Breaking (?) news/rumor: Thinkpad W1!

[loyukfai]

ThinkPad I The Phantom Widescreens
ThinkPad II Attack of the 6-row Keyboard
ThinkPad III Revenge of the Irreplaceable Battery
ThinkPad IV A New Hope
...

Cheers.

[Cigarguy]

ThinkPad I The Phantom Widescreens
ThinkPad II Attack of the 6-row Keyboard
ThinkPad III Revenge of the Irreplaceable Battery
ThinkPad IV A New Hope
...

Cheers.

When is Return of the Thinkpad? You know classic keyboard, easily accesible and replaceable parts and IPS high res screens.

[Ole]

ThinkPad I The Phantom Widescreens
ThinkPad II Attack of the 6-row Keyboard
ThinkPad III Revenge of the Irreplaceable Battery
ThinkPad IV A New Hope
...

Cheers.

Lol'd.

Sadly we'll probably see Thinkpad V: The Lenovo Strikes Back before we get Thinkpad VI: The Return of the T43p.

[600X]

I'd prefer return of the T60, I find its chassis to be superior to that of the T40 series.

[Puppy]

I can't believe that. Looks like too much useful machine to be true these days. Still not sure about the keyboard layout, are there Home/End/PgUp/PgDn located right ? Looks like .30 models layout (no F keys groups)

[jdrou]

Having at least one flaw is the only thing that would give us hope that it might be real. If it were perfect no one would believe it.

[JonathanGennick]

This could be a huge win for Lenovo if it is true. They should push it out this year.

There are plenty of us who would value the increased screen height. Plus, that added height gives back room for real buttons.

I just had the company ship me a Macbook, in part due to the 16:10 ratio. A 3:2 machine would demand my consideration. Lenovo should push it out this summer. Now would be a good time.

Sent from my KFTHWI using Tapatalk

[600X]

Lenovo will not release it this year, unless you can convince Intel to release their next generation processors right now.

[JonathanGennick]

Lenovo will not release it this year, unless you can convince Intel to release their next generation processors right now.

Ah, that's too bad. It's good though, to see Lenovo thinking in this direction. That's presuming the image is not a fake.

[JonathanGennick]

Am watching the Surface Pro 3 launch. That device also uses a 3:2 ratio.

That's a nice development to see, and it'll help ensure supply for Lenevo.

[pianowizard]

Am watching the Surface Pro 3 launch. That device also uses a 3:2 ratio.

12.0" 2160x1440, and 1.8 lbs only. I didn't expect it be so much better than the Surface Pro 2. It's clearly the best "laptop replacement" tablet, and I think I am buying one!

[Ole]

Wow. I gotta say, with a bluetooth/usb thinkpad keyboard and some 3D-printed casing, this could well be my new ultraportable.

[JonathanGennick]

12.0" 2160x1440, and 1.8 lbs only. I didn't expect it be so much better than the Surface Pro 2. It's clearly the best "laptop replacement" tablet, and I think I am buying one!

I'm tempted, but also had been hoping that they were leading up to an actual laptop. Microsoft is dancing all around the laptop concept and trying really hard to produce one without actually producing one. Just look at all the trouble they went through to add the extra fold in the keyboard cover to grab hold of the tablet. Right? Forget the extra fold, and just give me a laptop with a hinge -- because I'd love a laptop w/that same level of build quality and design.

[pianowizard]

I'm tempted, but also had been hoping that they were leading up to an actual laptop. Microsoft is dancing all around the laptop concept and trying really hard to produce one without actually producing one. Just look at all the trouble they went through to add the extra fold in the keyboard cover to grab hold of the tablet. Right? Forget the extra fold, and just give me a laptop with a hinge -- because I'd love a laptop w/that same level of build quality and design.

The laptop market is too saturated and it would be really hard to stand out. If the Surface Pro 3 was a laptop, I would be far less enthusiastic about it. On the other hand, I wonder why Microsoft still doesn't offer a hinged keyboard like those used in convertible tablets. That would be an easy way to convert the Surface tablets into laptops.

[jdrou]

SP3 indeed is tempting. Unfortunately the high-end models won't be available for at least 3 months though. By then it will be tempting to hold out for the next CPU refresh.

[loyukfai]

The SP2 got a CPU refresh midway. Perhaps the SP3 will also...? Although it could be even nicer if MS found a way to go fanless with Broadwell.

Cheers.

[Medessec]

This is a topic about a rumored Thinkpad guys- not the world's best tablet computer. However-

Just look at all the trouble they went through to add the extra fold in the keyboard cover to grab hold of the tablet. Right? Forget the extra fold, and just give me a laptop with a hinge -- because I'd love a laptop w/that same level of build quality and design.

And then made it so the SP2's keyboard has actual keys with travel, instead of little pads that you tap to "type"? I know, but I think if the Surface Pro should be a laptop, it should be dockable, like those other tablets. And that's not particularly possible... the Pro's too thick and heavy. The flip-out bluetooth keyboard is the best MS can do for it. And making a whole different Surface Pro Ultrabook(laptop only) so they can redesign it would be cool... but too crazy an expensive in this modern market.

Although it could be even nicer if MS found a way to go fanless with Broadwell.

With the Pro, the way I look at it is- if they're thinking of making it fanless, they haven't tried hard enough to cram performance versus size in the Pro. Fanless is always a plus, and ANY other company WOULD do that (iPad never had a fan. In fact, the MacBook Air and most other Macs have very different cooling designs from conventional engineering, which led me to believe Apple has a much bigger goal of quietness and refinement rather than performance). The fact that MS is putting fans in their Pro tablet tells me they're going to crazy extents to give you the power you want in something that small. And that's just continuous proof that with Microsoft always knows what they're doing, with the exception of Windows 8 and Xbox ONE.(Which I would consider marketing ploys to stay alive as a business)

[Puppy]

Any news about that ? It is probably the only hope for a ThinkPad that can be used for work. Reading all the issues of .40 series it is clear the that quality is gone.

[bit_twiddler]

Who needs to go with Lenovo now when HP elitebooks are available.
Or, perhaps, one of these:

http://www.toshiba.com/us/press-release/101104

Of particular interest to me is the presence of usb 3.0 and esata!

[exTPfan]

Yet another 16:9 laptop with a mediocre keyboard --- there's a new one almost every day.

What makes the W1 rumor interesting is that it's 3:2.

[bit_twiddler]

3:2 would be nice, hopefully the rumor is true. It's a bigger deal in
a small (12" - 13") display than one with a larger diagonal dimension.
But, you have to wonder why so many companies went with 16:9;
perhaps they all had a death wish so that Apple could take over.

Ram soldered into the motherboard is not very exciting, either.

As for the keyboard, I'm probably going to be forced to upgrade from my
T420 sometime next year, and it's going to be tough to find a keyboard
which has as good a layout. Some unsung genius made the escape
and delete keys larger on the T420. He (or she) must have been
demoted or fired by now, and is probably making minimum wage
at a fast-food restaurant.

It would be nice if these big corporations remembered why people
like their products before they went about changing them.

[phaxmohdem]

Just had to log in briefly to express to any Lenovo reps who may be lurking this thread:

YES!!! Please for the love of all that's holy let these rumors be for real. I might actually start believing in (and paying for) the ThinkPad brand again.

I really feel like somebody within Lenovo has been getting paid under the table to throw the World Series and slowly sabotage the Thinkpad line over the last 5 or 6 years. Other than internal components everything else related to device usability has been sliding steadily down hill.

T40/T60 series = <3, Come back to me!!!
T400 = 16:10 WAY off center screen = lol wut... keyboard flex, WTF?
T410 = Keyboard layout change for no good reason, textured trackpad = teh suck, chronic BSODs/Heat problems, kinda bulky
T420 = swap-meet quality 16:9 screen introduced... Thanks Obama.
T430 = death of the beloved ThinkPad keyboard as we knew it
T440 = kinda sweet and modern looking, better screen options...but useless/clumsy clickpad, Keyboard F-keys jacked, lack of USB ports, incompatible with previous dock stations/power adapters

What I'm dreaming about now for an idyllic*50 series:
T450/T1 = 3:2 IPS screen @3200x2133, return to a sensible 7/8 row keyboard... NO GIMMICKY TOUCHBAR, Trackpoint with buttons, smooth trackpad that feels more like a Macbook's pad, 3+ USB ports, retain and improve upon the styling of the T440 series (make it look/feel less cheaply made)

What I'm expecting:
T450/T1 = Ditches the keyboard altogether in favor or tapping out Morse code on the clickpad, 21:9 monochrome TN display, single Thunderbolt port with USB/Network/Monitor breakout dongles, virtual trackpoint nub integrated into clickpad, no user accessible parts whatsoever

[exTPfan]

I agree with you, but the junk sells:
http://news.lenovo.com/article_display. ... le_id=1795

Concerning your expected T450/T1 --- well, you have expect some sacrifices to get it 2mm thick.

[Ole]

Breakout cable not included, but can be bought in the apple store, as it is identical to the one shipped with the new thinkbook air.

That said, I'm kinda hoping we'll see a change in their line-up strategy. Back to three thinkpads. W for workstation with leading specs, T for corporate all-round use, and heliX as a powerful tablet/run-around machine.

[pianowizard]

I agree with you, but the junk sells:
http://news.lenovo.com/article_display. ... le_id=1795

We don't know how much Lenovo is earning from Thinkpads versus non. While the X, T and W Thinkpads are no longer special among business-class laptops, many of Lenovo's consumer laptops seem quite competitive. Whenever I play with laptops at local stores, I am impressed more by non-Thinkpad Lenovos than by HP's or Dell's consumer-grade laptops: they look better, feel more solid, and offer better specs for the money. The non-flagship Thinkpads have improved tremendously as well. Thus, I suspect Lenovo's growth is due mainly to its consumer laptops, followed by the non-X/T/W Thinkpads.

Speaking of "special", before yesterday I had considered the current-generation X1 Carbon to be still quite special, but that had been based entirely on photos and specs. But I finally had a chance to try one yesterday and was thoroughly disappointed.

[Temetka]

Just had to log in briefly to express to any Lenovo reps who may be lurking this thread:

YES!!! Please for the love of all that's holy let these rumors be for real. I might actually start believing in (and paying for) the ThinkPad brand again.

I really feel like somebody within Lenovo has been getting paid under the table to throw the World Series and slowly sabotage the Thinkpad line over the last 5 or 6 years. Other than internal components everything else related to device usability has been sliding steadily down hill.

T40/T60 series = <3, Come back to me!!!
T400 = 16:10 WAY off center screen = lol wut... keyboard flex, WTF?
T410 = Keyboard layout change for no good reason, textured trackpad = teh suck, chronic BSODs/Heat problems, kinda bulky
T420 = swap-meet quality 16:9 screen introduced... Thanks Obama.
T430 = death of the beloved ThinkPad keyboard as we knew it
T440 = kinda sweet and modern looking, better screen options...but useless/clumsy clickpad, Keyboard F-keys jacked, lack of USB ports, incompatible with previous dock stations/power adapters

What I'm dreaming about now for an idyllic*50 series:
T450/T1 = 3:2 IPS screen @3200x2133, return to a sensible 7/8 row keyboard... NO GIMMICKY TOUCHBAR, Trackpoint with buttons, smooth trackpad that feels more like a Macbook's pad, 3+ USB ports, retain and improve upon the styling of the T440 series (make it look/feel less cheaply made)

What I'm expecting:
T450/T1 = Ditches the keyboard altogether in favor or tapping out Morse code on the clickpad, 21:9 monochrome TN display, single Thunderbolt port with USB/Network/Monitor breakout dongles, virtual trackpoint nub integrated into clickpad, no user accessible parts whatsoever

T410 hot? Mine idles in the 30's to low 40's. I can game on it for hours on my lap and not really feel a thing. The textured traackpad is very nice as far as trackpads are concerned. I have no issues with the keyboard. I actually really like it and the larger ESC and DELETE buttons are very handy. This is one of the best keyboards I have ever used.

Going back to the heat question: I applied a fresh coat of AS5 a few months ago and slightly bent the arm for the GPU so it's thermal pads would make better contact. Looking at the original impression on the thermal pad, it wasn't making full surface area contact. Now it is. My machine has never BSOD's, locked or crashed. I use it everyday for work and play having displaced my beloved D630 which is now a couch surfer and mostly sits idle because I use the T410 more. This machine is probably the most used and abused Thinkpad I have owned. It sees roughly 12-14 hours of uptime per day. Sometimes out in the heat, sometimes in a cold server room. It get's tossed in my bag, handed to my co-worker, it's taken about 6 falls so for with no cracks or damage of any kind. Truly an amazing laptop.

I feel bad that your experience was not the same.

[Theokretes]

I analyzed the photo for fun, and it's fake:
#1 the sides of the lid are *too thin* (it's not possible to manufacture that, and if it was, it would be VERY fragile
#2 the right side of the lid is thinner than the left side
#3 the keyboard isn't getting the associated light reflected on the keyboard from the windows 7 screen (which is odd in itself as there's no text present)-- we actually see SHADOWS on the keyboard that don't correspond to what's on the LCD
#4 the windows 7 background pasted on the screen is not symmetrical with the lid
#5 the shadow of the bezel dip in correspondence with the keyboard and the trackpoint buttons are off...
#6 the lenovo logo (or the blur of it) is too far up on the left side


Rotating it on the side helps hide the inaccuracies of pasting the windows 7 background on the screen (i.e. the one side being thinner than the other), and the frosting helps hide the inaccuracies of the shadows.

That's my take on it anyways.

Compare how much lower the T440 lenovo logo is here: http://ultrabooknews.com/files/2013/09/T440_Hero_01.jpg

(And while I hated Lenovo's recent design choices, the T440 really hit home for me. T430 sucks... but the T440... quite nice I must say).

[600X]

That is not a photo, it's a concept or art piece. It was probably put together hastily and without much concern for detail because the main aim was probably just to present the concept.

[phaxmohdem]

@Temetka - I'm glad your experience has been largely positive. I find it a little disconcerting you had to bend a heatpipe to induce proper contact, though. 99% of users aren't willing to pop off the keyboard like us and poke around inside to fix QC issues from the factory.

My own experience stems from work where we currently have deployed T410 -> T440 machines as the standard daily drivers for most people. The T410 is the most problematic model of the lot by a wide margin with heat and motherboard issues (possibly heat related) being the typical issue.

[Temetka]

@Temetka - I'm glad your experience has been largely positive. I find it a little disconcerting you had to bend a heatpipe to induce proper contact, though. 99% of users aren't willing to pop off the keyboard like us and poke around inside to fix QC issues from the factory.

My own experience stems from work where we currently have deployed T410 -> T440 machines as the standard daily drivers for most people. The T410 is the most problematic model of the lot by a wide margin with heat and motherboard issues (possibly heat related) being the typical issue.

You are right, 99% of users wont bend the heat pipe. But amongst us power users it is common practice. To be honest, the heat output and GPU readings were in line with Nvidia and Lenovo's specifications. But I knew there was a little more room to work with in terms of GPU contact with HSF.

I had the please of working on another T410 for a client yesterday. This one had the Intel GPU instead of the Nvidia and the reduced heat output was very noticeable. As a matter of fact, there was virtually heat output at all. Yes, the fan was running - but at its lowest speed. The machine was cool and quiet. Rather nice to work on to be honest. Might have to pick up an Intel T410 instead of my Nvidia one. The Intel GPU will easily handle anything I throw at it.

I am sorry to hear about your issues with deploying T410's in the field. How many machines would you say you had problems with.