Lenovo Unveils Latest X-Series Ultraportable Laptops

Lenovo is updating its bread and butter: the ubiquitous ThinkPad laptop line. This time, the X-series is getting a facelift with the introduction of the X220 and the X220 tablet laptop. Both models are designed for up to 24-hour battery life, low-power yet high-end CPUs and a thin and lightweight profile. Could these be the new road warrior machines? Read on for the details …

Lenovo is aiming to make this laptop a “no compromise” choice. Coming standard with the X220 is a 15-hour battery, which can be complimented with the new external ThinkPad Battery 19+. For tablet lovers, the X220 tablet versions come with a standard four-cell battery that can be combined with a nine-cell battery for nearly 16 hours of battery life on a single charge.

The 14- and 15-inch non-tablet X220’s come equipped with Core i7 processors in a form factor that provides both light weight and impressive speed through Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience 2.0. USB 3.0 is included on select models, and Intel Turbo Boost+ does as well to help regulate CPU power as needed, further increasing battery life.

In addition, the X220 comes with some of the same technology Lenovo sported in its update of the T-series ThinkPads, with private and conference microphone modes and keyboard noise suppression technology, and the “instant resume” function that keeps wireless connections maintained even in sleep mode for up to 99 minutes.

The Tablet X220 (pictured) comes with a 12.5-inch HD screen clad in Gorilla Glass, and includes multi-touch functionality, a buttonless trackpad and a tighter design with self-closing hinges that keep the screen closed.

The ThinkPad X220 laptop and X220 Tablet are coming April 2010 and start around  $899 and $1,199, respectively.

I commend Lenovo for packing all this power inside a slim package, but the devices won’t be winning any beauty awards anytime soon. The ThinkPad X220 series looks like a rough-and-tumble ultraportable, which is what it is. The real selling point is the battery life. The best computer you have at your disposal is often the one that’s still running.

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