New ThinkPad T431s leaked

[Ibthink]

See: 'http://servicekb.lenovo.com.cn/Knowledg ... 指南V1.0.pdf'

[Adda]

What a POS, it looks like I'll stick to desktops and real ThinkPads (with square keys and actual mouse buttons!) from now on.
That one is just an expensive 'ThinkPad' Edge, I guess the world DID end after all at least the world of laptops did.

So if Lenovo continues this way, the next 'Thinkpad' won't even have a keyboard, it'll just have a giant touchpad with letters printed on it.

[Jason404]

I'm in shock and genuinely distressed about this. The ThinkPad brand is now totally ruined.

[Puppy]

WOW ! Mission complete. Last ThinkPad traces destroyed at all.

[twistero]

Let's see...
Non-removable battery
New rectangular power jack
2 USB3.0 ports
VGA and Mini DisplayPort
1600x900 14" LCD
Buttonless trackpoint & touchpad pic
1 RAM slot

That's about it.

[Ibthink]

That's about it.

Some additional notes:
- It is the first Thinkpad to use the new M.2 SSD Format (NGFF SSD), which replaces mSATA. So with the new system, you can have an M.2 SSD and a WWAN card (with older Tx20 and Tx30 ThinkPads, you could just use one of both)
- With 331 x 226 x 20.65 (mm), it is slightly smaller and thinner than the T430s (which was 343 x 230 x 21.2 - 26.0 (mm))
- To remove the keyboard, you have to remove some screws, which are between the actual keys.

[pianowizard]

On the bright side, these recent new designs have made widescreen Thinkpads look much nicer. With the exception of the Z-series Thinkpads, all of Lenovo's early widescreen Thinkpads looked disgusting. But functionally speaking, all brands of laptops have been getting worse over the past 2 to 4 years, so this problem isn't unique to Thinkpads. Hence, since about 4 years ago, I have been using desktops most of the time.

[Ibthink]

On the bright side, these recent new designs have made widescreen Thinkpads look much nicer. With the exception of the Z-series Thinkpads, all of Lenovo's early widescreen Thinkpads looked disgusting.

I agree that this design is much better than prior ones. The Drop-Down hinges are better suited for Widescreen than the standard hinges.

They will also resolving some build concerns with former T models: Removing the ThinkVantage-plastic-bezel (I hope you know what I mean), which was huge on the last iteration. Also, they finally go with a rubber-lip around the screen (like HP on their Elitebooks), which protects the system better before dust and dirt. The bottom appears to be made out of magnesium/aluminum. So, build quality should be better than on T430(s).

[ajkula66]

Also, they finally go with a rubber-lip around the screen (like HP on their Elitebooks),

Too bad that they stopped at the rubber lip...what ThinkPads *really* miss is a DreamColor-quality panel...apart from the old keyboard layout, that is...

[ThinkRob]

I'm not a fan of the integrated battery or -- assuming they don't allow 180-degree opening -- the hinges.

The rest looks fine for an ultrabook, though I'm not optimistic that it won't carry through to the T431...

[Ibthink]

or -- assuming they don't allow 180-degree opening -- the hinges.

Maybe they will if they do them in the same way as the x1 Carbon hinges.

Too bad that they stopped at the rubber lip...what ThinkPads *really* miss is a DreamColor-quality panel...

There is a rumor about a 16" ThinkPad with a 2560x1440 display, so maybe...

[Puppy]

There is a rumor about a 16" ThinkPad with a 2560x1440 display, so maybe...

TN panel ?

[lead_org]

Currently there is TN LCD with 2560x1440 resolution, so it would have to be IPS.

[Puppy]

Currently there is TN LCD with 2560x1440 resolution, so it would have to be IPS.

But Lenovo would save $30 on the display component. Thats important similar to save $3 on trackpoint buttons.

[Adda]

But Lenovo would save $30 on the display component. Thats important similar to save $3 on trackpoint buttons.

Agreed, we are talking about Lenovo here, there is no reason to think we'll get any improvements.

[Ibthink]

Thats important similar to save $3 on trackpoint buttons.

They will save nothing, the buttons are still there, just under the Touchpad, and the TouchPad is made of Glass and rubberized, which is slightly more expensive than the relatively plastic of the Trackpoint button.

Agreed, we are talking about Lenovo here, there is no reason to think we'll get any improvements.

We will see.

[Puppy]

X230s same story http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Th ... d-p/995877 Wondering whether IPS display options is still available.

[Puppy]

which is slightly more expensive than the relatively plastic of the Trackpoint button.

Who has ever asked for such change ? Is it just because it looks more "cool" on the picture next to a MacBook ? Have anyone actually try to use it and found that the user experience is better than old buttons ?

[zmurf]

Well.. at least the trackpad in it self is a pressable button... so the tactile feedback isn't lost.

But 1600x900?! Why can't they give us some reasonable resolutions on these devices? Please... Even the Helix, that only features an 11.6 inch display, have FullHD.

[Ibthink]

High quality picture of the T431s:

[Ibthink]

New infos on T431s:


- Thinnest and lightes T-Series until now, just 20.6mm thick and it weights 1.63kg (compare: X1 Carbon 1.36kg, T430s 1.8kg)
- 4 GB of soldered RAM + one free SO-DIMM slot, max. 12 GB of RAM
- No discrete graphics
- Starting at 1149 $
- Available starting in Mid-April

[yak]

Volume buttons integrated into function keys? I'll pass...

[lead_org]

glass trackpad?

[Ibthink]

It seems to be a glass trackpad, yes. The same one as used in Helix maybe (different from E431/E531, they had a plastic version on CES)..

[longface]

X230s same story http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Th ... d-p/995877 Wondering whether IPS display options is still available.

I can't see the difference between the new T series and X series. They look exactly the same.

If they both have full-sized keyboards, can I say that their sizes are the same, too?

[cb474]

I am as dismayed as everyone else and agree that this is more of an extension of the new X1 Carbon series than the T series.

As I wrote in another forum, I don't get it. The X301 has more ports, an optical drive, and a larger user replaceable battery AND is lighter and slightly smaller than the T431s. And the X301 is a five year old computer. It's like the technology and engineering prowess has gone backwards. Am I missing something?

Why don't they just stick a 14" display in the X301 chassis (since lots of people are having no problem shrinking bezels these days), update the motherboard and processor, and voila, you'd have a better computer than the T431s. No "year of careful research and design" necessary.

And don't even get me started about the keyboard. I guess where some people see streamlined, I see less functional. Simpler is not always better. (I also have never once thought I wanted a larger touchpad with no buttons.)

It's also my understanding that the new hinge design is supposed to allow the thinner design on the T431s. Hmm, the X301 is just as thin with the old hinge design.

Anyway, I think they should have just called the T431s the X2 or something and kept the T series more traditional. I'm hoping like others that the standard T431 will be more traditional. That way they'd have a true ThinkPad for people who appreciate them, Lenovo wouldn't be diluting the ThinkPad brand identity, and they could still market a more "modern" "sleek" X series ThinkPad for those who want a MacBook facsimile. But I'm not holding my breath

This is so sad. I was already trying to wrap my head around the messed up keyboard on the T430s, for when I need to upgrade from my X301 and now this. Yuck.

[Nitehawk]

This is really bad news.

What am I supposed to replace my T420s with? I actually find it depressing. They can't really be abandoning corporate users needs like this. Can they?

I was planning to buy the helix to replace my ipad, and keep my T420s till a touch screen replacement came along. This is a very serious disappointment. Lenovo may have just killed the thinkpad as we know it. I thought the keyboard was a drastic change on the 2/4/530 line. Maybe we should have a funeral.

[cb474]

Lenovo may have just killed the thinkpad as we know it.

I think this is a fair statement. What are the ways in which the new T431s is like a traditional ThinkPad? It has the tough design (though this is not an exclusive ThinkPad feature). I guess the travel on the keys of the keyboard is still supposed to be good (I haven't tired one of the new keyboards), but of course the layout and design of the keys themselves is messed up. And there's still the VGA port. That's not much. Otherwise, it's just another laptop now. I thought the point of competition was product differentiation? Not for everyone to rush as fast as they can to copy Apple (who I personally think has never been a leader in innovation, except on the most superficial levels).

[pianowizard]

And there's still the VGA port.

Most of HP's and Dell's business-class laptops also still have it.

[cb474]

Most of HP's and Dell's business-class laptops also still have it.

Thanks for pointing that out. So that leaves even fewer items remaining from the traditional design.

One could also look at it the other way around, of course. What features have been lost:

Fewer usb ports.
No user replaceable battery.
Fewer RAM slots (and lower maximum RAM capacity).
No more convient user accessible panels on the bottom for RAM, hard drive, etc., replacement.
No more ultrabay/optical drive.
No wifi physical switch (I think).
And of course the destruction of the traditional keyboard layout and design, as well as the destruction of the touchpad and button design.