Thinkpad with 13.3 LCD, Optical Drive and Great Graphics

[pianowizard]

So it is right that the sub-12" Thinkpads had been made, but not successful.

Maybe people found the keyboard too small. The keyboard of a widescreen 11.1" laptop would be about the same size as that of a 4:3 12.1" laptop.

[snife]

The butterfly keyboard should make a comeback for ultraportables so we can have the full size T series keyboard crammed in - given advances in engineering since the 701, they should be able to make it thin and robust enough these days.

hutty2000 - its just a general impression for the industry - the same reason we cant get IPS displays on T series anymore. The 14.1" 4:3 T series will last the longest due to the higher volumes but X series sales are not high enough to support a 12" 4:3 panel industry by themselves so they will have to go widescreen - i'm actually looking forward to a widescreen tablet as I think it might be better suited for that even though i'm not a fan of widescreen in general.

[tomh009]

So it is right that the sub-12" Thinkpads had been made, but not successful.

Maybe people found the keyboard too small. The keyboard of a widescreen 11.1" laptop would be about the same size as that of a 4:3 12.1" laptop.

Certainly there was not a huge difference in keyboard size -- the S30 was only 0.4"(10 mm) narrower than the X61.

[pianowizard]

Certainly there was not a huge difference in keyboard size -- the S30 was only 0.4"(10 mm) narrower than the X61.

I have no experience with the S series (unfortunately!). But I owned four 240's or 240X's and their keyboards were quite a bit smaller than those of the X40 or X60s. People who need to type a lot would complain about those tiny keyboards.

An 11.1" widescreen Thinkpad would have a big enough keyboard, and its 1280x800 resolution would offer 30% more pixels than the XGA of the current X series. If Lenovo can make one that's under 2.4 lb while not sacrificing the built-in microphone, modem and ethernet, I would love to buy one!

[syhead]

Certainly there was not a huge difference in keyboard size -- the S30 was only 0.4"(10 mm) narrower than the X61.

I have no experience with the S series (unfortunately!). But I owned four 240's or 240X's and their keyboards were quite a bit smaller than those of the X40 or X60s. People who need to type a lot would complain about those tiny keyboards.

An 11.1" widescreen Thinkpad would have a big enough keyboard, and its 1280x800 resolution would offer 30% more pixels than the XGA of the current X series. If Lenovo can make one that's under 2.4 lb while not sacrificing the built-in microphone, modem and ethernet, I would love to buy one!

I think you're right, there would certainly be market to a 11.1" thinkpad. Perhaps the best option would be to have a 13'3" thinkpad for the T series, which would include an optical drive.

[tomh009]

So here is the next exercise: how many suppliers are there for 11.1" display panels? What display and backlighting technologies? What resolutions?

I don't expect that Lenovo wants to be caught with a single-source LCD panel supplier again -- that's definitely a risky business practice.

[hutty2000]

So here is the next exercise: how many suppliers are there for 11.1" display panels? What display and backlighting technologies? What resolutions?

I don't expect that Lenovo wants to be caught with a single-source LCD panel supplier again -- that's definitely a risky business practice.

Can not agree more.

[hutty2000]

Certainly there was not a huge difference in keyboard size -- the S30 was only 0.4"(10 mm) narrower than the X61.

I have no experience with the S series (unfortunately!). But I owned four 240's or 240X's and their keyboards were quite a bit smaller than those of the X40 or X60s. People who need to type a lot would complain about those tiny keyboards.

An 11.1" widescreen Thinkpad would have a big enough keyboard, and its 1280x800 resolution would offer 30% more pixels than the XGA of the current X series. If Lenovo can make one that's under 2.4 lb while not sacrificing the built-in microphone, modem and ethernet, I would love to buy one!

An 11.1" widescreen Thinkpad with 1280x800 resolution???
That means the size of words would be tooooooooo small for business use.

I agree that the 11.1" one must have a market (that is why sony sold it for many years), but totally disagree that 11.1" LCD is for business use, which is the target area of a thinkpad.

[pianowizard]

An 11.1" widescreen Thinkpad with 1280x800 resolution???
That means the size of words would be tooooooooo small for business use.

You and several other forum members keep using the phrase "business use". What's so different about business use or business people? From what I've read, my impression is that business people have poor eye sight, love to lug around heavy laptops (so that they can work out while traveling to save time?), and work on one document at a time (i.e. not good at multitasking?) so they don't know how to take advantage of widescreens. Am I correct?

1280x800 on an 11.1" screen still gives higher DPI than 1920x1200 on 15.4", namely 135.9 versus 147.0. The latter resolution is found on the Z61p and T61p. So I suppose the T61p isn't a business machine?

[hutty2000]

An 11.1" widescreen Thinkpad with 1280x800 resolution???
That means the size of words would be tooooooooo small for business use.

You and several other forum members keep using the phrase "business use". What's so different about business use or business people? From what I've read, my impression is that business people have poor eye sight, love to lug around heavy laptops (so that they can work out while traveling to save time?), and work on one document at a time (i.e. not good at multitasking?) so they don't know how to take advantage of widescreens. Am I correct?

1280x800 on an 11.1" screen still gives higher DPI than 1920x1200 on 15.4", namely 135.9 versus 147.0. The latter resolution is found on the Z61p and T61p. So I suppose the T61p isn't a business machine?

Hey, man. "Business Use" means that it should server the business purpose. A suitable screen will makes it easier to see and to work with for a long time.
How could you imagine that a business people who use computers many hours a day with a 11.1' LCD and with tiny size of words on it? It will make people feel tired and reduce productility.

About the T61P you referred:
Since I never use a laptop with 1920x1200 LCD, I do not know whether the size of words on that one is smaller or larger than words on 11.1 1280*800 one. However, I think with the T61P, people can choose to use even 1024x768 if they like.
However, with the 11.1" one, you may have to use 800x600 or something like that to get a comfortable word size, which means people can only read a few words or a few part of pictures on the screen.

[snife]

I agree with pianowizard that the resolution argument is not valid, the 12" X60T has SXGA+ and it is very usable for both business use and playing ink ball. However, I know a lot of people who have a fit if their screen isn't XGA. so resolution is a very personal thing and i dont think it reflects business or non business

Still disagree about the widescreen - working on one thing at a time is good for productivity, while I class myself as multitasking I dont want things blinking at the side of my screen while i'm working on something else - i can easily switch between windows when i'm switching tasks and this is why I don't get any good out of widescreen, i have a maximise button and i'm gonna use it!