Thinkpadders, do NOT Rejoice, WEEP and/or DESPAIR!

[QWERTY Andreas]

X300 or T60/T4x 14" Chassis (Cooler placement of the T60s).

My wishlist:

- Latest gen QuadCore CPU
- Old style keyboard
- Expresscard and/or thunderbolt
- 16:10 or 3:2 screen, max 14"
- OLD style hinges.
- Docking connector
- Ultrabay with HDD, DVD, Battery or maybe even dedicated GFX (Like the SLI ideapad)
- 4 DIMM sockets
- Changeable battery

[plympton]

i was excited until I realized it was just a design exercise. Yes, the keyboard became a product eventually, but if they don't have something out this Fall, why bother. *20 machines are dying and getting replaced already, and folks are holding out hope for something better with the button regression but it could be too late.

Once you leave, you won't come back...

[plympton]

X300 or T60/T4x 14" Chassis (Cooler placement of the T60s).

My wishlist:

- Latest gen QuadCore CPU
- Old style keyboard
- Expresscard and/or thunderbolt
- 16:10 or 3:2 screen, max 14"
- OLD style hinges.
- Docking connector
- Ultrabay with HDD, DVD, Battery or maybe even dedicated GFX (Like the SLI ideapad)
- 4 DIMM sockets
- Changeable battery

I could live with 2 DIMM sockets, but not 1. Also, could live without the ultrabay and have a msata or m.2 slot or 2 for spare SSD. 14" would be nice as long as not 16:9.

[theterminator93]

The Chinese Thinkpadders disliked the hinge style of this ThinkPad, everything else is okay. What are your thoughts?

I'm not a huge fan of hinges that rotate the screen backwards relative to the computer itself. E.G. if you're up against a wall and open the screen, the computer gets pushed forward. But it's not a showstopper, especially if we get the other "classic" features back.

[Norway Pad]

I noticed the hinge design too, which is the same as the 440s that's sitting next to my desk here. Initially I can't see how an old fashioned hinge mechanism could have worked with a lid that's this thin, but there might be a way around it.

For the logo, it was very colorful. I would have toned it down by letting two or three letters share the same color: THINKPAD

For the technical specifications, I trust that the best options that fits in the physical frame will be chosen. Docking port is a must, while a lack of Ultrabay won't be a deal breaker for me.

Otherwise I can to some extent say that I'm also disappointed that this announcement wasn't information about a model that was decided upon and was going into production. But I chose to be positive still. All in all it's a big thing that they even consider making this model, it's way better than nothing. Whether the RetroPad will never be more than a drawing or if it ever becomes real is an open question. I will surely do what I can to support it.

[600X]

Instead of complaining you guys should be delivering constructive feedback. It's up to you to make the retro ThinkPad whatever you want. Before the project can go forward, we need to show interest. Currently, the attitude doesn't seem very positive or even grateful.

If lenovo decides to go forward with this project, we can give feedback so that we get exactly what we want. If we want a 3:2 display, then let David know. Thus far, it's just a concept, anything could change at this point.

Show your support. If this project is successful, there might be further ones in future. Perhaps we might get a modern T60 next, or a modern A31p. However, before that can happen we need to make this work out.

[ajkula66]

Instead of complaining you guys should be delivering constructive feedback.

I guess that it really depends on how one defines "constructive feedback"...

It's up to you to make the retro ThinkPad whatever you want.

*This* is why this whole thing - may I be wrong with my presumption - is not going to get anywhere. Different people have different priorities. Apart from the classic keyboard, there's not going to be much that the folks will agree upon.

Before the project can go forward, we need to show interest.

Plenty of interest shown, judging by the blog...

Currently, the attitude doesn't seem very positive or even grateful.

I don't see why we should be grateful for an incredibly slim chance of getting back what was taken away from us - the keyboard layout - without a valid reason in the first place...

As for positive attitude, it's not easy to maintain one when we know who we're dealing with, and I'm not talking about Mr. Hill...

If lenovo decides to go forward with this project, we can give feedback so that we get exactly what we want. If we want a 3:2 display, then let David know. Thus far, it's just a concept, anything could change at this point.

If...

Show your support.

A lot of support already shown. What I'd like to know is how long will it take for Lenovo to say "yay" or "nay" to this whole concept...at some point it might just start looking like a carrot if not acted upon within a reasonable amount of time...

[exTPfan]

Lenovo doesn't have to go through all this rubbish --- all they have to do is make an X301 with a decent screen and new motherboard.

And no, Lenovo doesn't care what its users think; all it cares about are its users credit cards.

This blog post has made it seem even less likely that Lenovo will ever again produce a laptop with a tall screen.

[Saucey]

Still a concept but it can come.
Lenovo logo is a bit much comic sans for me, maybe Garamond would be better?

I agree with NorwayPad about the ThinkPad logo colors, would be much better, or if it would just be plain gray/blue would be fine too.

If it was only the 7 Row keyboard of the T40/T60 it would of been fabulous.
Well here's to hoping it might come!

[bit_twiddler]

Definitely a step in the right direction!

2 Thinklights is a nice idea, especially if they are each as bright as the ones on my T420.
And, somebody even remembered to put in a Caps Lock LED!

It's probably too thin to have an ultrabay, but if the bottom came off like an HP Zbook 14,
that would compensate to some extent.

One of the things that I like about the older Thinkpads (not so old to you old-timers) is the
way that the 2504 advanced dock had an ultrabay (removed in later docks for no explicable reason.)
And, ultrabays in old Thinkpads were removeable without having to invert the laptop.

Also, I would need 14" or larger. 16:10 is great for 14" or larger, but smaller screens need
4:3 (or possibly 3:2).

16:9 is definitely turning me off about the current line; most of my friends who are software developers
or managers have gone to Apple for this among other reasons. One of them is actually pretty high up
at HP and he carries his Macbook around.

I would use my W500 for everything if I could find a way to fit a motherboard in it that took a quad core
and 32G of RAM in it. Screen real estate is everything in software development (and probably you
Excel users feel the same way.) We don't watch TV on our laptops, we get our work done on them.

[theterminator93]

The positive response on the blog post is rather overwhelming. It seems like there are two crowds - one want an X series, the rest want a T or W series. If they ignore all that and DON'T make at least one like this, well...

I'm being optimistic about this though, as I'm very much looking forward to perhaps the possibility of being able to buy a classic style Sky Lake or even Cannonlake ThinkPad.

[lead_org]

if you look closely at the logo on the bezel of that rendering, you will notice T92.

Originally this idea was conceived as a T series with 4:3 screen, but apparently the IPS version of high resolution 4:3 are hard to get and very expensive. So the design was changed to resemble more of a X300 with more modern flair. There could be a poll coming up soon (not sure of exact time frame), which asks for your input on size, thickness, feature and pricing.

But this initiative is really driven by us as ThinkPadders, and show that Lenovo does listen to feedback of users (not just large enterprise users). So Lenovo is acting as both large and small company. Large in size, but small enough to listen (hopefully cater) to the needs of core ThinkPad loyalists.

This could be the start of a project that we thought would never happen many years ago, but might happen by the looks of the things.

So cheers to us the ThinkPadders, the people whom never give up on their dreams, no matter the odds.

[FryPpy]

My 2c only.
Yes i want 7 row keyboard and tall screen. So all this design is very pleasant to me.
But devil in details.

May be this is very fun to make this colorful ThinkPad logo. One day WV made Golf Harlequin. Now someone is trying to reproduce this design thng.
RGB logo have roots in the IBM and this is very bad idea to try to unify independent companies with their own logotypes.I thing this is NoGo for Lenovo in our days.

IMHO - some Lenovo design lines looks very good. Thinkpad logo with red dot above i, or square ultranav buttons, or metallic colored power and sound buttons on keyboard.

I like blue Enter key. But the time comes (T20 -> T30 transition) and running out (Tx20 -> Tx30 transition). I believe that keyboard customization is the key to stop this keyboard battle. It is possible to make different keyboards (6 row or 7 row \ with blue or black enter key...) in one line up of Thinkpads and make it possible to customers to choose which keyboard is desired.

Ultrabay. Yes this is very nice thing. And i love it. I think this is possible to make agreement between Lenovo and ODD manufacturers (Panasonic;) to rejuvenate their 7mm design and add sata port. But this is can be more expensive than total customer demand for this thing. Yes it can be possible to make ultrabay battery and 2nd hdd caddy. But it is cheap to do NOTHING.

Slimline design. Yes X30x is the first ultrabook Thinkpad - direct competitor for MBA those days. And it can be good try to make such Thinkpad in nowadays - Tx50 era (Broadwell CPUs with low TDP infested all Thinkpads). But i think the time is gone for this thinkpad. I hope Intel will never make such fault (big time gap between ULV and NV CPUs production date) with newer generations CPUs

I don't like to criticize the good initiatives. It is better to move some direction than stop and debate about direction to move. If some of this design lines we will see in x60 era of thinkpad it will be great.

[RealBlackStuff]

We should slap Lenovo around both ears with a T601 FrankenPad!
- T60 15" 4:3 casing
- T61 14.1" 4:3 Motherboard
- 2 RAM slots for 8GB (change maybe to 16GB)
- 7-row keyboard from T6x (change to T4x-like KB without those stupid Windows keys)
- 15" 4:3 screen, UXGA 1600x1200, IPS, LED-backlight (these were still produced in 2011)

[600X]

We anticipated 2 camps to arise: X301 and T60 fanatics. Both are probably the pinnacle of the class they represent and I think that ultimately, if this project is successful, we will see modern incarnations of both of these machines. I'm guessing the X301 will make the cut first though because, as lead_org has pointed out, 4:3 panels would be unbelievably expensive. I don't think the proposed panel (15" QXGA IPS) is in production at the moment, so Lenovo would have ask a company to design and produce such a panel. We already saw how expensive that can be with the X300 display. And that was quite a crappy TN as well, not a high-res IPS.

[rkawakami]

I'm currently browsing with my "new" T60p (15" SXGA+). It would be great to have something like this form factor, using up-to-date processors, memory and UXGA IPS screen. Although I probably won't buy one right away, in four or five years when something else comes out, they will probably be quite inexpensive. Of course that's assuming that several hundred thousands of them are made (economy of scale). On the flip side, if only a few thousand are made then they might be "collector's items" and therefore demand a high price even used.

[pianowizard]

While I haven't encountered any device with a 3:2 screen, I have to say that it looks like a good compromise between 16:10 and 4:3.

You haven't come across any 15.2" Apple PowerBook G4? That was 3:2. Right now, Microsoft's Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3 are also 3:2.

We anticipated 2 camps to arise: X301 and T60 fanatics.

I would prefer the X301, but with a 3:2 screen. Also, I don't want Lenovo to try too hard to make this Classic Thinkpad absurdly light and/or thin, because I want it to be strong and durable. For a 13.3-incher, around 3.0 lbs is very acceptable, like the X301. 1920x1280 should appeal to the most number of users. At 173.5 DPI, it's almost "retina" dense, but still low enough that just a little bit of scaling would make text easy to read. I don't want super high DPI screens that require extreme scaling.

[RealBlackStuff]

I don't think the proposed panel (15" QXGA IPS) is in production at the moment

I proposed UXGA...

[600X]

I don't think the proposed panel (15" QXGA IPS) is in production at the moment

I proposed UXGA...

Sorry, I should have specified that I meant the originally proposed display for the retro ThinkPad. These days, it's hard to market something that doesn't have a retina-like resolution, so although I'd be very happy about 1920x1280 myself, I don't see that happening. Still, 2560x1600 isn't too bad.

[brchan]

A good step in the direction. I would suggest the old style hinges seen on the T440p or T530 than the drop down hinges. They give it a much more retro look while also seeming to be more durable at the same time. I honestly don't care about the thickness, as long as the unit is not thicker than 1.5 inches (yes, really). Durability and reliability is far more important to me.

It would be nice to have 3:2 or even 4:3 displays back, even with the higher cost. The Toughbook CF 31, CF 19, and Getac B300 are the only laptops that I know of that are still being produced with 4:3 displays, but they also go for well over $3000.

[Temetka]

Oh mighty Cthulhu whose name brings such glorious madness in beauty:

Please let this happen. For the love/un-love of all that is holy/un-holy please let this happen.

[RMSMajestic]

HOPE from 51nb.com helped me quite a bit in this blog launch. The Chinese Thinkpadders disliked the hinge style of this ThinkPad, everything else is okay. What are your thoughts?

I absolutely hated those drop down hinges...... :/

And just saying, I'll not accept ULV processors on anything 14" or above!!!!!!!

[RMSMajestic]

I'm hoping for either one of these:

A X61s or X201s like 12" laptop with same or better expandability

A X301-like laptop with hardware performance and expandability compariable to sony vaio SVZ13

A T61 4:3 or T400 like laptop with replacable CPU and better screen, preferably with non-restricted MXM 3.0 type B graphics and the option to disable the intel GPU. Also preferably a dock similar to 2503 ultrabase

A T60p/ W500 like laptop with UXGA/WSXGA+ screen and similar characteristics as above

A W701ds like laptop with WUXGA+UXGA screen and better port layout design.


Must-requirements:
1. at least 16:10, preferably 4:3 screen
2. LED indicator as on T6x and T400
3. classic kbd layout!!chiclet is okay but classic layout!!
4. NO drop down hinge!
5. Thinklight
6. at lease 3 USBs

And I have $4.5k ready

[ajkula66]

Well, they've got 50K views and 570 mostly positive comments within a matter of 12 hours.

If Lenovo drops the ball on this one, no one in their right mind will trust them ever again.

[lead_org]

we will give you a chance to give input, once all the social media result is analysed and processed.

[RMSMajestic]

Well, they've got 50K views and 570 mostly positive comments within a matter of 12 hours.

If Lenovo drops the ball on this one, no one in their right mind will trust them ever again.

If the retro thinkpad ever comes out, most of the crazily modified machines in my signature will become worthless
Given 50k views and 570 comments within 12 hours, I'd better start selling them now

[ajkula66]

Given 50k views and 570 comments within 12 hours, I'd better start selling them now

I wouldn't be in such a rush...

[axur-delmeria]

Oh mighty Cthulhu whose name brings such glorious madness in beauty:

Friendly tip: worship Yog-sothoth instead.

And I have $4.5k ready

I don't know how many goats I have to sacrifice to get one if indeed it comes out.

Another thing a retro-thinkpad needs: a proper HMM (with teardown instructions for the Dock(s) and exhaustive FRU listing) and Technical Reference (I haven't seen one since the 600 came out).

[Sleepy664]

I miss the back/forward buttons and there is a space left for them anyway.

Also I'd like to see the ThinkPad logo in silver. And I don't like the Lenovo logo on a lid (which is something I don't like on my W520 either).

Otherwise I love it

[bit_twiddler]

Oh, and one more thing... Have NMB make your keyboards like they did in olden times,
with real tactile switches.