Lenovo wants to release a new 15-inch ThinkPad without a numpad

[Puppy]

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-wa ... 718.0.html

Since 2013, all ThinkPad laptops with a 15,6-inch screen have included a dedicated numpad. As a reaction to many complaints about this state of affairs, a Lenovo employee in the companies own forum has announced that the PC manufacturer will finally release a new model without a numpad.

So the useable 7-row keyboard layout will be the next step?

[Self_Propelled_Crane]

I hope with the advancements in technology they can just make a modern iteration of the 15.0-inch sized T60 or T60p w/ 4:3 aspect ratio, full HD screen that isn't dim, UK-style 7-row keyboard, thinklight, screen latch system, and all the input/output ports we could ever want. XD

[Thinkpad4by3]

So the useable 7-row keyboard layout will be the next step?

Probably a 5 row layout with the removal of the number keys AND the numpad. Who knows what those morons will do next?

[evening_hunger]

It will most likely just be a P51-type keyboard without a numpad. What most interests me is to what family/line will it adhere, will it be T580p or P1 and what does it even mean... etc. That's because while a 15'', no-numpad machine could succesfully compete with mackbooks pro, it wouldn't having weak battery life. So, the usual thick/thin dilemma, cpu choices and so on are pretty much the only unknowns here.
The Thinkpad fans community - in various incarnations - invested literally years of begging into what ended up as TP25. For that reason, I see chances of this project here becoming any 'retro' as smaller than zero...