Ok my handwriting may not be "messy" but it's certainly nothing like typeface...which is what I meant by the recognition software works really well
🙂 Its true that the X200 doesn't have a touchpad mouse, but I almost like the nub better because it allows the computer to have a smaller footprint...plus when I flip the screen over I use the pen as my mouse..and when I'm at home or at my desk at school, I plug in an optical mouse using USB if I'm going to be using the "regular" computer.
As for the no-optical drive thing, it's true that it was a pain at first. But I bought an external/USB CD-DVD drive for like $25 and use it when i need it. So far I've only really plugged it in twice when I first got the computer to install some software.
I guess it's also worth mentioning that I ONLY use my X200 for school...for other things (like watching movies, downloading and listening to music..etc) I use my desktop at home. I keep as little software installed on it as possible so it can run super fast (I don't want it bogging down or taking a long time to boot up when I'm trying to get to class and jot things down). As far as the stylus/pen, I lie my hand on the tablet while I take notes and the screen only recognizes the pen...its not something in the pen, specifically (because you could write with your fingernail if you wanted, though it might damage the screen), it has to do with the pressure vs size of the touch. It wont recognize you lying your hand against it, but it recognizes a small object moving across the screen. Does that make sense?
I have always loved the thinkpad series of laptops (my husband is an engineer and he also LOVES his T400). They are just made to last and I haven't heard of anyone yet having a problem with them or their customer service. The rotating swivel for the screen is well designed in this computer (I have heard it goes out a lot on the Dell) and the screen is really bright and responsive. The 9 cell battery will last me a full day of note taking in class, but you definitely need to charge up at night or you'll have to sit next to a plug in class lol.
To the OP, the lenovo website is a bit funny, there are two types of screens you can get for the X200 (but otherwise its the same computer and you customize exactly what you want). The muli-touch screen and the regular. I have the regular because I don't really use my fingers, I only need to use the stylus to take notes (multi-touch screen:
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...ages/ThinkPad_notebooks/2009/X200tablet_T400s). Last piece of advice is don't buy the laptop sleeve that goes with it and looks very cool online. It's stiff, bulky, and if you really want one Ill send you mine lol (Sorry this was so long!)