Lenovo @ CES 2013

[Puppy]

Here are some news from CES 2013 http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-CES- ... -p/CES2013

And more information of what to probably expect ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531

"More important than speeds and feeds, though, the company is ushering in a redesigned trackpad, one that gets rid of those secondary buttons meant to be used with the TrackPoint. (They're now built into the touchpad, clickpad-style.) Eventually this will become the standard across all ThinkPads"

"Additionally, the company unveiled a proprietary new charging standard called OneLink, which uses a single cable for charging, video and data. To go with it, Lenovo also unveiled the OneLink dock, a peripheral with four USB ports, HDMI and an Ethernet jack. Lenovo says OneLink will also become standard for the ThinkPad line, so we're guessing more accessories like this aren't far off."


(If it is duplicate post about CES 2013 please delete or merge it, the forum is very slow now to search for it)

[ThinkRob]

Provided that OneLink can support dual video outputs I think I might actually prefer that...

I've always hated the "ejectable" concept since the first docking laptop that I ever used (PowerBook Duo).

Not sure how I feel about the integrated buttons for the TrackPoint, but I'll give it a go.

[fjs08]

Seeing reviews coming in on the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix... Looks nice.
Anyone here know anything about it other than what Lenovo is telling us??
Yoga is an IdeaPad, I guess. Helix is a ThinkPad. I'm guessing the Helix is "better??"
Every time I get ready to buy, something new comes out that looks nicer.<g>.
Frank

[Puppy]

Provided that OneLink can support dual video outputs I think I might actually prefer that...

Dependes on quality and user experience. I don't like the idea of video over USB because it was a disaster yet with Lenovo USB dock (slow, corrupted, delayed).

[Ibthink]

Dependes on quality and user experience. I don't like the idea of video over USB because it was a disaster yet with Lenovo USB dock (slow, corrupted, delayed).

Where did you read that OneLink uses USB?

Beside of that, I think their latest USB 3.0 Dock have no problems with video thanks to the DisplayLink implementation.

[twistero]

Ugh. Clickpads? I want my trackpoint buttons to be large, springy, responsive and have deep travel, not clicky, shallow and having no definite shape.

[Totoro-kun]

Just when I thought, that it is impossible to ruin thinkpad further, they go and do this. Well, they proven me wrong...

This touchpad thing looks very similar to the ones I've seen on some asus laptops, and it's utter rubish! Those so called "buttons" has toucpad surface, so every time you want to right click the cursor runs away I imagine, there should be similar problems with trackpoint usage. And to call that brick a dock... I would enjoy backwards compatible power plug more than this link.

Oh well, I think we will live and see, but lenovo is just another company which makes cr*p innovative.

[Puppy]

Lenovo likely to cancel IdeaPad brand due to internal adjustments

"Compal Electronics is currently the major supplier of Lenovo's IdeaPad notebooks, while Wistron is the major supplier of ThinkPad products. In the future, Lenovo plans to shift some ThinkPad orders to Compal."

[ThinkRob]

"Compal Electronics is currently the major supplier of Lenovo's IdeaPad notebooks, while Wistron is the major supplier of ThinkPad products. In the future, Lenovo plans to shift some ThinkPad orders to Compal."

Lenovo uses various ODMs.

News at 11.

If I thought that outsourcing manufacturing was a sure sign of doom, I would have stopped using ThinkPads in, what, 2001?

[Puppy]

If I thought that outsourcing manufacturing was a sure sign of doom, I would have stopped using ThinkPads in, what, 2001?

Outsourcing is not the issue, the move from Wistron to Compal is.

[Ibthink]

Why is this move an issue?

Winstron also produces some faulty ThinkPads, and Compal stands not for low-quality products (even if they produced IdeaPads until now). I would say they are nearly the same.

Also, this move won´t last long, because Lenovo will return to the In-House production in future:
Lenovo plans to hike in-house notebook production ratio to 100% in 3-5 years, say Taiwan makers - digitimes

Another side notice: Lenovo Aims Higher in U.S.

[ThinkRob]

Outsourcing is not the issue, the move from Wistron to Compal is.

Why? My bet is that they'll make use of the capacity they added as part of their joint venture. So sort of in-house?

Really though, from what I can gather there's not a whole lot of difference between ODMs with the same capabilities; it's generally a case of "you get what you pay for". You pay for good QC and narrower tolerances? You get well-QCd products with narrow tolerances. You don't, you don't. The ODM that you contract with has less to do with the quality than does the amount you pay them.

[loyukfai]

Really though, from what I can gather there's not a whole lot of difference between ODMs with the same capabilities; it's generally a case of "you get what you pay for". You pay for good QC and narrower tolerances? You get well-QCd products with narrow tolerances. You don't, you don't. The ODM that you contract with has less to do with the quality than does the amount you pay them.

Exactly.

Cheers.

[Puppy]

Provided that OneLink can support dual video outputs I think I might actually prefer that...

It supports direct (not via USB) HDMI but not DisplayPort. Since professional monitors have dual-DVI and DisplayPort inputs (no HDMI) it makes the docking solution useless.

[JaneL]

Seeing reviews coming in on the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix... Looks nice.

I've held a Helix and loved it. It's a toss-up for me between the X1C-T and the Helix. I love the ability to pull the screen off and use the Helix as a tablet like my iPad, but I also like the X1C-T's matte screen and better/bigger keyboard feel (still don't like the new layout).



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[Ibthink]

@Puppy,
it is just the first, the basic edition of the dock. Lenovo says there will be additional accessories (and other, better versions of the Dock) later. Its just the basic one (for Edge series, which also has HDMI).

[Puppy]

Lenovo says there will be additional accessories (and other, better versions of the Dock) later. Its just the basic one (for Edge series, which also has HDMI).

Well, the article is not clear whether there will be additional accessories or additional versions of the Dock. Anyway, this answer http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-CES- ... d-p/987571 states the Dock should be aimed at Edge series.

[Ibthink]

We will see. As stated in this Lenovo PDF, the General Tentative Announcement of the new line will be in March (maybe March 13/14). So, wait and see.

For me, it is not important if they continue to use the Series 3 dockings or if they use the new OneLink standard (which is great for thin-and-light systems), the main thing is: There is an ability to connect all your devices without the need to put in multiple cables. Thats it (but, by the way, even if they still use the old dock port, I think they will introduce this new charging connector type on all ThinkPads, the one they first used in X1 Carbon).

[elray]

Seeing reviews coming in on the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix... Looks nice.
Anyone here know anything about it other than what Lenovo is telling us??
Yoga is an IdeaPad, I guess. Helix is a ThinkPad. I'm guessing the Helix is "better??"
Every time I get ready to buy, something new comes out that looks nicer.<g>.
Frank

While the late adoption of an 11.6" 1080p IPS screen is very welcome, if the keyboard feels like the "Edge Twist" model it resembles, I don't think I'll be ponying up for one. I thought they just removed the lower buttons for the trackpad, but they removed them for the Trackpoint as well.

Who are these guys? Do they type?

[Jason404]

I think I may already own my last ThinkPad

[Adda]

I think I may already own my last ThinkPad

I feel the same way, it seems Lenovo has indeed decided to run the ThinkPad brand in to the ground.
Using the Edge series as their future design goal, making changes that harm usability and just being cheap.

Maybe they hope that IBM's legacy will save them, or that the ThinkPad community is nothing but trouble, so by making crap they scare us away.

[Ibthink]

How do you know that the new TrackPad ist Crap without having tried it?

[Adda]

One look at the trackpoint buttons is enough, who in their right mind would see that as an upgrade?

[elray]

How do you know that the new TrackPad ist Crap without having tried it?

Well, by definition, a trackpad is crap if its not optional.

I've tried the chiclet keyboards and found they aren't intolerable, but other than the S10-3 (no "t", and alas, no trackpoint), they aren't an improvement either, unless you're in the habit of pouring soda through them.

The Edge Twist resembles the Helix with the exception of the trackpoint and trackpad buttons. It features the same massive palmrest, which seems only necessary to justify the 6-row design. Those buttons and the keyboard are lame, I've tried them - and I'm not opposed to 6-row.

One can reasonably conclude, therefore, that subsequent "improvements" by the same nameless, faceless team of "designers" who apparently type with two fingers, ist also crap, without having to use it.

But I'll still try it, if they even bother to place a Helix in a retail setting. I need to see if I can see 189 dpi anyway.
Its always possible that the stealth, buttonless buttons are actually less bouncy and failure-prone than the latest generation of real trackpoint buttons. One hopes the brilliant design team actually let you disable the the trackpad and trackpad "buttons" discretely from the trackpoint "buttons".

[loyukfai]

But I'll still try it, if they even bother to place a Helix in a retail setting. I need to see if I can see 189 dpi anyway.

Had my hands on a Sony with similar screen properties of the Helix (11.6" 1920x1080). With DPI scaling on, text still looked sharp, possibly because of the high PPI.

Cheers.

[JaneL]

One hopes the brilliant design team actually let you disable the the trackpad and trackpad "buttons" discretely from the trackpoint "buttons".

Nope



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[zmurf]

I think I may already own my last ThinkPad

I can't really understand this standpoint... What are the options? No other laptops have a better keyboards. The are either worse or equally bad... and almost no other laptops have trackpoints. And I for one will not buy a laptop without trackpoint in the foreseeable future.

And about those hidden trackpoint buttons. I've tried a helix for some time... and I can't really make any difference between using the new type of trackpoint buttons or the old type. The tactile feedback is almost identical.

[Cunha]

I like the idea of a better charger design.

Unfortunately a unidirectional male plug is not really welcome.

The main problem I have is when people (that are not me) pull on their charger socket and make it loose over time and eventually break. This will probably be less prone to wearing out in that way but it doesn't look fun to plug in either. The magno charger on the apples is one feature that is completely worth copying.

Obviously weakening the trackpoint is ridiculous and falls in the same category as eliminating a whole bunch of useful buttons and indicators on the keyboard.

Maybe Panasonic will keep making useful toughbooks? I'm just not quite rich enough, but they always had some good business oriented models not just the big cop laptop. No trackpoint and bad keyboards here too though, but at least they have always been that way.