Lenovo announced the ThinkPad X1 Nano, a new premium laptop offering which like the Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition is one of the first to get Intel EVO branding - meaning it's really top stuff.
It's the lightest ThinkPad ever, according to their own tests based on their previous hardware starting at starting at 907g/1.99lbs (depends on the config).
It's sleek too measuring 292.8 x 207.7 x 13.87 mm (11.5 x 8.15 x 0.55 inches). Considering the size, with Intel's latest 11th Gen processors backed up by their new Xe graphics - it's another laptop that's going to double up as a reasonable gaming machine.
Thankfully, Lenovo continue to push Linux with more of their products and this is another. Ubuntu is going to sit along side Windows 10 Pro as a worldwide option when ordering. Some specs they provided:
Processor | Up to 11th Generation Intel Core TM i7 Processors |
Display | 13" Non-touch Dolby Vision 2K (2160 x 1350, 450nit) with 100% sRGB 13" Touch Dolby Vision 2K (2160 x 1350, 450nit) with 100% sRGB |
Memory | Up to 16GB LPDDR4x |
Storage | Up to 1TB PCIe SSD |
Audio | Dolby Atmos Speaker System 4x 360-degree Microphones |
Ports | 2x ThunderboltTM 4 1x Audio (Headphone and Microphone Combo Jack) |
WiFI | Intel WiFi 6 AX201, 802.11 AX LTE 5G CAT20 LTE 4G CAT9 Bluetooth 5.0 |
Keyboard | Backlit keyboard with new UC functions for F9-F11 |
Note: it also features a "Match on Chip Fingerprint Reader" and an "IR camera with human presence detection" but according to our friend Jason over on Forbes those will not be directly supported with the Ubuntu option.
Really does sound like it's going to be a good unit. Plenty of power, with a good screen and some great speakers to go with it so you can really get immersed.
And their official teaser video to drool over:
Direct Link
Just like Dell with the XPS 13, they're also boasting long battery life which is part of the Intel EVO branding. With a 48Whr battery Lenovo said you can get up to "17.3 hours" ,which will reduce a lot based on how far you push it. Expect far less if gaming constantly for example.
When does this beauty arrive? The ThinkPad X1 Nano should be available to order later in Q4 this year, with pricing expected to be starting from $1,399. Not cheap but this is a premium laptop. They also announced the ThinkPad X1 Fold, which sounds lovely but they're not supporting Linux with it at this time. Full press release here.
Up to 16GB LPDDR4x
A high end laptop with non upgradeable memory, if I was in the market for a laptop this certainly wouldn't be it.
Up to 16GB LPDDR4x
A high end laptop with non upgradeable memory, if I was in the market for a laptop this certainly wouldn't be it.
AFAIK LPDDR is always soldered.
Up to 16GB LPDDR4x
A high end laptop with non upgradeable memory, if I was in the market for a laptop this certainly wouldn't be it.
AFAIK LPDDR is always soldered.
Unfortunately yes.
Which is why I find buying a laptop these days has become a bit of a challenge, because you either get a laptop with soldered ram + 1 expansion slot or worst case scenario even just 1 slot. 2 Slots are pretty common in gaming laptops but common ones 400~500 euros can be difficult.
That ugly redclitorisnipplewtfisitcalled in the middle of the keyboard though...
It's called a "trackpoint". And it's... perfect.
Why LPDDR4 ... Like i know is faster...and consumes less power. What else do you need to justify the use of LPDDR?
but is a huge turn off for me, id like to upgrade my ram, and id like to know that if the ram fails i can replace it myself..sigh, this is one thing that keeps me from buying these new thinkpads. I mean they look good and all, and i bet they are impressive but i want to be able to ,under the hood, deal with things myself.
That might be you. I'd say pretty much "every" laptop user never opens his or her laptop and tinkers with the innards. I am really this hardware building stuff and I have built my desktops for the last 30 years. But apart from upgrading an SSD a few times I have never bothered to work on my laptops. Not a single one needed a battery replacement (the oldest laptop in my household is 8 years old) and it was only once that I upgraded a laptop with additional RAM. I am sure Lenovo, Dell and all the others can rest assured that resorting to soldered components will do them no noticable harm. And as far as failing components go: I once had a failing display on an HP but it also came with a 3-year-pick-up warranty...
Unfortunately, that's the way the market is going now.
Up to 16GB LPDDR4x
A high end laptop with non upgradeable memory, if I was in the market for a laptop this certainly wouldn't be it.
Are there any "high end" laptops that aren't non-upgradeable? It seems to me that being non-upgradeable is an "important" part of high end laptops nowadays; if a laptop is "high end", you can be quite certain that it won't be upgradeable. We all know that it isn't just because some components may work better in a thin chassis if they can be soldered ;)
And "high end" here is of course the "premium" or "luxury" laptops like Macbooks, XPS, and whatever passes for premium from Lenovo (X1? Carbon? I'm not that familliar with Levono, but the "normal" Thinkpad (I had one; sold it) is premium only in what they charge you for it, imo)
Last edited by Appelsin on 30 September 2020 at 6:57 am UTC
Why LPDDR4 ... Like i know is faster, but is a huge turn off for me, id like to upgrade my ram, and id like to know that if the ram fails i can replace it myself..sigh, this is one thing that keeps me from buying these new thinkpads. I mean they look good and all, and i bet they are impressive but i want to be able to ,under the hood, deal with things myself.
Same, I've had to re-seat RAM on my laptop once and it seems ridiculous that I'd have to buy a new one just for that.
Are there any "high end" laptops that aren't non-upgradeable?
Take a look at Tuxedo - they have some very high-end laptops and afaik the RAM is upgradable. Generally, they favor easy maintenance.
I used to be a huge fan of Thinkpads, both due to build quality and stellar Linux compatibility. However the last one I got (X1 Yoga Gen7) has such terrible Linux compatibility and Lenovo has been so unhelpful with this (not to me personally, to the community as a whole) that I'm moving to a Tuxedo BM15 as my work machine now. Don't get me wrong, the build quality and support (if something breaks) are still stellar on the X1, but running Debian on it is just such a massive continuing pain that I'm replacing it after just one year.
Why LPDDR4 ... Like i know is faster...and consumes less power. What else do you need to justify the use of LPDDR?
but is a huge turn off for me, id like to upgrade my ram, and id like to know that if the ram fails i can replace it myself..sigh, this is one thing that keeps me from buying these new thinkpads. I mean they look good and all, and i bet they are impressive but i want to be able to ,under the hood, deal with things myself.
That might be you. I'd say pretty much "every" laptop user never opens his or her laptop and tinkers with the innards. I am really this hardware building stuff and I have built my desktops for the last 30 years. But apart from upgrading an SSD a few times I have never bothered to work on my laptops. Not a single one needed a battery replacement (the oldest laptop in my household is 8 years old) and it was only once that I upgraded a laptop with additional RAM. I am sure Lenovo, Dell and all the others can rest assured that resorting to soldered components will do them no noticable harm. And as far as failing components go: I once had a failing display on an HP but it also came with a 3-year-pick-up warranty...
I understand what you mean however, Im coming from a point of serviceability and, not to mention, the type of people that get laptops and the one thing they are looking at is longevity due to whatever personal or economical situation; I've been in those areas and know people in those areas. the fact that you pointed out how much people dont bother looking inside their laptops to make your point sort of makes me think of how many people cant fix their car at the very least to a certain degree. Is not good to adapt that mindset, having these options are always a good thing, and as far as the ram goes, id rather not have lpddr if its going to prevent me from dealing with ram failing down the future; and no it doesnt have to be several months or one year.
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