<p>@caltanner: I don’t know where you’re looking, but the base model X201 with SPP and seasonal discount (coupon code: USXSAVE10X0812) comes out to $764.23+tax+S/H. S/H is not atrocious from Lenovo either. That’s a good chunk cheaper and has all the right things for a student. Core i3 is not a refashioned Core 2 Duo, although performance characteristics are similar. I believe you get slightly better battery life with the Core i3. Bluetooth is a $20 add-on. No graphics card is not a dealbreaker…Intel HD is suited for media playback (hardware acceleration was the focus in its development) but I can play SC2 on low/med settings, you won’t miss the optical drive, smaller screen but much higher resolution than a MacBook means you can do more on your screen, hard drives are extremely cheap these days and you have upgrade options, etc. It’s a better deal. </p>
<p>Here’s a more compelling argument:
Core i7-620M Processor (2.66-3.33GHz, 4MB L3, 1066MHz FSB), 4 GB DDR3 RAM, 320 GB Hard Disk Drive (7200rpm), Bluetooth (because you mentioned it), 9-cell battery: $972.48+tax+S/H. Of course, aside from the vastly superior processor, more RAM, interchangeable battery, you get more real-estate on your screen and it’s still cheaper than a MacBook. On top of that, you get a significantly lighter and more portable computer. Oh, also, since you mentioned that a strong WiFi connection is important to you, food for thought: a) unless you get mobile broadband, you get a 3x3 antenna matrix with the ThinkPads (more throughput than 802.11n’s theoretical max) b) you’re saturated in WiFi while you’re on campus so getting a poor signal is hard.</p>
<p>Look, you honestly sound like you have your heart set on a MacBook. No matter how legitimate of an alternative any of us present, you’re probably going to end up with a MacBook because you’re not approaching this quite rationally. </p>
<p>@soulkamikaze: X201 isn’t a tablet 
X201t is. </p>
<p>@excelblue: Yeah, the U/UL series are pretty great as well.</p>