Lenovo ThinkPad X61

I figured my first post should be about my current ultraportable, which I absolutely love.

It is one of the smallest and most powerful 12.1" standard form factor notebooks out there. Lightweight too. Alongside the Panasonic Let's Note W and T-series, it is also one of the most sturdy and well built 12 inch notebooks you will find.

As you probably know, ThinkPads are well known for their ruggedness and the no frills professional build and look, which have gathered a following unrivaled by any other notebook manufacturer. With the ThinkPad X61 it is no different. From the rubber matte coating to the excellent and legendary (spill proof) keyboard, it is all there.

Yet this little ThinkPad comes in a very small factor (10.5" x 8.3" x .80-1.39"; 268mm x 211mm x 20-35mm) and with a starting weight of 3.11 lbs or 1.41kg. There's even a minimally thinner and slightly lighter version called the X61s, but in essence it is the same form factor. More on that in a different post.

While we are at it, I should also mention that there is a tablet version available in the X-series lineup. It is one of the best tablet notebooks I have experienced, but unfortunately it is noticeably heavier and larger than the regular X61 - which the following size comparison picture also clearly shows.











To better assess the size, here is a short video of the X61 compared to the mainstream sized ThinkPad R61 15.4" notebook.




In any event, if you are looking for a great, sturdy business ultraportable, there really is no excuse not to get the Lenovo ThinkPad X61 - especially considering the ridiculously low prices in the US.

And with that, here are a few reviews about my favorite ThinkPad:
Notebookreview review
TechLoop review
PC World review