The ThinkPad X300, introduced last February, is easily Lenovo's greatest gem. But though it's as close to an impossible act to follow as an ultraportable can get, it has one major flaw—it costs $3,000! This was done, presumably, to give its other X-Series siblings such as the ThinkPad X200 ($1,199, direct) room to flourish. The X200 isn't likely to trump the X300 anytime soon, but it does have several things that make it a terrific business ultraportable. It's one of the first laptops to receive Intel's latest Centrino 2 platform (codenamed Montevina), including a powerful 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor that has a very favorable affect on battery life. Furthermore, every wireless technology imaginable is at your disposal, and your savings account won't take nearly as big a hit as with the X300.

From a distance, the X200 almost looks like the X300. Measuring at 11.6 by 8.3 by 1.1 inches (HWD), it's slightly thicker than the X300's 9 by 12 by 0.9 inches. That's a little surprising, because the X200, unlike the X300, lacks an integrated optical drive. The extended battery sticks out an extra inch from the back, although that's also been the case with its predecessors. Its 3.7 pound frame is heavier than that of the X300 by almost half a pound, and it's a shade heavier than the previous ThinkPad X61. As far as 12-inch laptops go, it's not even close to being the lightest. The Toshiba Portege R500 (SSD) and the Fujitsu Lifebook P8010 are lighter (2.8 and 3.3 pounds, respectively)—and they both integrate optical drives. Don't get me wrong, the weight difference is hardly noticeable on the road, while the sturdy but light magnesium frame makes up for some of the heft.

Although thicker, the X200 is a smaller laptop than the X300 because of its 12-inch screen. Like most laptops in its category, the X200 has moved to a widescreen form factor. The standard size screens will hold a special place in my heart, though, as they require less vertical scrolling. The screens will not be LED back-lit, however, and it won't be available as an option at this launch. With wider dimensions, the ThinkPad keyboard we all come to love is larger than the previous one, and the typing experience is nothing short of spectacular, trumping the ones on both the Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N and the Toshiba R500 (SSD). For those who adore the pointing stick, the X200 carries one over from the X61.

The optical drive is the most glaring omission, although there was none with the X61. If an optical drive is really a must, the X200 Ultrabase dock (which integrates an optical drive) is available for $219 through Lenovo. (Alternately, you can get a third-party USB external optical drive.) The array of ports isn't going to blow you away, but you do have three USB ports and an SD card slot. A webcam and a fingerprint reader are nice touches, but the most compelling features are the wireless options.

It starts with internal WWAN connectivity, with your choice of AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. The upgrade prices for an AT&T and a Verizon cellular modem are $80 and $130, respectively, although service plans are still on the pricey side. Because it's one of the first Centrino 2 laptops, the X200 runs the new Wi-Fi Link 5300 chipset. The 5300 is the higher-end version of two Centrino 2 Wi-Fi chips (the other being the 5100), sporting a larger antenna array and greater range than the previous Wi-Fi Link 4965AGN chipset. Don't worry—Centrino 2 Wi-Fi is compatible with your current routers. Like the X300, you also have options for GPS (although you'll need to have WWAN as well, since it's on the same card), UWB (wireless USB), Bluetooth 2.0, and support for WiMax. No other ultraportable has such a wide range of wireless connectivity options.

The X200 is environmentally friendly, as it's compliant with Energy Star 4.0 and RoHS standards. By not offering an option for LEDs, the X200 will not qualify for EPEAT Gold, but it does have a Silver rating. As for my own energy consumption tests (done with a PS3 International Kill A Watt meter), the X200 registered 14 watts during idle mode. It meets Energy Star's requirements, as well as our own, and matches the wattage consumed by both the Apple MacBook Air and the Fujitsu Lifebook P8010. For all of its certifications and for meeting PC Magazine's requirements, it gets our GreenTech Approved seal.

The X200 is a faster machine than both the X300 and the X61. In fact, for now it's the fastest Lenovo ultraportable. That's not to say that the X300 won't get a similar speed treatment. As a Centrino 2 baby, the X200 runs one the newest Intel "Penryn" cores, which has support for the 1,066MHz Front Side Bus (FSB). The 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 not only has a very low thermal rating (25W), but it's a standard-voltage processor as well. This means that it runs at full speed without overburdening your battery. In contrast, the T-series processors found on the HP Pavilion dv5t and the Sony VAIO VGN-FW198UH are better performers, but they'll tax their batteries more than the P8600. The X200's SYSMark 2007 Preview Overall score bested that of the Sony SZ791N by 17% and of the Lenovo X300 by 41%. A 7,200rpm hard drive and 2GB of RAM helped its cause, but the processor and the new platform were the driving forces behind the superb performance numbers.

Video encoding results were on a par with the HP dv5t and the Sony FW198UH, despite its CPU's lower thermal rating (and power consumption). And Cinebench R10 and Photoshop CS3 scores weren't that far off either. The only aspect in which the X200 trailed the Sony SZ791N was 3D performance. Most business users won't require top-of-the-line graphics chipsets, which is why the X200 runs an integrated set. In contrast, the Sony SZ791N has the ability to switch between its Intel integrated graphics and discrete nVidia GeForce 8400M GS card, giving you the best of both worlds. Speedy processors tend to have an adverse affect on battery life, but that's not the case with the new P8600 processor. Because of its lower thermal rating and a big 84WH battery, the X200 lasted for 6 hours 10 minutes on MobileMark 2007 tests. This kind of battery life is usually achieved through a combination of batteries, and should easily get you through a coast-to-coast flight on a single charge.

The new Centrino 2 platform brings with it a world of change for Lenovo's newest ultraportable. The ThinkPad X200 soars to the top of the performance charts, while delivering battery life well into the 6-hour range. It maintains many of the classic ThinkPad qualities, like the industry-leading keyboard and a wide range of wireless connectivity options. The Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N still has the upper hand, however, because on top of its excellent performance numbers, it also offers a little more by way of an internal optical drive and switchable graphics. Still, if you're a big fan of the Lenovo Thinkpad X61, you should be thrilled with the X200.

Benchmark Test Results
Check out the Lenovo ThinkPad X200's test scores.