Pros & Cons
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- Endless battery life.
- Desktop-replacement speeds.
- Windows Vista Business.
- Best laptop keyboard around.
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- Carries a big price tag.
- Docking station (with optical drive) is not cheap either.
Lenovo Thinkpad X60 (Vista) Specs
| Graphics Memory | 224 |
| Graphics Processor | Intel GMA 950 |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows Vista Business |
| Optical Drive | external |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 |
| Processor Speed | 2 |
| RAM (as Tested) | 2 |
| Screen Size | 12.1 |
| Weight | 3.7 |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11a/g |
Who says small things can't power big businesses? When it comes to employing technology that can carry a full workload, the Lenovo ThinkPad X60 ($2,699 direct) is my pick of the bunch. Only a handful of business ultraportables can combine solid work features and high-level performance into a 3.7-pound frame. Like everyone else, I held off reviewing the latest X60 with the Core 2 Duo processor until I could get a unit with Microsoft Windows Vista Business. Well, that day has arrived, and the ThinkPad X60 (Vista) chalks up another Editors' Choice for the X60 line in the ultraportable category.
Since the dawn of ThinkPad laptops, their wow factor has never been about looks, unlike some of the competition. Although the ThinkPads are all black and all business, they still take the Editors' Choice over the more snazzy designs, such as the glossy, white
As I've said time and time again, ThinkPads have the best laptop keyboards in the business. This is especially welcome in an ultraportable because the last thing you want is a cramped keyboard. Although the ThinkPad X60 doesn't have a touchpad, the Trackpoint pointing stick is generally a far better pointing device. The X60 does emit a considerable amount of heat, thanks to its standard-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processor. When I used an infrared thermometer, the palm rest area read 97º F. If you do lap work, the base can get even warmer (102º F). You can opt for a low-voltage processor to minimize heat dissipation, but the heat is tolerable once you realize the performance gains you get with Microsoft's latest operating system.
Windows Vista has been the center of attention of late. Switching to the new operating system is a pretty compelling reason to buy a business laptop right now. This ThinkPad X60 is one of the first systems to ship with Windows Vista Business. One of the differences between that and upgrading a system with Windows XP is that most (if not all) of the management applications and key drivers are configured properly and ready to use. For instance, the Lenovo ThinkVantage suite, a comprehensive set of management utilities, is Vista-ready. That means Backup and Restore, Access Connections (Network Management), and Active Protection (hard-drive protection) work seamlessly with Vista. Despite that impressive lineup, however, ThinkVantage will have to compete with the much improved management suite served up by Windows Vista.
It'll be tough to choose which utility in Vista to use, given all that the OS has to offer. It might just come down to whatever you feel comfortable with. Its backup and restore center is every bit as capable as Lenovo's Backup and Restore utility. It can back up an entire drive or specific folder, it can restore the same way, and the built-in imaging software can give Norton Ghost 10.0 a run for its money. Vista's presentation manager immediately recognizes any presentation device that's attached to the ThinkPad X60. Of course, you can also opt for Lenovo's own presentation manager, which accomplishes the same tasks. Power management and battery configuration are virtually the same with either Vista or the ThinkVantage suite; you can find only so many ways to improve battery settings. In some regards, Lenovo's Access Connections is better than Vista's network connections manager. With Access Connections, you can manage all your network connections (WWAN, LAN, WLAN) under one interface, and setting up profiles is easier, too. There are other utilities worth noting in Vista Business: I really like the hard-drive partitioning tool built into the management console. If you have an older scanner, you will also learn to appreciate the scanning software built into Vista.
The ThinkPad X60 still has all the features business users have come to love. Embedded in the screen is an antenna for Verizon's EV-DO access. Lenovo couldn't activate this feature for this review (you would have to set up an account yourself with Verizon in order to activate the EV-DO antennae. It's $60 per month if you have an existing Verizon account and $80 if you don't. You can also activate it by the day for $15), so I can't really comment on its functionality with Vista. You can also find a fingerprint reader below the mouse button The only knock against the X60 is that it doesn't have a built-in optical drive, which is how Lenovo kept the weight below 4 pounds. If you really want a built-in optical drive, you can opt for a
The X60 certainly has the power to handle everything Vista can throw at it. The 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 is a processor you typically find in a desktop replacement such as the
The only thing that's kept the Lenovo ThinkPad X60 line from completely taking off is the cost. Ultraportables come at a premium. At $2,699, the X60 is not easy to write off. But running a business involves savvy investments. When you factor in the best laptop keyboard in the business, powerful components, coast-to-coast battery life, and full network connectivity, springing for the ThinkPad X60 is an easy decision to make.
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Final Thoughts
Lenovo Thinkpad X60 (Vista)
The latest ThinkPad X60 is just about everything you can ask for in a business ultraportable when you factor in the best keyboard in the business, powerful components, coast-to-coast battery life, and full network connectivity.