Thinkpad with 13.3 LCD, Optical Drive and Great Graphics

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snife · #31 Post by **snife** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:42 am

As much as i don't really use an optical drive much on my own machine these days, i still like to have the option with me if i'm travelling so end up taking my ultrabase or USB drive if i'm using an X series.

'If' a 13" model with optical drive is launched, its very unlikely to have discrete graphics as the power/heat these produce generally go against the main needs (battery life/system size) that most people want from such a machine.

#32 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:44 pm

qviri wrote:I wouldn't buy such a laptop, but I don't really care if it gets introduced as long as it doesn't precipitate the discontinuation or decreased development of type of laptops I am interested in.

Exactly. That was my big issue with the poll ... is this a suggested replacement for an existing ThinkPad series? T or X series? Or a completely new series to fit between the two? What are the rest of us going to lose out on if such a model is introduced?

pianowizard · #33 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:54 pm

tomh009 wrote:Or a completely new series to fit between the two?

I believe this is the case, to fill in the gap between the ~3lb X-series and the 5-to-6lb T-series.

#34 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:06 pm

If it were to complement the existing T and X series -- leaving those options for those who prefer them -- then a fourth series (now that the Z series has disappeared) would have my support. Don't know that I would choose it personally, but I would support its introduction nevertheless.

But as snife said, it'd pretty unlikely to have discrete graphics if it's otherwise as discussed in this thread.

snife · #35 Post by **snife** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:14 pm

Theres no way it will be 4:3 either - any new series that are introduced from now on will be widescreen, and its only a question of how long T and X can grip onto 4:3. I don't like it but 4:3 will be non-existant on mainstream notebooks by 2009.

#36 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:34 pm

I agree. I fully expect my X61 will be my last 4:3 notebook -- whether I like it or not.

#37 Post by **Kyocera** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:45 pm

I chose the widescreen as right now I am using this model and having the optical drive IS a big deal for me as I need to load software for troubeshooting purposes on the spot at customer sites. I find that a lot of comaparisons are made with thinkpads as if they are MEANT to sit on desks and and act like desktops, for me they need to be rugged, light, and if I can read what is on the screen that works for me. If you need to have 14 open windows, do like the CAD guys do get an external monitor or two, a dock. To me thinkpads have always been about portablility, (the earlier models are evidence of that) ruggedness, and real actual work machines, less bling and more real down to earth work machines.

It would be great for me if they come out with an X series or a new line of TP's in that size range with the optical drive. FWIW i've never, ever watched a movie on any laptop, that does not make sense to me, theres TV and DVD players that plug into TVs.

snife · #38 Post by **snife** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:04 pm

Kyocera wrote:I chose the widescreen as right now I am using this model

I like an optical drive for similar reasons as and when needed but an X60s and USB Multiburner I think would take up less space than a V series (which is way thicker than it needs to be imho) and then you dont have to slum it without a trackpoint. The V series was certainly the nicest of the Lenovo 3000 (since we didn't get the Y series) but its still a long way off being a ThinkPad

syhead · #39 Post by **syhead** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:31 pm

I think this would be a great new addition. It should come as a new option for the X series. A X series notebook with 13.3" wide screen, and no compromise in terms of power (i.e., discrete GPU) would be great.

pianowizard · #40 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:36 pm

syhead wrote:A X series notebook with 13.3" wide screen

I think this 13.3" model with optical drive should be in a new series, and the X series should continue to be without an internal optical drive, and get even smaller (11.1" WXGA would be nice) and lighter so as to compete with other vendors' <2.5-lb laptops.

syhead wrote:40Gb ultra-clicking HDD

LOL!!!

wantathinkpad · #41 Post by **wantathinkpad** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:25 pm

A laptop this size would be ideal for me and many college students. I have a 14.1 T43 which is perfect because my laptop is my desktop at school. However, as I became more involved at school I spent less time in my dorm and more time on campus and in labs. The weight of my T43 was light enough.
However, a 13.3 in screen would be ideal considering my lifestyle s As a college student I do need my optical drive to install cds that come with books and burn cds or dvds. Also in college although you many not be a comp sci major, you learn and are expected to know more about installing things such as OS (in case you get a virus) or certain updates. I think someone mentioned it before but now a days more people know how to install more things from the optical drives and OS than ever before. If you are in academia undergraduate or professors you are regularly installing new information.

I know several schools include a thinkpad laptop in the tuition so the market would be good for a computer of that size. And there are several people who would need that optical drive.

Again this comes with the bias of being a mobile College student and already having a thinkpad.

#42 Post by **Kyocera** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:29 pm

snife wrote:but its still a long way off being a ThinkPad

You are correct sir, and it is hard to get used to no trackpoint, but it is dooable.

#43 Post by **tomh009** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:52 pm

Kyocera wrote:You are correct sir, and it is hard to get used to no trackpoint, but it is dooable.

Oooh, one shudders at the mere thought!

pianowizard · #44 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:06 pm

tomh009 wrote:Oooh, one shudders at the mere thought!

It's not that hard to get used to. I too used to prefer the trackpoint, but now I am using the touchpad >90% of the time. With the touchpad, I can move the pointer faster and with less effort.

#45 Post by **Kyocera** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:09 pm

I know tom, like ryengineer said a while back about always poking a finger between the g,h,b keys on a lappie with no track point

, it's kind of funny though, after a while.

mattbiernat · #46 Post by **mattbiernat** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:19 pm

i personally don't like the 13.3 size. mainly because it is too small to be usable for regular desktop laptop and too big for ultra portable. but im sure many people here would benefit.

#47 Post by **tomh009** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:55 pm

pianowizard wrote:It's not that hard to get used to. I too used to prefer the trackpoint, but now I am using the touchpad >90% of the time. With the touchpad, I can move the pointer faster and with less effort.

Personal preference aside, you do have to move your hand off the keyboard -- unless you are using the touchpad with your thumb?

pianowizard · #48 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:05 pm

tomh009 wrote:Personal preference aside, you do have to move your hand off the keyboard

I do waste a few hundred milliseconds each time I move my hand to or from the touchpad, but I more than make up for that by being able to move the pointer faster.

#49 Post by **tomh009** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:13 pm

But you have the fast piano-playing hands, most of us do not!

pianowizard · #50 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:22 pm

Indeed, when my right hand moves from the touchpad to the keyboard, the index finger can find its way back to the "J" key pretty fast.

hutty2000 · #51 Post by **hutty2000** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:24 am

snife wrote:Theres no way it will be 4:3 either - any new series that are introduced from now on will be widescreen, and its only a question of how long T and X can grip onto 4:3. I don't like it but 4:3 will be non-existant on mainstream notebooks by 2009.

Snife, I do not know where did you get this information. But if it is be the case, it will be disappoint lots of thinkpadders.
For me, I'd like to have a 13.3" LCD New thinkpad series (Could be M-Series) with a wide screen.
However, I think that Lenovo should keep using normal 4:3 screen on the 12" X-series and still have one normal 14.1 screen T-series. They can offer the wide screen T, but if they only offer the wide screen T-series, I believe that some thinkpads will turn to buy other brands.
For me, it is strange to see a 12" model using wide screen. Because even though wide screen offers wide angles, but the longth bomes shorter.

hutty2000 · #52 Post by **hutty2000** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:29 am

pianowizard wrote:
syhead wrote:A X series notebook with 13.3" wide screen
I think this 13.3" model with optical drive should be in a new series, and the X series should continue to be without an internal optical drive, and get even smaller (11.1" WXGA would be nice) and lighter so as to compete with other vendors' <2.5-lb laptops.

syhead wrote:40Gb ultra-clicking HDD
LOL!!!

Hi, Pianowizard. I only partly agree with your points. First, I agree that Lenovo should keep the current X and introduce a new 13.3" one.
However, I do not think that Lenovo should make the X even smaller. Some people do like 11.1 sony one (especially for some girls), but that is not for business use and thinkpad is for business.
If you go to the job fairs, lots of companys use T and X series, but I newer see that some company ordered 11.1 one for business use.

pianowizard · #53 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:11 am

hutty2000 wrote:Some people do like 11.1 sony one (especially for some girls)

I am a girly man.

hutty2000 wrote:but that is not for business use and thinkpad is for business.

That's just because the 11.1" Sony laptops don't look serious enoug. If there was a 11.1" Thinkpad, you'd start seeing them at job fairs. In fact, there used to be even smaller Thinkpads, such as the 240/240X and the S series (10.4" 4:3 aspect ratio).

#54 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:40 am

pianowizard wrote:If there was a 11.1" Thinkpad, you'd start seeing them at job fairs. In fact, there used to be even smaller Thinkpads, such as the 240/240X and the S series (10.4" 4:3 aspect ratio).

The S series was Japan only (where subnotebooks are the preferred form factor). A lovely design in its day, but essentially identical size to the X61s (which has a thinner screen surround around its larger screen), and relatively heavy at 3.25 lbs (with a 6-cell battery).

pianowizard · #55 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:50 am

tomh009 wrote:The S series was Japan only (where subnotebooks are the preferred form factor). A lovely design in its day, but essentially identical size to the X61s (which has a thinner screen surround around its larger screen), and relatively heavy at 3.25 lbs (with a 6-cell battery).

3.25 lb is still lighter than your favorite X31 LOL! The 240 was 2.95 lb and was widely available in the States. In terms of form factor, it was smaller than the X series, as shown in this photo (left to right: X40, X20 and 240).

But I brought up these models not because of their weight, but to illustrate to hutty2000 that sub-12" Thinkpads have been made. I don't believe that all business people prefer huge displays to small ones.

qviri · #56 Post by **qviri** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:03 am

You people must have a lot of free time.

pianowizard · #57 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:09 am

qviri wrote:You people must have a lot of free time.

Only people with lots of free time would come to this site and post.

#58 Post by **ryengineer** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:20 am

I voted D, it's the near-best choices that describes my preference.

#59 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:32 am

pianowizard wrote:3.25 lb is still lighter than your favorite X31 LOL!

My X31 has been a great system for the past three years, and I have no regrets at all about having chosen it (I don't change notebooks as often as you do). Certainly a bit heavier than the (unavailable) S30 or the (slow) X40, but it's been a very happy companion on my travels.

But all that said, I'm quite looking forward to the next few years with the 3.1-lb X61 (that's with an enhanced 4-cell).

hutty2000 · #60 Post by **hutty2000** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:34 am

pianowizard wrote:
tomh009 wrote:The S series was Japan only (where subnotebooks are the preferred form factor). A lovely design in its day, but essentially identical size to the X61s (which has a thinner screen surround around its larger screen), and relatively heavy at 3.25 lbs (with a 6-cell battery).
3.25 lb is still lighter than your favorite X31 LOL! The 240 was 2.95 lb and was widely available in the States. In terms of form factor, it was smaller than the X series, as shown in this photo (left to right: X40, X20 and 240).

But I brought up these models not because of their weight, but to illustrate to hutty2000 that sub-12" Thinkpads have been made. I don't believe that all business people prefer huge displays to small ones.

Did not you notice that IBM stopped producing the S-series?
If the 10.3" S-series were popular in the business world, I do not think that IBM would terminate that one.
Right?
So it is right that the sub-12" Thinkpads had been made, but not successful.

Thinkpad with 13.3 LCD, Optical Drive and Great Graphics

Thinkpad with 13.3 LCD,Great Graphics and Possibly Build-in DVD

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