Ultra-mobile computers are the obvious choice for frequent travelers and more frequent coffee shop-hoppers alike. When weight (light) and battery life (long) are of paramount importance, the challenge is stuffing enough power and usability into a package that won’t require extra gym sessions just to tote around.

Until a year or two ago, if you were looking for an ultra-mobile computer, somebody would probably try selling you on the merits of a netbook. These two- or three-pound 8-12″ devices packed low-voltage Intel Atom processors along with just enough RAM and hard drive space to run basic office applications under Windows XP. They promised to free you from your office, with “all-day” battery life and “powerful” computing, but gutless specs coupled with dull, low-resolution screens and cramped keyboards only excelled at one thing: freeing consumers’ wallets of a few hun.

Fortunately, it’s now 2011, and we have laptops like the Lenovo Thinkpad X220.

If you’ve never experienced a Thinkpad X220, imagine if a netbook from 2008 devoured a Core i7. In layman’s terms: It’s really small and really fast. It’s also beautiful.

We’ll assume you’re aware of the existence of perhaps the most iconic ultra-portable computer, the Macbook Air. This Lenovo is better. Don’t get me wrong, Apple makes some excellent products with gorgeous designs, but Lenovo blinded me with science (and one purdy LCD).

Billing the X220 as the “fastest ultra-portable in the world” (and, really, what guy doesn’t love the fastest _____ in the world?), Lenovo crams a full-speed Intel Core i7 CPUs up to 2.8 GHz in a slim, quiet 12.5″ package weighing roughly three pounds. Perhaps its most unique feature greets you the moment you power it on: the stunning “premium HD” IPS (in-plane switching) display.

Without getting too deep into LCD technology: If you’ve ever wondered why the vast majority of laptop screens look dull and washed-out, with colours that distort if viewed from an odd angle, it’s because most are equipped with inexpensive “TN” (twisted nematic) LCD panels. Compared to TN panels, IPS features demonstrably better colour reproduction, deeper blacks and much wider viewing angles.

While the X220’s matte 12.5″ IPS display has a relatively standard resolution of 1366 x 768, it is easily one of the best overall laptop panels I have ever seen. Rich colours pop against inky dark blacks. Text is clear and bold, with stark contrast against bright white backgrounds. Professionals who scoff at the need for a high-quality display have clearly never worked, browsed the web or watched a movie on the X220.

Where many ultra-portables disappoint with cramped and flimsy keyboards, the Thinkpad’s is a joy. This will come as no surprise to Thinkpad veterans, as the series has long been upheld as the gold standard for serious key smashers; regardless, the X220’s full-size keyboard, on which I’m typing this article, is the best I’ve used on a laptop this size. Nary a flex is evident as I hammer away — a hallmark of rock-solid build quality that carries through to nearly every other aspect of the computer.

To say the X220 feels well-built is an understatement. While Lenovo doesn’t specifically recommend it to be used as a tool for fending off muggers or an attractive plate for charcuterie, that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t perfectly withstand this sort of abuse. The X220’s keyboard is also spill-resistant, as if they know we’re rarely working without a drink of some sort close at hand.

Despite all this awesome technology, the X220 stands to improve in one major area: the touch pad. Macbook fanboys will relish noting that no trace of glass is to be found, and two-finger scrolling is, at best, a frustrating adventure. Lenovo is hardly unique, here — I have never encountered any Windows laptop that comes close to approaching the smoothness of Apple’s glass touch pads — but the X220’s small, button-less quagmire failed to meet even my already-low expectations. While most serious users will simply plug in a mouse when they want to get down to brass tacks, this is a notable Achilles’ Heel for an otherwise excellent machine.

So, is the Thinkpad X220 better than a netbook? Yes  — oh, God, yes. While the price of admission is a bit higher, the benefits are worth it. A thousand bucks (often significantly less, with Lenovo’s frequent sales) gets you a speedy 2.3 GHz Core i3 processsor, 4GB ram and 320 GB 7200 RPM hard drive: more than enough oomph for any office task, streaming video or even the occasional 3D game (the integrated Intel HD3000 graphics powered a smooth round of Half Life 2: Lost Coast at the native resolution, with all settings maxed). The price inches up with recommended upgrades like the Premium HD display ($50) and 9-cell battery ($50) that extends the already-impressive 5 – 7 hour battery life. Still, if you can cash in on one of Lenovo’s sales, it easily undercuts certain aluminum-clad competitors.

I strongly recommend the Thinkpad X220 to any mobile professional who values performance, superior build quality, drool-worthy displays and getting the most bang for their buck. If you can live with a sub-par touch pad, there’s really no reason for the X220 to ever leave your side.

Check out more pics of the X220 in DailyXY’s Facebook album.

Lenovo Thinkpad X220
Starting at: $999 (before eCoupon)
As tested: $1,204

Test configuration
Intel Core i5-2520m (2.5 GHz, 3MB cache with Turbo Boost up to 3.2 GHz)
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
12.5″ Premium HD IPS display
4GB RAM
320GB HDD
6-cell battery

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Image courtesy of John Spence.