ThinkPad X series


The ThinkPad X series is a line of notebook computers and convertible tablets produced by Lenovo as part of the ThinkPad family. The ThinkPad X series is traditionally the range best designed for mobile use, with ultraportable sizes and less power compared to the flagship ThinkPad T series. It was initially produced by IBM until 2005.
IBM announced the ThinkPad X series in September 2000 with the intention of providing "workers on the move with a better experience in extra-thin and extra-light mobile computing." The ThinkPad X series replaced both the 240 and 570 series during IBM's transition from numbered to letter series during the early 2000s. The first X Series laptops were "slimmer than a deck of cards" and "lighter than a half-gallon of milk", despite the presence of a 12.1-inch Thin-film transistor display. These design values—thin and light—continued to be integral to the ThinkPad X-series laptops' design and marketing, even after the purchase of IBM's Personal Computing Division by Lenovo. The first X Series ThinkPad released by Lenovo was the X41 in 2005.
The ThinkPad X-series laptops from Lenovo were described by Trusted Reviews as "combining an ultraportable's weight and form factor with a durable design." The X-series laptop styles include traditional ultraportables, as well as convertible tablet designs. According to Lenovo, the ThinkPad X-series laptops include low power processors, offer long battery life, and several durability features such as a Roll Cage, magnesium alloy covers, and a spill-resistant keyboard but currently lacks a replaceable battery and upgradable RAM slots.

IBM-branded models

Source:

2000

X20

The X20 was the first in IBM/Lenovo's long-standing X-series ultraportable line; the Celeron-based configurations had a thinner case.
  • Processor: Intel Coppermine Mobile, Celeron, or Pentium III
  • Memory: 64128MiB, maximum of 320MiB SDR
  • Storage: IDE, 10 or 20GB
  • Display: SVGA or XGA CCFL-backlit TN LCD
  • Dimensions: 279 × 227 × 2530mm
  • Mass/Weight:, or

    2001

X21

Same specifications as the X20, except an optional 600 or 700MHz processor and more onboard RAM could be ordered.

X22

All new internal design, slim-version dropped, SVGA screen option dropped, Tualatin CPUs, faster GPU, Communications Daughter Card/CDC slot, optional FireWire and/or WiFi on some models, 133MHz FSB, maximum RAM increased to 640MiB.
  • Processor: Intel Pentium III Mobile
  • Memory: 128, 256, up to 640MiB SDR; 8-chip 512MiB or 4-chip 128MiB modules only.
  • Storage: IDE, 10 or 20GB
  • Display: XGA CCFL-backlit TN LCD
  • Dimensions: 279 × 227 × 2530mm
  • Mass/Weight:

    2002

X23

Same as the X22 but with faster processors, bigger hard drives up to 30GB, Bluetooth, and the IBM Security Sub System on selected models.

X24

Same as the X23 with even faster processors: 1.06 to 1.13GHz.

X30

Full-powered successor to the X2x line with a completely redesigned case. However, they shared much of the technology. 830MG chipset with Intel Extreme Graphics GPU. Maximum of 1GiB RAM, thanks to two RAM slots. FireWire was now standard on all models. Up to 60GB hard drives were available, and additional secondary "Extended Life Battery" could be purchased.
  • Processor: Intel Pentium III-M
  • Memory: 128, 256, or 512MiB DDR
  • Storage: IDE, 15, 20, 30, 40, 48 or 60GB
  • Display: XGA CCFL-backlit TN LCD
  • Dimensions: 273 × 223 × 2530mm
  • Mass/Weight:

    2003

X31

X30 updated to the Intel Centrino platform, Pentium M CPUs, faster RAM, better GPU and more VRAM, USB2.0, 2nd USB port on the left side, Gigabit LAN introduced on some models, IBM Security Sub System on some models.
  • Processor: Intel Pentium M, L2-Cache: 1MiB, TDP: 2224.5W, 400MT/s FSB
  • * 1.3GHz, 1.4GHz, 1.5GHz, 1.6GHz, or 1.7GHz
  • Memory: 256512MiB DDR
  • Storage: IDE 2.5";
  • * Models with 4200RPM drives and capacities of 20, 30, 40, or 60GB
  • * Models with 5400RPM drives and capacities of 40, 60, or 80GB
  • Display: XGA CCFL-backlit TN LCD
  • Dimensions: 273 × 223 × 30.2mm
  • Mass/Weight:

    X40

The first model in a new "Thin and Light" sub-line. Specifications:
  • Processor: Intel Pentium M 1.0, 1.2, or 1.3GHz or 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, or 1.6GHz
  • Memory: 2561,536MiB DDR
  • Storage: IDE 1.8", 20 or 40GB
  • Display: XGA CCFL-backlit TN LCD
  • Dimensions: 268mm × 211mm × 2127mm
  • Mass/Weight:

    2005

X41, X41 Tablet

Three years after the release of the X30, upon acquiring the ThinkPad division, Lenovo released the ThinkPad X41 ultraportable laptop and the ThinkPad X41 tablet. The X41 tablet was convertible, with the capacity to function as a tablet PC and an ultraportable laptop.

X32

The X32 was introduced in 2005. The numbering system was irregular, as it was actually introduced after the X40, but using the older X3x chassis design. It was also more powerful than the X40 and X41 units, due to the use of faster full-voltage Dothan processors and standard 2.5-inch 5400/7200RPM hard drives. It was a very short-lived model, discontinued within months of introduction. On this model, IBM included Gigabit LAN and the Security Sub System on all models. The X32 and X41 are two of the last IBM-designed ThinkPads before Lenovo took over. The X41 tablet was designed by Lenovo.

2006

The X-series laptops released in 2006 by Lenovo were the X60, X60s, and X60 Tablet.

X60 and X60s

The X60 and X60s slimline differed primarily by their processors: the X60s had a soldered low voltage processor, while the X60 did not. This gave the X60s a lower active temperature and longer battery life in exchange for reduced performance. The X60s also had a smaller heatsink and a slightly thinner case with a different battery form factor, although it could use standard X60 batteries with a plastic adapter.
In its review of the ThinkPad X60/X60s, Notebook Review called the laptop, "Hands down the best performing ultraportable on the market", while raising issues about the design and the lack of an optical drive.
The two laptops were available in a variety of configurations. Later X60 models used 64-bit Core 2 Duo CPUs, and some X60s were available with a lightweight LCD panel. Typical specifications of the laptops are provided below:
  • Processor:
  • * Intel Core Solo T1300, Core Duo T2300E, T2400, T2500 or Core 2 Duo T5500, T5600, T7200 X60
  • * Intel Core Duo L2300, L2400, L2500, or Core 2 Duo L7400 X60s
  • Chipset: Intel 945GM
  • Memory: up to 3.2GiB DDR2
  • Graphics: Intel GMA 950
  • Storage: 1 × 2.5" SATA 1.5Gbit/s
  • Display: CCFL-backlit TN LCD
  • Mass/Weight: starting at , or
  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional

    X60 Tablet

The ThinkPad X60 Tablet was praised by reviewers. LAPTOP Magazine said the ThinkPad X60 Tablet "raises the bar for business-class convertibles". The most significant issue raised was the low capacity 4-cell battery, which provided a battery life of two hours.

Lenovo-branded models

2007

The X Series laptops released by Lenovo in 2007 were the [|X61], the [|X61s], and the [|X61 tablet].

X61 and X61s

The X61 received mixed user reviews on CNET, with some users reporting display problems and delivery delays, while others praised the laptop for performance and portability.
Reviewers, however, praised the ultraportable. Notebook Review called it an "extremely fast ultraportable". However, they criticized the display colors and viewing angles. They also pointed out that the palm rest was prone to heating up because of the wireless networking card underneath it.
The X61s was lauded for its excellent build quality, performance, and long battery life. The battery was an improvement over the X41. The model is one of the last to feature a 43 aspect ratio display.
Some X60s models shipped with the Intel Core 2 Duo L7300 clocked at 1.40GHz or the L7700 clocked at 1.80GHz. As of 2018, it was still possible to purchase new batteries and spare parts for these laptops from a few online retailers.

X61 Tablet

The ThinkPad X61 tablet also received positive reviews, with IT Reviews saying that "the build quality and engineering are second to none and this shines through with the tablet features which have been executed with something close to genius". However, the high price tag and relatively inadequate performance were criticized by the reviewer.
tabletPC Review acknowledged the sturdiness of the X61 tablet, the high battery life, and the quality of the pen. The features that met with disfavor were the lack of a widescreen, display brightness and colors, and the lack of an optical drive—although the reviewer admitted that the absence helps reduce weight.

2008

The laptops released in the X series in 2008 followed the new naming conventions established by Lenovo. The X Series laptops released by Lenovo in 2008 were [|X200], [|X200t] and [|X300].

X200 and X200s

The ThinkPad X200 was released on 15 July 2008. It leveraged the new technology from the X300, including the options of a solid-state drive, an optional integrated camera, widescreen display, optional 3G mobile broadband card, a new 9-cell battery for extended running time up to 9.8 hours, weight as low as, and an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU up to 2.66GHz.
Lenovo released X200s on 23 September 2008. It differed from the standard X200 in being lighter, having longer battery life, and running more quietly due to an "owl fan" design for cooling taken from the X300. The X200s was available with more than half a dozen different CPUs and three screen options; the top of the range was a WXGA+ LED-Backlit TN Panel.
The X200s features cooler components. However, both laptops did not have a touchpad, no HDMI, DVI, or DisplayPort, and no built-in optical drive. The X200 series included tablet PC models, designated by the usage of the "t" suffix, primarily the X230t.