ThinkPad X1 Carbon
 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2012) | |
| Developer | Lenovo |
|---|---|
| Product family | ThinkPad |
| Type | Ultrabook laptop computer |
| Release date | August 2012 |
| CPU | Intel Core |
| Predecessor | ThinkPad X1 |
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a high-end notebook computer released by Lenovo in 2012 and updated every year since 2014. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch featured a multitouch enabled screen in order to take more effective advantage of Microsoft's touch-optimized Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. It is considered to be the flagship product of Lenovo's ThinkPad product line.
Launch
In early August 2012, Lenovo released the ThinkPad X1 Carbon as the successor to the earlier ThinkPad X1.[1] The X1 Carbon was first released in China due to the popularity of ThinkPads in that market.[2]
Specifications
2016
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016, Lenovo presented their fourth generation Carbon X1.[3]
2015
The 2015 Carbon X1 comes with a 2560 by 1440 screen. Lenovo resumed using dedicated mouse buttons under the TrackPoint in the 2015 model. A fingerprint reader is to the right of the keyboard and can be used to log in to Windows.[4]
2012
The X1 Carbon features a solid-state drive (SSD) instead of a hard drive. The base model has 4 gigabytes of memory, an Intel Core i5-3317U processor, and a 128-gigabyte SSD. The most expensive model has an Intel Core i7 processor and a 256-gigabyte SSD. The X1 Carbon requires the use of a dongle to access wired ethernet and some models include 3G or 4G cellular modems.[5][6]
The base model X1 Carbon has a 14-inch (360 mm) TN screen with a resolution of 1600 by 900 pixels. This can be upgraded to a 10-point touch IPS panel with a resolution of 2560 by 1440. The X1 Carbon weighs 1.35 kilograms and measures 12.8 inches (330 mm) by 8.94 inches (227 mm) by 0.68 inches (17 mm) (at its thickest). The X1 Carbon's roll cage is made of light-weight carbon-fiber[7] and has a matte black finish.[5]
In November 2012, Lenovo announced a touch-screen variant called the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch designed for use with Windows 8. Its display makes use of multi-touch technology that can detect simultaneous inputs from up to ten fingers.[8]
Reviews
2015
In a review for Laptop Magazine, Mark Spoonauer wrote, "The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is easily one of the best business ultraportables available. While on the pricey side, the $1,754 configuration I reviewed delivers everything I want in a laptop: long battery life, a comfortable typing experience and strong overall performance. The X1 Carbon's design doesn't wow, but it's light and feels like it can stand up to abuse. However, the lack of an SD card slot is annoying, and I wish the 14-inch display were as bright as it is sharp."[4]
2012
In a review published for CNET, Dan Ackerman wrote, "At first glance, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon looks a lot like other ThinkPads, but in the hand it stands out as very light and portable. The excellent keyboard shows up other ultrabooks, and the rugged build quality is reassuring. With a slightly boosted battery and maybe a lower starting price, this could be a serious contender for my all-around favorite thin laptop."[1]
In another review for CNET, Nicholas Aaron Khoo wrote, "For this geek, there are many things to like about this 14-inch Ultrabook when it comes to usability when traveling on economy class. These include the backlit and spill-resistant keyboard, side-positioned ports, nice viewing angles, TrackPoint (which not everyone likes), nicely implemented touchpad and biometric login. Unlike it's [sic] poorer cousin, the Lenovo IdeaPad U410, it is able to go into hibernate mode without having the user jump through hoops to enable it."[9]
On the X1 Carbon Touch's SSD performance Engadget states, "The machine boots into the [s]tart screen in 11 seconds, which is pretty typical for a Windows 8 machine with specs like these. We also found that the solid-state drive delivers equally strong read and write speeds (551 MB/s and 518 MB/s, respectively), which we noticed the last time we tested an Ultrabook with an Intel SSD."[10]
2012 Touch
In a review for Engadget, Dana Wollman wrote, "Starting with ergonomics, this has one of the best keyboard / touchpad combinations we've seen on a laptop, and that's not even counting that signature red pointing stick. We're also enamored with the design: aside from being well-made, the X1 Carbon Touch is also notably thin and light for a 14-inch machine, especially one with a touchscreen. The display is hardly our favorite, what with the narrow viewing angles, but at least the 1,600 x 900 resolution is nice and crisp."[10]
In its review of the Carbon X1 Touch Wired wrote, "Lenovo also hasn’t forgotten about the things that users actually care about. Audio is impressive and Dolby-certified. The keyboard is backlit and fully usable, and the glass touchpad was rock solid on this go-round with the Carbon." In its final verdict Wired stated that an "Excellent combination of performance, portability, and durability" and "the best keyboard going" make the Touch 'Wired."[11]
References
- 1 2 "Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon review". CNET. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ↑ "Lenovo unveils lighter, quicker ThinkPad inspired by convenience of tablets, smart phones". The Huffington Post. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ↑ "CES Product Highlights". Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- 1 2 Spoonauer, Mark (4 March 2015). "Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2015) Review". Laptop Magazine (United States). Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- 1 2 Larry Magid (14 August 2012). "Magid on Tech: Lenovo's new X1 Carbon a top-notch ultrabook". Mercury News. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Nicholas Aaron Khoo (12 November 2012). "Flight test: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon". CNET. Archived from the original on 2012-11-14. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- 1 2 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch review: one of our favorite Ultrabooks gets a touchscreen
- ↑ Null, Christopher (11 February 2013). "Touch Me I'm Carbon". Wired.