Lenovo ThinkPad X1 coming May 17

By Geoff Duncan Published May 11, 2011

Computer maker Lenovo has not yet officially announced its ThinkPad X1 super-thin laptop…but the system has already popped up for sale at Amazon UK and now Lenovo has posted its own promotional video for the notebook that includes a key bit of information: the system is due to arrive May 17.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The video highlights a few features of the ThinkPad X1: a backlit, spill-resistant keyboard, a Gorilla Glass display, and military-grade ruggedness.

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The ThinkPad X1 is set to be Lenovo’s answer to Apple’s well-regarded MacBook Air line of ultra-thin notebook computers. The ThinkPad X1 is supposed to measure just 0.85 inches thick and sport a second-generation “Sandy Bridge” Intel Core i5-2520M processor, with support for up to 8 GB of RAM and 210 GB of hard drive storage—apparently a 160 GB SSD will also be an option. Among other things the ThinkPad X1 should have that aren’t on the MacBook Air: USB 3.0 and an eSATA port. Leaked specifications have put the X1’s battery life around eight hours.

Lenovo hasn’t announced any pricing for the ThinkPad X1, although pre-order pricing at Amazon UK had the units coming in higher than MacBook Air systems.

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