Today we brought to you a review of Notebook Lenovo ThinkPad X230. Well, before you move on to the review, we give a couple of features of the model Lenovo ThinkPad X230 : a full 35-watt platform Intel Ivy Bridge, up to 16 GB of RAM, HDD-SSD-and configurations to choose from, as well as an optional 3G-modem and mat IPS-screen.
No matter how ridiculous it sounded to some fans of premium products from other brands notebook Lenovo ThinkPad X230 is quite beautiful. Just beauty is different, subtle features like a sports car and brute force prepared for rally-raid SUV interesting in its own way and to deny this means to recognize their own limitations.
Compact design is made in the typical family of business notebooks ThinkPad style is the main feature of which are the matte black finish and chopped line silhouette. The body of the 12.5-inch laptop weighs on 1.34 kg. But with a complete 6-cell battery it comes to the value of 1.56 kg.
Lenovo ThinkPad X230 is finished in black plastic with fine texture, touch very much resembling sandpaper. This stuff looks surprisingly unassuming, its “pores” easily clog with dust, but again – it looks like a dirt relevant camouflage, and does not cause feelings of distaste, which may cause the prints on the black gloss.
The top of the lid has the manufacturer’s logo and families facing the notebook owner and not others – another typical bar ThinkPad. At the bottom of the cover you can find a pair of metal hinges and a miniature indicator showing the mode of activity of the Lenovo ThinkPad X230 laptop.
Lenovo ThinkPad X230, including the sidewalls made of rubberized material practical. It is literally littered with rows of holes for air intake, which is not surprising given the fact that the laptop is equipped with full 35-watt processors.
Located in the center of the bottom of the door to upgrade the RAM, can be found just below the proprietary connector for external batteries and docking stations, and finally placed in the bottom compartment for the removable battery with a slot for SIM-card. The Lenovo ThinkPad X230 notebook can be equipped with one of four types of batteries in the case of the 6-cell version of a 63 Wh battery is quite noticeable in favor of the case.
Front edge of Lenovo ThinkPad X230 is free, can be found on the back of the charger socket and one of two radiator cooling system. Located on the right side wall socket USB 2.0 with charging peripherals in sleep mode, format card reader SD, network port RJ45, combined audio port and a Kensington lock hole.
On the left side of Lenovo ThinkPad X230 you can find the slider to turn off the wireless modules, card slot for expansion Express Card 54, a pair of ports USB 3.0, two video MiniDisplay Port and D-sub, and a second radiator.
Screen
In the front edge of the Lenovo ThinkPad X230 notebook there is a small indentation, making it easy to pick up the lid with your finger, but open it anyway have two hands because of the tight joint. In this case, the mechanism used allows fixing the display at any angle, and integrated frame rigidity – without fear to hold a laptop for cover.
For model Lenovo ThinkPad X230 are two types of displays: a normal 12.5-inch TN-screen with a matte finish and standard definition in 1366 by 768 pixels or a premium version of the same resolution, but high brightness backlight and IPS-matrix produced by LG (LP125WH2-SLB1). The choice of a higher quality when purchased with a matrix Configurator increase the cost of the laptop collected only $ 50, but to use such a good deal will be only in the U.S. and some Western countries. Additionally, you can choose the type of matrix and antenna design of wireless modules. The standard solution uses a pair of antennas, but the enhanced solution is built on three circuits, occupying all the available space on the screen, which eliminates the possibility of installing a webcam.
In the Lenovo ThinkPad X230 IPS version working range of angles (90-180 degrees), the picture remains unchanged, and only when passing through the normal (screen facing the keyboard), there is some loss of contrast and decrease brightness. The image itself is different and eye pleasant warm colors, the picture is really nice to watch, especially when compared to conventional TN-solutions. Pleasantly surprised and dimming range, minimum 10 cd/m2 perfect for reading in the dark, and the maximum 200 cd/m2 paired with a matte surface of the matrix can easily work and glare in bright light.
Ergonomics
All interior panels of Lenovo ThinkPad X230, including edging and screen work surface, made of a practical non-smooth black plastic. The top of the display unit is mounted webcam and an LED backlit keyboard, the bottom – indicators as icons and a couple of microphones.
To the left of the keyboard there is a whole set of additional buttons for quick volume adjustment and mute, as well as to run the original shell Lenovo SimpleTap, located on the right illuminated power button.
To move the cursor using a proprietary system UltraNav consisting of a touchpad and trackpoint with three dedicated keys. The first method is easy to use navigation of habit, while the second allows you to control the interface without taking your hands off the keyboard. To the right of the touch pad located optional fingerprint reader, a key pad as it acts as the rounded front edge.
In the Lenovo ThinkPad X230 uses an updated island-type spill-resistant keyboard with improved ergonomics and a slightly modified design. The keyboard takes up the entire width of the shell, and a number of function keys significantly higher than the others, and block arrows passed in a small niche and isolated horizontal groove. The buttons are large enough for comfortable operation, also different well-chosen characteristics: a long course and the lack of noise, even when the active set of the text.
Functionality
Lenovo ThinkPad X230 cost from 1000 to 1500 dollars. But Westerners can configure the necessary hardware modifications yourself by finding themselves literally any setting, from the CPU, RAM, HDD / SSD and wireless modules to the type of keyboard, touch pad, a set of pre-installed software and accessories.
One can choose the configuration easier by Intel Core i3 or vice versa, to equip the laptop 16 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. It is based on the processor Intel Core i7-3520M and equipped with 4 GB of RAM, hard drive to 500 GB and 3G-modem.
In such circumstances, Lenovo ThinkPad X230 scored 3200 points in the PCmark7, 1240 points in 3Dmark11 and 5.1 points in the performance index Windows. Of the complete battery capacity of 63 Wh laptop worked 1 hour and 20 minutes at maximum load, and 6 hours 20 minutes in the emulation mode of reading.
Note that apart from the above-mentioned 63 Wh battery (6 cells), there are two common type of battery is 29 Wh (4 cells) and 94 Wh (9-cell), and optional external battery is 57 Wh (6 cells), to be connected to the slot extension on the bottom of the laptop.
Operation
Lenovo ThinkPad X230 could not arrange for objective reasons, but even a simple list of design features of this solution (strong magnesium frame housing and the display unit, cushioning slot for a hard drive, improved moisture and dust protection) convinces that damage your notebook would be very difficult.
So, if you accidentally spill some liquid on the operation panel, a large part of it will flow under the bottom through special channels, without causing significant damage to the system, but to work with a laptop in the rain is still not recommended.
In some configurations, Lenovo ThinkPad X230 is installed an optional backlit keyboard, but the basic solution is the LED in cabinet depth. It shines not as bright and spectacular as backlit-option, but if necessary to illuminate not only the keys, but also documents lay on the keyboard.
As a result, during the test operation to Lenovo ThinkPad X230 could not produce any serious claim, any deviation from the usual design and ergonomic solutions are likely to features family Thinkpad, although they may not like some individuals.
Results
Lenovo ThinkPad X230 is a compact 12-inch laptop for those with reliability, usability and performance of the first places in the list of requirements for a mobile companion. This is perfect solution for professionals and for urban residents with active working rhythm and frequent business trips.
Pros:
+ Complete hardware platform Intel Ivy Bridge
+ Optional matte IPS-display with high brightness
+ Up to 16 GB of RAM, HDD and SSD configuration, optional 3G-modem
+ Traditionally high ergonomics
+ Spill-resistant keyboard with backlighting (two options)
+ Solid set of connectors, including 3 USB and ExpressCard 54 slot