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Extremely long test: Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop Review
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I love to read reviews of gadgets. Once I even like to write them, and at that time I knew very well: in three days, a week or even a month to evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages of the device is practically impossible. Unless air fresheners write reviews on batteries, and it’s possible nuances. Long experience with yields much more information, which, if you know in advance, could influence the decision to buy.
Could you? In fact, not a fact. But if you use the ancient by today’s standards a camera, smartphone or laptop, having, in general, the ability to buy a new one, it is interesting: why is this happening? So I decided to recall the past and washed down a couple of reviews of devices, but not new. The share of operating experience, not to try to convey enthusiasm when buying a new piece of iron, and the harsh reality of long-term operation, when there is long gone mute longing all my perfectly good as ever.
Select a device for the first review of the obvious: this is my Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop. First, an overview of the new I once wrote. Secondly, despite the harsh trials of life, the laptop is still actively used and not much inferior to modern counterparts. Under the cut: quite neglamurnaya dusty photos, praise, and criticism, the comparison with modern analogs. Reflections on the topic, what would, all the same, this laptop to replace when it breaks probably fully operational will leave on the shelf to the grandfather ThinkPad 380ED, too, it is working.
CHARACTERISTICS LENOVO THINKPAD X220 LAPTOP
The laptop was purchased in April 2012, exactly four years ago. In parentheses are the standard specifications of the exemplary analogue in modern line ThinkPad X260 – 4 generation modern.
- Intel Core i7-2640M processor, 2.80-3.40 GHz, 4MB Cache, 32nm process technology, TDP 35W (i7-6600U, 2.60-3.40 GHz, 14nm, 15W)
- Video – Built-in (similar)
- 8 GB DDR3 RAM, two slots, up to 16 GB (4 GB to 16, but only one slot DDR4)
- SSD 80GB mSata to format the hard disk 500GB 2.5-inch with a height of 7 mm (SSD or HDD up to 500GB)
- WiFi 802.11bgn, Bluetooth 3.0 (802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1)
- 12.5-inch display, IPS, resolution 1366×768 (similar to, or IPS 1920×1080)
- Weight 1.67 kg with a large battery, the thickness of 19 to 35 mm (1,34-1,62 kg, 20mm)
LENOVO THINKPAD X220 LAPTOP UPGRADE
Almost immediately after purchase replace a memory module in the 8-gigabyte, just turned 16 gigabytes.
The hard disk has been replaced by the model as soon as they became available. But there is one feature: the standard height hard drives of 9mm, and Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop supports hard disks height 7mm. To insert a hard drive thicker, had to abandon the brand slide with rubber seals and make the farm, cut the stiffeners in the bay area (not required, but otherwise the hard drive is very easy to damage during installation). Do not try this at home.
WiFi module has been replaced on the Intel 7260 with support for 802.11ac about a year ago. For this it was necessary to alter BIOS notebook so that you can use non-native wireless modules (default Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop with such refuses to work). In addition, the new WiFi conflicts with built-in Bluetooth – the problem seems to be solved, but my mad skills here and have not helped. Result: with a compatible router laptop-NAS data rate rose from 10 to 40-50 megabytes per second. In general, an optional upgrade.
SSD has been replaced with another 256 gigabytes. Time of continuous operation according to SMART – 10,000 hours. Volume is sufficient to accommodate the system files and documents. mSata slot in this model only supports SATA2 standard (SATA3 support only for the hard disk drive or 2.5-inch SSD). Theoretically, a system of two drives can be replaced by a single large SSD and get a linear read-write speed of 230 megabytes per second, as I have, and below 500. But not sure if I can help it a lot, but on a large hard drive in a compact laptop reluctant to abandon.
REPAIRS
The notebook has changed Matrix: old at some point in the beginning of the strip, which was most likely a result of not very gentle treatment with a laptop while traveling.
First hard drive died less than six months, the reason described above. The second has been working for a few years without any problems.
Once a year, the system was purged with cool compressed air from a container. The failure of the cooler – a very common failure in this model, but I’m fine not hums and does not overheat. The photo – to purge the system, but not in the worst kind.
Changed the keyboard, but not because of old stopped working. Just wanted to update. The “new” now looks worse than the old one.
CONDITION
Fully working, but the look of hurt.
The only visible result is not only the laptop fall. Cracked housing does not affect the functionality.
Become detached and lost sticker external indicators and a cap for the screw that secures the display frame.
Rubbed corners.
And rubbed shiny buttons on the keyboard. Actually all. And by and large this stuff. I will not speak for everyone, but in my case the, ThinkPad lived up to his reputation as a reliable and laptop. In five years, he did not break the loop, not cracked panel touchpad and serious failure (hard disk and screen) occurred more as a result of operating features, and not because of design flaws.
On the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop I always use one of the three large 9-cell battery. In all three wear it does not exceed 10%. Noticeable wear (approximately 60% of maximum capacity) show the two batteries that are not used – and lose the capacity for this reason. This regular 6-cell battery and a special flat battery that clips on the bottom and increases the thickness of the notebook twice. That last was the most useless accessory of those that I bought – in the case of used it just a couple of times.
Frankly conventional batteries in such amounts were not needed. More precisely it was just 3-4 cases, when they are very useful, but because of this return on investment. An important event, work with the major load for 12 hours straight, without the possibility to charge the laptop from the wall: then I used all three advanced batteries and even full-time.
Not really fair, but for me the actual comparison. Below – Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop. Top – Sony Z4 Tablet tablet with a keyboard dock. Last I am almost completely replaced the laptop in the management of notes and work with the text on the fly. For a simple reason: it is easier to at least twice, although the tablet keyboard is seriously inferior notebook.
USING NOW
From a laptop for all occasions, the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop is gradually transformed into a laptop to work from home or on the go. It is for: entertainment and “content consumption” has long moved on smartphones and tablets. This qualitative change that has occurred over five years, further reduces the motivation to upgrade. Previously, laptop battery life time for me to have been critical in many scenarios, now plays the role of long-running tablet device with an external battery: a couple, they weigh less even than the modern laptop, and work much longer.
However, the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop is used on a daily basis and continues to work in the toughest conditions. It is ideal for trips: relatively easy, it does not feel so sorry for damage or even lose. The hard disk is 2 terabytes allows to carry a huge amount of data and do not worry about what will end for a vacation under the new photos and videos. Performance is still enough for my work tasks – I’m a hard worker a Word and PowerPoint, they do not require a lot. Of course you want a bit more performance in Lightroom or Adobe Premiere, with the audio processing, but for my unprofessional requests power of this notebook is sufficient for them. Not much inferior to (see below) modern analogues processor and 16 gigabytes of memory allow to easily engage in computer hobbies (ie red-eyed) using virtualization.
AND COMPARING PERFORMANCE WITH MODERN MODEL
Already on the characteristics we can conclude that the serious cost of buying a new laptop of the same series will give nothing to me. Let’s look at performance. Here I take the data from the test site with the Notebookcheck – that these surveys Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop and X260. They tested the model with processors Core i5, separately, I compared the test results of top processors.
Most progress is evident in the performance of integrated graphics, but I was just interested in the least. Processing power for the 4th generation of processors grew by only 20 percent or even less. Unfortunately Notebookcheck tests do not allow us to compare the overall performance of notebooks of different generations: first changed versions of complex tests such as the PCMark, secondly the results are highly dependent on the performance of the disk system – X260 generally been tested in a version with HDD and record in 3777 points in PCMark 7 was the same as my X220 (3756 points).
As processors tests clearly that priority in today’s compact notebooks is power rather than computing power. Modest productivity gains offset by lower energy consumption. Modern analogue of my laptop lasts longer when dropped by a third battery capacity. The table compares the six-cell battery (more precisely, for the X260 are two of three battery cells each), but in the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop, and X260 can deliver high-capacity batteries. If the X220 with a fresh battery (94Wh) provides the honest 4-6 hours of battery life, the current model with the maximum capacity of the battery (76Wh for X260) must draw 8 hours, and maybe more.
Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop models have experts has a special status. This is the latest laptop, which uses the classic keyboard that came even with IBM laptops. Since the ThinkPad X230 uses the six-row keyboard and traditionalists speak unkindly about her. I think, in vain. I earn money set of letters, and worked on the old keyboard and the new, convenience is critical for me. The new keyboard for the convenience of not inferior, and perhaps even surpasses the classic.
The biggest failure of the classic keyboard – the buttons “forward” and “back” next to the arrow keys to quickly return to the previous web page. One awkward movement and the text that you type directly into your browser, disappears (autosave glory!). Abnormal means, these keys can be locked. The new keyboard on this place quite logically arranged PgUp / PgDown keys.
But the most harmful innovation was the refusal of Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop dedicated buttons for the trackpoint in 2014 with the release of the second-generation ThinkPad X1 laptop and ThinkPad X240 (and some others). As a result of the trackpoint was almost impossible to use. Fortunately, users of the criticism heard in the lineup last year returned the keys.
THE MOTIVATION FOR THE UPGRADE
In general, the main thing that is needed to buy a new Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop – it’s money. They are now not so: if in 2012 I bought a laptop in the top-end configuration for $ 920, but now the same costs $ 1840 and more. With that the old works great for him acquired docking station, external batteries and chargers (all of which have to be changed), the reasons for the upgrade should be well very serious. Above, I explained why processing power, battery life, size and weight are not strong arguments. By all measures, the progress will not meet costs.
In fact, the only thing the new ThinkPad and what is not in the old – a screen with a FullHD resolution. It is the way (according to the tests on the X250 model Notebookcheck) brighter – by about a third compared with the display in the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop. In some applications, very high resolution is not enough, especially when processing photos. But above FullHD resolution for such a diagonal, I do believe pampering.
The second major improvement in today’s laptops, I think the speed with SSD interface PCI Express (aka NVMe). Notebookcheck in tests on this parameter is in the lead, for example, Asus UX501 laptop, and last year’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon with the same SSD Samsung slightly lagging behind. In any case, if the SSD in my laptop provides a linear speed of 240 megabytes per second in normal modern laptops can get 400-440 megabytes, in the most high-end models coming out more than half a gigabyte per second. Cache Adobe Lightroom and presentation of 500 slides will tell you thank you for it. The problem is that NVMe SSD – a relatively new technology. They are available in most high-end configurations of notebooks 15-16 year costing under 200 thousand rubles. Buy youngest configuration with an option to upgrade is not always convenient, and some models even impossible. In any case, I’m almost guaranteed to lose the usual for me a combination SSD + HDD.
In general, there is a reason to wait at least another year, or even two.
LENOVO THINKPAD X220 LAPTOP UPGRADE OPTIONS
Modern laptops are more convenient than the model four years ago. They are lighter in terms of a similar battery life. They are smaller, faster recharged from the mains, have high-resolution screens. In principle, my new laptop I may well be a light ultrabook with SSD of 512 GB. However, the truly innovative models such as the 800-gram Apple Macbook or tablet Microsoft Surface Pro does not fit into my concept of use. I do not regard them as devices for serious work or creativity.
I need a comfortable keyboard, matte screen with maximum brightness, a lot of space for data storage, high speed disk system. All this is sufficiently provides X220, and new models provide more convenience but not performance. Seriously invest (money, time for the development of new equipment) in the new computer, you want to feel significant progress.
‘Serious progress of modern laptops provide only model class “mobile workstation”: they are five years have been smaller, but new ideas about saving on their performance is not affected. The trend is clear: it will take five years and notebooks become as highly specialized devices such as desktop computers. Interesting examples of this class of notebooks are:
Apple MacBook Pro 15. Fine display and the system, yet who is able to scale the graphics for HiDPI, powerful processor and graphics card, fast SSD with up to 512 gigabytes (terabyte version is completely unreasonable price if you buy for your own). Almost complete lack of opportunities for upgrading and expansion. Weight of 2 kg, the thickness of 18 millimeters. Battery life (video) 7 hours.
ThinkPad P50. The model with the “classical” approach: you can change the configuration in any way. Up to 64 gigabytes of memory, the ability to combine NVMe SSD and conventional hard drive, removable battery, a connector for a docking station. Select display of FullHD (250 nits) to 4K (300 nits). Weight 2.6 kg, the thickness of 30mm. There is a more compact version of the P50s with a thickness of 22mm and a weight of 2.3 kg. Keyboard with numeric keypad that can be both advantage and disadvantage. Battery life (video) almost 9 hours.
Dell Precision 5510 or more compact Dell XPS 15. Bright 4K display (339 nits) with almost no frames, the use of SSD + HDD combination (but at the expense of battery), excellent performance, the keyboard without the numeric keypad a la MacBook. Weight 2 kg (5510), battery life (video) 6:00 (XPS 15) or 3 hours 17 minutes (with Xeon 5510 processor).
Justify whether the increase in capacity while increasing the size, weight and, budget? In contrast, employees and vendors of computer hardware stores, I have only one way to answer this question: to buy and check. Theoretically it can be justified: even traveling laptop becomes semi-permanent system. I no longer need to look at it a movie on a plane, take notes at conferences or even quickly process images for publication in Instagram. At home, at work, in a hotel room a modern workstation remains moderately compact and thus provides considerably more performance than my current laptop.
With pleasure, I will discuss alternative solutions in the comments Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop.
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