I'm coming out! - Lenovo

[GomJabbar]

From CNN.Money.com: Lenovo's coming out party

"2006 is the coming out party for Lenovo," said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president of Lenovo's notebook business unit. "2005 was a year of integrating the business and laying the groundwork" for what is to come in 2006, he said -- which will include Lenovo-brand desktops and notebooks that don't carry the ThinkPad logo.

The company is unveiling new ThinkPad notebooks with Intel's Core chips, previously code-named "Yonah," which feature dual-core technology -- in other words, one chip with two brains. Hortensius said the new chips will give the notebooks both improved battery life and improved performance.

Lenovo is also launching two new notebooks in its X series, the X60 and the X60S, as well as the T60, the latest in its T series.

It also announced a deal with Cingular to integrate wireless wide area network technology in future versions of ThinkPad notebooks. These computers, which will debut in the second quarter, will have built-in high speed access without needing a separate PC card.

From Reuters: Lenovo readies for global push of branded PCs

Lenovo wants to sell more of its computers to small- and medium-sized corporate clients, and its new campaign would see it selling IBM's former ThinkPads as a premium product, with the Lenovo brand aimed at more cost-conscious customers, he said.

"You should see us gain traction in both brands over the course of this year," he said in an interview on the sidelines of the Consumer Electronics Show, the world's biggest consumer electronics show, that is being held this week in Las Vegas.

"This year is a building year for (the Lenovo) brand."

[jdhurst]

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. Generally, when I convert any given client from any given laptop to an IBM laptop, they:
(1) are usually (95 percent) thrilled
(2) like the looks
(3) like the functionality
(4) won't return to the prior brand
(5) like the longevity, durability and warranty.

IBM did something right with ThinkPad, and I hope Lenovo (whatever else they do) keep:
(1) Black
(2) Square
(3) Use current design as a jumping off point for something better in the same shell
(4) Keep the quality, warranty and all the good things

Instinct tells me they are not going to keep ThinkPad as we know it, but we'll see, and I shall be happy to eat crow if I am wrong (normal state of affairs for me anyway).
... JD Hurst

[GomJabbar]

All very good points.

When I bought my first laptop, it was a used ThinkPad 600E. I liked the design and size, and 'I knew' IBM had the best keyboards. I was not disappointed.

Later, when I saw how much use I was getting out of my ThinkPad, and I saw my daughter's need for a laptop for school, I decided it was time for an upgrade. The 600E went to my daughter, and I bought a T42. I am very happy with my purchase (I've had it about 11 months).

The thing that I didn't realize for a time was IBM's (and Lenovo's) support in maintaining and upgrading drivers and software - even several years past the model date. Also there is a lot of information that can be pulled from IBM's website, including the Hardware Maintenance Manuals. I don't see other laptop makers with this kind of support. It makes me feel better all the time about buying a ThinkPad. Let's hope Lenovo keeps it up.

[JonathanGennick]

IBM did something right with ThinkPad, and I hope Lenovo (whatever else they do) keep:
(1) Black
(2) Square
... JD Hurst

Square could go. I wouldn't mind seeing more widescreen models. I'd love a widescreen X series. In the long haul, I believe the entire laptop market will shift to widescreen. It's a much more pleasing ratio, IMHO.

[jdhurst]

If square goes, no more IBM's for me. Round looks cheap because it so often is (not always, of course). ThinkPads are professionally distinctive and that line needs to be kept. Notice in my original post that I only want Lenovo to keep a pro line. If they want to make a cheap consumer line, that is up to them.

The jury is out for me on widescreen. I have seen it. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don't. I'll make up my mind later. Still, they should keep traditional screens for a while in part of their lineup.
... JD Hurst

[JonathanGennick]

JDhurst, I think I misunderstood you. When you said "square", I thought you were referring to the screen aspect ration (i.e. 4:3 is more squarish than 16:10). You're talking about the squared edges on the Thinkpad body, aren't you? I think I totally missed what you were getting at when I replied earlier. Sorry about that.

[jdhurst]

/me chuckles.
No problem - that's why this polite forum is so great. Lot's of room for clearing up stuff. Yes - I meant square edges. Thanks, ... JDH

[beeblebrox]

Actually, I like it that Lenovo is making progress with ThinkPad designs. It all comes down to functionalit and costs.

BTW: round corners are faaar better than the current corners. Just run a Finite Elements CAD Program and make a stress test on a corner. You would be suprised. If a Thinkpad with round corners drops on the edge, much more energy can be absorbed with round corners, without heavy damage.
It is like a broad shoulder vs. a sharp elbow.

All manufacturers are customers of a few very large LCD makers. It looks as if the majority of customers is going for widescreen. It will only be a matter of time, when "old" regular 4:3 screens will run in such a small volume, that their high costs will prohibit any further use. Only a few display sizes generate enough sales volume that they can survive. Currently the 15" and 15.4" displays are the sweet spot of the industry.

Widescreen will be dominant in 2 years. BTW: You can cut the large display panels much better to widescreen format (Yield!) screens.

I am REALLY looking forward to the YOGA ThinkPad

[SpaRood]

Lenovo is more than just the Thinkpads. I am actually very interested in the other laptops by Lenovo. I hope they can make a nice white laptop, a bit like an iBook, that is as sturdy as a Thinkpad. I am probably a heretic now lol.

[jdhurst]

I have fallen on my laptop, pulled off a table onto the floor wide open and running, and generally given it hard use (although - evidence to the contrary - I do try to be careful). And the corners have not cracked. So while I believe you on the stress element, I don't really need it, and so far most rounded-off laptops are cheap (from a quality perspective). I'll take the professional appearance and risk the stress if they will keep at least a professional line. It appears from other posts that Lenovo is on a path of catering to consumers and telling business people to go twirl. We'll see what happens. ... JD Hurst

[AlphaKilo470]

I really don't mind having the Lenovo logo replace the IBM one. If I'm not mistaken, Lenovo won't be allowed to keep the IBM logo forever so they need to phase out the old IBM brand and get customers familiar with their logo. That and from a management perspective, if I owned one of the most popular and reputable line of laptops, I'd want my name on it and I'd want people to associate the product with me, not someone else.

From a personal perspective, just so long as the build quality and the comfort and qulity of the keyboard is the same as was on the ThinkPad 350c that I used in the 90's as well as the ThinkPads I've used since (excluding the ThinkPad 760 series as those keyboards just totally blew), I don't see any harm being done. I also hope that the rubber paintjob that I came to know and love when I started using the 760 series will remain on the higher end ThinkPads.

[bill bolton]

I have fallen on my laptop,

Gotta watch out for those pheromones!

[AlphaKilo470]

I think the worst I've ever seen with one of my own computers would be when I tripped while carrying my 380 with the lid open across the room and I tripped and the thing fell onto my bed (thank goodness the bed was there) and it cartwheeled across the bed (with lid still open) until it fell of the other side onto my hardwood laminate floor (with lid still open.) It did get one or two small scars but other than that, no real damage done which even for a ThinkPad is rather surprising, I think.

I hope that even after Lenovo does whatever they plan to do to the ThinkPad line, the computers will still be that durable.

NOTE: I do not advise anyone testing their ThinkPad to see if it can withstand similar or worse abuse. If anyone does test their computer to see if it can live up to my 380's testimony, I hold no liability for any damage done to the computer, owner or anything else involved or not involved.

[dsvochak]

Maybe I'm a heretic, but I find all the buzz in the T60/X60 threads about looks somewhat amusing. A Thinkpad isn't a black box, with a 4:3 screen and no windows key. For me it's a business tool. When picking a business tool things like TCO, reliability, ease of use, service, etc. are a lot farther up the list of considerations than what color the trackpoint buttons are, for example.

jdhurst wrote "Notice in my original post that I only want Lenovo to keep a pro line. If they want to make a cheap consumer line, that is up to them." And I agree. As long as a pro line is available, I'll be happy with anything else.

Regarding wide-screen vs. 4:3 screens, I think we sometimes forget the 4:3 ratio is basically the same as a piece of paper. As long as businesses keep using paper, and keep using computers to generate piece of paper, there will be a big market for 4:3 screens.

[Kyocera]

Not to "one up" you AlphaKilo, but just to add to the testament of the durability of the thinkpad here's my horror story.

Nice day just finished lunch so I decided to grab my laptop (T42) and sit outside in a business park with lots of wireless networks to surf. opened the rear car door reached in to unzip my laptop case grabbed it with one hand and was backing up to close the car door. I'm fairly tall and was tucking the laptop under my arm when it slipped out of my hand and started it's plumment to the parking lot cement, time slowed down and I yelled "NOOooo" while turning my head to watch the explosion of plastic, I tried to position my foot underneath the path it was taking to soften the crash, it was falling with the full weight on the left rear corner, it hit and bounced over my foot. I just knew it was dead, the plastic around the usb ports was broken the and the corner was damaged. Sat down opened the top and it fired up without missing a beat. Fixed the cosmetic issues and have not had a problem.

[AlphaKilo470]

Well, I guess my other story about the 760ED (when you've been using a laptop at school for a year, you usually end up with a good number of disaster stories to tell, some more entertaining than the other) being kicked across the classroom by a classmate when I was dumb enough to set it down on the floor is no longer as amazing now that I heard your story.

Personally, I don't want to have to worry about needing the durability to withstand the mishaps in many of these stories but when you carry your computer to and from school or office on a dialy basis, there's going to be an accident or two somewhere on the line so it's always nice to know your equipment can withstand a beating.

Oh, to another issue, I wonder, why do some people make a deal over the addition of a Windows key? After getting used to having one on my main computers keyboard, I've actually come to find it useful. Once you learn the Windows XP windows key shortcuts, you'll wonder how you ever lived without the key.

[GuitarBill]

I recently tried to reach a Notebook Tech Support via the number I have for them and all I got was a 'busy' signal after about 3 rings. Did the number change? I have 800-772-2227.

Thanks

[JaneL]

I recently tried to reach a Notebook Tech Support via the number I have for them and all I got was a 'busy' signal after about 3 rings. Did the number change? I have 800-772-2227.

It changed to 800.IBM.SERV (I think) a while back.

[JonathanGennick]

Regarding wide-screen vs. 4:3 screens, I think we sometimes forget the 4:3 ratio is basically the same as a piece of paper. .

I'd never noticed that, but you're right, I just held up a sheet of paper to my wife's R42 screen, and it's close to a perfect fit. The screen is maybe 5/16-inches too wide.

But the orientation is different. I have to turn my paper sideways to fit my laptop screen. Thus, I don't believe there is any benefit from having the same ratio for screen and paper.

[dsvochak]

JonathanGennick wrote:

But the orientation is different.

You're right. The comment was poorly phrased. It had more to do with the "conservative" nature of a lot of businesses than the exact ratio of the screen.

What I should have said was: as long as businesses are using machines primarily to generate pieces of paper there will be a significant market for 4:3 screens. While a wide-screen may be more useful for movies or perhaps a powerpoint presentation, it doesn't really add anything to a word-processor program or spreadsheet file meant to be printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. And even though we've been able to "multi-task" for a long time, there are a lot of users who do one thing at a time with the word processing program maximized.

If beeblebrox is right, it could be irrelevant. If all you can buy at a reasonable cost is a wide screen you won't have much choice.

[AlphaKilo470]

I actually never thought about the reasoning for keeping 4:3 screens other than that's what I'm used to but now considering the comment just made, there appears to be good reason for keeping 4:3. While widescreen displays will be nice for the general public, they might not be as great for anyone who plans on using their computer to do alot of printing. However, unlike with a 4:3 screen, if you have a widescreen, you can fit your page on the screen and have room on the sides to fit controls or toolbars or whatever else you might want on screen without interfering with the document. I guess it's safe to call the 4:3 vs. widescreen contest a draw and say the ultimate descision needs to be based on how the user plans to use his or her computer.

[The Insider]

If square goes, no more IBM's for me. Round looks cheap because it so often is (not always, of course). ThinkPads are professionally distinctive and that line needs to be kept. Notice in my original post that I only want Lenovo to keep a pro line. If they want to make a cheap consumer line, that is up to them.

The jury is out for me on widescreen. I have seen it. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don't. I'll make up my mind later. Still, they should keep traditional screens for a while in part of their lineup.
... JD Hurst

You'll have your wish in terms of proline vs. consumer line. The pro line will keep the current staple of "Think" products including ThinkPad laptops and ThinkCenter desktop. A brand new consumer/small biz line called the 3000 series will be launched shortly.

[jdhurst]

Thanks for that. If I can get around Digital Rights Management and Evil vendors who think I belong to them, then my next laptop may:
1. Have a traditional black case and square corners
2. Sport Windows Vista
3. Sport Office 2007
4. Have a 200Gb or greater hard drive at 7200 rpm or faster
5. Have greater than 4 Gb of ram to support multiple machines.

... JD Hurst