Lenovo x121e netbook

scylos · 3 Oct 2011 at 00:21

The intel one is by a long way NOT a netbook. I've used it to run 3ds Max tutorials last week at work on an HD projector. I am really impressed. Don't get stingy on memory, it is ridiculously affordable these days. The AMD is fine for the price tag (was 270 when I got this) and would probably run cooler & quieter, but this opens new horizons. I can see why lenovo doesn't sell this in the US (where X220s are dirt cheap) as it would encroach on X220s market.

I still want my Air, but I care for my machines; I'd never take it out on the road as it gets scratched by looking at it.

This... this is just perfect for the task without breaking the bank. Though I do admit, I'd rather have the X220. Just can't justify the premium.

Also, if you are thinking about it, just note the 2-3 issues: trackpad, noise & perhaps the display. If you're not adept with the nipple, you will get frustrated.
The noise & screen are lesser evils imo.

EDIT: Forgot to mention battey - I have the 6-cell one.
I get full 5 hours on the net with everything at max. With realistic use at work (i.e. meetings, presentations, lotsa blah blah etc) I don't really have to carry the brick with me. With brightness at 10/15 this goes up to 7 hours easily. I suspect that on Linux or MacOS this thing will last a lot more as windows is power-hungry.

Next step will be to hackintosh the thing.

Joshbb · 3 Oct 2011 at 10:12

hi,

the red lid covering comes off mine really easily, I noticed it after my wife who has finger nails had been trying out the laptop for a short time. Lenovo support said 'tough **** (after ignoring me for a couple of weeks) when I brought this to their attention

video showing how easily the red flakes off http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MQp9ujxc3w

( i really did not like to make this video as my laptop is already going to look really bad after a few months, especially if my wife uses it)

chrismscotland · 3 Oct 2011 at 10:59

I think I'm tempted to go for the Black one, what should I go for AMD or Intel?

Wishy · 3 Oct 2011 at 13:34

ductions said:
I'm hoping to use the new laptop for taking notes in lectures (that is if the fan isn't too loud!) and work at uni in general as I'm just joining 2nd year Computer Science.

Can't see this being too loud. Its quieter than the relatively quiet aircon at work.

chrismscotland said:
I think I'm tempted to go for the Black one, what should I go for AMD or Intel?

Intel unless you're on a budget.

Wakinglimb said:
Anyone know about WWAN modules? Will any PCI-E one work? Do you still have a sim card slot on the non-WWAN versions?

Mine has been upgraded, see my earlier posts

chrismscotland · 3 Oct 2011 at 19:23

I've been looking at some benchmarks on the notebook check site and it suggests that the Core i3-2357M CPU and Intel HD 3000 integated graphics would be better than the Core 2 Duo 9400 CPU and Radeon 4330 GPU I had in my old Acer 8371, am I likely to find performance at least similar to the older Acer?

Wakinglimb · 3 Oct 2011 at 19:46

chrismscotland said:
I've been looking at some benchmarks on the notebook check site and it suggests that the Core i3-2357M CPU and Intel HD 3000 integated graphics would be better than the Core 2 Duo 9400 CPU and Radeon 4330 GPU I had in my old Acer 8371, am I likely to find performance at least similar to the older Acer?

Based upon no benchmarks at all, I honestly think the x121e will kill the Acer... Notebookcheck website ranks all of these, might be worth looking at.

Wakinglimb · 3 Oct 2011 at 20:01

Wishy said:
Note - Make very sure that you're buying a lenovo part. If you insert a 3G (Lenovo call it WWAN) card which is not lenovo supplied, the PCI-ID will be incorrect and you'll get the dreaded 1802 message. (Obviously this doesn't apply to USB 3g cards).
Also note - there are a number of quite old WWAN modules. Specifically watch out for the Sierra ones, the more common of these do only 1.8mbit down, and they don't cost substantially less than the newer cards. Thinkwiki is an invaluable source here. It was also good in terms of helping me decide which card to go for (The Globi modules seem to be a bit of a pair in the rear end for linux support)

Thanks for the advice! Wish I'd read this before buying the wrong card! Just bought the right one, thanks again.

chrismscotland · 3 Oct 2011 at 22:55

Wakinglimb said:
Based upon no benchmarks at all, I honestly think the x121e will kill the Acer... Notebookcheck website ranks all of these, might be worth looking at.

Thanks mate, all I'm looking for is something at least as powerful as the Acer was, if the i3 and HD 3000 setup is going to be even better than that then all the better!!!

chrismscotland · 3 Oct 2011 at 23:48

I know they're slightly different machines but has anyone who's opted for the x121e considered the HP Probook 4320s? Looks pretty powerful with the i3-380M CPU and ATI 5470 GPU as well, albeit a bit larger at 13" and with a worse off battery... I hate choosing laptops!

Wakinglimb · 4 Oct 2011 at 12:28

chrismscotland said:
I know they're slightly different machines but has anyone who's opted for the x121e considered the HP Probook 4320s? Looks pretty powerful with the i3-380M CPU and ATI 5470 GPU as well, albeit a bit larger at 13" and with a worse off battery... I hate choosing laptops!

That's a first Gen i3, so not sandybridge. Doesn't look as good value either.

chrismscotland · 4 Oct 2011 at 12:32

Wakinglimb said:
That's a first Gen i3, so not sandybridge. Doesn't look as good value either.

Ah right, is there a big difference? I'm useless when it comes to laptop specs last netbook I had was an Atom / Ion combo...

Wakinglimb · 4 Oct 2011 at 21:11

chrismscotland said:
Ah right, is there a big difference? I'm useless when it comes to laptop specs last netbook I had was an Atom / Ion combo...

Hmm, I might be wrong actually.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i3-2357M-Notebook-Processor.57423.0.html

Battery life will suffer though. The amd graphics card card will be thesimilar performance but more battery use I think.

chrismscotland · 4 Oct 2011 at 21:24

Wakinglimb said:
Hmm, I might be wrong actually.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i3-2357M-Notebook-Processor.57423.0.html

Battery life will suffer though. The amd graphics card card will be thesimilar performance but more battery use I think.

Thanks mate, it does look like the CPU is much more poweful - 2.53Ghz v the 1.3 Ghz in the x121e, but like you said there seems little to choose between the GPU's and the battery life I suspect will be much poorer than the i3-2357M

Are the AMD versions any good? The slower 1Ghz chip I'd rule out instantly but what about the E-350 1.6Ghz? is it like the AMD mobile chips of old which had dire battery life?

Wakinglimb · 4 Oct 2011 at 21:45

Amd one is more very netbook. The Intel is a sub notebook. Battery life isnt as good as Intel, but still decent. Depends on your needs though.

chrismscotland · 4 Oct 2011 at 21:53

Thanks for your assistance mate, despite the extra cost I think the I3 x121e would be my best bet, a decent battery is important to me and it seems that even the low voltage i3 chip has more horsepower than the AMD chipsets.

Physically the Probook is much larger than I was looking for 2.1 KG

is much heavier than I wanted!

chrismscotland · 4 Oct 2011 at 22:34

Are there any discount codes floating about for the Lenovo Site?

scylos · 5 Oct 2011 at 02:00

Run into a little problem lol.

Accidentaly erased the recovery partition (I can blame wife - she was distracting me while I was making the recovery disks).

Any ideas?

PS.: Love the i3. My iMac gathers dust at the moment!

Wakinglimb · 5 Oct 2011 at 10:23

chrismscotland said:
Are there any discount codes floating about for the Lenovo Site?

Setup your trust and mail me. Will reply tonight with a v good discount.

Wakinglimb · 5 Oct 2011 at 10:33

scylos said:
Run into a little problem lol.

Accidentaly erased the recovery partition (I can blame wife - she was distracting me while I was making the recovery disks).

Any ideas?

PS.: Love the i3. My iMac gathers dust at the moment!

It's tied to the machine. You'll need to call Lenovo.

chrismscotland · 5 Oct 2011 at 12:08

Wakinglimb said:
Setup your trust and mail me. Will reply tonight with a v good discount.

I think I've enabled it! Hopefully! Thanks in advance!