Introduction of the "Z" is good reason not to buy

[jjfcpa]

Let me explain...

The fact that Lenovo has introduced a "Z" series laptop is validation that Dell, HP, and Gateway did it right the first time, and Lenovo/IBM didn't. Many of the features that are introducted on the Z series; 16:9 format, windows key, firewire port, etc. are all available on the laptops of the competition, so Lenovo is now playing catch up and caving into what every other manufacturer has recognized as what the consumer wants.

The smugness of owning a Thinkpad that was admittedly missing some things that you would like to have is gone. In spite of these omissions, knowing that you owned a laptop that was unique, reliable, and practical for BUSINESS use was nevertheless "cool". It sent a very important message to your clients... I'm not afraid to spend money to get the best, and I won't settle for anything but the best; so that is what you can expect from me.

I think those days are quickly coming to an end...

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the "premium" features in the Z series that everyone else does. I don't think it will be "smug" to own a Z60t or Z60m - I think it will be rather common; and I don't want to send that message to my customers.

[wackydan]

Let me explain...

The fact that Lenovo has introduced a "Z" series laptop is validation that Dell, HP, and Gateway did it right the first time, and Lenovo/IBM didn't. Many of the features that are introducted on the Z series; 16:9 format, windows key, firewire port, etc. are all available on the laptops of the competition, so Lenovo is now playing catch up and caving into what every other manufacturer has recognized as what the consumer wants.

The smugness of owning a Thinkpad that was admittedly missing some things that you would like to have is gone. In spite of these omissions, knowing that you owned a laptop that was unique, reliable, and practical for BUSINESS use was nevertheless "cool". It sent a very important message to your clients... I'm not afraid to spend money to get the best, and I won't settle for anything but the best; so that is what you can expect from me.

I think those days are quickly coming to an end...

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the "premium" features in the Z series that everyone else does. I don't think it will be "smug" to own a Z60t or Z60m - I think it will be rather common; and I don't want to send that message to my customers.

First... it makes for the most durable WS in the market... and that's enough to get excited about in my opinion...

Secondly... IBM almost always had the reputation of waiting until market conditions were right to introduce a product. Hence the late arrival of their Tablet.... The tablet was near ready 1.5 years before their announce date and was selling over-seas well ahead of N. America.

While HP jumped head first into Tablet when MS launched the OS, they didn't make a profit on that platform until recently. Same for many other tablet vendors. HP also had a large presence in Consumer - the first growth market for WS - Now... Where was IBm in Consumer for the last few years??? Nowhere essentially.

So WS takes off in the SMB space and the value of having one in the product lineup starts to make sense as the productivity gains of WS in business environments is proven to the industry..... hence now you see a WS TP.

Lots of people like to sit outside the PC industry and be armchair quarterbacks without understanding the industry at any finite level... sorry. Those of us in the industry -or at least with many years in it, understand why decisions are made, and what motivate them.

[rocketman]

Lenovo paid a lot of money for the Thinkpad brand. Anyone who thought they would just stay with the tried and true and not make any changes is fooling themselves. Of course they want to market Thinkpads to a broader audience, I assume if IBM were doing so well with the Thinkpads as they were they would not have sold the brand. That said I don't know why it's not possible for future Thinkpads to be even better than the current ones unless you're of the belief that the Thinkpads are perfect as they are.

[wackydan]

Lenovo paid a lot of money for the Thinkpad brand. Anyone who thought they would just stay with the tried and true and not make any changes is fooling themselves. Of course they want to market Thinkpads to a broader audience, I assume if IBM were doing so well with the Thinkpads as they were they would not have sold the brand. That said I don't know why it's not possible for future Thinkpads to be even better than the current ones unless you're of the belief that the Thinkpads are perfect as they are.

You last sentence hits the nail square on the head. Couldn't say it better myself.

Keep in mind that the Tablet and WS TP's are an original part of the IBM product plan - IBM was going to introduce them regardless of the Lenovo Deal.

[K. Eng]

Then buy a T series!

Let me explain...
I'm sorry, but I just don't see the "premium" features in the Z series that everyone else does. I don't think it will be "smug" to own a Z60t or Z60m - I think it will be rather common; and I don't want to send that message to my customers.

[jjfcpa]

Let me explain...

The fact that Lenovo has introduced a "Z" series laptop is validation that Dell, HP, and Gateway did it right the first time, and Lenovo/IBM didn't. Many of the features that are introducted on the Z series; 16:9 format, windows key, firewire port, etc. are all available on the laptops of the competition, so Lenovo is now playing catch up and caving into what every other manufacturer has recognized as what the consumer wants.

The smugness of owning a Thinkpad that was admittedly missing some things that you would like to have is gone. In spite of these omissions, knowing that you owned a laptop that was unique, reliable, and practical for BUSINESS use was nevertheless "cool". It sent a very important message to your clients... I'm not afraid to spend money to get the best, and I won't settle for anything but the best; so that is what you can expect from me.

I think those days are quickly coming to an end...

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the "premium" features in the Z series that everyone else does. I don't think it will be "smug" to own a Z60t or Z60m - I think it will be rather common; and I don't want to send that message to my customers.

First... it makes for the most durable WS in the market... and that's enough to get excited about in my opinion...

Secondly... IBM almost always had the reputation of waiting until market conditions were right to introduce a product. Hence the late arrival of their Tablet.... The tablet was near ready 1.5 years before their announce date and was selling over-seas well ahead of N. America.

While HP jumped head first into Tablet when MS launched the OS, they didn't make a profit on that platform until recently. Same for many other tablet vendors. HP also had a large presence in Consumer - the first growth market for WS - Now... Where was IBm in Consumer for the last few years??? Nowhere essentially.

So WS takes off in the SMB space and the value of having one in the product lineup starts to make sense as the productivity gains of WS in business environments is proven to the industry..... hence now you see a WS TP.

Lots of people like to sit outside the PC industry and be armchair quarterbacks without understanding the industry at any finite level... sorry. Those of us in the industry -or at least with many years in it, understand why decisions are made, and what motivate them.

I hate to disagree, but I will. I've been using TP for more than 10 years. They are a great laptop and always have been. But when it comes to innovation, let's face it, IBM doesn't really lead the pack. I'll give you an example.

For years I called IBM to complain because I couldn't get higher than 1280 X 1024 resolution when using my TP and their docking station AND the DVI port. For years, they told me, "Sorry, but that's the highest resolution we support." I had a 21" LCD that had a native resolution of 1600 X 1200 and I had to run it as 1280 X 1024 because IBM wouldn't change the drivers for their gpu. It couldn't have been too tough because I found a solution on the internet to mod the drivers so I could use the higher resolution.

The point being that IBM didn't want to keep up with technology and in my opinion still doesn't. I do think Lenovo is probably pushing the widescreen out a lot faster than IBM would have.

I think Lenovo will make some changes that will be appealing to the masses and that will ruin the reputation that IBM has established. Let's not forget that Lenovo made its name selling desktops, not laptops.

If we buy into this Z series, we'll be sending Lenovo the wrong message... we want what everybody else has ... bells and whistles. But what we really want is quality and reliability... and yes, a little smugness to go with it.

[K. Eng]

Smugness? Not something I want associated with ThinkPads... I think of Apple PowerBook G4 owners when I think of smugness.

A ThinkPad is a business machine, nothing more, nothing less.

If we buy into this Z series, we'll be sending Lenovo the wrong message... we want what everybody else has ... bells and whistles. But what we really want is quality and reliability... and yes, a little smugness to go with it.

[Isaac000]

First... it makes for the most durable WS in the market... and that's enough to get excited about in my opinion...

Secondly... IBM almost always had the reputation of waiting until market conditions were right to introduce a product. Hence the late arrival of their Tablet.... The tablet was near ready 1.5 years before their announce date and was selling over-seas well ahead of N. America.
...
Lots of people like to sit outside the PC industry and be armchair quarterbacks without understanding the industry at any finite level... sorry. Those of us in the industry -or at least with many years in it, understand why decisions are made, and what motivate them.

WS is just a "gimmick" if it doesn't have the resolution to back it up. And the Z doesn't have that resolution. Get yourself one of the nice T's with 1400x1050 at least. You could pretend you have a widescreen by not using the top or bottom strip of the screen and you'd still have more pixel-space and real-estate to play with.

I'm in a SMB. I see other SMB's. We don't buy WS laptops, nobody clamours for them. None of our vendors or customers have WS laptops.

From my point of view, what I see is that the guy (or gal) making the buying decision is NOT a laptop/computer "fan". He/she doesn't give a [censored] about any specific features. What I've seen is that all they care about is 1) Price and 2) It's backed by a good warranty or reputation (real or perceived).

We bought mostly R's as they were so cheap, now moving on to low-end T's. The WS of the Z is not enough to change buying habits. As I go around town, I go to the airport, MANY people here (Silicon Valley) carry Thinkpads, which are, of course, not WS. Between a "Z" and "R", the one that will sell is the cheaper one. (Very curious, I travel out about once a month. SFO and SJC have tons of Thinkpads all over the place. As I walk around SeaTac, very few. More Compaq's and Dell's)

I would love a WS, I would love a titanium cover. Unfortunately, the things that matter ( screen pixel density as the good ol' workstation series, starting from the 770X up to the T43p), the graphics chip, the size, the weight. None of it impresses me with a Z. So far, I'd stick with the "T"

I do think that Thinkpad should branch out, and there's nothing wrong with not-black.
BTW, the Z having been introduced so soon after the sale, it must have already been started back when IBM owned Thinkpad. This isn't Lenovo's baby.

[wackydan]

First... it makes for the most durable WS in the market... and that's enough to get excited about in my opinion...

Secondly... IBM almost always had the reputation of waiting until market conditions were right to introduce a product. Hence the late arrival of their Tablet.... The tablet was near ready 1.5 years before their announce date and was selling over-seas well ahead of N. America.
...
Lots of people like to sit outside the PC industry and be armchair quarterbacks without understanding the industry at any finite level... sorry. Those of us in the industry -or at least with many years in it, understand why decisions are made, and what motivate them.

WS is just a "gimmick" if it doesn't have the resolution to back it up. And the Z doesn't have that resolution. Get yourself one of the nice T's with 1400x1050 at least. You could pretend you have a widescreen by not using the top or bottom strip of the screen and you'd still have more pixel-space and real-estate to play with.

I'm in a SMB. I see other SMB's. We don't buy WS laptops, nobody clamours for them. None of our vendors or customers have WS laptops.

From my point of view, what I see is that the guy (or gal) making the buying decision is NOT a laptop/computer "fan". He/she doesn't give a [censored] about any specific features. What I've seen is that all they care about is 1) Price and 2) It's backed by a good warranty or reputation (real or perceived).

We bought mostly R's as they were so cheap, now moving on to low-end T's. The WS of the Z is not enough to change buying habits. As I go around town, I go to the airport, MANY people here (Silicon Valley) carry Thinkpads, which are, of course, not WS. Between a "Z" and "R", the one that will sell is the cheaper one. (Very curious, I travel out about once a month. SFO and SJC have tons of Thinkpads all over the place. As I walk around SeaTac, very few. More Compaq's and Dell's)

I would love a WS, I would love a titanium cover. Unfortunately, the things that matter ( screen pixel density as the good ol' workstation series, starting from the 770X up to the T43p), the graphics chip, the size, the weight. None of it impresses me with a Z. So far, I'd stick with the "T"

I do think that Thinkpad should branch out, and there's nothing wrong with not-black.
BTW, the Z having been introduced so soon after the sale, it must have already been started back when IBM owned Thinkpad. This isn't Lenovo's baby.

Sorry already have the 1400x1050 T.

i alredy stated numerous times that they were IBM designs from before May 1.

[wackydan]

First... it makes for the most durable WS in the market... and that's enough to get excited about in my opinion...

Secondly... IBM almost always had the reputation of waiting until market conditions were right to introduce a product. Hence the late arrival of their Tablet.... The tablet was near ready 1.5 years before their announce date and was selling over-seas well ahead of N. America.

While HP jumped head first into Tablet when MS launched the OS, they didn't make a profit on that platform until recently. Same for many other tablet vendors. HP also had a large presence in Consumer - the first growth market for WS - Now... Where was IBm in Consumer for the last few years??? Nowhere essentially.

So WS takes off in the SMB space and the value of having one in the product lineup starts to make sense as the productivity gains of WS in business environments is proven to the industry..... hence now you see a WS TP.

Lots of people like to sit outside the PC industry and be armchair quarterbacks without understanding the industry at any finite level... sorry. Those of us in the industry -or at least with many years in it, understand why decisions are made, and what motivate them.

I hate to disagree, but I will. I've been using TP for more than 10 years. They are a great laptop and always have been. But when it comes to innovation, let's face it, IBM doesn't really lead the pack. I'll give you an example.

For years I called IBM to complain because I couldn't get higher than 1280 X 1024 resolution when using my TP and their docking station AND the DVI port. For years, they told me, "Sorry, but that's the highest resolution we support." I had a 21" LCD that had a native resolution of 1600 X 1200 and I had to run it as 1280 X 1024 because IBM wouldn't change the drivers for their gpu. It couldn't have been too tough because I found a solution on the internet to mod the drivers so I could use the higher resolution.

The point being that IBM didn't want to keep up with technology and in my opinion still doesn't. I do think Lenovo is probably pushing the widescreen out a lot faster than IBM would have.

I think Lenovo will make some changes that will be appealing to the masses and that will ruin the reputation that IBM has established. Let's not forget that Lenovo made its name selling desktops, not laptops.

If we buy into this Z series, we'll be sending Lenovo the wrong message... we want what everybody else has ... bells and whistles. But what we really want is quality and reliability... and yes, a little smugness to go with it.

Fair enough. Plenty of opinions to go around.

I will point out that they've been plenty innovative... the APS, They have lead the industry with their TPM, and lead with biometrics. They continue to offer the best security and partnerships concerning client security then any other vendor.

[rocketman]

What I've seen is that all they care about is 1) Price and 2) It's backed by a good warranty or reputation (real or perceived).

For many that is reason enough. A good warranty and good service is probably the most important reason to pick a notebook, you don't get much better service than IBM/Lenovo. I agree that the Z series should have all of the high end options of the T series such as the fastest abvailable processor, display resolution etc. As far as "smugness" or snob factor is concerned the only two things that might add some "cache" to owning a Thinkpad is the IBM name on it and their elevated prices. Then again I don't know if most people realize there are ways of the general public getting Thinkpads discounted such as the Visa purchase site. To me once the IBM name is off the Thinkpads cover there goes it's "specialness".

[jjfcpa]

What I've seen is that all they care about is 1) Price and 2) It's backed by a good warranty or reputation (real or perceived).

For many that is reason enough. A good warranty and good service is probably the most important reason to pick a notebook, you don't get much better service than IBM/Lenovo. I agree that the Z series should have all of the high end options of the T series such as the fastest abvailable processor, display resolution etc. As far as "smugness" or snob factor is concerned the only two things that might add some "cache" to owning a Thinkpad is the IBM name on it and their elevated prices. Then again I don't know if most people realize there are ways of the general public getting Thinkpads discounted such as the Visa purchase site. To me once the IBM name is off the Thinkpads cover there goes it's "specialness".

You hit the nail on the head Rocketman. When the IBM logo and name disappear, there goes that "special" something about a Thinkpad. When I think of Lenovo, after what I've read and heard, I think of "cheap". That's how they got to be the #1 PC seller in China.

[beeblebrox]

I think this thread here is the most useless discussion I have ever seen on this forum.
Folks with semi-knowledge about the internal Lenovo structure and with no knowledge at all about not delivered products start whining and complaining about nothing.

The Z60t is a stretched and improved T-Series.
Widescreen is a godsend for all those consultants and bankers (and that ARE business users!) who work daily on Excel and PowerPoint.

The Thinkpad designer team is mostly the same old good IBM team and the Z-series has been designed before the Lenovo deal. So what do you complain about?
Why don't you wait for a few weeks? Probably folks will then start complaining that they get drowned in the myriads of different configuration options, as usual with Thinkpads. Everything is optional: color, processor, screen, size...

Here in Europe (official Lenovo announcements!) they offer the Z60m in WSXGA+ (1600x1200) MaxBright (my ordered model) and some mentioned here the forthcoming WUXGA models.
Still nowhere to be found on any Lenove order page.

[snife]

Gotta agree with bebblebrox on this one - if you don't know what your talking about then it might be best not to post aimlessly.

For the first major release of a ThinkPad from Lenovo (you could count the X41t but i'm not) I think that they have made a few mistakes. Namely giving people ammunition to say its not a ThinkPad - IT IS and when you get the opportunity to sit a Z series next to a DELL widescreen model you will realise what makes a ThinkPad special and its not the IBM logo. While i'm not a big fan of the rounded corners, windows keys or even ultranavs if you want to go back further, if they bring ThinkPads to a wider audience of people that don't know why they should purchase a ThinkPad then i'm in favour.

As a few have stated, the Z series was designed before the Lenovo transition, the timing of the release of such a model is purely conincidence. Once we have the T60 you will be able to compare a Lenovo ThinkPad to an IBM ThinkPad more effectively and probably realise that the only effect the Lenovo takeover has had is on the price you pay for the best notebooks on the market.

Widescreens have their place, consumers like them and they are good from spreadsheets and movies and stuff. These are nice widescreen machines which you can still get solely in black (for the purists) but the titanium cover is growing on me and they continue to evolve the ThinkPad internals (SATA drives, PCI Express etc). So stop your [censored] if you haven't even used one.

</moan>

[jjfcpa]

Here in Europe (official Lenovo announcements!) they offer the Z60m in WSXGA+ (1600x1200) MaxBright (my ordered model) and some mentioned here the forthcoming WUXGA models.
Still nowhere to be found on any Lenove order page.

I don't thing the resolution of a WSXGA+ would be 1600 X 1200, since that is NOT a wide-screen resolution. That would be your typical 4:3 LCD that is currently available on the R52. The WSXGA+ would be 1680 X 1050 (I think). Options like this would definitely make the Z60M more appealing to the average and professional user.

[beeblebrox]

Here in Europe (official Lenovo announcements!) they offer the Z60m in WSXGA+ (1600x1200) MaxBright (my ordered model) and some mentioned here the forthcoming WUXGA models.
Still nowhere to be found on any Lenove order page.

I don't thing the resolution of a WSXGA+ would be 1600 X 1200, since that is NOT a wide-screen resolution. That would be your typical 4:3 LCD that is currently available on the R52. The WSXGA+ would be 1680 X 1050 (I think). Options like this would definitely make the Z60M more appealing to the average and professional user.

Yes, it is 1680x 1050. Was a type.

You can assume, that Thinkpads use the international LCD screen size norms and resolutions. As every notebook manufacturer does, since they always source from a variety of suppliers.
The Z60m WILL definitely have WSXGA+ (it was in the Lenovo press announcement, too)
I was told, that the WUXGA will be better than the screen from Dell (although the same LCD manufacturers).
1900x1200 should be fine for graphics stuff, I guess...

However, I am not aware of any manufacturer delivering widescreen WSXGA+ in 14". They are probably just to expensive for the notebook companies.

[wackydan]

I think this thread here is the most useless discussion I have ever seen on this forum.
Folks with semi-knowledge about the internal Lenovo structure and with no knowledge at all about not delivered products start whining and complaining about nothing.

Agreed, yet I'm the only one seemingly that has had my hands ont he WS ThinkPads so far.

[Jmmmmm]

Let me explain...

The fact that Lenovo has introduced a "Z" series laptop is validation that Dell, HP, and Gateway did it right the first time, and Lenovo/IBM didn't. Many of the features that are introducted on the Z series; 16:9 format, windows key, firewire port, etc. are all available on the laptops of the competition, so Lenovo is now playing catch up and caving into what every other manufacturer has recognized as what the consumer wants.

The smugness of owning a Thinkpad that was admittedly missing some things that you would like to have is gone. In spite of these omissions, knowing that you owned a laptop that was unique, reliable, and practical for BUSINESS use was nevertheless "cool". It sent a very important message to your clients... I'm not afraid to spend money to get the best, and I won't settle for anything but the best; so that is what you can expect from me.

I think those days are quickly coming to an end...

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the "premium" features in the Z series that everyone else does. I don't think it will be "smug" to own a Z60t or Z60m - I think it will be rather common; and I don't want to send that message to my customers.

So let me get this straight. You would prefer to feel like a snob because you have a computer that no one else wants?

It seems to me that Lenovo actually listened to the complaints and fixed them. The biggest problem with the thinkpad are discussed constantly - not enough USB ports, no windows key, no firewire, no widescreen. And they fixed every single one of those with their new computer. Granted, I don't know if I think the color options and increased multimedia functions were necessary.. but, this is a step forward, regardless. It isn't about admitting that you're wrong. It's about seeing that your company is being an idiot and doing something about it.

I don't know what it means for the future, and I hope they don't turn IBM into compaq or dell. But, I think these are improvements (and not such a big departure from the past), and I don't know why people are whining so much.

[pphilipko]

Let me explain...

The fact that Lenovo has introduced a "Z" series laptop is validation that Dell, HP, and Gateway did it right the first time, and Lenovo/IBM didn't. Many of the features that are introducted on the Z series; 16:9 format, windows key, firewire port, etc. are all available on the laptops of the competition, so Lenovo is now playing catch up and caving into what every other manufacturer has recognized as what the consumer wants.

The smugness of owning a Thinkpad that was admittedly missing some things that you would like to have is gone. In spite of these omissions, knowing that you owned a laptop that was unique, reliable, and practical for BUSINESS use was nevertheless "cool". It sent a very important message to your clients... I'm not afraid to spend money to get the best, and I won't settle for anything but the best; so that is what you can expect from me.

I think those days are quickly coming to an end...

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the "premium" features in the Z series that everyone else does. I don't think it will be "smug" to own a Z60t or Z60m - I think it will be rather common; and I don't want to send that message to my customers.

So let me get this straight. You would prefer to feel like a snob because you have a computer that no one else wants?

It seems to me that Lenovo actually listened to the complaints and fixed them. The biggest problem with the thinkpad are discussed constantly - not enough USB ports, no windows key, no firewire, no widescreen. And they fixed every single one of those with their new computer. Granted, I don't know if I think the color options and increased multimedia functions were necessary.. but, this is a step forward, regardless. It isn't about admitting that you're wrong. It's about seeing that your company is being an idiot and doing something about it.

I don't know what it means for the future, and I hope they don't turn IBM into compaq or dell. But, I think these are improvements (and not such a big departure from the past), and I don't know why people are whining so much.

Well said, indeed!

[Ariel]

Here in Europe (official Lenovo announcements!) they offer the Z60m in WSXGA+ (1600x1200) MaxBright (my ordered model)

Hi, do you/anyone can post me a link wheres standing that the WSXGA../1680x1050 Z60m-Version has a 'MaxBright'-Display?

[MobileGuru]

Agreed, yet I'm the only one seemingly that has had my hands ont he WS ThinkPads so far.

Don't be so sure ..

[SteveDC]

Looking at the IBM/Lenovo web site, all Zs have a 1-year warranty. High-end Ts have a 3-year warranty. What is an additional 2-years of warranty worth? $300 or so? Based on my long experience with Thinkpads, something will go wrong in three years -- most likely the display ribbon cable.

[sethstorm]

Let me explain...

The fact that Lenovo has introduced a "Z" series laptop is validation that Dell, HP, and Gateway did it right the first time, and Lenovo/IBM didn't. Many of the features that are introducted on the Z series; 16:9 format, windows key, firewire port, etc. are all available on the laptops of the competition, so Lenovo is now playing catch up and caving into what every other manufacturer has recognized as what the consumer wants.

...

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the "premium" features in the Z series that everyone else does. I don't think it will be "smug" to own a Z60t or Z60m - I think it will be rather common; and I don't want to send that message to my customers.

You ought to add the 2nd pcmcia slot (being missing), which has been in all but the X/240/WinCE variants - under the category of "Z series features missing but wanted". The windows key is remappable, but putting in USB to get rid of 2-slot PCMCIA/Cardbus is a Very Bad Idea imho. I've seen USB port PC-cards, but nothing in reverse that would work cross-platform if at all.

I think this thread here is the most useless discussion I have ever seen on this forum.
Folks with semi-knowledge about the internal Lenovo structure and with no knowledge at all about not delivered products start whining and complaining about nothing.

The Z60t is a stretched and improved T-Series.
Widescreen is a godsend for all those consultants and bankers (and that ARE business users!) who work daily on Excel and PowerPoint.

The Thinkpad designer team is mostly the same old good IBM team and the Z-series has been designed before the Lenovo deal. So what do you complain about?
Why don't you wait for a few weeks? Probably folks will then start complaining that they get drowned in the myriads of different configuration options, as usual with Thinkpads. Everything is optional: color, processor, screen, size...

Here in Europe (official Lenovo announcements!) they offer the Z60m in WSXGA+ (1600x1200) MaxBright (my ordered model) and some mentioned here the forthcoming WUXGA models.
Still nowhere to be found on any Lenove(sic) order page.

The way they're building them with mostly integrated graphics and missing pcmcia slots as discussed above, they are definitely not improved over the T series. I'll wait for a dual pcmcia, X700/FireGL equivalent configured version of the WSXGA+ Z series before I even consider them improved.

[snife]

sethstorm, sorry to disappoint but I doubt you will get another ThinkPad with dual PCMCIA - most of the R series only have 1 (albeit a type III slot) and the new T series have either 1 or 1 PCMCIA and 1 PCI express.

I must admit i don't know what i would really use PCMCIA for these days - i have my microdrive which i like but still tend to use my use stick more often - you have the wireless, ethernet, modem, fingerprint, usb, IEEE 1394 all built in, the only things i see people plug in are ISDN (which I cannot understand) and mobile coms devices and with the Z series you can have your EVDO built in. So I like having one but i'd much rather have more USB than a second one or even PCI-express (unless I can get a faster way to transfer to my microdrive)

[asiafish]

Smugness? Not something I want associated with ThinkPads... I think of Apple PowerBook G4 owners when I think of smugness.

A ThinkPad is a business machine, nothing more, nothing less.

If we buy into this Z series, we'll be sending Lenovo the wrong message... we want what everybody else has ... bells and whistles. But what we really want is quality and reliability... and yes, a little smugness to go with it.

There is nothing smug about an Apple PowerBook G4 these days. There might have been back when the Titanium first hit the streets, but these days PowerBooks are not any more expensive than any other premium laptop (like ThinkPads).

I own both a T42p and a 12" PowerBook G4, and actually the PowerBook is my "business" machine, while the ThinkPad is used more for entertainment.

[Ariel]

hi, knows anyone if the GraphicCard from the z60m is changeable or the x600 is on an MXM - Modul ?

[Zak]

There is nothing smug about an Apple PowerBook G4 these days. There might have been back when the Titanium first hit the streets, but these days PowerBooks are not any more expensive than any other premium laptop (like ThinkPads).

Smugness tends to be associated with all premium laptops, either because they're actually worth what they cost (Thinkpad, Powerbook) or just because they're flashy and expensive (Alienware). As for titanium Powerbooks, the newer aluminum models are much better machines, as well as being more reasonably priced.

[sethstorm]

sethstorm, sorry to disappoint but I doubt you will get another ThinkPad with dual PCMCIA - most of the R series only have 1 (albeit a type III slot) and the new T series have either 1 or 1 PCMCIA and 1 PCI express.

I must admit i don't know what i would really use PCMCIA for these days - i have my microdrive which i like but still tend to use my use stick more often - you have the wireless, ethernet, modem, fingerprint, usb, IEEE 1394 all built in, the only things i see people plug in are ISDN (which I cannot understand) and mobile coms devices and with the Z series you can have your EVDO built in. So I like having one but i'd much rather have more USB than a second one or even PCI-express (unless I can get a faster way to transfer to my microdrive)

Those "Type III" slots in the most part are dual slot, and if they're going to push ExpressCard, it wont matter much to have a 1+1 slot design - you'd have a direct access to the PCI bus.
As for what I plug in/would plug in - I already use it with Cardbus Ethernet, Wireless (since I cannot plug in an antenna to my T42P, and my A31p,600E, and 390X are more readily used with PC Cards), Travelstar PCMCIA, and a PCMCIA 2GB disk-on-a-card. The only thing else left would be to go to EDGE cards. Firewire is probably the only thing I'd want added in on top of the usual parts (from the A3*p crowd myself). The rest that isnt already there is only worth an option card, or a system option itself.

USB would just be a bit slow for what I do with it.

[paul_1011]

Here in Europe (official Lenovo announcements!) they offer the Z60m in WSXGA+ (1600x1200) MaxBright (my ordered model)

Where you ordering from in europe? Im in the UK and I think im just about settled on what options I want. Just trying to figure out the best supplier, people I got my T43 from were useless.

[Michael1980]

Smugness? Not something I want associated with ThinkPads... I think of Apple PowerBook G4 owners when I think of smugness.

A ThinkPad is a business machine, nothing more, nothing less.

There is nothing smug about an Apple PowerBook G4 these days. There might have been back when the Titanium first hit the streets, but these days PowerBooks are not any more expensive than any other premium laptop (like ThinkPads).

I own both a T42p and a 12" PowerBook G4, and actually the PowerBook is my "business" machine, while the ThinkPad is used more for entertainment.

I don't know. The 15" Powerbook starts at 2x the price of a competing Sony Vaio. I think the Powerbooks are overpriced slightly still.