Netbook was an ASUS EEEPC 8.9" screen. I tried for a long time to get used to the keyboard, not happening. I sold it and bought a Toshiba Satellite T115D which is not considered a "netbook" by the industry, but by me it is. I chose it because it had a dual core processor and at the time it was the fastest little machine I could hope for. Keyboard on the Toshiba was okay, but the touchpad buttons were horrible and I just really couldn't do much well on it. I sold that one and then the X100e appeared. A not-netbook with a pointing stick? The keyboard on this little tyke is the best. No, it's the bestest! They have pedestal key feel, yet are slightly cupped, perfection. The ultranav makes this tiny notebook a dream. I can do everything on it I can with the big machines, but it slips in my backpack and goes along for the ride with ease.

I turned a few screws right after I got it.

Pre-installed Windows 7 Pro (32-blech-bit) Stupid. I put 64, upgraded to 4g ram. Screamer. I installed an internal Bluetooth daughtercard, super easy to install. I had to perform surgery to install one in my Tecra. This was take off the heat shield and press the card on it's connector and one screw... Hello PAN.

I have had this for 3 months and use it nearly everyday and always look forward to doing so. The whole look and feel of this computer is SO right. Soft matte finish of the case, no glare, no fingerprints. The screen is anti-glare. I hate LED, but thankfully this one can be turned down enough not to sear my eyes at night, unlike the Toshiba. The hard drive is a Hitachi, I was pleased to find out since the IBM/Hitachi connection. USB ports on both side, no fuss sleep n charge. Power outlet on the back thank you where it belongs. The palmrest is comfortable. Smooth edges. Even though the design is blocky, which I love... it's beautiful. The power brick is nice and small and readily available and common to many models. The battery charges very fast. Battery life is amazing. I've heard outrageous claims from many sources on many machines I've owned. In the real world, my experience with battery life seldom exceeds an hour. This one will chug along for 2 to 2 1/2 at full speed. Bless Lenovo for not using an Intel wifi card. This one I think is from Realtek and works very well. Connects quickly and once the power management was turned off works reliably. The sleep and wake works really well. Sleeps pdq, not a quick as a mac, but almost and like lightning compared to all others I've used. My first Lenovo, maybe this is common on them, but a nice touch was the ability to swap the FN and CTRL keys in the BIOS. It made my brain itch when I saw their placement and a solution was just a setting away. Praises.

My only complaints: There's no Disk activity indicator, seems to be a trend with Lenovo. It's like driving a car without a Tachometer, I like to know when the engines running. The battery location, it would make much more sense in the front because it would be a ballast for the screen. It's kinda tippy when it's perched on my lap. Oh well. I love it so much I don't mind hanging on to it tightly.

YES, it's made in China. And very well made indeed.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Nice screen, good materials, and very nice keyboard. But it crashes without warning a few times a month. Screen freezes and CPU fan spins to the max! Very common issue with this model; search the Lenovo forums!