eWEEK Labs Walk-through: ThinkPad X300

Compared with Lenovo’s X61 and X61s units, the X300 has a larger footprint (two inches bigger in width and an about an inch bigger in depth), but the X300 is about half an inch thinner than those models.

The X300’s reduced power use results in impressive battery life (up to 10 hours in some configurations).

The ThinkPad X300 configuration eWEEK Labs tested is priced at $2,935-

Much of the X300’s high cost-

The primary advantage of the LED-backlit display is reduced power consumption; LEDs use as much as 33 percent less power than CCFL-backlit components.

The X300’s full-size keyboard is incredibly comfortable due to its generous wrist space and responsive keys. Also appreciated is the option to mouse on either the TrackPoint input device or a touchpad.

Lenovo offers a broad assortment of optional network connectivity add-ons for the X300, including a Verizon Wireless WAN adapter and a personal area network ultrawideband radio.

While the newest ThinkPad retains its familiar, buttoned-down exterior hue, the machine’s leading-edge internals deliver, according to Lenovo, a 25 percent reduction in power consumption compared to previous X series notebooks.

The assortment of expansion ports that stud the X300 include microphone input and headphone output ports, a VGA external display port, a digital fingerprint reader, an integrated digital microphone and a camera built into the top of the display.