Thinkpads Forum

If it is then wtf is the point of the Z?

If I believe the Z series also feature the multicard reader (SD, MS, CF), and have the speakers disposed at the sides of the keyboard.

Don't know about any other significant features between T & Z Series

devilsrejection wrote:If it is then wtf is the point of the Z?

i don't see the point of widescreen T series either. it will make T6x partially multimedia notebook and partially buisness notebook.

Got any links to articles or any info

What is the point of the Z series indeed - there is none, there should never have been a new model for widescreen given the way the market is moving, the Z series doesn't have much of a future.

snife wrote:What is the point of the Z series indeed - there is none, there should never have been a new model for widescreen given the way the market is moving, the Z series doesn't have much of a future.

well i guess widescreen is going to become a standard (it already is i guess...), that way T series will be a buisness notebook and Z series will have all the other futures of multimedia notebook added to it.

and hopefully they'll have a high end graphics card in the Z series

All thinkpads looks similiar, yet they have some very minor chnages to adjsut to a particular market segment. Z series HAD a mid range consumer graphics card x600, when the T series only had the x300. If they come out with a z62 having something like an x1600 with an s video port that could be enough of a change from the T series which only has less powerfull x1400, not counting the business workstation card.

Why does everyone think that wide screen equals multimedia. I have had wide screen displays on desktops since NT4 so that I can have more screen space. I'm not watching movies I'm working with a lot of documents and the extra screen space at a comparable resolution is always welcome. I personally will ONLY buy a "business" laptop and if the T comes in wide screen with 1920x1200 resolution that is what I will buy to replace my A31p that has a 15" screen with 1600x1200 resolution.

Eventually, all of the portable systems will be widescreens. Next year during the year....

I purchased a Z60m and I can testify that this thing is a monster compared to a T-series. They may share a common internal chassis design and motherboard but by removing the advanced materials in the case the Z had to be made a lot thicker and heavier. Despite platform commonalities, the Z is *not* a widescreen T-series.

-darren

darrenf wrote:I purchased a Z60m and I can testify that this thing is a monster compared to a T-series. They may share a common internal chassis design and motherboard but by removing the advanced materials in the case the Z had to be made a lot thicker and heavier. Despite platform commonalities, the Z is *not* a widescreen T-series.

-darren

I almost went with the Z, but after what you said I'm glad I'm waiting for the Widescreen T.

I hope, then, that I'm not exagerating the diffrerence in bulk. I should caveat that I find the 15" T-series to be wastefully large as well. Still, if forced to choose I would much rather carry a 15" T-series than a 15"(wide) Z-series (and the former has more screen real estate as well).

-darren

I could care less about size and weight after all I've been lugging around a 7.7 lbs A31P for 4 years now... Although I'm not carrying around that Dell monstrosity with the 20" screen. I want the BEST overall quality and components and I have always received that from all the ThinkPad’s that I have owned. The T being the top model, I'm going to wait for the Merom and hopefully a widescreen. My partner has had 5 Toshiba and Dell Laptops(which all had screen and HD problems) in the 5 years we’ve been in business and I have had this one A31P…. The only thing I’ve done is replace the HD with a 7200 Travelstar in 2003. The only reason its getting replaced is due to the technology such as dual core, USB 2.0, better graphics cards, and ability to support more RAM…

Also a two pound weight reduction would be nice thing to do for my shoulder.

darrenf wrote:I purchased a Z60m and I can testify that this thing is a monster compared to a T-series.

I disagree.

I have both a Z60m and T60. I would not call the Z a monster as compared to the T. And mind you I'm a die hard T series lover. I have used every model of T series ThinkPads since they were first introduced. I continute to use the T series as my main computer.

The reason I purchased the Z sight unseen is I simply wanted to try a widescreen and my brand of choice is ThinkPad. That said, it's really important to remember that these are two completely different computers positioned for different market segments.

My impression is the good job they did in designing the Z series and to appreciate the good build quality and that it is indeed worthy of the ThinkPad name.

In addition I find that this computer only appears "visually" larger than it truly is. Yes, it's certainly larger than a T series but compared to the other competitors 15.4" widescreens it's not oversized whatsoever. I had low expectations of it before I actually received mine and when I did get my hands on it I was very impressed that it's less than a pound heavier than my 15" T60.

Here are the exact measurements:
T60 13.2 x 10.6 x 1.4
Z60m 14.1 x 10.3. x 1.6
Hardly monsterous by comparison.

The first widescreen T will be 15.4". The smaller 14" T will come next year.

The current t60 4x3 models will be around til about the middle of next year, with some exceptions as intel retires some processors.

If you want a good, 14" widescreen today, the Z61t is very good.

15" plus is what I'm looking for so I'm happy those will be here this year.

Well it is actually a good move on Lenovo's part. I have been a TP user since the T20 and am now on my third personal unit and support several T4x series.

HP has the NW Mobile Workstation and Dell has the M65 Mobile Workstation both of which are higher end versions of the NC and Latitude respectively.

The Z series will be the mainstream widescreen laptop and the T series widescreen will compete with the Mobile Workstations.

I am looking forward to it and am hoping for a 15.4" WUXGA or WSXGA+ that keeps the 1" thin T series form factor.

mattbiernat wrote:

devilsrejection wrote:If it is then wtf is the point of the Z?

i don't see the point of widescreen T series either. it will make T6x partially multimedia notebook and partially buisness notebook.

You do realise that having a widescreen doesn't mean you *have* to use it for media.

gearguy wrote:You do realise that having a widescreen doesn't mean you *have* to use it for media.

No, but you still have to hold it, carry it, fit it into an existing bag or buy a new one, make room for it on a crowded desk/seatback table, make do with a smaller palmrest, etc. It's like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Some of us out here think the current T series' form factor is just right.

nonny wrote:It's like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Some of us out here think the current T series' form factor is just right.

Mmmmmmmmmmm.

You're not supposed to type with your palms rested, professional typists are trained to type with their hands gliding over the keyboard without resting on it as it causes less wrist strain. ;p

gearguy wrote:You're not supposed to type with your palms rested, professional typists are trained to type with their hands gliding over the keyboard without resting on it as it causes less wrist strain. ;p

Perhaps for a professional typist like a secretary typing 60 wpm that is true, but much of what I do is browsing the internet. Only a little typing involved. Mostly just using the TrackPoint. As a consequence, "I Want My Maypo!" (palmrest).

Virulent ad campaigns aside, different people have different typing styles. There is actually alot of variation when it comes to the palmrest bevels on Thinkpads for primarily this reason. The 701c I have will *force you* to actually type in the arched-hand form because it simply doesn't have much of a palmrest to begin with. The 600s had a larger area to place your hands but had a fairly steep drop-off near the end. The T4X Series has a beveled drop off, which is primarily for the screen lid frame and elevates the pamrest somewhat. Then the latest T60s have a more smoothly sloping bevel for the palmrest. I have asked users about what they like better and it is pretty much a toss up depending on how one types.

They should, however, keep the 4:3 ratio option open for the T Series as that is a very good aspect ratio for general use purposes.