Got my X41

[ND40oz]

Well it cleared customs and arrived yesterday, I'm still getting all setup.

We ordered 3 of the X41s, IBM model 18666SU, quick breakdown of the model:

Pentium M 758 1.5 GHz -
12.1" TFT Dimensions (WxDxH)10.8 in x 10.5 in x 1.3 in
Weight4 lbs
LocalizationEnglish / United Kingdom
Mobile TechnologyIntel Centrino
System TypeTablet PC - convertible
Built-in DevicesSpeaker, wireless LAN antenna, fingerprint reader
ProcessorIntel Pentium M 758 1.5 GHz LV
Cache Memory2 MB - L2 cache
RAM512 MB (installed) / 1.5 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 400 MHz - PC2-4200
Card ReaderYes
Hard Drive60 GB - 4200 rpm
Display12.1" TFT active matrix XGA (1024 x 768)
Graphics ControllerIntel GMA 900
Audio OutputSound card
TelecomFax / modem - 56 Kbps
NetworkingNetwork adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g
Wireless NICIntel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG
Input DeviceKeyboard, TrackPoint
PowerAC 110/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
BatteryLithium ion Run Time (Up To)6.3 hour(s) (8 cell)
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005

We also ordered:

An extra 512 mb of memory
Tablet Sleave
X Series Portofolio
Docking Station
ThinkPad Multi-Burner Plus Ultrabay Slim Drive

Things I like:
Lighter then the other tablets I've used
Bright Screen
Sturdy Docking Station
Internal Card reader (SD only)
Fingerprint scanner (logon is great)
Bluetooth and Wireless ABG
Docking station has DVD burner making it suitable to use as a desktop
did I mention light

Things I don't like:
No touchpad (my buddy is giving his away to another coworker because of this, doesn't bother me as much, but would like to see the option)
Docking station is not portable, I was expecting it to be like the new D410s media bay, but it is called a docking station and not a media bay
Intel GMA 900, granted it is a tablet...can't do much better then ATI or nVidia integrated, if anyone ever uses one of their chipsets for a tablet.
Battery hangs off of the back like the 700m (both the 4 and 8 cell do, 8 cell is bigger though)

Over all, best tablet I've used yet. Some people will complain about it not having a touchpad, but it's definitely not a deal breaker for me. It's faster then the other tablets I've used and it clocks down to 250 mhz when idle. Should give great battery life with the 8 cell.

If anyone is considering one, feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

 

[erwos]

What does the docking bay give you? Does it have PCI, or what?

The XB2000, for instance, is a huge let-down - no PCI, no internal IDE/SATA, , and it _doesn't even have_ a VGA/DVI out!

-Erwos

 

[ND40oz]

Docking bay has 3usb, 1 ps2, 1 parallel, 1 serial, 1 vga, modem, nic and the drive bay. I currently have the multiburner (DVD+/-RW, DVD-RAM, CD-RW) in it.

 

[ValuedCustomer]

it clocks down to 250 mhz when idle

wow! that's pretty cool.. you're right, you oughta get all types of battery life w/ that thing. - too bad about the touchpad though

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: ND40oz
it clocks down to 250 mhz when idle.

Are you sure about this? Did you verify this using the System control panel in Windows? If so, that is incorrect: the way Windows reports clock speed through there is mistaken and it is a glitch that has been known about since Centrino came out.

Download Mobile Meter or Centrino Hardware Control; it should only clock down to 600MHz (on a 400MHz FSB) or 800MHz on a 533MHz FSB. But since you have a LV Pentium M, I think those are only 400MHz FSB.

EDIT

ftp://download.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/30218907.pdf

Go to page 24

 

[WackyDan]

I have an X41 Tablet as well... got it about two weeks ago now.

There is no room/enough palm rest real estate to properly implement a touchpad. They would have to alter how they currently implement the trackpoint buttons to make room, and they won't do that - It would alienate many ThinkPad users.

The extended battery rocks... The way it sticks out the back is ideal for handling on the go - Hence the rubber grip on it.

The intel graphics are just the way it is primarily in the ultra-portable space. Ultra-portables are not really meant to be barn burners from a performance perspective, and tablets are primarily today a productivity tool..

 

[ND40oz]

CPU-Z reports 600, I'll download the hardware control and see what it says.

 

[fbrdphreak]

CPU-Z is right But CHC is a great app anyway, I love it

 

[ND40oz]

Originally posted by: WackyDan
I have an X41 Tablet as well... got it about two weeks ago now.

The extended battery rocks... The way it sticks out the back is ideal for handling on the go - Hence the rubber grip on it.

Do you have the carrying sleave? I can't fit the tablet in the sleave with the extended battery attached. Since I didn't bother getting the 4 cell, I have no idea if it would fit with the four cell. Time to call my rep and see what they can do...

On another note, the Toshiba m200 has dedicated graphics and a much higher resolution screen, it would be nice to see IBM follow suite with atleast some option for a higher resolution screen. I'm used to my 14" 1400x1050 D610 screen or my little Acers 10" 1024x768 screen. The 12" 1024x768 just looks too big to me.

Edit: Forgot to mention Intels processor ID confirmed the 758 clocking down to 598 not windows report 238

And CPU-Z doesn't report the processor type correctly, it sees it as a 715 chip instead of a 758.

 

[Fox5]

I've got this same tablet. It fits just fine into the sleeve with the 8 cell battery.
BTW, IBM's default power management sets the cpu speed to like 600mhz when on battery power, manually change it to the adaptive setting, I haven't found battery life to suffer at all.

Oh, toshiba's M4 tablet has some pretty powerful graphics for a tablet(as does gateway's new tablet), but I don't think I could bare using a tablet any heavier than the 4lb x41, or with worse viewing angles.

 

[aamsel]

I also just got an X41T, and agree with most of the analysis of it above.

However, after a week or so with it, I am not sure that I have any significant use for the tablet function of it, but I am still undecided.

Also, the 1.8" hard drive is noticeably slow, even just web-surfing.

It does have a very nice display, but I paid a lot more for it than a comparably equipped X32 would cost.

Here is my question:

I have seen an X31 and X40, but not recently, and I don't have one now...

Does anyone who has an X41T tablet also have an X31/32 or X40/41 that could do an honest side-by side comparison of the screen quality and tell me what they think???

I want to know if it is worth hanging onto the tablet, even if I don't think I will use the tablet functions right now?

I can get an X32 for about $700-$800 less than the X41T.
Of course, then...would I get the X32 with faster hard drive and ancient discrete 16MB Radeon Mobility graphics, or an X41 with the same slow 1.8" hard drive and newer integrated graphics, and faster memory interface and CPU??? If it were the X41, then it would cost just as much as the tablet. Help!!!

So, is it:
a.) keep the X41T ???
b.) get an X32 ???

Decisions, decisions!

PLEASE ADVISE.

Damn, even when you are totally sold on IBM/Lenovo you can still be in "Thinkpad hell" <grin>

Thanks a lot!
Andrew
Austin, TX

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: ND40oz

Originally posted by: WackyDan
I have an X41 Tablet as well... got it about two weeks ago now.

The extended battery rocks... The way it sticks out the back is ideal for handling on the go - Hence the rubber grip on it.

Do you have the carrying sleave? I can't fit the tablet in the sleave with the extended battery attached. Since I didn't bother getting the 4 cell, I have no idea if it would fit with the four cell. Time to call my rep and see what they can do...

On another note, the Toshiba m200 has dedicated graphics and a much higher resolution screen, it would be nice to see IBM follow suite with atleast some option for a higher resolution screen. I'm used to my 14" 1400x1050 D610 screen or my little Acers 10" 1024x768 screen. The 12" 1024x768 just looks too big to me.

Edit: Forgot to mention Intels processor ID confirmed the 758 clocking down to 598 not windows report 238

And CPU-Z doesn't report the processor type correctly, it sees it as a 715 chip instead of a 758.

I've seen/touched the sleeve though I don't have it.... With the 4 cel it fits the sleeve - that's what I saw they had on it when I saw them use one in the sleeve.

THe screen is perfect for my eyes.... different strokes.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: aamsel
I also just got an X41T, and agree with most of the analysis of it above.

However, after a week or so with it, I am not sure that I have any significant use for the tablet function of it, but I am still undecided.

Also, the 1.8" hard drive is noticeably slow, even just web-surfing.

It does have a very nice display, but I paid a lot more for it than a comparably equipped X32 would cost.

Here is my question:

I have seen an X31 and X40, but not recently, and I don't have one now...

Does anyone who has an X41T tablet also have an X31/32 or X40/41 that could do an honest side-by side comparison of the screen quality and tell me what they think???

I want to know if it is worth hanging onto the tablet, even if I don't think I will use the tablet functions right now?

I can get an X32 for about $700-$800 less than the X41T.
Of course, then...would I get the X32 with faster hard drive and ancient discrete 16MB Radeon Mobility graphics, or an X41 with the same slow 1.8" hard drive and newer integrated graphics, and faster memory interface and CPU??? If it were the X41, then it would cost just as much as the tablet. Help!!!

So, is it:
a.) keep the X41T ???
b.) get an X32 ???

Decisions, decisions!

PLEASE ADVISE.

Damn, even when you are totally sold on IBM/Lenovo you can still be in "Thinkpad hell" <grin>

Thanks a lot!
Andrew
Austin, TX

We have them all at my company....

I think it comes down to a couple of items only...

THe tablet screen is best if you need to use it outdoors a lot. That's where it's screen really rocks. No laptop screen is perfect outdoors by any means, but this is one of the best I've had for outdoor/bright light work. Other-wise... the screens all seem about the same in the x family as far as quality.

If you absolutely need the performance then go X32.... keep in mind that they have stopped making them... they've been end of life for some time now.

Or.... You could try an apllication like OneNote, and try out the franklin Covey trial on your tablet..... It's pretty cool.... Otherwise........you may need to search for more specific apps that would help you leverage the tablet OS to boost your productivity, etc....

I don't need a tablet either, but we're testing them out to see if there's a fit.. Not sure there's a fit for me.... but I haven't had much of a chance to use it.

 

[aamsel]

Thanks Dan!

I wasn't aware that the X41T was supposed to be good in bright light or outdoors. That may clinch it for me, and I may keep it knowing that I may only use it in notebook mode at first.

The X41T screen is supposed to be a Boe Hydis, the same screen as on the Motion M1400 and their new 12" model. However, when I do a parts lookup for my X41T serial number I get FRU# 93P5599 which I can't find in a PC Support search. If I look up LCD parts for the X41T, I get an LCD unit FRU # 92P6763 AG/AR (anti-glare/anti-reflective). Anyone know what LCD Lenovo is truly using? Do you have the same FRU # for your X41T as I do? (I would assume that everyone does)???

The other thing that is KILLING me when I use it in tablet mode iIS MY NECK!!! I can't use it without looking down at it on a desk or in my lap or arms, and I may need a chiropractor or acupuncture if I keep using it!! If I prop it up higher, then the pen is too awkward to use.

Any other comments on the screen or tablet ergonomics most welcome!

Also, I knew that the X31/32 was near end-of-life, but didn't realize that it was there already. The strange thing (maybe it isn't) is that a friend just ordered a CTO X32 from Lenovo. I guess that isn't strange, if they want to use up the parts that they have.

Thanks,
Andrew
Austin, TX

Originally posted by: WackyDan

THe tablet screen is best if you need to use it outdoors a lot. That's where it's screen really rocks. No laptop screen is perfect outdoors by any means, but this is one of the best I've had for outdoor/bright light work. Other-wise... the screens all seem about the same in the x family as far as quality.

If you absolutely need the performance then go X32.... keep in mind that they have stopped making them... they've been end of life for some time now.