Wireless Notebook Card

Top notebook with scratch-proof screen

Time and again, the ThinkPad proves to be the champ. It has been one of the top notebooks for business users since it first appeared in 1992.

Last week, Lenovo introduced its newest thin and light model, the ThinkPad X1. Unlike the 14-inch T420s, which I did not get to review, this one has a 13.3-inch screen. The screen size puts the X1 in the same category as the MacBook Air, Toshiba Portege R700, Samsung Series 9 as well as the older ThinkPad X300 and X301.

I begged Lenovo Indonesia to lend me their demo unit for just two nights. It may have had some rough edges here and there and it may not have had the complete set of software. The drivers may not have been optimized for the hardware, but it was a working model.

The X1 is definitely a premium notebook at US$1,900 for just the basic model. There are some changes and improvements over the previous thin and light or ultraportable ThinkPads, but, honestly, I also miss a couple of things.

First, the X1 is driven by the Intel Core i5 processor, so it will never be out of breath when running multiple heavy-duty applications simultaneously. The unit I tested boasts an Intel i5-2520M processor with a clock speed of 2.50 GHz, has 4 GB of memory (8 GB maximum) and a 64 GB solid state hard drive.

The cooling system is excellent, I could hardly hear the fan whirring, and despite using the computer at full processing power for a few hours, it did not get hot at all.

While it is not the first notebook in the world to feature Gorilla Glass, it is the first ThinkPad to do so. It makes the screen look better, too, as the scratchproof glass layer covers the entire screen area, including the frame. The downside is that Lenovo’s design for the frame surrounding the screen had to be very thin too. The lid flexes a lot, but my tests failed to break the glass or damage the screen.

The XI is 17 millimeters thick in the rear but only 16 millimeters in front. Everything comes in black, including the hinges. There is an HDMI port but no VGA output. Connection to a VGA projector requires the use of an HDMI-to-VGA adaptor cable. The notebook also has USB 3.0 ports.

Like other ThinkPads, the X1 is protected against shocks from being dropped. Something new, however, is RapidCharge. While the charger is a regular 90-ampere unit, it can recharge the specially designed battery to 80 percent in just half an hour.

Cisco-Linksys WPC54G Wireless-G Notebook Adapter Review | Linksys ...

This is a review I wrote for the router hub and the PC Card. I had already submitted it for the hub and am submitting it here also for the card. The entire review is relevant to both parts of this system. One thing I forgot to mention was that I had called Dell to see what they had available,and they were using a mix of Linksys parts as well. So I decided to go direct with Linksys equipment. Here is the review as submitted. What about hookup and use? Another 5 star performance. If you have never hooked up a wireless network before, take the advice of the quick start guide that comes with the unit, and use their included CD. They strongly recommended that you use the CD rather than manually configure it. Having seen the problems that some others were having with setup, only to be resolved (some of them) by exactly following the directions, you can see, that is the best way to go. The setup using the CD is about as easy as learning how to open a refrigerator door for the first time. Shutting off what they tell you to shut off, and turning on what and when they tell you to turn things on, results in a delightful install. Not even one glitch. The CD determines your internet connection, then it determines your system configuration, asks a few questions, and bingo you are up and running. Pertaining to the speed issue: Remember when I discuss this that their is a difference between the speed inside of your network, and the the speed you are connecting to the web. I got 54MBps while I was in the same room. When I went into the living room, it went to very good, instead of excellent, and gave me 37MBps. Let's get a perspective here. A standard modem works at 56kbps tops. This router works at 54MBps that's megabyte not kilobyte. Their are 1024 kilobytes in every megabyte. So 54 Megabytes per second is about a thousand times faster than a standard modem. When hooked up to a Verizon DSL basic connection, you are running at a maximum of 700 plus kilobits on the download end, and 100 to 150 upload speed. I know I am getting specific, but the point I am making is that it does not matter what the connection speed you are running at any given moment, based on how close the base unit is to the PC card. What is important is that your internet connection will never even approach the speed capabilities of this router, so don't hassle yourself with any concerns over varying connect speeds of the wireless network.

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