Desktops and Notebooks: Lenovo X1 Answers Apple MacBook Air

Gorilla Glass meets Penguins

The 13.3-inch Corning Gorilla Glass display is a bright, edge-to-edge screen.

6-Row, Island-Style Keyboard

This is the first ThinkPad with island-style keys. Arranged in six rows, the full-sized keyboard is a large trackpad and control keys running down the right side of the keyboard deck. The matte black finish is nice, but can get a little smudgy.

Left side

Its hard to tell in the photo, but the angled edge of the X1 meant that engineers felt compelled to put a cover hatch on the headset and one of the three USB ports.

Back

Left to right: network, SIM card slot, USB 3.0, HDMI, Mini Display, combo eSATA/USB 2.0, power.

Right side

Left to right: radio on/off, 4-in-1 card reader.

Keyboard detail

The island-style keys provide good typing action.

Underside

The undercarriage of the ThinkPad X1 is typical of a business-class system and offers access to memory, drive and the keyboard.

Underside detail

One of the keyboard drains (center) and access hatch (right) are seen here from underneath the X1.