Lenovo’s Featherweight MacBook Air Challenger January 29, 2008
Read more Apple , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Laptops , Mobile Devices , Technology
Lenovo is readying a new slinky laptop that it hopes will steal some of thunder from the super-thin, stylish, yet crippled, MacBook Air.
Details of the forthcoming X300 have been leaked on the Web and, first and foremost, it’s important that we clear something up first: it’s not as thin as the MacBook Air. Not anorexic, no, but certainly underfed. That said, it’s 0.5lb lighter and crams more in to boot.
Weighing in at just 2.5lbs, the X300 sports a faster 2GHz Intel LV Dual Core processor, double the memory at up to 4GB of Dram, a 13.3in display and, unlike the Air, an ultra-thin optical drive (7mm). There’s a 64GB SSD drive - like the Air – but unlike the Air, you are not limited to Wi-Fi only connectivity. It sports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and support for Wimax, alongside an Ethernet port and three USB slots.
There’s a fingerprint reader, camera and microphone and, I’m reliably informed, it will be cheaper than the Air when it launches in March.
To be fair, it loses the beauty contest hands down. It’s not a design classic like the Air either but then, functionality and value for money are far more important than looks to many people.-Martin Lynch
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
Comments
It's downright ugly... it's based on a 10 yr old IBM design. There are pc laptops around the same weight that don't look so damn ugly.
The Air is like a Ferarri. Not your first and only car, but a thrill to drive.
Interesting you mention the Air.
I like the idea of the Air (shame that it does not have the fingerprint stuff).
I was seriously thinking that one might buy one, and run XP on Parrallels.
As for the X300 I hope that it can run XP
Currently using a battered, ugly (but faithful!) X31, and I was wondering about the upgrade.
The hassle of starting to use Vista fills me with horror.
The X300 ticks a couple of boxes, but frankly XP does the job for me, I've got better things to do than to look at a poor imitation of a Mac O/S
not sure how you can compare a laptop to a car...but if u are going to some would argue the thrill to drive beats mere appearance. Your ferrari 348 may be nice to look at but my porshe 911 turbo has the kick (and cd player provided). italian cars tend to fall apart too and cost a load to repair. all begging you to ask was it really worth it and who would win in a race?
Yes the Air is like a Ferarri...
...it's a penis extension.
Macs look great they do there job... but PCs' make the world go round plain and simple.
IBM/Lenovo have to be the most solid well built reliable laptops on earth.
Beauty and the Beast
I think this Lenovo is taking the one-upmanship in the right direction, still not there yet and yes it's ugly.
On the other hand with an Air -though gorgeous - if you take away the keyboard and screen what you are really paying for is a US£1,800 USB flash stick.
You'd have to be an idiot not to realise that fact. But Steve Jobs has this supernatural power over trend-obsessed early adopters....
2GHz Intel LV Dual Core processor vs 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo.
I think it is debatable at best (before we see benchmarks) to immediately brand the low voltage chip as faster compared to the “crippled” 64 bit Core 2 Duo on the Mac Book Air.
Again we will see benchmarks.
Not to mention that whilst the Lenovo runs Vista Business or Ultimate (32 bit), the Air will run Vista (64 bit) and Leopard (64 bit).
All these manufacturers make compromises somewhere. Any word on the Lenovo screen – is it LED backlit like the Air?
Apple MacBook Air / Lenovo X300
Lenovo X300 / Apple MacBook Air
You don't even need to see the products or read the spec. Just read those names to yourself and then decide which one you want. Close your eyes and picture: Lenovo... Bonobo. X300. Is it nice? No, this is the illegitimate spawn of the idiots that decided to drop a long established brand as strong as IBM!
Apple. Is it nice? Of course it is. MacBook Air. Is that a nice name? Same again. It's stylish. There's evidence of some original thought gone into the name alone. It's a name for winners.
So, if after closing your eyes and picturing Lenovo X300, if you still want one, take the bus home. In fact take the bus for the rest of your life. Everyone on the bus will love you - because you'll be a loser just like them.
But on the other hand, if you've got the slightest bit of ambition or self respect, get the Apple MacBook Air. You'll know why.