What if Lenovo was to make a ThinkPad branded netbook?

[OldManClayton]

Who here, if they had the required money, would give their left arm to have a Thinkpad netbook? Or, rather, mini-notebook, a la the S10? I've never seen a 240, but I gather that it was close to this. So, do you think a mini-thinkpad would sell well? Though I didn't like the weird form factor of the s30, I definitely like the size. That classic black finish (nonathat modern rounded gunk), a trackpoint, solid build, and the overall awesomeness of the thinkpad brand in a netbook would be grand.

Anyone expect one to pop up soon?

Maybe I ought to take the innards of a modern netbook and stuff it in a 240 shell... >_O XD

[rek]

Three things I don't understand about the current range of netbooks that are available:

* why is nobody using a Trackpoint style pointer - even from manufacturers with this tech like Lenovo, Dell and Toshiba? Pointing sticks are the perfect solution for severly restricted form factors such as these..

* for supposed go-anywhere "net" books, the lack of integrated HSDPA modem options are a mystery.

* the current 1024x600 panels take the widescreen downside of lacking vertical screen space to a whole new level. I know of only one that had a WXGA panel (HP 2133) but that's since been discontinued

[OldManClayton]

I would probably be a lot more interested in getting myself an S10 (sis has one) if it had a trackpoint. Now that I think about it, though there are so many things that Lenovo could do to make a Thinkpad netbook awesome and better than all others that probably wouldn't get done or at least botched. :\ Why do manufacturers not choose designs that their loyal customer base want?

[Stargate199]

* why is nobody using a Trackpoint style pointer - even from manufacturers with this tech like Lenovo, Dell and Toshiba? Pointing sticks are the perfect solution for severly restricted form factors such as these..
(

Have you looked at the new Sony netbook. It has a trackpoint (and it's red of all colors). Saw a pic of it on Engadget. Not quite sure when that netbook will make it to the US.

edit: Here is the post from engadget for that sony vaio netbook http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/28/is-this-the-vaio-p/

[bill bolton]

* for supposed go-anywhere "net" books, the lack of integrated HSDPA modem options are a mystery.

The Wind 120 has 3G built in (using an Ericsson mini PCI-E card), and you can bet the other vendors will have 3G capable models in the works.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[j-dawg]

Have you looked at the new Sony netbook. It has a trackpoint (and it's red of all colors). Saw a pic of it on Engadget. Not quite sure when that netbook will make it to the US.

edit: Here is the post from engadget for that sony vaio netbook http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/28/is-this-the-vaio-p/

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/06/sony ... -revealed/
^^ Real pictures of the Thing at CES

But I don't think it's a netbook, just a very small computer in the VAIO tradition. It will still be very expensive.

[hausman]

I couldn't find a true netbook with a TrackPoint and all the ones I tried had lousy keyboards, touchpads and screens any way. So just before Christmas I bought a new X61s from Lenovo Canada's outlet store for ~CA$700. That price is certainly more than a netbook, but it included a lot more than just the TrackPoint: dual-core Pentium CPU, more RAM upgradability, full size keyboard, better screen resolution, fingerprint reader, 8-cell battery, Win Vista Business and even a 3-year warranty. While the X61s is also a bit larger and heavier (partly due to the 8-cell battery) that tradeoff was well worth it IMO.

[OldManClayton]

A couple companies have trackpoints on their ultraportables, but none of them compare to the Thinkpad trackpoint.

Maybe I ought to drop the idea of an X61 tablet and just get an x61s...

[felixgogo]

I really hope Lenovo is listening!

All over the web people are hoping for a Thinkpad netbook, and posting to the effect. When customers are asking for a product, that's half the job done, they are ready to buy! I know a few people don't get the netbook trend, and that's fine, each to his/her own. But I would love a mini thinkpad netbook a la the s30 reborn, or a smaller X60s.

I reckon Lenovo could do this with parts off the shelf too.

Use the outgoing x60s motherboard, take the U110 ideapad 11" screen (or at a push the S10 10.2" screen), cast a new case, and you could end up with a netbook the same width as the old x60/X60s, but do away with the wristrest area as the old asia s30 did, keeping the iconic red trackpoint. Ensure there's 2 USB ports, a webcam, a small 32GB SSD, and a USB bay for WWAN dongles.

This thing could be priced at the top end of the netbook price range, and would compete with the recently announced Sony Vaio P series.

Come on Lenovo - get this built! Please!

[OldManClayton]

Hear hear!

[RealBlackStuff]

Harryc has this great X41 for sale in the Marketforum
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=71596

Save yourself (quite a) few bucks and snap it up for a song!

It should bring you very close to your X61 dream!

[TheRedFox]

I think that a thinkpad netbook would be amazing. mostly in-line with the S30, I would say, cause that thing is really stylish, but with 1-2gb of memory, and an improved Intel Atom or Via c7m processor. I also think it'd make sense to have an extremely long battery life (the S30 did with the extended life battery, or so I heard) and I'd say a 10.4" screen, although a 10.2" or maybe even 10.1" screen would do in a pinch
I partially like the S30 design just because it had the weird keyboard bevel thing that allowed for a larger keyboard size in a smaller shell. They could make it even more awesome and use the butterfly keyboard design.
it could probably be priced along the upper line of netbooks...

but these are all pipe-dreams on my part. *sigh*

Also, Hello, I'm new to this forum.

[mattbiernat]

how about just add trackpoint to the S10 line....

[TheRedFox]

how about just add trackpoint to the S10 line....

and a larger battery? (I think the only one available at present is 3cell)

[OldManClayton]

You can get 6 cells. I wasn't so fond of the weird bezel on the s30, but I'd gladly take it.

[TheRedFox]

You can get 6 cells. I wasn't so fond of the weird bezel on the s30, but I'd gladly take it.

oh wow. they improved it. Oh well, I think I'll be quite contented once I get my x31. I thought that the bevel thing was really cool and artistic. better than those screen bevels that are like one inch all around the screen or whatnot, but I can understand that not everybody would care for that look.

[felixgogo]

Of course - when I mentioned for Lenovo to retain the x60s motherboard for this mythical Thinkpad netbook, I meant to say to use the x60/x60s keyboard too, this item defining the minimum size of the netbook...

[bill bolton]

I meant to say to use the x60/x60s keyboard too, this item defining the minimum size of the netbook...

Its not going to be a netbook then!

You seem to be missing the point of what a netbook is. The ASUS N10 is prime example of a so called "netbook" that isn't!

Cheers,

Bill B.

[OldManClayton]

The use of the term "netbook" is really subjective. I don't really prefer the word, I just used it as a reference. What I meant was a mini-thinkpad. Some true "netbooks" are so small that they aren't usable and seem pointless to me. Something just a smidge under the X61 would probably be the best size.

[felixgogo]

The term 'Netbook' is not defined at all! So everyone has a different view on what 'they' think a netbook is. Or isn't!

As I own or have owned a Lenovo S10, an HP mininote, and an Asus EEE 701, I think I do know what a 'netbook' or 'mini-notebook' or 'inexpensive laptop' is.

Putting that aside, I don't care what it's called, but a smaller Thinkpad is what I would like, with thinkpad build, trackpoint, etc. The S30 reborn with the features we would like for today, USB2.0, XP, webcam, SSD, thinkpad keyboard. This would be seen a competitor for those inexpensive laptops, and give Lenovo Thinkpad brand market share in an increasely important segment.

Using existing X60 parts that can be built in existing factories on existing production lines would speed up construction, and lower the usual new model start-up costs.

Interestingly, a new thinkpad based around the dimensions of the X60 keyboard would be less than 10mm wider than a HP mininote.....

'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet...'

[hausman]

Use the outgoing x60s motherboard... cast a new case, and you could end up with a netbook the same width as the old x60/X60s, but do away with the wristrest area...

The problem is that there is lost of "stuff" hiding under the wrist area so they can't simply chop it off. In any case, the X61 is quite small as it is. I don't see the point of chopping an inch or two off the front. Besides I'd like to see the screen as large as possible and with as high a resolution as possible. The 1024x768 on the X61 is a large step, er, stumble, backwards compared to the 1600x1200 on the T6x series. (Not saying to put 1600x1200 on a netbook but maybe 1280x1024 or 1400x1050.)

how about just add trackpoint to the S10 line....

As I understand it the TrackPoint is what distinguishes a genuine Thinkpad from other Lenovo products so they can't add it to an Ideapad. They would have to introduce something smaller than an X200/X300 price it competitively with other netbooks. One concern is doing so would cannibalize sales from X200/X300 which I imagine are far more profitable.

[bill bolton]

The term 'Netbook' is not defined at all!

That's just playing semantics. A quite clear common enough consensus about the sort of things that make up a netbook has already emerged (and that includes price points), and what you have described doesn't fit the common usage.

Using existing X60 parts that can be built in existing factories on existing production lines would speed up construction

The X60 is a dead product, there are no longer "existing" production facilities of any sort for it.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[OldManClayton]

It's semantics on both sides. I wouldn't say that there's a common consensus with definite (or even close to definite) boundaries yet, at least not among people who are really computer knowledgeable. Ordinary Joe would probably call anything small a netbook nowadays, because of the popularity of the term, and most techies have varying opinions on where the cap for netbook status is.

Regardless, another small thinkpad would be the greatest.

[ajkula66]

OldManClayton wrote:

Regardless, another small thinkpad would be the greatest.

Personally, what I'd love to see is a 240Z with newer innards...1024x768 on a 10.4" is good enough for me...

[bill bolton]

It's semantics on both sides. I wouldn't say that there's a common consensus with definite (or even close to definite) boundaries yet, at least not among people who are really computer knowledgeable.

• Netbooks are one of the hottest consumer product categories in the consumer technology industry.
  Consumer product strategists want to know how many consumers are interested in netbooks and
  whether these inexpensive devices will cannibalize sales of more expensive laptops. Forrester’s data
  shows that more than a third of US consumers are interested in netbooks as a second or third PC that
  they could use while on the go, while a quarter of consumers would consider giving them to their
  children. Netbooks are therefore more than just cheap alternatives that can hurt sales of traditional PCs —
  rather, they serve a distinct purpose. In fact, netbooks represent a third form factor in the consumer PC
  space, in addition to laptops and desktops. Consumer product strategists should reinforce the idea that
  netbooks are complements to, rather than replacements for, traditional PCs through their product
  development and marketing strategies.

Extracted from Netbooks Are The Third PC Form Factor, J. P. Gownder, Forrester Research, January 6, 2009,


Cheers,

Bill B.

[OldManClayton]

Ok, but that doesn't say anything about the definite limits of a netbook's specs... O_o

[hausman]

the definite limits of a netbook's specs.

Like beauty, that's in the eyes of the beholder

[OldManClayton]

Indeed. The only definite thing seems to be the Intel Atom or VIA nano, which is what goes a long way toward making the low prices that characterize netbooks.

Although generally anything over a 12" screen would be contested as a netbook, there's nothing that says a netbook has to be itty bitty. A netbook is a low-end notebook (that would at least be considered ultraportable) that's intended for light internet use and toting around, right?

But that's not what this topic is about. XD I really would love a thinkpad netbook...

[bill bolton]

Ok, but that doesn't say anything about the definite limits of a netbook's specs

That's just the excutive summary of the report. The report does cover the topic of defining netbooks.

The point here is that there is a widely accepted definition!

Cheers,

Bill B.

[OldManClayton]

A widely accepted opinion? Everyone has a different view of what a netbook's limits in size should be... but isn't by definition of the name, a netbook something that's just smaller and lower-powered? Logically the size cutoff can't be all that large, but we're not talking that large here.

Why exactly would a keyboard the size of an x60's make something not a netbook? It's not that big. There's a general limit on the size of a netbook, but this shouldn't automatically bump it out of the category. (Not saying the x60 keyboard is the best choice, just wondering why you think something has to be too small to be usable to fit the netbook status.)

Here's something interesting: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2009/01/22 ... a-netbook/ I confess I haven't read the other article, but gottabemobile kills my old computer.