Thinkpads Forum

After reading on somewhere that the new lineup of Thinkpads is set to be released in January 2010, I've decided it might be time to upgrade finally. I'm not sure if anyone here has any information on the new models (and is allowed to talk about it), but here are a few things that I would like to see happen with the new refresh.

T410/T510
- Is centering the friggin LCD panel (ala 400S) too much to hope for? My T40p isn't exactly centered, but its not as obnoxiously off whack as the current T400/500 series panels.
- Core i7 Quad option would be nice (and is expected from what I can tell)
- 14.1" WSXGA+ option (I like me some high res panels)
- Same HDD options across both lines would be nice (How come I you can order a 500GB 7200 RPM drive with the current T400, but not the T500? A > 128GB SSD option would be nice as well.
- Radeon 4000 series graphics? (5000 would be nice, but I don't think AMD has released them yet)
- I haven't personally tried a current T400 keyboard, but I would hope Lenovo could at least include something close to the T40 keyboard I know and love.

T410s
- WSXGA+ LCD Panel Option? (Don't know if 14.1 WSXGA+ panels exist or not... especially LED backlit ones)
- Discrete graphics are my biggest hope. I really want a T400S, but the reviews of the Intel MHD4500 chip are scaring me away.
- Twin Thinklights (w00t) I actually prefer the thinklight to backlit keys, as I find myself constantly using the spillover from my thinklight for other things like reading papers, or calculator screens.
- 7200 RPM HDD option would be nice
- Faster CPU's are probably in the mix... don't know if a low end Quad core is too much to hope for though.
- Similar price points to current T400s Series

how about the impossible?
1) flexview
2) 4:3
3) original thinkpad keyboard

I too need to replace an old Thinkpad (T41). My preferences are the same as Matt's.

mattbiernat wrote:how about the impossible?
1) flexview
2) 4:3
3) original thinkpad keyboard

And options of a 128 GB, 180 GB, and 256 GB SSD--this I expect should mostly be available. Oh, and six hours of battery life.

phaxmohdem wrote:- Is centering the friggin LCD panel (ala 400S) too much to hope for?

No. It will happen. I think we've seen some leaked pics on the forum that pointed to it.

phaxmohdem wrote: - Core i7 Quad option would be nice (and is expected from what I can tell)

Indeed. Maybe not on the super-slim T410s, but should be available on the T410/T510.

phaxmohdem wrote:- 14.1" WSXGA+ option (I like me some high res panels)

Doubtful. No such panels have existed to date.

phaxmohdem wrote: - Same HDD options across both lines would be nice

Indeed. I feel a bit uncomfortable with the fact that 1.8" drives are used in the T400s.

phaxmohdem wrote:- I haven't personally tried a current T400 keyboard, but I would hope Lenovo could at least include something close to the T40 keyboard I know and love.

Unfortunately, it looks like the new keyboard layout with the big Esc/Del keys is a done deal, and will be the standard on all Thinkpads for a few years at least.

phaxmohdem wrote:- Discrete graphics are my biggest hope. I really want a T400S, but the reviews of the Intel MHD4500 chip are scaring me away.

Probably no discrete graphics. Don't forget that the T400s is actually an "X series"-style model, and the name was chosen merely from a marketing perspective. But integrated is just fine for anything not 3D-intensive.

phaxmohdem wrote:- Faster CPU's are probably in the mix...

The CPUs will always be getting faster and faster. Intel/AMD take care of that for the computer manufacturers. For that matter, the cool thing about the T400s was that it was already using standard voltage CPUs, albeit in smaller BGA packages, and not the slower low-voltage ones, a la it's smaller sibling the X300/X301. I expect this trend to continue.

Display with contrast ratio at least 450:1 and more than zero viewing angle. That's what cheapest netbook on the market gets.

It's amazing that I have similar "problem" and requirements: I have t43 with flexview 1400x1050 display that I love and frankly there was nothing in last couple of years that I want to buy.

I'm hoping t410s will match up to my expectations, otherwise I might stay with t43.

PS: I do hope t410s will have a flexview like screen and the extension bay that will fit a Hard Drive. Currently 99% of time I have extra HDD plugged into the bay. With a smaller primary SSD which makes sense for the OS, I do want a larger HDD in the system (not hanging out on a USB cable)

san40k wrote:PS: I do hope t410s will have a flexview like screen

There is no reason to hope. It is not going to happen. The laptop LCD industry has clearly been going the opposite way for a few years now, and until there is a definite trend change, quality screens will not be available on any laptop.

With that said, even with TN screen, you can have products better than total crap. Which is what some people have been wishing to see from Lenovo for quite a while now...

Someday I must buy a Flexview model from eBay, just to see what I've missed. I'm a 10-year Thinkpad user, but never have owned, nor seen, a Flexview model. That whole revolution came and went while I wasn't looking.

dr_st wrote:There is no reason to hope. It is not going to happen...

Well, that's very unfortunate.. Do I have to wait till OLED laptops come out:))

BTW, here is how I found this thread, via google alert for:
thinkpad AND WSXGA+ AND (LED OR IPS OR flexview) -ebay

If Lenovo searches this exact string - it will find that a lot of people asking questions and looking for a better (rather Best) screen in different forums and blogs. I'm still hoping to see lenovo.com in these results one day with an option for me.

san40k wrote:If Lenovo searches this exact string - it will find that a lot of people....

For a mass market products, its a very long way from "a lot" of people!

Cheers,

Bill B.

It's no longer speculation, anyone has details on the matrix used in t510:
15.6” FHD 1920 x 1080, 16:9 aspect ratio,
antiglare, 280 nit,
95% color gamut

PS: t510 is huge compared to t410/t140s, but this screen is something new (at least to me)

Based on all I've seen, the FHD screen will only be available on the W510. T510 will max out at HD+, which is less than the WSXGA+ available on T500 and earlier 15" wide models.

dr_st wrote:Based on all I've seen, the FHD screen will only be available on the W510. T510 will max out at HD+, which is less than the WSXGA+ available on T500 and earlier 15" wide models.

FHD is available for T510 also (with discrete graphics):
At least at shop.lenovo.com.

Admin Message: Since the new models are now out in the market, this discussion is now closed.