The Lenovo X300 is not as flashy as Apple's MacBook Air, but it gives many turns at the hardware level and also fits in an envelope. Using only 4 millimeters thick and 40 grams heavier, Lenovo engineers have managed to include everything that Apple dropped and more. Moreover, to the surprise of many, in less than two weeks we can get hold of one.

In fact, what in early January seemed like a project that would not light up in a few months, it had to be brewing since June 2006, about the same time as the Apple ultraportable, and which goes on sale Tuesday 26 February. Consider the path traveled by the proposal of Lenovo.

Originally, the Lenovo ThinkPad X300, code-named Kodachi, was designed as a 10.1-inch laptop with a keyboard similar to down TrackWrite used in IBM ThinkPad 701 of the last century. But in September 2006 saw the popularization of the 13.3-inch screens, which helped a lot to the Apple MacBook, the team behind the X300 decided to abandon the original idea.

Instead they opted for a somewhat larger team, which would not be needed down the unusual keyboard, which would revolve around three emerging technologies: SSDs, LED backlit displays and optical drives of only 7 mm thick (used in the MacBook Pro are 9.4 millimeters thick).

Months later, January 2007, Peter Hortensius, vice president of mobile division, gives the green light to the project, although the most pessimistic estimates annual sales threw only 60,000 units. Liked the idea and decided to support engineers and designers instead of the sales team.

In April 2007 the project enters the development phase. At that moment begins a distance race, not free of obstacles (problems with SSDs in October and the declaration of "unfit" for the quality control team in early December), culminating with the start of production Lenovo X300 series of late January 2008.

 The result? One of the most complete portable, versatile and innovative of recent times, which has not sacrificed anything to the look and that has nothing to envy the MacBook Air.  Do not believe me? Read on ...

As the counterpart of Cupertino, the Lenovo X300 opts for a 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit, which reduces battery consumption at the same time which makes colors more vivid and bright. However, the resolution WXGA + (1440 x 900 pixels) of the X300 is superior to that offered by the slim Apple laptop, resulting in more workspace and sharper images.

In calculating the proposed power lost on his Lenovo Intel Core 2 Duo 1.2 GHz (4 MB of cache, 800MHz FSB) vs MacBook Air, but a future version will include the same Intel processors that Apple has used for creation.

Graphics are provided by the integrated Intel GMA X3100 card, known by all. While in the section of RAM is where we find another surprise: the ThinkPad X300 comes with 2GB of RAM, but it supports up to 4GB, as its modules are not soldered to the board. Bravo Lenovo.

The storage has left a bittersweet taste. We like the commitment to the future they have done with the SSD of 64 GB, but this decision raises the price of the laptop prohibitively. However, in a leaked spec sheets, Lenovo provides the option of offering a 120 GB hard drive running at 5400 rpm 1.8-inch format. Be seen whether the end is true.

Lenovo, unlike Apple, it leaves in our power to decide whether or not we want optical drive. Â Yes? Fine, you take the laptop home with a DVD dual layer. Â No? Better yet, you can choose to install an extra 3-cell battery in place which, together with the normal swappable battery (3 cells) or of extended duration (6 cells), we will provide up to 7.5 or 10 hours of autonomy in ideal conditions and with Windows XP (Â ¿Vista? Â Are you crazy?). Autonomy with the standard battery or extended solo is 4.3 and 6.5 hours respectively.

We came to communications and the expansion ports. Time when the MacBook Air is hidden and asks us to ignore it. The Lenovo ThinkPad X300 - caught air - has: Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g or 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, Wireless USB Â! (only for U.S. and Japan) and integrated 3G modem, WiMax or on an optional GPS module (Steve cries, cries).

It also has stereo speakers (another blow for the MacBook Air) headphone jack, microphone jack, integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam and to top it, comes with a USB Dock that provides an additional 5 USB ports, ports doubles audio and adds a VGA output.

Finally, the keyboard is standard size and has TrackPad, the mythical TrackPoint, clitoral a small joystick located in the center of the keyboard that allows us to control the pointer, and an optional fingerprint reader. The keyboard is not backlit, but ThinkLight, a small LED which rests on the upper screen frame, is responsible for light when we are in darkness. Ah yes, it is also splash resistant.

Just one more thing. The Lenovo ThinkPad X300 uses a magnesium chassis to save weight (1.31 kilograms without DVD, 1.40 with DVD), but on the sides, so as not to impair the reception of wireless signals, has been chosen fiber reinforced plastics glass. Todo un detalle.

The issue price does not stop from clear. In many quarters it is said that the Lenovo Thinkpad X300 will have a starting price of $ 2,700 because it comes with SSD drive standard, but the leaked documentation points to a hard disk, which would lower the price at $ 1,000. At this point we can only speculate, so we'll have to wait for the official release date.