| Specifications (Architecture) | Lenovo ThinkPad X230T (Ivy Bridge) | Asus Eee Slate (Arrandale) | Samsung Series 7 11.6" Slate (Sandy Bridge) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCMark Overall | 2773 PCMarks | 1508 PCMarks | 2566 PCMarks |
| Lightweight Score | 1318 PCMarks | 1287 PCMarks | 1994 PCMarks |
| Productivity Score | 941 PCMarks | 1100 PCMarks | 1409 PCMarks |
| Video Playback and Transcoding | 23.05 FPS | 18.58 FPS | 23.14 FPS |
| Video Playback and Transcoding: Downscaling | 43.79059 MB/s | 1.23366 MB/s | 6.64269 MB/s |
| System Storage: Gaming | 3.71 MB/s | 10.62 MB/s | 13.44 MB/s |
| Graphics: DX 9 | 14.99 FPS | 3.44 FPS | 5.67 FPS |
| Image Manipulation | 9.56 Mpx/s | 4.87 Mpx/s | 4.51 Mpx/s |
| System Storage: Importing Pictures | 5.38 MB/s | 4.69 MB/s | 22.52 MB/s |
| Web Browsing and Decrypting / Web Browsing | 9.62 pages/s | 5.44 pages/s | 5.58 pages/s |
| Web Browsing and Decrypting / Data Decrypting | 86.10 MB/s | 28.77 MB/s | 30.89 MB/s |
| System Storage: Windows Defender | 1.27 MB/s | 4.20 MB/s | 5.03 MB/s |
| Web Browsing With 3 Tabs | 11.38 pages/s | 6.13 pages/s | 6.43 pages/s |
| System Storage: Adding Music | 1.18 MB/s | 1.22 MB/s | 1.38 MB/s |
| System Storage: Starting Applications | 2.06 MB/s | 12.16 MB/s | 30.98 MB/s |
| Text Editing | 0.95 operations/s | 0.56 operations/s | 0.57 operations/s |
Lenovo's X230T is the performance leader among the tablet PCs we've reviewed. It employs a much faster processor with a 35 W TDP, compared to the 17 W part in Samsung's Series 7 11.6" Slate. In truth, the CPU is only one factor in the PCMark 7 results, though. In our review of the Samsung system, it was able to outperform a faster Sandy Bridge-based notebook, also with a 35 W CPU, specifically because the Series 7 included an SSD.
And thus, storage becomes the real story here. Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture certainly delivers a performance benefit, evidenced by CPU-bound subtests like "Web Browsing with 3 Tabs" and "Text Editing." However, the X230T suffers due to its conventional 7200 RPM hard drive, falling behind in the storage-based tests. Even Asus' Eee Slate, equipped with a low-quality SanDisk P4 SSD, outdoes the X230T.

SSD prices are now falling well below $1/GB, providing ample incentive to upgrade any prospective system purchase. Unfortunately, ordering an SSD-equipped Lenovo X230T is quite costly. You'd be better off performing the upgrade yourself and cloning the tablet PC's disk using a utility like Acronis True Image. At the very least, it wouldn't be difficult to propel the X230T's storage performance to match faster storage subsystems.
- A Rare Tablet PC Catches Our Attention
- CPU Performance: Comparing Tablets And Tablet PCs
- PCMark 7 Results: Comparing Other Tablet PCs
- Transcoding Performance, Accelerated By Quick Sync
- Can The ThinkPad X230T Game?
- The Edge-To-Edge 12.5" IPS Screen, Benchmarked
- Battery Life
- ThinkPad X230T: Keeping Tablet PCs Alive
I can imagine a market for it, but once the Thinkpad Tablet 2 launches with Windows 8, I'd say there market would grow even smaller. just my 2 cents
Anyway, Tom's: X1 Carbon review please!
Read that its trackpad is best-in-class for a Windows laptop.
I've carried an older model around all day for years, the battery lasts 8 hrs easy with a good power profile setup and intermittent use.
OneNote is gold on it.
My users often borrow it just for it's presentation benefits as well.
This new model will shine with Win 8.
I use an HP EliteBook Mobile Workstation and have little desire to go back to the Tablets.
Originally I wanted folks to be able to 'sign contracts' out in the field, but in practice Paper wins.
Big, thick, heavy
Ugly
Crappy battery life
When you think about it I could:
Buy an Asus Zenbook 1080p for $999
Google Nexus tablet for $199
Both combined would be as thin and light (or thinner/lighter) than this lenovo contraption while offering superior battery life and screen quality (at least on the ultrabook).
This product just seems like a fail.
From your post, I'd say you've never really used a IBM Thinkpad before.
The Thinkpad lines were never meant for normal consumers like you. If you've compared to built quality as well, the Thinkpads, especially the T and W series are wonders.
and unlike the ZenBooks or Macbooks......you can step on them and the hinge will be able to stand it.
Actually I've used ThinkPads a lot as I am a software developer. Two of my last 4 jobs issued them to the developers as their primary workstations. ThinkPad build quality, usability, design are all top notch for business users.
My comment was in response to the way this article was phrased. This article was not necessarily written in the context of a business user and actually was slanted more towards personal use and its ability to replace a tablet and laptop combo while traveling.
In that context I do see this product as a fail.
I thought it was common knowledge that Acer and Compal have Trinity Win* Tab-hybrids coming out next month -- may even be articles on Toms about it.
I can't really recall but pricing was something "less than $900" with Brazos II models substantially less.
Being as they've been selling them for 7+ years, "fail" seems to be a strange word to use.
I guess the Surface Pro may be a contender in this product space, but neither of your alternatives have the functionality of this "contraption"
"ugly?" Really?
You see that as being a pass / fail for usability / productivity?
Or have you been sucked in by the (cool) apple "us / them" marketing BS like so many others?
We have moved on a long way......
With these you tend to buy them for the tablet side of things but then find after a couple of days you just don't bother and wish you had bought a proper laptop in the first place.
Only if you never really needed a tablet, with it on my fore arm and a bar code scanner I can do an inventory audit in a few minutes, with a laptop it's a nightmare, dropping it is a distinct possibility.
Taking notes on the fly around the office isn't happening on a notebook.
Doing detailed infrastructure sketches isn't happening either even with most "modern" tablets.
You can carry this with both hands free when necessary.
Heavy? that's just not my experience with it.
- Too expensive ($1100 is nothing - they use to sell for $2000+), 3~4lbs, limited battery life 1-2hrs, WIndows XP, etc. When it came time to upgrade at a company I replaced all convertibles with normal Thinkpads. They were rarely ever used in tablet mode... so less was spent for more reliable and bigger screen notebooks.
Hence, the $500 iPads from 3 years ago did what MS could not.... sell a tablet system that people WOULD BUY.
BTW: All the guys who have Thinkpads at work (I own two ThinkPads) - we all have iPads.
This 2002 era design was never good at either job. A $1000 slate from Samsung or Asus would be better.
Domain servers generally require the PC to be set up to use C+A+D to login
Paperless society means I get all my handouts electronically and submit assignments online now. Great tool for learning.
Windows is in trouble. MS office is in trouble. Period.