Thinkpads Forum

It is unknown when Lenovo will be releasing the 'retro' thinkpad (if it even gets the approval). Expect at least 1 year, probably 1.5 - 2 years.

Not sure where you are hearing the rumor from, or getting this number?

brchan wrote:Why not keep the X220 after the warranty expires? They are fine machines and should still be relavant for years. You also get to keep the classic keyboard, which is a deal breaker for many.

Of course but not as the only/main machine. I need something up-to-date that is under warranty because I use it for my work. You are right the retro machine likely won't be available by April 2016

Yeah, don't even consider a 'Classic Thinkpad' at this point, it might just as well never be made.

It will be made. Rumors about it being not made are baseless.

This is a passion project of David Hill.

I spoke to David and Luis about the project, they said they haven't finished analysing and doing the necessary business case behind the option variations.

Once they have anything more concrete to present, David will present the conclusive finding in a blog post.

Thank you for the update, Lead.

Everybody and his dog in laptopland is releasing tablet / laptop hybrids with nice screens, like the Surface Pro 3 from Microsoft with it's 12" 2160x1440 (3:2), but Lenovo needs to build a business case for forever..

What is it about laptops and tablets that you have to choose between either a good screen or a good keyboard?

lead_org wrote:I spoke to David and Luis about the project, they said they haven't finished analysing and doing the necessary business case behind the option variations.

Once they have anything more concrete to present, David will present the conclusive finding in a blog post.

We're all very excited about this project, despite grumbling.

I am anyway. Cautiously optimistic.

I've just went back to an X301. If I get to replace it with a modern machine with a similar design, I'll be happy. I look forward to hearing what David's plans are.

Lenovo has announced a 3:2 12inch tablet (2160 x 1440). Things are looking up for 3:2.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ann ... 851.0.html

exTPfan wrote:Lenovo has announced a 3:2 12inch tablet (2160 x 1440). Things are looking up for 3:2.

Tablet screens have certainly been getting squarer, e.g. Samsung's recently released Tab S2 models are both 4:3, versus the 16:10 aspect of their predecessors. But aside from the Google Pixel Chromebooks (2013 and 2015 iterations), I still haven't seen any 3:2 laptops in recent years. The "Classic Thinkpad" survey also seems to have completely ruled out 3:2.

pianowizard wrote: I still haven't seen any 3:2 laptops in recent years. The "Classic Thinkpad" survey also seems to have completely ruled out 3:2.

I suspect this might be a deliberate interpretation on their part. They didn't release the results, but I'd put some money on 4:3 and 3:2 together having at least as much preference as 16:10

Nigellus wrote: I suspect this might be a deliberate interpretation on their part. They didn't release the results, but I'd put some money on 4:3 and 3:2 together having at least as much preference as 16:10

That would be my presumption as well. Not that it matters...

IMO for 3:2 in a laptop, you need to find the right overall size, so that it harmonizes with the width of the full sized classic keyboard.
In a sub-notebook, I think, the classic keyboard would determine the width, about which you don't have to care in a tablet without keyboard.

For the 15-inch-class of laptops I still prefer the proven 4:3 aspect ratio, as it used to be in the trusted T43p.

You don't have to find anything. They didn't "find the right size" with 16:9 either; most laptops have a huge amount of plastic under and above the screen

jcvjcvjcvjcv wrote:What is it about laptops and tablets that you have to choose between either a good screen or a good keyboard?

Price point/market segment/Does it qualify for Intel Ultrabook subsidy.

I've been thinking a lot about this Retro ThinkPad. First, we should all keep in mind that it will be a Lenovo ThinkPad (if it happens at all), not an IBM ThinkPad. I'd love it if they got back to the old IBM quality but we're living in a different world now.

I come at this from the perspective of a life-long Mac user who has had a long standing fascination with ThinkPads. I've never been a fan of Windows but Win7 turned out to be pretty good. Very different of course than Mac OSX, but tolerable even for a Maclot like me. Windows 8 was a horror show IMHO but Win10 is looking decent.

One of the biggest controversies I've noticed so far with Lenovo's takeover of the ThinkPad line is the keyboard. As a MacBook Air owner I'm used to the new style keyboard. I even like it! I'm also not very passionate about screen aspect ratios so a 3:2 screen is not really important to me. I'm now thinking I'm less interested in a Retro ThinkPad and more interested in either a nice X250 or X1 Carbon, provided it can use 16GB RAM modules.

Problem is X1 and X250 have soldered RAM. I know 1st gen X1 with 8GB exists, so 3d gen X1 with 16 might also exist. X250 has one slot and one module soldered, might be OK to put 16GB module in.

Gen 1 X1 with good trackpoint buttons (not slab pad) 8G and i7 can be had for about 830€.

Utwig wrote:Problem is X1 and X250 have soldered RAM. I know 1st gen X1 with 8GB exists, so 3d gen X1 with 16 might also exist. X250 has one slot and one module soldered, might be OK to put 16GB module in.

X250 does not have soldered RAM. It has one slot, so 16 GB is the maximum.

X1 Carbon 3rd Gen with 16 GB RAM should be available soon as far as I know.

Ibthink wrote:

Utwig wrote:Problem is X1 and X250 have soldered RAM. I know 1st gen X1 with 8GB exists, so 3d gen X1 with 16 might also exist. X250 has one slot and one module soldered, might be OK to put 16GB module in.

X250 does not have soldered RAM. It has one slot, so 16 GB is the maximum.

X1 Carbon 3rd Gen with 16 GB RAM should be available soon as far as I know.

I've read discussions in which X250 owners were happily using 16GB of RAM. The problem is the price of the modules. $250-$300 or more??!! Yikes!!

As for the X1 Carbons, I have yet to see one with 16GB of RAM. I thought the next (4th) generation would have the option but it's not out yet. Should be soon though - another month or two.

rambo47 wrote:The problem is the price of the modules. $250-$300 or more

You can get a 16GB DDR3L SODIMM module for $179.99 or $205.99:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16GB-1x16GB-PC3 ... 4aef282fed
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct204864bf160b

rambo47 wrote:As for the X1 Carbons, I have yet to see one with 16GB of RAM.

Just have a look at http://psref.lenovo.com/Product/159 ...

You can already configure it with 16GB RAM here: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/th ... x1-carbon/

fb1996 wrote: You can already configure it with 16GB RAM here: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/th ... x1-carbon/

Schnikeys!! I didn't see that before. I guess I didn't start with the top model. The lower models don't have the 16GB option but the Core i7 model offers it. Nice!! I can't wait for the version with the

fb1996 wrote: You can already configure it with 16GB RAM here: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/th ... x1-carbon/

Schnikeys!! I didn't see that before. I guess I didn't start with the top model. The lower models don't have the 16GB option but the Core i7 model offers it. Nice!! I can't wait for the version with the Skylake processor. Of course I may not be able to wait...

the project has been made public 2 months ago.

any recent news?

thanks!

bgx wrote:the project has been made public 2 months ago.

any recent news?

thanks!

At last report, they were still collating the data they had received from surveys.

David Hill's Retro ThinkPad blog page at Lenovo was last updated on August 17th: http://blog.lenovo.com/en/blog/retro-th ... -to-think/

It's been a bit longer. Anything new happening?

I seriously prefer them to add the 7-row keyboard and ThinkLights as options in the mainline ThinkPads rather create a separate "retro" branch. To me, the fact that they are thinking of making a one-off laptop with features that they call "retro" is no cause for celebration because it means Lenovo does not understand that those features are preferred because many people are more productive with them then the newer minimalist replacements. Plus to be honest, I still can't see any convincing evidence of their seriousness in even pursuing this in the first place.

Might be an internal struggle within Lenovo and perhaps this is just the way to get anything at all

Jtf wrote:I seriously prefer them to add the 7-row keyboard and ThinkLights as options in the mainline ThinkPads rather create a separate "retro" branch.

plus, a taller screen, preferably 3:2 or 4:3

Jtf wrote:To me, the fact that they are thinking of making a one-off laptop with features that they call "retro" is no cause for celebration because it means Lenovo does not understand those features are preferred because many people are more productive will them then the newer minimalist replacements.

+1

There would be a massive internal struggle within Lenovo IMO. David Hill would be telling the Design Department that he wants them to undo a significant portion of their innovation amassed over the past four to ten years.
Couple this with referring to the Bean Counters to check logistics of actually pulling this off and this has a long way to go before they can proceed.