Thinkpads Forum

Since it's common knowledge that the industry is sadly adopting the widescreen format as the standard, is it safe to assume that the 4:3 T61 will be the last edition of the 4:3 regular screen aspect Thinkpad? Or is there such a demand for 4:3 aspect that Lenovo will keep the option available on later models but at a drastic, and i mean drastic, increase in price?

The trend is definitely not looking good. Demand and supply for 14.1" 4:3 SXGA+ LCD panels are decreasing. I think it's just a matter of time for it to follow 15" UXGA fate when Lenovo decides that the supply chain is not reliable.

I think there will be adequate demand from a number of corporate customers that have standardized on 4:3 and need it. So the format is unlikely to disappear this year, at least, I think. I know that IBM is purchasing a pile of 14.1 SXGA+ thinkpads. There's an order of 100,000+ laptops all with the same custom config (ie., 14.1" SXGA+, XPP, T7100, 1gb RAM, 60gb 7200rpm HD, thinkpad 11abg, DVD+-RW, X3100, 9-cell). This could delay individual orders because I'd imagine that Lenovo will prioritize fulfilling the huge IBM order.

Going forward, however, even Vista itself seems to assume the use of a widescreen display. The future, as has been dictated by hardware manufacturers and MS, is a widescreen future. Three years from now, or perhaps even as soon as a year from now, I doubt we'll see any *new* machines shipping with 4:3 displays.

I think a year is too soon -- product cycles take time, and the panel production hasn't fully switched over yet. I do expect to see some 4:3 product introductions in 2008 yet, although it'll surely be overwhelmingly 8:5.

P.S. Vista does still include more 4:3 wallpapers than 8:5 ones ...