Thinkpads Forum

chx1975 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 24, 2017 6:01 pm

That doesn't sound plausible. It wouldn't have taken two plus years to bring the old keyboard keyboard back for a chance of profit. Merely adding back the old keyboard and charging a 300 bonus for a modified palmrest and a keyboard which they need to keep producing anyways because corporate customers might want parts is not an earth shattering decision and I would've been happy to buy it.

You're partially correct. It wouldn't have taken two years for the route that you're describing. However...

Whoever ends up buying this system will be paying - IMO, since I have no actual facts to share - a *lot* more than a simple $300 upcharge for a 7-row keyboard, with the explanation of "well, we've worked hard on this for two years, you know, so yes, it's got to be on the more costly side...and it's an Anniversary model so..."

I'd love to be wrong on that one. Seriously.

But the winter will continue and our stocks now will need to last another five years if not more. I will stock up accordingly.

That's a very valid point. No questions asked. My own decision is going to be based on what the actual product ends up being.

Ibthink wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 24, 2017 10:16 am

not saying this is not Lenovos fault, but the key problem is that normal ThinkPads don´t target individual buyers, at all. Individual buyers are just the bonus. They target corporate.

So the corporate customers specifically asked to change 7-row keyboard to 6-row one, otherwise they'll stop buying ThinkPads ? I don't think so, it was just Lenovo attempt to create more generic laptops and change something (without thinking about that, of course). And we know that those who decide what laptop brand to buy actually never use the laptop after that.

I would expect an article explaining why the 6-row keyboard layout is better than the 7-row one. Remember that ? Probably no longer possible in Lenovo Logical and technical arguments supporting the change: Now that the product has officially announced, I can share a lot more of the research methodology and creative thinking that drove the changes to the keyboard

What research methodology has led to the 6-row layout, especially the navigation keys cluster split over opposite sides of the keyboard, is a mystery for me. The think part of the design process has gone.