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Review Ultrabook Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

DavidMay 24, 2014LAPTOP, REVIEWS0

At CES 2014 in Barcelona, the company introduced an updated model of Ultrabook Lenovo X1 Carbon legendary ruler of the Thinkpad, which has a long history and is still considered a model of business-class laptops. New positioned not only as a business ultrabook with a top filling, but also the lightest 14-inch notebook in the world. Compared with its predecessor, model Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon 2014 received not only new hardware, but also significantly redesigned and redeveloped housing configuration.

Technical characteristics Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

Operating System: Windows 8.1 x64 for one language;
screen: touch matte 14-inch IPS-display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels / IPS-display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels / display with a resolution of 1600×900 pixels;
Processor: Intel Core i5-4200U/4300U, Intel Core i7-4550U/4600U;
graphics card: Intel HD Graphics 4400/5000;
Memory: 4/8 GB of RAM;
Hard disk: 128/180/240/256/512 GB of memory on the SSD;
wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, GSM / HSPA +, NFC (optional), Bluetooth 4.0;
Camera: Webcam 1.3 megapixel;
Battery: removable vosmiyacheechny battery capacity 45 Wh;
Dimensions: 331 x 227 x 20,15 mm;
Weight: 1.27 kg;
features: multi-function touch strip above the keyboard, trackpoint, fingerprint reader, matte touchscreen.

Supplied Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

As befits masthead ultrabook, Thinkpad X1 Carbon comes in an impressive package: in this case it is a big black box with a red edging strip that runs along its edges.

Inside the box is the laptop itself and austere set of components that are laid out in separate cells of cardboard and red – the network cable, power supply and documentation set.

Unusual proved only the presence of the adapter included with the Lenovo brand miniature connector on the full-size connector 8P8C (often mistakenly referred to as RJ-45) for connecting Ethernet-cable.

Housing and materials Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon from all sides with matte soft-touch black plastic. However, this material is called the usual “soft-touch plastic” is difficult – despite the fact that it is soft to the touch, does not slip in your hands and does not collect fingerprints, he is much more stable than the standard soft-stitch to external influences.

On the back side of the cover ultrabook nothing interesting – only company logos and line of notebooks Lenovo Thinkpad. The same can be said about the day of the device – it is located informational labels and vents (it’s worth remembering before ultrabook put on a soft surface, blocking the air intake). Lid covering the entire bottom of the laptop rests only on a few standard Phillips-head screws – no proprietary Torx. However, replacing the inside amenable only SSD, and one with non-standard configuration – long and narrow compared to a standard mSATA SSD. Besides: RAM soldered here and all the motherboard, so you’ll have to settle for primordial 4 or 8 GB, depending on the configuration of the laptop.

Devaysa cover opens up to 180 degrees. This configuration does not allow Thinkpad X1 Carbon as a tablet-convertible, but the laptop can always be arranged so as convenient.

Running along the edges. On the left side is a connector for the power supply. In his left side you can see the cover, revealing that, the device can be connected to the combined cable docking station, sold separately. There are also ports HDMI, mini Display Port, USB 3.0 and jack 3,5 mm.

On the opposite side of the body you can see another port USB 3.0, connector adapter for 8P8C connector and Kensington lock, plus a lattice for blowing air.

On the rear edge of the notebook was a place only the SIM-card format miniSIM. Surprising and alarming trend of Lenovo not to equip new Thinkpad Ultrabook line card slots – it was not, for example, in Transformers Thinkpad Helix, and now he has lost, and an updated version of the top-end Thinkpad X1 Carbon. It is definitely frustrating, especially given the thickness of the notebook, which, unlike weight, a record can not be called small.

But the quality of the design and assembly of laptop casing traditionally high. Thinkpad X1 Carbon is really very easy, although it has a relatively thick shell, which was the result of strong construction. Cover ultrabook opens lightly and easily, although one hand to do it still will not work. No squeaks and backlash at the joints no body.

Keyboard Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

Keyboard “island” type are typical for the line Thinkpad X1 Carbon, but only if it is a configuration of the keys themselves, which are convenient to print the form and are separated by a sufficient distance so that when speed dialing is not touch adjacent buttons. Do not forget about the two-tier producer and keyboard backlight that automatically turns on and off depending on the light.

However, the keyboard has a very ultrabook nonstandard configuration: no keys Caps Lock (at its usual place placed Home and End), PrintScreen and Insert, not to mention a number of system keys like Pause, Break and Scroll Lock. In addition, with his usual place in the lowest row offset button Escape. Finally completely disappeared row of function keys – their place now takes the touch panel, which gives the laptop a futuristic look. And if the latter decision is understandable, it’s regularly used by removing the system keys and transfer Escape look absolutely illogical.

First on the trackpad is the button Fn, which changes modes panel displaying sets of buttons for specific needs. There are four modes – standard (key change brightness, volume, instrument, “scissors”, etc.), browser (added button “update”, “back” and others), the conference (audio control buttons and web-cam) and function keys (besides them displayed the power key Wi-Fi, webcam, keyboard backlight, as well as call setup).

Whatever you say, Lenovo solution so radically alter the keyboard – a very bold and very controversial. Become more convenient if, for example, to look around and press the refresh the page in your browser, without receiving tactile feedback, if most of us are already so used to being on the touch key F5? Even more strange was the situation with key combinations. Now those who are used often use a combination of function keys, for example, Alt + F4 to close the applications will have to change their habits. After all, you first need to repeatedly press Fn, to display the desired key, and then to press the key combination. Not to mention the fact that depression and physical touch keys in one combination requires concentration on the process. And the one who used to enter the combination automatically be forced to relearn in the bud. Moreover: Lenovo offers learn new combinations in order to compensate for the elimination. And if double pressing Shift to turn Caps Lock is still possible to reconcile, then Fn + T to press Print Screen looks at all obvious, and to use such keys will help not only to study but also to break established habits.

Subtotal keyboard. The first thing to say – she, like any other keyboard Thinkpad, perfect for typing, including large amounts, and this does not take away. If you work with documents and regularly spend online conference, but at the same time, do not use specialized software that is likely to problems with the transition to the device is not expected. However, those who used to work with texts from the keyboard or uses the software packages, where it is important to use the function keys and combinations thereof, should carefully weigh the “pros” and “cons” of buying the device.

As with any other laptop line ThinkPad, at Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon between the keys G, H and B is the strain gauge – trackpoint, which allows precise positioning of the mouse cursor.

The touchpad is large, has a matte surface, gently pressed anywhere – so very convenient to use. The touchpad can be operated in two modes. The first – actually, touchpad mode, in which the finger moves when moving the cursor, and for right-clicking meets the lower right corner. The second mode is activated by using the trackpoint – it touchpad is halved, each half is responsible for pressing the corresponding buttons on the mouse, and it is also a small area marked by three prominent points, equivalent to pressing the middle button.

Business-oriented laptops, among other things, can be highlighted in special ways to protect information and access to them. One common example of this – equipment fingerprint sensor device. It got its Thinkpad X1 Carbon. Using proprietary utility Fingerprint Manager Pro can be written in the memory of all ten fingers prints, then it suffices to one of them by the sensor on the lock screen to remove it. Of course, this requires a little adapt himself – a finger is required to hold a certain speed, no faster or slower, but after a couple of days of use, you can forget what the password from the keyboard.

Display Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

If innovations in Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon, on the keyboard, have been very controversial, is unique in some way display Ultrabook is to be commended. There are several reasons. First – high resolution, which was 2560 × 1440 pixels, with a diagonal of 14 inches gives a huge laptop density of 210 ppi. Here it is worth noting the narrow confines of the perimeter of the screen through which dimensions Thinkpad X1 Carbon hardly differ from the typical size of 13.3-inch ultrabook.

As befits the requirements for Intel, every device that has a label «Ultrabook», including the Thinkpad X1 Carbon, equipped with a touch screen. But Lenovo honors trends from the vast majority of other ultrabooks is that Thinkpad X1 Carbon got matte touchscreen. Currently it is a fairly rare event – we could not think of a single device with the same screen. The advantages of matte touch screen weight – it does not glare and does not reflect light sources does not collect fingerprints (the screen is enough to wipe once a week, rather than several times a day).

Subjectively, contrast and color quality IPS screen thanks to the mark. Ample supply of brightness – the maximum level of 260 nits.

The problem with any screen high ppi, including display Thinkpad X1 Carbon, exactly one, and it is fixed – the operating system Windows 8.1. All the “tiled” applications are displayed correctly, and all the elements of OS have maximum clarity. But some applications, especially older or special, can be displayed either with too small elements, or stretched and blurry. Therefore, despite the fact that in recent versions of Windows have learned to properly scale the interface should take into account this lack of OSes.

Software Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

As already mentioned, Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon is running a 64-bit version of the operating system Windows 8.1 for one language. And although the manufacturer can not change the user interface, it is preset to the ultrabook many applications, both proprietary and third-party. Some of these applications – “tile”, and some – “classic”. Will start with the first category.

Most of the pre-installed software has already become a familiar line Lenovo Thinkpad, but many of them supplemented for specific Thinkpad X1 Carbon items. For example, in the program Lenovo Settings, as before, you can adjust the sound, webcam and gestures, but also introduces a new paragraph settings touch strip above the keyboard.

Clicking on it opens on the desktop a special application, which offers a choice of four layouts by default, as well as enable or disable their auto-switching. In the next tab allows gestures that can recognize the webcam, performing at their base any action.

Another application, Lenovo Support, contains the operating instructions for the Ultrabook, tips for use, warranty information and support.

As another assistant producer offers “classical” program for your desktop Lenovo Solution Center, which “follows” the state of the ultrabook, periodically checking equipment, making backup copies of important information, and generally serves as a kind of information hub where you can find all information about status of the computer.

In addition to its own programs on ultrabook Lenovo preinstalled many third-party applications, including “tile» Evernote, Skitch, Kindle, Zinio and AccuWeather and “classic”, for example, antivirus McAfee.

Performance Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

In the section on “iron” stuffing ultrabook start with its internal memory in the test model Thinkpad X1 Carbon installed replaceable SSD of 256 GB. Net of the recovery partition and the partition with Windows operating system image from the manufacturer, under the C drive 219 GB allocated.

To store your own files and install software the user is only about 170 GB, but it’s a little space can be expanded by removing some preinstalled applications.

We tested came modification Lenovo X1 Carbon with a processor Intel Core i5-4200U and 8 GB of RAM. But there is just ultrabook in seven variants, ranging from the most affordable with Intel Core i5-4200U and 4 GB of RAM and ending with the most powerful model with a processor Intel Core i7-4600U and 8 GB of RAM. In addition, the devices differ in the integrated graphics subsystem – in this case, Intel HD Graphics 4400, and top models equipped with Intel HD Graphics 5000. Moreover, most models are offered as options with support for 3G, and without it. Thus, Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon exists in more than a dozen different versions, among which you can choose the right almost every taste.

Gaming Performance Thinkpad X1 Carbon has been tested in benchmark 3DMark, where the device as seen on the screenshot above, made no furore, despite the powerful ultrabook for stuffing – all because of a high-resolution display. And initially the device is not designed for such problems, but if they want to play, you have to lower the resolution to at least 1920×1080 pixels.

But ultrabook boasts high speed installed SSD-drive – CrystalDiskMark test results can be seen in the screenshot.

In general, the subjective perception of the performance of the laptop using favorable – for all user requests Thinkpad X1 Carbon reacts instantly, applications run as fast as possible, and heavy page in the browser itself, scrolls very smoothly, with both the touchpad and using the touchscreen.

As for the active cooling system ultrabook, the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon got very quiet coolers, which are poorly rustling under heavy load (you can hear them only in a quiet room or office) and in the weak load, such as when working with documents, they just disabled.

Wireless Networks Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon supports wireless network Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n – no newfangled standard 802.11ac. Which, of course, looks a bit strange, but hardly anyone upset, given the spread of small routers that support it. In the same WLAN-card that provides Ultrabooks Wi-Fi, and integrated module Bluetooth 4.0.

Surf the Internet without wires and can be an alternative method – inserting the SIM-card of any operator in modem support GSM and HSPA + (LTE, unfortunately, no). A useful option when you often use your notebook on the road.

Directly under the touchpad ultrabook is the contact pad NFC, and she did not indicated the company logo of this technology, so that you can learn about it only from the instruction. Working wireless, however, no complaints.

Autonomy Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

With the new processor Intel Haswell fourth generation Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon operates from a single battery charge longer than its counterparts last year. So, while working or watching video on the average brightness is about five hours, and when working with text – almost eight hours. Of course, there are ultrabooks that can provide even more time, but this result seems quite decent – a full day in the absence of outlet Thinkpad X1 Carbon stand without problems.

Results Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

Ultrabook Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon, on the one hand, inherited the best features of the line Thinkpad – solid construction, assembly quality, comfortable keyboard keys, fingerprint scanner and a trackpoint. On the other hand, the producer tried to make a device with the latest trends and fill it with some new “chips”. Some of these innovations, such as a high resolution touch screen mat or cover the opening angle of 180 degrees may be called uniquely useful and helpful. But change the keyboard layout, multi-function Touch Strip, as well as the missing card slot cause a number of issues. And the need to get used to such decisions may deter many potential buyers. Strictly speaking, Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon – image model with business options. She certainly appeal to fans of high-tech, who can afford this ultrabook. Its price (it is the model of our review) is about 70 thousand rubles, but buying any laptop line Thinkpad, you know, for what you give your money.

Pros Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon: