Lenovo ThinkPad X230

This Ultrabooks even getting all the attention lately , Lenovo knows one or two things about putting together a solid ultraportable business . The ThinkPad X230 ( $ 1,164.00 direct ) , such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 before it , is a compact laptop that offers a full range of business-grade performance and features without excess bulk you will find in traditional mainstream desktop replacement machines .

Design
Measuring 1.05 by 1.12 by 8.13 inches ( HWD ) and weighs just 3.39 pounds , the X230 is light enough to tuck under your arm or into a laptop bag , whether for a quick meeting out of the office or a convention that requires a cross -country flight . The durable magnesium - alloy chassis is covered with a soft - touch rubberized paint , giving the ultraportable black, boxy look of your expectations of a Lenovo business systems while keeping light and easy to grip objects . Despite having portability to spare , I think its still a bit clunky when compared to a 13 - inch ultrabook like the HP Folio 13 - 1020us .

Compared with 13 - inch displays see the HP ProBook 6360b and Toshiba Portege R835 - P88 , feeling a tiny 12.5 - inch screen is the X230 , despite having the same 1,366 -by - 768 resolution as the others . The display is bright , however , with a wide viewing angle and no glare thanks to a matte display with Inter - Plane Switching technology ( IP ) . Lenovo also added Dolby enhanced audio providing powerful sound from diminutive package , .

The X230 uses exactly the Lenovo keyboard , with spacing of a chiclet keyboard , but with scalloped keys , and the familiar red TrackPoint nub in the center . Backlighting adds usability in the dark , and an overhead light located next to the 720p webcam above the screen lets you also read the documents in low light . Just below the spacebar three thumb buttons ( right and left click , and a scroll button between them ) for using the TrackPoint .

Features
On both sides of the laptop , you'll find a full complement of features ready-to - business , such as two USB 3.0 ports , an always - on USB 2.0 port ( for powering peripherals or charging the battery gadgets ) , a card reader ( SD / SDHC / SDXC / MMC ) , Gigabit Ethernet port , both VGA and Mini DisplayPort output ( with audio later ) , and an ExpressCard slot . Internally, the X230 has Bluetooth 4.0 and Intel 's Wireless Display technology ( WiDi 2.0 ) , which lets you stream HD video through the adapter , such as the Netgear Push2TV ( $ 99 list ) . Security is also taken into consideration , with an integrated palm rest with fingerprint reader , Trusted Platform Module ( TPM ) , and an optional SmartCard reader to the front of the laptop .

Offered by our ThinkPad X230 review unit 320GB of storage space , but can alternately be configured with either a 500GB hard drive or 256GB solid - state drive ( SSD ) . Lenovo does not clutter the desktop with many special deals and links to websites , but you will see that the hard drive has several programs preinstalled here . In addition to the ThinkVantage suite of apps and utilities Lenovo , you'll find generally useful programs and services , such as Google Chrome , Evernote , Skype , Microsoft Office 2010 Starter , and a 30 - day trial of Norton Internet security . SugarSync provides the foundation for branded Lenovo 's cloud storage solution . Lenovo warranty is for one year , with extended warranty ( 2-5 years ) available for purchase .