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"A REVIEW FROM AN ACTUAL OWNER!!!!" on by bluenote69
Pros: Small and light --- great screen and built in feature --- the keyboard it large enough for long term typing --- fast enough for any non gaming user.
Cons: Short battery life (with 3 cell battery)
Summary: First off: This review is written by someone who OWNS this computer, not by a nerd who spends his or her time ripping into things just because it's 4am, they can’t sleep, and they hate there life. Furthermore, computer selection is a personal thing. No one computer will be right for everyone, especially in the ultra compact market. But if you're tired of lugging around a monster computer when really all you need is a perfect compact laptop then the X1 is right for you.
The way technology is going you don't need a top of the line computer to run almost all applications. I am not a gamer and find it funny that people invest $3000+ dollars on computers that gets used for gaming. If you like videogames then get an xbox. If you need a computer for work and school then you don't need to get the latest video card or processor.
The 1.1 M processor has really impressed me. When I bought this computer I was worried that I was downgrading from a 1.6 Pentium 4 Sony, but all in all I think the X1 is faster. I opted to not buy the larger HD or extra ram because I am planning on upgrading the ram myself and using an external drive for at home storage that won't be needed on the road.
This is my first Dell and I am very impressed with the quality. The laptop feels really solid (not cheep like so many people say). The screen is nice and bright and the resolution makes it so there is lots of useable space. The keyboard is not small at all in my mind. Some laptops make important buttons (like tab and comma keys) ultra small for some reason. This is not the case with the X1 and I know I will have no problem writing for hours on this computer. But please note that I do not have monster hands.
The battery life isn't great. I stayed with the 3 cell battery because I didn't have extra cash to put into the machine right away. The six cell battery does bulge out the back of the machine but I have not tried it and don't really wish to comment about it.
One last thing I wish to talk about is the fact that Dell licensed the design of the X1 from Samsung. From the pictures I've seen the Samsung machine is far sexier with blue lights everywhere and a strong metal case. Some people have ******* about this calling Dell a bunch of silly names. Again I don't understand why people feel this is such a problem Dell has licensed the design to a great looking machine and has made it cost effective enough for the masses to buy. Plus, the Samsung model is not available in North America and costs over $1000 more for a very similar product.
I can say that if you’re in the market for an Ultra compact computer then this is a great option for you. It has all the most important features built into a strong and sleek little package. Plus for just $170 (CAN) I have a warranty that will protect my investment for the entire time I expect to be using the computer even from drops and spills.
Enjoy your purchase! -
"Diminutive form-factor with a great thermal design and a big keyboard clad in ugly shades of grey" on by pünkröck
Pros: Fanless, affordable, big keyboard, Korean engineering, being taken serious by business people
Cons: The lack of an express-card slot might hurt some users sometime in the future, Dull colors (why not black?), Dell's a dull (sorry), conservative, boring brand
Summary: I need a laptop for the library where I like it to be quiet. For many years, I was a convinced IBM Thinkpad user - then, when I read about the Q30's design, I wished I could afford to switch to Samsung (being located in Germany means that dealers ask for $5200 for this miracle of Korean engineering).
When I was thinking about a fanless system, the fan in my T42 suddenly began to sound awfully loud.
Then Dell brought out their version of the Q30 (one year ago, they did the same thing with the Q25, so there's no need to become hysteric) and I ordered one without having to get a second job cause it'll cost me a mere 2000 bucks.
Please note, people: the small 1,8" harddisk, the external second spindle and the slow cpu are all concessions the engineers had to make for a thermal design that works without moving parts! If you don't understand that, no wonder many of your complaints are misplaced.
The second great thing about this notebook is the almost normal size of the keyboard - in a small and incredibly lightweight form-factor.
Since I don't care much about colors or fanciness of a brand (contrary to "vladinecko", I am not interested in making love to an item), I have only one small complaint: There is no express-card slot, which might be a problem as soon as hdtv-dv or other data-intensive technologies become more important. But then again, I'll be using my desktop for that stuff anyway.
Since it seems to be inportant for many, one more word about the difference of the outward design between the Q30 and the X1: Dell markets their notebook as a business item. Samsung, by contrast, targets fashion victims with rich daddies (at least in my country).
Dell knows that buyers of the X1 are boring, calculating business guys clad in grey. For this group, the colors of an item can't be boring enough. I'll put a red sticker over the Dell logo on mine as soon as it arrives -my mom told me red and grey make a great contrast
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"Can we skip the opinions of non-owners and users?" on by Jackonight
Pros: Solid, fast, great keyboard, great screen.
Cons: Too many people who have never even seen it lobbing idiotic, uniformed criticism. Get a life. The optical drive being separate is the only possible criticism I can see at this point.
Summary: This is a superb machine. I've had a love/hate relationship with Dell over the years, and in my role at our company, I've had 8 laptops (I use them and pass them along to employees every six months.) Finally, I've got one I want to keep. I'm sorry for those people who think they're going to use it as some sort of multimedia powerhouse, but that's not what it's for. It's for those of us who travel on business but can't leave our work behind and don't want to haul around an 8 pounder. I had a D610 for about 4 weeks and the minute the X1 came out, I passed the 610 to a colleague who liked it, and I couldn't be happier about the switch. Check this machine out before you look at any other ultraportable. Good Luck!
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"since the post comment doesn't work i have to write an opinion" on by zsilak
Pros: looks nice and small, wxga
Cons: neve seen one
Summary: I was trying to write a comment for the rest of the reviews but the link doesn't work. Anyways, I can't see how people can write such useless, lame reviews. Why would someone complain about not having a built in optical drive when that's one of the features of the laptop that you don't have to carry it around all the time when you don't need it. It's like buying a Toyota Prius and complaining about the lack of towing capacity. I think people should either write something useful or not write at all. And the asus dealer guy should stay away from this site as well.
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"An unneeded trade-off from the latitude X300" on by nikeswooshguy
Pros: Thin, light, low power chip, wide screen
Cons: Not as thin as X300, more expensive, low capacity battery, seems weak
Summary: So you have the X300, an established, ultra thin, .8 inch, 12.1 screen with 1.4 ghz pentium M technology at 2.8 lbs. Now chop of .3 lbs, add .2 inches, drop the chip to an "Ultra Low Voltage" pentium at 1.1 Ghz, and add a wide screen, you have the X1.
While a wide screen is a plus, the screen, like most ultra portables, is only 12.1 inches, wide-screen really won't make much of a difference.
Additionally I see the chip as a weak point. 1.1 ghz might be fine for basic Word, Internet Explorer and PowerPoint, but I could easily see that slowing down basic Windows XP functions. And for those .3 fewer pounds, you get a puny capacity battery. Unless that ULV chip really conserves power, your ultra portable may not get more than 2 hours of battery life.
My advice: Think twice about any ultraportable. A 12.1 inch screen can be uncomfortable for many, and the reduced size means a less powerful chip for a smaller battery, which usually translates into just average battery life. Also options can be very expensive.
If you want to get an ultra-portable, I certainly hope that an additional .3 pounds won't bother you seeing that in a sleeker package, the Dell X300. You'll get a slimmer unit, with more power, larger screen area for less. Now what could be better than that?
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