I decided to go ahead and order a W520 before they are gone. Like many others, I am not happy at all with the keyboard change, so I thought I should go ahead and get one before it is pulled from the market. I want this one to last for a while, so I got the 2960XM processor, 2000M graphics, and 1920x1080 screen. I haven't bought a new ThinkPad in a few years so I am pretty excited about this one. I hope it lasts long enough until lenovo offers the normal ThinkPad keyboards again. I am still shocked that they did this, and the fact they do not even offer it as an option on at least the W series, and preferable the T series as well.

I hope that they get enough feedback from disappointed customers that they will revert the keyboard to the old one in future models.

remember to email management@lenovo.com to complain

FWIW, I like typing on the new keyboard better (the keys feel a bit more solid). I really hate the page up/down layout positioning. And I wish they separated the function keys into 4 groups..the could have just added raised dots every 4th one too. I really don't know why they couldn't just keep the old layout...

Agreed - I really dislike the page up and page down locations and feel on my brothers E420. Thanks for the email address, typing up the complaint now.

Congrats on the new W520 - that's a very nice machine! I have one with the 2.5 ghz quad core from work and the 1920x1080 display is quite nice. Enjoy.

I could deal with the island keys more than the new layout. What were they thinking when they put the PrintScreen where the did??? And the fact the F keys are all together...

I don't know where the thought they were going with this...

lenovo were the ones that added the Win key and the context menu key to the ThinkPad. Many disliked it but I do use them - I think many will on Windows 8, but now they did away with the context menu

Do you happen to know what model Intel SSD they install in them?

Thanks - I am looking forward to it. Going to probably do 32GB or RAM since it is so cheap now, and really get the use out of VMware Workstation.

No clue...bought the cheapest version I could find and stuck a Samsung 830 into it (better than the Intel SSD unless you're using enterprise SLC ones anyways IMHO)...

Yep, definitely agree w/ the stupid key layout now. I never used the Windows/Context keys, but the page up/down keys next to the arrow keys was useful.
However, to be fair, the trackpad now supports multigesture which my T61p's didn't. I find it easier to use the two finger up/down to scroll because it matches my Wacom Intuos5, but holding the page up/down key lets you scroll a *lot* more quickly when you need to...