My UX31A's hinge is pretty firm and doesn't squeak. The X1 Carbon's hinge is quite still and doesn't make any noise. So far, it hasn't fallen open when using it.
LED backlighting pulses on and off more quickly than the eye can see, but the camera can catch it when brightness isn't set to max. The display is so bright that we couldn't set it max without it washing out relative to the X1 Carbon's display.
Thanks for your very informative reviews. You helped me choose an ebook and are helping me choose a laptop now. I am glad you mentioned the USB 3.0 port because I was not able to find this information anywhere else, including on Lenovo's website.
As we mentioned, it's a real pain to take the X1 Carbon apart but you can do it. Lenovo says it has a DIMM slot. I'm guessing the SSD is mSATA since that's what Lenovo uses but I haven't full disassembled this one because it's a mess to do so.
Yes companies send us review loaners. This is a very different machine from the Envy 6 in terms of CPU options, build quality and price! The Lenovo X1 Carbon is seriously higher end.
The Sony Vaio Z would absolutely trounce the Lenovo ThinkPad Carbon X1 for performance since it has a full mobile CPU up to a quad core i7 option. The X1 is an Ultrabook with dual core ULV CPUs.
I have used the 13.3" Series 9. The UX31A is the least expensive but it has top specs, so I'd say it's the best value. The Samsung is pretty expensive and the X1 Carbon is pricey too, though Lenovo often has excellent coupons and sales which should help.
The texture and rigidity feel just like the ThinkPad X230 (a great thing if you appreciate ThinkPads). But the X1 Carbon feels thinner but not uncomfortably thin. Not like holding a plate :)
Hi Lisa, the internal photo of the X1 Carbon on your site appears to show that the ram is soldered. Is that the same case for the mSATA SSD? Great vids!
Hi Lisa, the reason for the full lay back to 180 degrees is especially useful for if you want to use your laptop with its keyboard and having it connected to another monitor. So it saves having to have to use a spare keyboard and mouse while having it connected to a monitor.
Great thorough review Lisa! Thank you! I did have one question regarding the heat. It looks like 2 other reviews (theverge, notebookreview) have stated that this laptop runs very very hot and one stating that it runs cool.Is this when putting the laptop under extreme intense activity? How would you say the heat is when your simultaneously browsing, watching videos or video chatting. How would you compare the heat to the Sony Vaio Z (2012)?
Hey Lisa, how does the carbon feel walking around with it in hand? I always liked the book-ish feel of the x220 and thinkpad tablet. I've never had an ultrabook, but thinner devices like the galaxy tab were like holding a plate. I would be using my fingers more than my palm. Any side by side comparisons with the x230? I'm torn between the two.
Thanks for the great reviews! I'm having the exact same problem as Roger and would really love to see a Samsung 13,3" Series 9 review. Being a long time Thinkpad user, I'm skeptical if I would like the Samsung's keyboard. So far I could only try the Zenbook in a store and its keyboard I liked. What would you say? How does the Samsung's keyboard compare to the other two?
Awesome review as usual Lisa! I was wondering if a maxed out X1 Carbon would be able to power a Samsung Series 9 Monitor well. I'm also considering a maxed out T430 with self-upgraded 16GB of RAM and 256GB ssd Thanks in advance!!
So I'm debating between this, the UX31A or the Samsung Series 9. Will you have a review of the Series 9? If not, have you used it? Which of the three do you think is the best value?
I see thx. Also I'm wondering if there is a big difference between the entry level i5-3317U and the second level i5-3427U. Is one higher watt than the other? or is it just pure clock speed? I can't decide if it's worth the $90 difference.
I'm thinking about between the Lenovo X1 Carbon, Asus UX32VD, Samsung Series 9, or the Sony Vaio T13. Which would ya recommend? I'm going to College in August so I need it relatively soon.
Hi Lisa, I LOVE your reviews! You do a very good job at reviewing things! I was wondering if you could do a review on a Windows Tablet I'm thinking of getting called the Acer Iconia w500. Thanks!
Lenovo may say that, but on the models currently available at the U.S. Lenovo website, they do not offer the option of upgrading the RAM from 4 GB. May have to wait for that, and I gather upgrading the RAM is not something that a user can do as they can on the X220.
The reason many devices requires 2 USB ports, is that they use up to 1A of power, but according to the USB spec, a single USB port only needs to provide 0.5A of power. By drawing power from two ports, the device is guaranteed to get enough power from any computer. Many computers however are happy to supply more than the 0.5A the spec requires on a single port so it might work perfectly with only one of the plugs connected (just use the right plug of the two, only one of them carries the data).
Now that we know the price of Microsoft Surface PRO, I don't see this has anything over surface and surface is atleast 300 bucks cheap. Do you think their performance will be comparable?
I am looking at this or the 2.6ghz 256gb Retina MBP. Which should I go for? General use. I have had both Windows and Mac and like both. I have a custom built gaming pc so games do not matter.
At this time, and if you can wait, it would be worth it to wait for the 4th Gen Intel "Haswell" chip as it should provide longer battery life and better graphics. They should be announced soon.
Hi there, when are you going to review the samsung series 9 ultrabooks which were showed at this years CES 2012 ??? i think the model is samsung series 9 2012 edition. plzzz review this ultrabook asap, thanking you in advance :D
Great review. It does not come with 3 Year Warranty. Only the Battery has 3 year Warranty. My i5 T420 with a pokey 5400 RPM drive gets almost identical performance numbers from the Windows 7 performace pages. My memory speed is 7.4, Processor 7.1, Interated Graphics 6.3. Only thing worse is of course the HDD. Kind of disappointing.
I like the "all-business" look of it. I find shiny/metallic laptops look a bit effeminate, like you're trying to draw attention towards yourself with your laptop.
Too bad there is no real Ethernet and no removal battery I would mind a bigger 14'' if it had a removal battery and Ethernet, I'm looking to change my HP6530B with something good but every 14'' are pretty bad (too flashy and not very "practical"), while the 15'' seems to be bad quality :(
