BusinessWeek Compares MacBook Air Vs. ThinkPad X300

[jpeyton]

Text

And despite Apple's clever marketing, the X300 fits into a manila envelope just fine.

 

[corkyg]

Given the choice, I would get the X300 even though it is more $$.

1. Don't have to learn a new OS
2. All current apps will work
3. DVD capability is essential
4. Ports
5. PC Express
6. Pointing stick & touchpad

Definitely a road warrior's machine.

 

[Oil]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Given the choice, I would get the X300 even though it is more $$.

1. Don't have to learn a new OS
2. All current apps will work
3. DVD capability is essential
4. Ports
5. PC Express
6. Pointing stick & touchpad
7. 3 USB ports
8. Ethernet port

Definitely a road warrior's machine.

Fixed and QFT

 

[Commodus]

The X300 definitely has an edge in some areas, but the Air is certainly what you'd want if you were packing your notebook in a briefcase or a tight bag. And a friend of mine notes that the subjective experience of the MacBook may change your mind. As he puts it: "it's from the future!"

That said, I'd consider an external DVD burner mandatory.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Commodus
but the Air is certainly what you'd want if you were packing your notebook in a briefcase or a tight bag.

I'm not sure what you mean; thickness and dimensions aren't dramatically different. If you can fit the thickest part of a MacBook Air into your bag, you can certainly fit an X300 which is .2 inches thicker.

 

[Oil]

Here is a rough size comparison of the two.

I would GLADLY give up .2" for the extra features of the x300

 

[corkyg]

Exactly - what good is .2-in thinner if it can't do the job?

 

[jpeyton]

Technically, the MacBook Air would take up more room if you lug around the external optical drive (like if you wanted to watch a DVD movie on a plane).

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Technically, the MacBook Air would take up more room if you lug around the external optical drive (like if you wanted to watch a DVD movie on a plane).

+ the usb hub
+ ethernet adapter

Also the X300 will have an option for cheaper normal harddrive soon, or so I've read somewhere.

 

[dnuggett]

I have read independent reviews of both, but not compared to each other. The Air has been mentioned by AT as having superb build quality. How is the X300's?

 

[hans030390]

The X300 is pretty ugly compared to the Air.

 

[dnuggett]

what isn't ugly compared to the Air? Apple does design right.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
what isn't ugly compared to the Air? Apple does design right.

QFT.

 

[Zap]

It all comes down to how snobbish are you?

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
what isn't ugly compared to the Air? Apple does design right.

I've seen a few decent looking laptops. They don't look as good as the air, but they still look nice (some newer Vaio laptops, for example). The X300 just doesn't look good at all compared to the air.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
I have read independent reviews of both, but not compared to each other. The Air has been mentioned by AT as having superb build quality. How is the X300's?

ThinkPad quality has been excellent for quite some time (even after Lenovo took control of the brand).

Originally posted by: hans030390
The X300 is pretty ugly compared to the Air.

Matter of opinion. Business black is classic.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: hans030390
The X300 is pretty ugly compared to the Air.

In the world of performance and function, beauty is skin deep and really doesn't count for much in the world where people are earning a living.