Article about advanced notebook design, interviewing Lenovo

[beeblebrox]

Quite interesting read in the Sydney herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/laptops--des ... 29440.html

A lot of folks asked for a white (!) Thinkpad, so the Titanium lid was introduced...

So, no Yoga Thinkpad, just for the museum. Too bad.

[dsigma6]

That yoga pad is so weird...yet I want one.

beeblebopplebeep

[epbrown]

I'm sorry, but to mention radical changes in laptop design and not once mention Sony's VAIO line smells of biased journalism. The first purple 505G, the C1 Picturebook, and the U50 were all attempts to tap into the "fashion-aware" segment of the laptop market starting a decade ago.

[dsigma6]

I'm sorry, but to mention radical changes in laptop design and not once mention Sony's VAIO line smells of biased journalism.

Hold your horses, Ahab.

First, this is a ThinkPad forum.

Second, it's a post about Lenovo.

Third, you exhibit the same bias that you claim was imposed to begin with.

[pianowizard]

First, this is a ThinkPad forum.

Second, it's a post about Lenovo.

But I thought that article was about laptops in general, no? Then I agree that it should mention Sony's innovative designs.

[epbrown]

Exactly - I was talking about the news article, not the post I expect a bias towards Thinkpads on this forum, but nothing in the welcome message mentioned needing blinders or never mentioning other brands. I'd say I''ve been pretty up front about liking VAIOs and Thinkpads.

Anyway, for the article to not mention the VAIO line while discussing many points exemplified by them (innovation, emulating Apple designs, and turning laptops into consumer fashion statements rather than work tools) struck me as a glaring omission. Especially when they talk a lot about Dells, which are pretty generic as far as laptops go.

[rleo25]

The article is interesting, and it talks about notebook design in general. I agree, they have forgotten Sony´s Vaio developments, and agree too that in this forum we are not blind, and would better have an eye on the other market players...

By the way to say that Mr. Arimasa Naitoh is considered the father of the Thinkpad is a huge mistake. Thinkpad was developed by a team of many people in IBM. The two most prominent japanese engineers who participated inthe early Thinkpad development days in USA and at the Yamato, Japan- laboratory, where: Koichi Higuchi and Toshiyuki Ikeda...

[rleo25]

ah! and... happy thanksgiving!

[beeblebrox]

As far as I know, Richard Sapper, the famous industrial designer was the main source of ThinkPad design.
I once had his Tizio designer desk lamp. Beautiful, stealth black and with a red dot to turn on the light.

BTW: Sapper is German, as is the Red-dot Design award society.

The article really neglects Sony Vaios, which I must admit are among the most beautiful and fascinating notebook designs. And to continue, the thinkpad design is getting a little old after 12 years. I know a lot of people who would buy Thinkpads immediately if they'd had a better looking design. Not everyone has a taste of an accountant or engineer.

In my opinion, Lenovo blew it completely with their Lenovo 3000 line. The Lenovoblogs.com tell a lot about their great ideas, then you see their newest product... a Dell Cheapbook, or is it a low-end Asus/Acer?
Instead of focussing on great features and exciting design to complement their ThinkPad line, they produce a generic me-too product. Just inspect those faky silver plastic hinges... yuck!

To add insult to injury, for a price of generic Lenovo 3000 I can get a comparable Thinkpad at a blow-out sale or seller week.

Sometimes I really wish to put a Thinkpad keyboard and motherboard on one of the exciting Vaios as a gift for the females in my life.

[epbrown]

While I like Sonys for their innovation, I like the plain black box Thinkpads as well. (Then again, 3/4ths of my family are accountants ). The design consistency isn't boring to me, and I like that people mistake my old Thinkpads for brand new ones. (I'm always explaining that my TransNote is not the latest thing).

[beeblebrox]

Lucky YOU !!!!

I always have to explain that my new ThinkPad is NOT the old clunker, that has been around for decades.

[Nigellus]

I always have to explain that my new ThinkPad is NOT the old clunker, that has been around for decades.

I was working on my 600E on Thanksgiving. This kid (I'm not sure if he counts as a cousin) came up and insulted my baby, saying she looked like an ancient piece of junk, and that I needed a modern one (mighty strong words from a child who neither owns, nor can afford a good laptop).

Of course, he did say something correct -- that she looked like one of the first laptops. Still, it bothered me a bit since my 600E can still fulfill all of my computing needs. Bottom line, if my house were burning down and I had to choose between my M500B1 Gateway (Pentium 4 with 1 GB RAM) and my TP 600E, I wouldn't even have to think; I'd grab my ThinkPad and run.

[epbrown]

Lucky YOU !!!!

I always have to explain that my new ThinkPad is NOT the old clunker, that has been around for decades.

Call me lucky in laptops, unlucky in love. I once had a date say, on seeing my Porsche 911: "Is that some new type of Volkswagen?"

[pianowizard]

I was working on my 600E on Thanksgiving. This kid (I'm not sure if he counts as a cousin) came up and insulted my baby, saying she looked like an ancient piece of junk

You know what, my mom said the exact same thing about my 600E when I brought it home three years ago. The strange thing is, she had seen no more than two other laptops in her lifetime. Somehow the 600 series just looks old. I am glad that the T43 and X22 that I own now look much newer.

[beeblebrox]

I know, I know... same with me. Thinkpad wins, but... could you imagine how many women I heard saying that they'd love to get a new Thinkpad if it ever were in a sexy color.. i.e. champagne, or perl white or whatever.

Thinkpad stealth black is definitely more nerd, sorry, engineering/accountant driven.

The Samsung X20 is very similar to the T40, but it sells really good in stores. A lot of women I know bought it for it nice colors.

Maybe I should get me a silver Samsung just some time, so that folks realize that I have a NEW Thinkpad when I go black again, and not the same old clunker that I started with (755C) a decade ago

[beeblebrox]

Lucky YOU !!!!

I always have to explain that my new ThinkPad is NOT the old clunker, that has been around for decades.

Call me lucky in laptops, unlucky in love. I once had a date say, on seeing my Porsche 911: "Is that some new type of Volkswagen?"

I guess you mean the Porsche 914 ?
Yes, it was a Volkswagen. But that model is decades old, maybe you should replace that old one.
But the Porsche 914 Karman is a very sweet car.

[Nigellus]

From the article (referring to the trendy new exteriors computers are being given):

Appealing or not, all are far from the boring beige boxes and bland looks that have typified personal computing for decades. But those dull days are over, according to some PC makers.

A few people I know bought iMacs solely based on how they looked. They did not know, or care how that computer's specs compared to others. It really, really bugs me when people need something to be an interesting color or bizarre shape for them to be excited about it. Bland colors are better for computers or telephones. That way they don't clash with anything.

I am working on a beige computer. Its beigeness does not bother me at all. It is a computer, and it does what I need it to do. That's all I ask. Oh, and that it not be some weird pastel that all the trendy, sophisticated fashonistas are telling us we need.

[Nigellus]

Somehow the 600 series just looks old.

Strangely, that was one of the things that appealed to me when I saw mine for the first time. She looked like my 755Cs, only slimmer.

[beeblebrox]

From the article (referring to the trendy new exteriors computers are being given):

Appealing or not, all are far from the boring beige boxes and bland looks that have typified personal computing for decades. But those dull days are over, according to some PC makers.

A few people I know bought iMacs solely based on how they looked. They did not know, or care how that computer's specs compared to others. It really, really bugs me when people need something to be an interesting color or bizarre shape for them to be excited about it. Bland colors are better for computers or telephones. That way they don't clash with anything.

I am working on a beige computer. Its beigeness does not bother me at all. It is a computer, and it does what I need it to do. That's all I ask. Oh, and that it not be some weird pastel that all the trendy, sophisticated fashonistas are telling us we need.

Of course, but that is the thinking of nerd, sorry, engineers (being one myself). Women and more fashion oriented folks regard notebooks as a lifestyle accessoire (it is a fact!). Black for notebooks has a very low WAF (woman acceptance factor).

A lot of people replied to Lenovo polls and asked for some sexy colors (winner was white, champagne, pearl white) and all Lenovo did was to put a grey titanium cover on the Thinkpad.

It is like marketing asking Dilbert to come up with some sexy product. Dilbert would respond " It is being used on Space Shuttles and missile silos, that makes it extremely sexy!"

NERDS!

[christopher_wolf]

Women and more fashion oriented folks regard notebooks as a lifestyle accessoire (it is a fact!). Black for notebooks has a very low WAF (woman acceptance factor).

That's stereotyping! You, obviously, have not the met the cream of the crop female engineering nerds...

[JHEM]

I guess you mean the Porsche 914?

No, Emanuel wrote 911 and he meant 911.

I can't picture Emanuel even owning a 914!

I'm still sad that I never got a chance to see him bombing aroung Chicago in his Roller, although my daughter apparently caught sight of him on several occasions while she lived there.

James

[tomh009]

I guess you mean the Porsche 914?

No, Emanuel wrote 911 and he meant 911.

I can't picture Emanuel even owning a 914!

Hey, let's not start bashing the 914 here! It may not have had the sexiest styling around, but there was much good in that car, as long as you weren't unfortunate enough to have one with a US-smog-reg-strangled engine ...

[JaneL]

Black for notebooks has a very low WAF (woman acceptance factor).

Ever hear about the little black dress that can go anywhere?

[JHEM]

Hey, let's not start bashing the 914 here!

No bashing, just a simple observation that most folks who own a 911 wouldn't also drive a 914, even a 914-6.

James

[tomh009]

Hey, let's not start bashing the 914 here!

No bashing, just a simple observation that most folks who own a 911 wouldn't also drive a 914, even a 914-6.

I'll agree to "most", yes.

[epbrown]

I guess you mean the Porsche 914 ?

Nope, 911. She thought it must be a VW, since the engine was in the back. And by the by, I'm too tall to fit in a 914. So far, the Porsches I've owned are the 911, 928, and 944. I'm considering the new M Roadster for next spring (I've got a "regular" Z4 now), but winter has me thinking of hardtops like the Cayman S. Saw a gorgeous black one outside my office today...

[RUSH2112]

Call me lucky in laptops, unlucky in love. I once had a date say, on seeing my Porsche 911: "Is that some new type of Volkswagen?"

Did you dump her on the spot? You DONT confuse a 911 with a VW. Period. What do you drive, a 996?

As for the 914's, if I recall correctly, they were marketed in Europe as VW's and the 914-4's used VW engines. I personally have some sort of lust for the 914's in their simplicity. I was a stone throw away from picking up a pair of them off craigslist for, get this, $1500. One good running car and one parts car. They sold before I could get them though. I might just bite the bullet and go for a 986. MY1999-2000 are sub-20k with low miles. My other option is a 99 911 Coupe for $30-35k, but that would require selling my ML500.

[JHEM]

As for the 914's, if I recall correctly, they were marketed in Europe as VW's and the 914-4's used VW engines.

The 914 used the same engine as the old VW 411s (Type 4) while the 914-6 used the same engine as the 911T.

Both cars were built by Karmann, with the 914 being finished and marketed in EU by VW, while the 914-6 went to Porsche for engines & running gear and were subsequently marketed as Porsches.

In the US and most other places both cars were badged and sold as Porsches. With a 911T selling for just a bit more than the 914-6 at the time they never sold very many of the variant, but the VW assembled and powered 914 was a top seller for the marque.

James

[tomh009]

As for the 914's, if I recall correctly, they were marketed in Europe as VW's and the 914-4's used VW engines.

The 914 used the same engine as the old VW 411s (Type 4) while the 914-6 used the same engine as the 911T.

Same engine block, but Porsche-tuned cylinder heads -- made a rather big difference, especially on the 2.0.

Boy, we have digressed just a little from "advanced notebook design"!

[beeblebrox]

The 914 used the same engine as the old VW 411s (Type 4) while the 914-6 used the same engine as the 911T.

Same engine block, but Porsche-tuned cylinder heads -- made a rather big difference, especially on the 2.0.

Boy, we have digressed just a little from "advanced notebook design"!

Actually, Porsche 911 and VW beetle were designed by Ferdinand Porsche. These, and the 914 were all based on the same design philosophy. The 911 and 914 look very similar (remember that the 911 has a decades old look).
The 911 is directly based on the VW beetle.

Anyways, there is a relation to Thinkpad designs here.
The Thinkpad design, like the Porsche 911, is from an ancient cretacious age and somehow still survived through evolutionary steps to todays products.

It once was in the Porsche Museum near Stuttgart, and the evolution from the very first 911 (with a split window, like the old beetles) to the newest 911 Turbo is iinteresting. One of my working colleagues drives a Carrera GT, costs as much as a nice appartment.

Although the cars are very different, still you see the old 911 shape in all of them.

BTW: Wendelin Widekind, the CEO of Porsche has accumulated a larger share in Volkswagon. Many Porsche parts are built by Volkswagon (e.g. the Cayenne and Touareg are almost identical). Porsche builds a lot of parts for Volkswagon as well. It is only not visible on the market.

However, even Porsches nowadays are available in colors other than black.
A friend of mine has a pure gray-silver R40 which is looking interesting. Unfortunately, Thinkpads in silver are only the pre-production notebooks before they finalize on the molds.
I guess, a pearl-champagne colored TP would look extremely interesting to women.