Alienware M17x (2011)
It's the pretty rare notebook that makes us giddy with excitement, but the Alienware M17x does just that. When we last reviewed this gaming rig, we praised its power, keyboard, and display, among other things, but lamented its high price and poor battery life. The latest M17x doesn't just improve on its predecessor, it has all the makings of a dream laptop. Featuring an Intel quad-core Sandy Bridge CPU, AMD switchable graphics, and a Samsung SSD, this monster offers more than double the performance of anything that came before. On top of that, the M17x has a built-in WirelessHD transmitter, so if it's 17-inch 1080p display isn't big enough, you can beam Blu-ray movies, games, and anything else you want wirelessly across the room to a big-screen TV. Yes, this newest M17x costs $3,300, but that's $1,300 less than its predecessor. What's not to like? Seriously.
Design
For the past two years, Alienware notebooks have had a distinctive grille on the front of its systems that is reminiscent of a Camaro. That look continues with the latest M17x, but the lid is slightly different. While the Alienware logo--an alien's head--is still prominent, the lid is now covered in a soft-touch finish, and no longer has a ridge running down its middle. Also gone are the Nebula Red and Lunar Silver color options. We prefer this new treatment; not only is it nicer to hold, but it resists fingerprints.While it's doubtful that many will notice, the new M17x is also slightly thinner than before. Whereas the last-gen M17x measured 16 x 12.6 x 2.1 inches, the current M17x is 16 x 11.9 x 1.8 inches. Part of the reason is that the M17x only has space for one discrete graphics card, whereas the older version could accommodate two.
The M17x has also gone on a diet: The previous M17x weighed 11.6 pounds; the latest is 9.6 pounds. While that's still massive as far as notebooks go--even desktop replacements--it's an improvement. It falls right in between the ASUS G73Jw-A1 (8.8 pounds) and the Toshiba Qosmio X505 (10.6 pounds), which is a larger 18-inch system.
The media control buttons have undergone a slight change; no longer are they touch-sensitive. Instead, the backlit controls are physical buttons. They're still just as responsive, though.
One of the coolest things about Alienware systems is the backlighting. You can change the keyboard, the logos, the front grille--even the ring around the touchpad--to a number of different colors, depending on your mood or what you're doing. It's just awesome. The AlienFX utility to change the controls is fun to use; you can easily spend a lot of time tinkering with the color schemes.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is pretty much untouched since the last generation of the M17x; then again, there's nothing that needed changing. The keys are large, have a nice feel, and are very responsive. There was a bit of flex in the keyboard, but Alienware told us that production models would have more support.While the previous M17x had a honeycomb pattern on its touchpad, the newest iteration is smooth, but is a spacious 3.9 x 2.2 inches. The surface offered little to no resistance as our fingers glided across it, which is a good thing. Powered by Synaptics, the touchpad is also capable of multitouch gestures, though Alienware turns them off by default.
Alienware M17x (2011) Review
Record-breaking performance, superslick design, wireless HD streaming, and five hours of battery life. Yup, this gaming notebook is pretty much perfect.
Price as Reviewed: $3,300.00 
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It's the pretty rare notebook that makes us giddy with excitement, but the Alienware M17x does just that. When we last reviewed this gaming rig, we praised its power, keyboard, and display, among other things, but lamented its high price and poor battery life. The latest M17x doesn't just improve on its predecessor, it has all the makings of a dream laptop. Featuring an Intel quad-core Sandy Bridge CPU, AMD switchable graphics, and a Samsung SSD, this monster offers more than double the performance of anything that came before. On top of that, the M17x has a built-in WirelessHD transmitter, so if it's 17-inch 1080p display isn't big enough, you can beam Blu-ray movies, games, and anything else you want wirelessly across the room to a big-screen TV. Yes, this newest M17x costs $3,300, but that's $1,300 less than its predecessor. What's not to like? Seriously.
While it's doubtful that many will notice, the new M17x is also slightly thinner than before. Whereas the last-gen M17x measured 16 x 12.6 x 2.1 inches, the current M17x is 16 x 11.9 x 1.8 inches. Part of the reason is that the M17x only has space for one discrete graphics card, whereas the older version could accommodate two.
The M17x has also gone on a diet: The previous M17x weighed 11.6 pounds; the latest is 9.6 pounds. While that's still massive as far as notebooks go--even desktop replacements--it's an improvement. It falls right in between the ASUS G73Jw-A1 (8.8 pounds) and the Toshiba Qosmio X505 (10.6 pounds), which is a larger 18-inch system.
The media control buttons have undergone a slight change; no longer are they touch-sensitive. Instead, the backlit controls are physical buttons. They're still just as responsive, though.
One of the coolest things about Alienware systems is the backlighting. You can change the keyboard, the logos, the front grille--even the ring around the touchpad--to a number of different colors, depending on your mood or what you're doing. It's just awesome. The AlienFX utility to change the controls is fun to use; you can easily spend a lot of time tinkering with the color schemes.
While the previous M17x had a honeycomb pattern on its touchpad, the newest iteration is smooth, but is a spacious 3.9 x 2.2 inches. The surface offered little to no resistance as our fingers glided across it, which is a good thing. Powered by Synaptics, the touchpad is also capable of multitouch gestures, though Alienware turns them off by default.
Design
For the past two years, Alienware notebooks have had a distinctive grille on the front of its systems that is reminiscent of a Camaro. That look continues with the latest M17x, but the lid is slightly different. While the Alienware logo--an alien's head--is still prominent, the lid is now covered in a soft-touch finish, and no longer has a ridge running down its middle. Also gone are the Nebula Red and Lunar Silver color options. We prefer this new treatment; not only is it nicer to hold, but it resists fingerprints.While it's doubtful that many will notice, the new M17x is also slightly thinner than before. Whereas the last-gen M17x measured 16 x 12.6 x 2.1 inches, the current M17x is 16 x 11.9 x 1.8 inches. Part of the reason is that the M17x only has space for one discrete graphics card, whereas the older version could accommodate two.
The M17x has also gone on a diet: The previous M17x weighed 11.6 pounds; the latest is 9.6 pounds. While that's still massive as far as notebooks go--even desktop replacements--it's an improvement. It falls right in between the ASUS G73Jw-A1 (8.8 pounds) and the Toshiba Qosmio X505 (10.6 pounds), which is a larger 18-inch system.
The media control buttons have undergone a slight change; no longer are they touch-sensitive. Instead, the backlit controls are physical buttons. They're still just as responsive, though.
One of the coolest things about Alienware systems is the backlighting. You can change the keyboard, the logos, the front grille--even the ring around the touchpad--to a number of different colors, depending on your mood or what you're doing. It's just awesome. The AlienFX utility to change the controls is fun to use; you can easily spend a lot of time tinkering with the color schemes.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is pretty much untouched since the last generation of the M17x; then again, there's nothing that needed changing. The keys are large, have a nice feel, and are very responsive. There was a bit of flex in the keyboard, but Alienware told us that production models would have more support.While the previous M17x had a honeycomb pattern on its touchpad, the newest iteration is smooth, but is a spacious 3.9 x 2.2 inches. The surface offered little to no resistance as our fingers glided across it, which is a good thing. Powered by Synaptics, the touchpad is also capable of multitouch gestures, though Alienware turns them off by default.
Heat
After streaming a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, the M17x' touchpad was a cool 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and the space between the G and H keys was a nice 85 degees. However, the middle of the underside reached 98 degrees; we consider anything above 95 uncomfortable. After gaming for about half an hour, the temperature here increased to a scorching 120 degrees. It's a good thing it's highly unlikely that you'll ever rest the M17x in your lap.
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2011)
Apple has two strong 13-inch notebooks to entice shoppers, and one of them just got a lot stronger. While the 13-inch MacBook Air ($1,299) emphasizes portability and instant gratificaiton via Flash memory, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro ($1,199) is all about speed and extra-long endurance. The latest version boasts a bevy of new components and abilities, including a second-generation Intel Core i5 processor, a FaceTime HD webcam, and Thunderbolt high-speed connectivity. The much-loved unibody aluminum chassis remains, along with the outstanding backlit keyboard and glass touchpad, all for the same price. So how much better is this 13-inch MacBook Pro than its predecessor, and what do you give up?
Design
The 2011 13-inch MacBook Pro is virtually identical to its predecessor. Slim with its iconic curved lid, the aluminium unibody chassis exudes premium build quality from all angles. Measuring 12.8 x 8.9 x 1 inches, and weighing 4.6 pounds, the new machine has the same dimensions as before but is a fraction heavier (0.2 pounds). Of course, the 13-inch MacBook Air (0.7 inches thick, 2.9 pounds) makes the Pro look heavy by comparison, but this 13-incher still slips into bags easily and is relatively easy to carry. Users will also find the same black Island-style keyboard and large multitouch touchpad that have graced previous models. Chiseled from a single block of metal, the MacBook Pro feels extremely sturdy. One drawback is that the MacBook Pro's battery is not replaceable, at least not without Apple tech support. Also, the chassis can scratch easily if exposed to sharp objects, making a custom-fit cover a smart investment.
Heat
Despite its metallic construction, the MacBook Pro mainly kept its cool on our heat tests. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit at the center of the keyboard, while the notebook's underside returned the same reading. The touchpad was cooler at 80 degrees. The bottom back end of the 13-inch MacBook Pro did get toasty, logging a temperature of 109 degrees; we consider anything over 100 degrees cause for concern.Keyboard and Touchpad
Folks familiar with the MacBook Pro know that its keyboard is one of the best around. The laptop's big square keys have a soft finish and are arranged in an island-style setup, offering plenty of spacing. They also make little sound when hit, yet provide a satisfying click. Equipped with an ambient light sensor, the keyboard is backlit as well, one of the advantages the 13-inch MacBook Pro has over the 13-inch Air.
Like MacBook Pros before it, the current version has a vast 4.1 x 3-inch touchpad that doubles as one massive button. Frankly, it's the gold standard; it let us glide our fingers across it with minimal friction and intuitively press down to make selections. We never missed the lack of a discrete mouse button, or even two.
The full gamut of familiar multitouch gestures are here as well. We easily used two fingers to scroll up and down through webpages and zoom in and out of photos and documents. With four digits we pushed all windows out of the way for a clear view of the desktop, and with three fingers swiped our way from app to app.
ASUS G73SW-A1 Review
With the look of a stealth fighter on the outside and the combined power of a 2nd Generation Core i7 and high-end Nvidia GTX 460M graphics under the hood, the ASUS G73SW really stands out in a crowd. But for the premium price of $1,784, mobile gamers demand more than just great performance and looks; they want something truly special. Does the 17.3-inch ASUS G73SW fit the bill?
Editor's Note: Portions of this review were adapted from our review of the ASUS G73Jw, an earlier model of the same system.Design
The G73SW-A1 is identical to the G73Jw-A1 and G73Jh-A2 we reviewed previously. At 8.8 pounds and 16.6 x 12.8 x 2.3 inches, the G73JW-A1 would never be mistaken for an ultraportable, but compared to some other systems we've tested--such as the 10.6-pound, 18-inch Toshiba Qosmio X505--it seems rather svelte. Carrying it and its 2-pound power brick around in an oversize backpack was no problem, even when we had to stand for a long time on the bus.
Modeled after the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, the G73AW-A1 lacks the bling of colorful notebooks such as the Alienware M17x, but its sleek, angular design and gunmetal-gray exterior make it one of the most attractive systems we've seen. The dual exhausts on the back combine with the subtle silver ASUS logo and the Republic of Gaming emblem to make this product look more like one of the planes you'd fly in a game than the notebook you'd be gaming on. Open up the lid, and the subtle theme continues inside. Only a few small buttons sit on top of the simple black keyboard, and the gray touchpad simply blends into the deck. No colorful status lights or bright red buttons here.
What really makes the G73SW-A1 stand out is the rubberized material used on both the lid and deck. More notebooks should use this type of material, because it's incredibly comfortable to touch, resists finger prints, stays cool, and provides a feeling of durability and quality.
Heat
Few things are more irritating than a notebook that singes your wrists, lap, or fingers. Fortunately, the ASUS G73SW stays ice-cold at all times. After streaming a video for 15 minutes, we measured the touchpad at 80 degrees, the keyboard at 85 degrees, and the bottom at only 83 degrees. We consider temperatures below 95 degrees comfortable and those below 90 undetectable.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Unfortunately, the G73SW-A1's backlit keyboard is a huge drawback, with tiny stiff keys that are difficult for typists and gamers alike. On the Ten Thumbs Typing Test, we got one of our worst scores ever--68 words per minute and a 3-percent error rate as opposed to our average rate of 80 wpm and a 1-percent error rate.
One reason the keyboard is so difficult to touch type on is that the keys give really weak tactile feedback and require really hard and deliberate strokes. Another issue is that their flat, square shape lacks the kind of curves that make it easy to feel your way around the rows, and the narrow space between them seems smaller than on other devices.
Why ASUS decided to not use all available space for the keyboard remains a mystery. The chassis is 16 inches wide, but it has 1.5 inches of empty plastic on either side of the keyboard. Meanwhile, the arrow keys and numeric keypad--both essential for gameplay--are actually smaller than the rest of the keys, making it difficult to use them as controls. To make matters worse, the sharp incline and deep palm rest (more wasted space) can make it hard to keep your hands from slipping backward as you type.
Size-wise, the 4.4 x 2.2-inch touchpad has everything going for it: a large, smooth--but not too smooth--surface, multitouch gesture support, and two discrete buttons that offer just the right amount of tactile feedback. Unfortunately, the G73SW doesn't have a touchpad on/off button like those found on Toshiba's Qosmio series. Such buttons are helpful for gamers who use mice and want to avoid accidentally touching the trackpad while they use the keyboard.
Dell XPS 15 L502X (Sandy Bridge) Review
When we last reviewed the Dell XPS 15, we praised the notebook's strong performance, best-in-class audio, and colorful screen. Now Dell has upgraded its premium 15-incher with Intel's second-generation Core Series processors and Nvidia GeForce GT 500 series graphics, which promise even better performance. We had a chance to test out a high-end $1,488 configuration of the XPS 15, complete with a 2-GHz quad-core Core i7, 8GB of RAM, a 1080p screen, and Nvidia GT540M graphics. These specs promise--and deliver--remarkable processing and media prowess, but is the whole package worth nearly $1,500?
Editor's Note: Portions of this review were adapted from the original XPS 15 review.Design
The Dell XPS 15 sports a matte silver anodized aluminum lid that doesn't pick up fingerprints, but it seems a bit dull. Fortunately, Dell offers 200 different Dell Studio lid patterns (an $85 add-on). On the plus side, we appreciate the small black bar that sticks out behind the lid, which has a backlit XPS logo that pulses when the system is asleep. We also like that the matte finish continues on the sides and bottom, areas too often ignored by other notebook makers.
The dark brushed aluminum deck on the inside of the machine and the diamond-cut, silver trim that surround the keyboard and touchpad look more modern. The JBL speakers, which sit on either side of the keyboard, have a unique pattern that looks a bit old-fashioned.
At 15 x 10.4 x 1.5 inches and 6.6 pounds with the nine-cell battery, the XPS 15 is one of the bulkier 15-inch notebooks we've tested. It barely fit into a standard notebook bag, and it weighs a lot more than the 5.6-pound 15-inch MacBook Pro and the IdeaPad Y560d (6.2 pounds). Also, because the nine-cell battery tilts the system upward, the back side increases to 2.25 inches tall.
Heat
Throughout our testing, the Dell XPS 15 stayed pleasantly cool. Even after streaming a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured the touchpad at a reasonable 91 degrees Fahrenheit, the keyboard at 93 degrees, and the bottom at 93 degrees. We consider temperatures below 95 degrees comfortable.
Keyboard and Touchpad
At first glance, the XPS 15's keyboard has a lot going for it: an adjustable backlight, large, well-placed keys, and a generous, comfortable palm rest. However, the keys themselves were somewhat stiff. This led us to be more deliberate when typing. We notched a 74 word-per-minute score on the Ten Thumbs Typing Test, 6 wpm lower than our typical average.
Above the keyboard sit a few status lights and three touch-sensitive buttons. The first button launches Windows Mobility Center, a mini control panel that allows you to easily manage your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and display settings; we particularly appreciated being able to set the keyboard backlight's brightness. The second button is user-configurable, and the third button launches Dell Audio by Realtek, an audio control center.
The large 3.9 x 2.2-inch touchpad on the XPS 15 offers just the right amount of friction and smoothly executes multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom. It also has two discrete mouse buttons that offer good tactile feedback.
Display
The 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution display on the XPS 15 is one of the brightest and most colorful we've tested. Even at viewing angles of nearly 90 degrees to the left or right, images stayed sharp and bright.
The XPS 15 played every video we threw at it without hesitation, from a 1080p QuickTime trailer for Thor to a 720p Episode of Fringe streamed from Fox.com to a Blu-ray movie of Hitch. The screen is so sharp that it exposed some film grain in the Hitch Blu-ray.
Audio
The XPS 15 is good enough to serve as your home stereo. The JBL Speakers and bottom-mounted sub-woofer offer incredibly loud and accurate sound. Whether we were listening to a bass-heavy R&B song such as "Forget Me Nots," a funk classic such as Kool and the Gang's "Summer Madness," or a classical tune such as Richard Strauss' "Thus Spake Zarathustra," sound was bright and true, even at maximum volume. In fact, when listening to these songs we were able to hear a clear separation of instruments, from the twanging of the bass line in "Forget Me Nots" to the percussion in "Summer Madness."
The Wave MaxxAudio sound enhancement software plays a huge role in providing this level of fidelity. When you hit the Waves MaxxAudio button that sits above the PrtSrc key, you get a control panel where you can turn MaxxAudio on or off and make fine adjustments to its settings. The software also includes preset levels that are optimized for music, movies, gaming, or voice conferencing. However, our favorite feature is the Leveler, which automatically adjusts your speakers to give you the best possible fidelity at maximum volume, It also has a "midnight" setting that gives you lower volumes for late-night listening.
Ports and Webcam
The Dell XPS 15 has a few high-end ports. On the right side are a headphone jack, a microphone jack, and an S/PDIF connector, along with a USB 2.0/eSATA combo port. On the back, the XPS 15 has an HDMI port, Ethernet, mini DisplayPort, Kensington lock slot, and a USB 3.0 port. On the left side is one more USB 3.0 port. The front lip contains a 9-in-1 card reader. The XPS 15 doesn't have a VGA connection for video output, but that's not a big deal for the target audience.
The 2-megapixel webcam provides 720p video output that works with Skype HD. The low-light performance seems improved over that of the XPS 15 we tested last fall. In both our dim living room and a dark cubicle, we were able to get reasonably bright images when using Skype or taking photos with Dell's Webcam Central software. Dell's software offers a wide array of additional features, including the ability to use one of 10 "avatars" in lieu of your face. These choices include a baby, a kitten, and an alien.
Intel WiDi 2.0 and 3DTV Play
Like other notebooks with second-generation Intel Core Series processors, the Dell XPS 15 supports Intel's Wireless Display technology for sending the contents of your desktop to an HDTV with a compatible adapter attached (such as the Netgear Push2TV HD). The technology supports full 1080p transmissions, but it does not yet work with DRM-protected content.
Though the XPS 15 does not have a 3D-capable display or emitter, its Nvidia GT 540M video card can stream three-dimensional video to a 3D-enabled television using Nvidia's 3DTV Play software and the system's HDMI 1.4 port. 3DTV Play will display photos or videos you capture with a 3D camera or camcorder, as well as content from the web. To take full advantage of this software, though, you should equip the XPS 15 with a Blu-ray drive that can play 3D Blu-ray movies.
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s Review
The 14-inch member of Lenovo's small-business-oriented ThinkPad Edge family of laptops, the ThinkPad Edge E420s promises a strong combination of sleek looks, portability, performance, and typing comfort. But is this 14-inch Core i5-powered notebook ($889 as configured) the best choice for mobile professionals on the move? Heck yeah.Design
The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s business laptop offers a sporty reinterpretation of the classic ThinkPad motif. While design elements such as the Edge E420s' Lenovo logo, bright red TrackPoint, and dark color are all ThinkPad staples, the notebook's chrome trim, end-to-end infinity glass, and rubberized chassis breathe new life into this tried-and-true aesthetic.
If you look at the deck in bright light, you'll also notice that the Edge E420s is actually a very dark green--Lenovo calls it "moss black"--rather than the traditional ThinkPad black. We particularly like the small touches, such as the red light that sits above the "I" in the ThinkPad logo and blinks when the system is asleep and the soft-touch bottom.
At 4.4 pounds and 13.7 x 9.3 x 1.2-inches, the ThinkPad Edge E420s is one of the most portable 14-inch notebooks on the market, weighing less than the Toshiba Tecra R840 (4.6 pounds), the Lenovo ThinkPad L420 (5.2 pounds), and the Dell Latitude E6420 (6.2 pounds).
Keyboard, TrackPoint, Touchpad
The ThinkPad Edge E420s features a spill-resistant, island-style keyboard that provides the same legendary quality and responsiveness we've come to expect from Lenovo business notebooks. With curved, "smile-shaped" keys that make it easy to avoid adjacent-key errors, a comfy rubberized palm rest that cradles your wrists, and a heavy dose of tactile feedback, the Edge E420s allowed us to achieve a high rate of 86 words per minute on the Ten Thumbs Typing Test, 8 percent above our typical score. Too bad the keyboard isn't backlit, like the new HP ProBook 5330m.
Like other ThinkPad notebooks, the Edge E420s has both a TrackPoint pointing stick and a touchpad. In general, we prefer the TrackPoint, because it provides the most precise navigation available on any notebook while allowing touch typists to keep their hands on the home row.
The Edge E420s' 3.7 x 2.4-inch touchpad provides comfortable, accurate navigation around the desktop. And though the buttons are built into the pad, we had no issues with jumpiness like we've experienced on many other notebooks with "clickpad"-style designs. Multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom worked fairly smoothly, though we sometimes needed to repeat the gesture for rotating images in order for it to register.
Heat
The ThinkPad Edge E420s stayed extremely cool throughout our testing. After streaming video for 15 minutes, the touchpad measured a chilly 81 degrees, the keyboard a frigid 85 degrees, and the bottom a mere 87 degrees Fahrenheit. We consider temperatures below 95 degrees Fahrenheit comfortable and below 90 degrees imperceptible.
Display and Audio
The 14.1-inch, 1366 x 768 glossy display on the ThinkPad Edge E420s provided bright, colorful images and decent viewing angles. However, because the 200-nit display is covered end to end in glossy infinity glass, the screen can be a bit reflective and colors wash out at angles greater than 45 degrees to the left or right.
The ThinkPad E420s's Intel HD Graphics 3000 chip allowed it to handle any video we threw at it with great aplomb. From a 1080p QuickTime trailer for Thor to a 720p streamed Flash episode of Fringe, videos were smooth and sharp.
In our testing, the quality of the ThinkPad E420s's audio playback varied based on the type of music played. When we listened to bass-heavy tunes, playback was accurate, though not overly rich. However, when we queued up a heavy-metal tune, the sound was noticeably tinny and we could feel the speakers quaking. At maximum volume, anything we played was loud enough to fill our entire one-bedroom apartment.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review
When Lenovo discontinued its ThinkPad X300 series, many mobile professionals were disappointed that they could no longer buy the svelte 13-inch laptop, which combined a lightweight soft-touch chassis with a comfy keyboard and a high-res screen. Fortunately, after nearly a year, Lenovo has debuted a new 13-inch business ultraportable in the ThinkPad X1. The 3.8-pound, $1,399 X1 delivers a lot for the money, including a speedy second-generation Core i5 processor, a bright 350-nit screen, a backlit keyboard, and a rugged chassis that's built to survive falls. This machine is so good that more than just business users should check out our in-depth review.Design and Ruggedness
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1's chassis is an evolution, not a reinvention, of the classic ThinkPad design. The all-black chassis is made entirely from soft-touch, rubberized material that's as durable as it is pleasant to touch. Lenovo has taken great care to give the ThinkPad X1 a clean look, going so far as to seal in the battery, minimize the number of holes in the bottom, and hide its left- and right-side ports under rubber panels. The ThinkPad X1 opens to reveal an equally elegant interior with a deep palm rest, a backlit island-style keyboard, and a bright screen that's covered end to end in scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass.
At 13.3 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches and 3.8 pounds, the ThinkPad X1 is extremely thin and light compared to most notebooks, but it's heftier than the 2.9-pound 0.68-inch-thick 13-inch MacBook Air or the 2.9 pound, 0.64-inch-thick Samsung Series 9. However, the Thinkpad X1's somewhat bulkier frame allows for a magnesium alloy top and bottom and an internal roll cage that adds superior durability. The notebook was designed to pass eight different mil-spec tests, including those for sand exposure, vibration, mechanical shock, and extreme temperatures. Better still, Lenovo claims that the X1 can survive drops of up to 1.6 meters (5.2 feet), though it may suffer some damage from such a fall.
Keyboard
Putting a ThinkPad X1 at the fingers of a touch-typist is like placing a Stradivarius in the hands of a violinist. While all of Lenovo's ThinkPads have strong keyboards, the ThinkPad X1 features the best laptop keyboard we've ever tested.
On the surface, the island-style, spill-resistant keyboard may look nearly identical to those on the company's ThinkPad Edge series, but Lenovo specially designed the X1 keyboard for even greater typing comfort and accuracy. From the curved "smile-shaped" keys that make it easy to avoid hitting adjacent keys by mistake to the adjustable backlight (a ThinkPad first) to the gentle slope of the deck, the X1 gets everything about the typing experience right.
Perhaps the best feature of the X1 keyboard is the strong force feedback it provides; it reminded us of the highly tactile IBM model M keyboards of the 1980s. The keys made a subtle, pleasant clicking noise as we typed.
To top it all off, the ThinkPad X1 has a soft palm rest that gently cradled our wrists as we achieved a 92 word-per-minute score on the Ten Thumbs Typing Test, our highest rate ever. We were able to continue working on the system for a long time without a hint of wrist discomfort.
Pointing Stick and Touchpad
Like other ThinkPads, the X1 features both a TrackPoint pointing stick and a touchpad. We prefer to use the TrackPoint, because it provides the most accurate navigation possible on any notebook.
If you're not a trackpoint fan, you'll appreciate the 2.9 x 2.3-inch textured touchpad on the X1, which provides accurate navigation, too. The touchpad's left and right buttons are built-in so as to provide extra surface area. Though we prefer discrete buttons, they offered decent tactile feedback without making the pointer jump as we activated them. The pad also supports multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and three-finger flicks. However, these gestures weren't always smooth, and we sometimes had to repeat a pinch in order for it to register.
Display
The 13.3-inch, 1366 x 768 glossy display on the ThinkPad X1 provided incredibly bright images, thanks to its 350 nits of brightness. However, even though images were razor-sharp, colors were not particularly deep, and the highly reflective screen produced narrow viewing angles. That said, as long as you don't use the ThinkPad X1 to show a movie to three people at once, you'll appreciate its brightness and love its scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass cover.
Fans of the old ThinkPad X300/X301 may be disappointed that the ThinkPad X1 has a lower resolution screen than its 2008 predecessor, sporting only 1366 x 768 pixels of desktop real estate, as opposed to 1440 x 900. That's 15 percent less vertical real estate for viewing web pages, Word documents, and anything that requires scrolling. It's also 5 percent less horizontal space for placing windows next to each other. Apple includes a 1440 x 900 display on its 13-inch MacBook Air.
Audio
Thanks to its Dolby Home Theater v4 technology, the ThinkPad X1 offers strong audio that was loud enough to fill our whole apartment and rich enough to substitute for a low-end stereo. Whether we were playing the bass-heavy "Forget Me Nots," the jazzy "Summer Madness," or Motley Crue's guitar-heavy "Too Young to Fall in Love," the speakers produced rich, accurate sound with a good separation between instruments. Using the bundled Dolby software, we were able to optimize for bright, rich, or warm audio, while selecting between movie, music, or gaming audio profiles.
Ports
The ThinkPad X1 has more than its fair share of modern ports, but it skimps a little on legacy support. On the right side is an SD card reader, an amenity the X300/X301 lacked. On the back, you'll find an Ethernet port, a USB 3.0 port, an eSATA/USB port, and both HDMI and mini Display port outs. Under a rubber panel on the left side are an audio in/out jack and one more USB port, for a total of three USB connections. The USB 3.0 port and combination of modern display options are critical additions, but businesses with old projectors or monitors in their offices will need a mini Display port to VGA adapter, because the X1 lacks a dedicated port.
Heat
The ThinkPad X1 stayed nice and cool throughout our testing, which is critical for a device that's made to live on your lap. After 15 minutes of playing full-screen video, we measured the touchpad at a chilly 79 degrees, the keyboard at a cool 87 degrees, and the bottom at a barely perceptible 92 degrees Fahrenheit. We consider temperatures under 95 degrees comfortable.
