TPM021 - ThinkPad X300 (feat. Laptop Retrospective)

We’re kicking off the year 2026 with the most important ThinkPad Lenovo has probably ever built: the X300. It is the first notebook that Lenovo designed from scratch after acquiring IBM’s notebook divison in 2005. Together with Thomas Rogers, best known for his YouTube channel Laptop Retrospective, we’ll deep dive into the device history including its design phase and prototype.

During CES 2026 Lenovo introduced two new ThinkPads: X9 15p Aura Edition and X1 Carbon Gen 14.

Shownotes

• Video of this conversation: https://youtu.be/SAIyHSIyjLg

Feedback and announcements

• ThinkPad 360PE: https://thinkpad-museum.de/collection/360pe/
• ThinkPad 755CDV: https://thinkpad-museum.de/collection/755cdv/

News

• Notebookcheck - Going after MacBook Pro instead of the Air: Lenovo ThinkPad X9-15p launches with SD card reader and Core Ultra X9: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Going-after-MacBook-Pro-instead-of-the-Air-Lenovo-ThinkPad-X9-15p-launches-with-SD-card-reader-and-Core-Ultra-X9.1195927.0.html
• Notebookcheck - Repairability revolution: New Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 comes with modular keyboard & USB-C ports: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Repairability-revolution-New-Lenovo-ThinkPad-X1-Carbon-Gen-14-comes-with-modular-keyboard-USB-C-ports.1195928.0.html

Guest introduction

• Laptop Retrospective: https://laptopretrospective.com/
• YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LaptopRetrospective
• ThinkWiki - T430u: www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:T430u
• ThinkWiki - 701c: https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:701C
• ThinkWiki - 550BJ: https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:550BJ
• MacDat - 550BJ: https://www.macdat.net/laptops/ibm/thinkpad/550bj.php
• Laptop Retrospective - Lenovo Skylight: https://laptopretrospective.com/laptops/notes-on-the-lenovo-skylight-an-extended-look/

ThinkPad X300 interviews

• Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Episode 1 - Raison d’être (ft. David Hill): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr1kGIQw1Iw
• Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Episode 2 - Design (ft. David Hill): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jW8KHU2PUU
• Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Episode 3 - The X300: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBsdz1zH65c
• Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Episode 4 - Reception (ft. David Hill): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Q_1YRV0rw
• Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Episode 5 - Legacy (ft. David Hill): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoURBgFu7kw
• The Importance of the X300: https://laptopretrospective.com/laptops/the-importance-of-the-thinkpad-x300/

Hardware information

• Gizmodo - Ultralight Lenovo X300 Series Thinkpad Leaked: https://gizmodo.com/ultralight-lenovo-x300-series-thinkpad-leaked-346797
• ThinkWiki - X300: https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:X300
• ThinkWiki - X301: https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:X301
• EveryMac - Apple MacBook Air “Core 2 Duo” 1.6§ (Original) Specs: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/specs/macbook-air-core-2-duo-1.6-13-specs.html
• ThinkPad S70 Kodachi Prototype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIU0zkGZkx0
• ThinkNext Design by David Hill (has also design documents about the T25): https://thinknextdesign.com/
• Notebookcheck - X300 Review: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Lenovo-Thinkpad-X300-Notebook.9852.0.html

Advertisements

• MacBook Air Envelope Ad: https://youtu.be/3Ywa_EynjC8
• Lenovo X300: https://youtu.be/_hnOCUkbix0
• Lenovo ThinkPad T61 vs. Boule Kugel: https://youtu.be/kQqMKkv69I4

Successors

• ThinkWiki - X301: https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:X301
• ThinkWiki - X1: https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:X1
• ThinkWiki - X1 Carbon: https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:X1_Carbon
• ThinkWiki - T400s: https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:T400s

Image sources

• X300 commercial: https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-7157136/mode/2up
• S70 Prototype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIU0zkGZkx0
• MacBook Air (Gen 1): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MacBook_Air_black.png
• Lenovo X300 Advertisement: https://youtu.be/_hnOCUkbix0