Hardware

Review: Lenovo Carbon X1 Is a Thin Notebook, but a Productivity Heavyweight

This ultrathin notebook can meet the requirements of even the most demanding federal users.

Jeff is tasked with separating the “gee whiz” factor from the truly useful when it comes to the latest tech gadgets, and oh, he holds a Ph.D. in physics. He currently works as the supervisor of enterprise architecture services for Grange Mutual Casualty Group of Columbus, Ohio. His biggest challenge is being an avid Wolverine fan while living in the midst of Buckeye country.

The third generation of the Lenovo X1 Carbon ThinkPad will meet the expectations of the most demanding federal user.

With its customary ThinkPad deep-black matte finish, the X1 has a rugged feel to accompany a large yet light screen and a full-sized keyboard.

The display opens a full 180 degrees on two rigid hinges that hold firm when using the touch screen. The construction is so solid, it’s difficult to believe you’re holding an electronic device less than three-quarters of an inch thick, but the display holds tight even when grabbing one of the corners.

The notebook rarely gets hotter than lukewarm as heat dissipates through venting in the right rear, and the fan is impressively quiet as it spins.

The full-size keyboard features concave, raised keys. Users who enjoy a deep travel distance for typing can feel free to push on the keys without fear of a double strike.

The touchpad is comfortable to use, but keep a damp cloth handy to clean off smudges for best performance.
For dedicated Lenovo users, the X1 offers an eraser-sized TrackPoint in the middle of the keyboard, complete with left- and right-click keys above the touchpad. The keyboard features an Fn key in the lower left corner that could trip up users as they move toward the control key, but that’s easy to adjust.

The Carbon X1's Impressive Power

The battery life is remarkable, well above average for an ultrathin notebook. A high-definition movie played continuously for about seven hours and 20 minutes using the default settings, without the aid of power-saving features such as sleep or drive power off. Normal office performance was even better, at just over 10 hours.

Lenovo’s innovative RapidCharge battery technology really shined. Charging the battery from 25 percent capacity to 75 percent with the supplied 65-watt charger took just 38 minutes.

The Lenovo X1 Carbon is one of the best ultrathin notebooks on the market. It is a pleasure to use and to type on, making it the perfect tool even for those with the highest of standards.

Super Software

The third generation of the Lenovo X1 Carbon ThinkPad includes a number of software packages with the purchase, but their usefulness ultimately will depend on the level of management in your environment . The X1 ships with either Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Professional. Most federal technology users will want the Professional version for features such as Microsoft’s Bitlocker for disk encryption or for joining an Active Directory domain.

The unit also comes with an additional web browser beyond Internet Explorer, Maxthon 4.4. While other browsers have gone the minimalist route, Maxthon attempts to include as many features and add-ons as possible, such as ad blocking, PDF viewing and a 3D gaming engine.

The Lenovo QuickControl mobile app (available on both Android and iOS devices) allows users to control the cursor and projection settings and manage windows remotely. Simply install the QuickControl app on a smartphone and connect via Bluetooth or through a QR code, which uses Wi-Fi. It will not replace a full-scale remote desktop application, but it’s good enough to tap through a presentation from across a room.

The Lenovo Solution Center has four tabbed screens that assist users with basic system needs. The System tab shows the health of various subsystems, alongside ways to improve their performance. The Security tab shows the health of the virus protection, password, firewall and Internet connection and provides a handy shortcut to the fingerprint reader. The Check-Up tab allows users to perform quick or detailed hardware scans, search for faulty or hidden devices and view or take snapshots of the computer’s saved inventory of hardware and software. The Support tab provides a number of handy links, from submitting a service request directly to Lenovo to checking the configuration history.

Another attractive feature is Lenovo REACHit, which allows users to manage files from a single panel, no matter where they are stored — from Windows, Android or iOS devices through multiple cloud storage accounts. This feature can prove handy when files are spread across multiple platforms, although most users likely try to keep all of their files in the same place.