Notebooks: This Laptop Really Gallops
In a market full of workhorse notebooks, IBM's new ThinkPad X30 is a thoroughbred. The $2569 subnotebook offers a swift processor and considerable battery power, wrapped in a slim chassis that belies its strength.
Weighing in at a mere 3.6 pounds, this ThinkPad gallops at an appealing clip with its 1.2-GHz Pentium III-M processor and 256MB of memory. My shipping model scored an impressive 96 on PC WorldBench 4--that's at the high end of all comparably configured notebooks we've tested.
More notable was the unit's battery life. Using a standard rechargeable lithium ion battery, it achieved 4 hours of run time, very good for a notebook of this size. Using the optional $189 Extended Life battery wedge, it managed 7 hours, 10 minutes--plenty of juice for a cross-country flight.
Beyond good performance and protracted battery life, the unit has one of most comfortable keyboards I've ever used, with good touch and feedback as well as a nice layout. The absence of a Windows key was a minor drawback. But a cleverly designed ThinkLight keyboard light let me work in dim conditions--a nice touch.
The strong titanium composite cover protects the crisp, 12.1-inch, 1024-by-768-resolution TFT display and the integrated Wi-Fi antenna.
When no wireless network is handy, the integrated ethernet adapter and 56-kbps modem provide additional communications support. Add the optional (but necessary) $199 docking station, and the X30 does double duty as a road/office machine that's pricey, but hard to outperform.
With battery power to spare, plenty of processing stamina, and a sleek and strong build, the ThinkPad X30 races to the finish line comfortably ahead of the ultraportable pack.
| Buying Information |
IBM ThinkPad X30 (Model 2672 4BU) 4.5 stars (11/01/2002) Well-engineered ultraportable offers great performance and battery life, for a price. Street: $2569 |