From: S H Fawaz (shfawaz_at_usa.net)
Date: Wed Oct 17 2001 - 15:49:23 EDT
Hi Andrew,
The X20 is just fine, getting ready to sell it in favor of a wireless X22 as
soon as IBM decides to ship em.
I would say the fit and finish are alot better than the A series. The
texture is solid, not soft, and it is rough, rather than smooth. If you've
ever seen or carried a 390 series, then this pretty much has the same type
of surface. It's not at all like the 600 series. I would say the 570 series
had a similar texture, only it was a smooth polished finish, where this one
is a rough, albeit fine finish.
The keyboard is also solid, and has a nice feel to it. I would say it's
better, but not much. How do you improve on a great thing anyway??
If I have the time, I may take some pix and pass them on to Bill Morrow to
post on his site.
Hassen Fawaz
DHL Enterprises, Inc.
"Solutions On The Cutting Edge"
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Wells" <ajwells_at_att.net>
To: "S H Fawaz" <shfawaz_at_usa.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 3:32 PM
Subject: Re: A30P Mini-Review
> Thanks for the review... just a couple of quick questions... what is the
new
> outer texture? is it like the 600 line or different? Is the fit and
finish
> better than the old A line (which had warped plastic over the bottom
covers
> and creaky plastic casing etc)?... is the keyboard better than the A/T
> series?
> Any chance of getting a snapshot of the machine?
>
> Oh and how is your X20 that I sold you working out?
>
> Andrew Wells
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "S H Fawaz" <shfawaz_at_usa.net>
> To: <thinkpad_at_cs.utk.edu>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 12:28 PM
> Subject: A30P Mini-Review
>
>
> > My A30p was just delivered and though I would share some information on
> it.
> >
> > First of all, this is the non-wireless, non-bluetooth machine, so I
can't
> > report on those options. This is the A30p 2653-64U. Windows 2000
> > Professional SP2.
> >
> > I would say that the exterior finish is similar to that which was found
on
> > the 390X. In fact, with this machine closed, you could mistake it for a
> > Thinkpad 390. This machine has a solid look, feel and overall sleek
> finish.
> > It sports a new outer texuture that is welcome, and thank God, no more
> > fingerprints to worry about!! My only complaint about the appearance of
> this
> > machine are the hinge brackets, they're silver in color, which should
have
> > been painted black in my opinion-they stick out like a sore thumb.
However
> > the open and close of the lid is solid, with no play whatsoever.
> >
> > The speakers are well placed and have a very dynamic sound. A hell of
alot
> > better than the A series speakers by far!
> >
> > The IEEE-1394 (Firewire port) is of the mini type (Sony's famous
> interface),
> > and can be found on the right side of the laptop, next to the PC Card
> slots.
> > You could miss it, it's that small. Apparently no floppy drive ships
with
> > this machine, and a blank insert is shipped in the UB 2000. I did
however
> > test a T series floppy in both the Ultrabay 2000 and Ultrabay plus, and
it
> > worked in both! I would probably carry a superdisk instead, and have the
> > luxury of both a floppy and a higer capacity disk option. The internet
> keys
> > are a welcome addition, and well placed. There are two new keys found
next
> > to the arrow up key, (one on each side of the arrow up key) that are
grey
> in
> > color, but I am yet to figure out the function, it could be a page
up/down
> > or could be a back/forward. I'll play with the machine more and report
on
> it
> > later. Conspicuously missing is the keyboard/mouse port. I guess IBM
> assumes
> > USB is the way to connect those peripherals. There is an S-Video in and
> out,
> > and two stacked USB ports in the rear in addition to the VGA out,
> parrallel
> > and serial ports, and the RJ-011 and RJ45 ports.
> >
> > As for swapping drives, sadly, this is a warm swappable machine. In
other
> > words, once you press the drive release button (very much like the A
> series)
> > a lever pops out, and the machine goes into standby, allowing for the
> swap.
> > I noticed however that a slight touch of the lever inadvertantly,
triggers
> > the OS into standbay. This happened to me a couple times while trying to
> > move the machine. Drive swapping was fairly straightforward. The UXGA
> screen
> > looks the same as the A21p, and mine is flawless (no bad pixesl!!) For
> some
> > reason, the Enter key is blue in color. Another welcome update is the
> color
> > coded audio input/output jacks, in red, green and blue.
> >
> > About the only two things that you can't use from an A series is the
main
> > battery, as the A30p battery has a new form factor, and the memory
(which
> > is PC133). My ultrabay 2000 battery of course works fine in the Ultrabay
> > 2000, and according to specs, will not work in the Ultabay Plus. The
power
> > supply is a bit smaller too.
> >
> > Overall, IBM has another winner on it's hands. I'd give it a 95 out of
> 100,
> > taking 5 points away for the lack of a keyboard/mouse port, and hot swap
> > capability. I've waited a long time for a machine for two Ultrabays,
and
> > IBM finally came thru. Take that DULL!! I welcome any questions.
> >
> > Hassen Fawaz
> > DHL Enterprises, Inc.
> > "Solutions On The Cutting Edge"
> >
>
>
>
>
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