ThinkPad X212 wishlist

[Jason404]

It's been a while since the Tx10 models came out, so do you think the X201 replacement will be called the X211?

Anyway, this is not much of a list, as the I don't want any big changes from the X20x, but I do want:

• No isolated (Scrabble-style) keyboards. They are truly awful.
  
  High quality IPS/AFFS/PVA/whatever screens (please!), so that I can use Adobe Lightroom while mobile. It would also be nice if the screens were a little bit bigger, to make the bezel slimmer, but I supose that might not be possible.
  
  High capacity SSD options. Third-generation Intel SSDs, preferably.

That's it. The recipe for the best laptop in the world.

[penartur]

No isolated (Scrabble-style) keyboards. They are truly awful.

Do you mean that keyboards should be like they are now?

I second your IPS wish.
Also, i'd like to see hybrid storage on it (ssd for speed and power efficiency + hdd for capacity). It is relatively easy thing for lenovo, but it is too hard to do such an aftermarket upgrade (smallest SSDs with relative good speeds i've found are in t-style form-factor, occupying two "medium" minipci-e sockets, so such an upgrade on my X200s would require from me moving wifi adapter to third "short" minipci-e socket, re-routing wifi cables and programming the bios so that it would accept non-authorized minipci-e card in a "medium" socket).
Also, looking on that display frame complaints in "x200 vs x61" thread, i'd like to see 13" screen in the same chasssis (=same dimensions and same weight).
Well, that's it, actually there is not so much to improve).

[pianowizard]

There's no doubt that the screen would have a 16:9 aspect ratio. For a 12.1" 16:9 display, I would like to have a 1600x900 resolution, whose pixel density would be 151.72 DPI. As a reference point, my HP 5101's 10.1" 1366x768 screen is 155.16 DPI.

As far as the panel type, I want a high-end TN panel, which would be nearly as good as IPS for my needs but which would consume a bit less power and perhaps maintain its brightness for longer.

Finally, I hope the weight can be under 2.2 lb, and the AC adapter can be made really small.

UPDATE: One more thing. I want the display bezel to be really thin, like that of the X40.

[Jason404]

@penartur
I forgot about SSDs on a PCIe card. I did not know they were even available yet, but hybrid storage would be excellent.

@pianowizard
Check out the Lenovo 90W travel adaptor. My friend has one and I've been looking out for a cheap used one on eBay, as they are ridiculously expensive.

[penartur]

@penartur
I forgot about SSDs on a PCIe card. I did not know they were even available yet, but hybrid storage would be excellent.

They were available a long ago; the problem is that usually these are either 7cm long (x200s has two 5cm sockets and one 3cm socket) or with a poor performance. You can check e.g. runcore ssds.
Also, i've thought of purchasing chinese minipci-e sata controller for 3cm unlocked socket (so that it wouldn't require bios modification) and routing the sata cable to expresscard socket, modified so that it would fit common 1.8" microsata SSD... but iirc that would require demolishing that projecting part of expresscard/54 socket, and someway glueing ssd to that socket, and someway routing bare cables under the keyboard, and after all that i'm still not sure if it will be possible to boot off such ssd (bios certainly won't allow it, and i'm not sure whther some bootloader installed on hdd will see that minipci-e sata controller)... so all this ssd plans are pointless.
However, it should be no problem for lenovo to implement one of that ways.

[penartur]

There's no doubt that the screen would have a 16:9 aspect ratio. For a 12.1" 16:9 display, I would like to have a 1600x900 resolution, whose pixel density would be 151.72 DPI. As a reference point, my HP 5101's 10.1" 1366x768 screen is 155.16 DPI.

As far as the panel type, I want a high-end TN panel, which would be nearly as good as IPS for my needs but which would consume a bit less power and perhaps maintain its brightness for longer.

BTW, you can look at the end of this thread, there are great TN screens for laptops with 165dpi... but only 7.2".
Such a panel scaled to 13" would result in FullHD resolution.

[pianowizard]

there are great TN screens for laptops with 165dpi... but only 7.2".
Such a panel scaled to 13" would result in FullHD resolution.

Of course there are great TN panels available, but Lenovo has not been using them in the X series. I have seen excellent TN screens on Sony laptops, even on some budget models such as the low-end PCG-K23 that I had.

[harrigan]

I think ExpressCard/54 would be a great addition to the Ultrabase. It would give the end user a lot of flexibility in how they could configure their docked set up.

It's probably not realistic, but I'd like to see a dd-wrt capable wireless router crammed into the Ultrabase.

[ZaZ]

High quality IPS/AFFS/PVA/whatever screens (please!), so that I can use Adobe Lightroom while mobile. It would also be nice if the screens were a little bit bigger, to make the bezel slimmer, but I suppose that might not be possible.

High capacity SSD options. Third-generation Intel SSDs, preferably.

Make you're own X200 or X201 with the AFFS screen mod or get a tablet. Those will certainly offer you a very good screen. Usually it's cheaper to upgrade the hard to a SSD than buying it from Lenovo.

[jl123]

Of course we need to KEEP the famous and renowned thinkpad Keyboard as well as improve the screen and memory options. That all goes almost without saying. However....what I'd really like to see is an entirely new chassis. One that dovetails nicely with words the head of the thinkpad design team made recently that their R&D was focused on making thinkpads even more durable.

With that said I think its time for a whole new chassis that brings us back to older thinkpad quality and yet improves durability even further; further serving to separate the thinkpad as THE business notebook of choice- bar none. As it stands right now HP's line is pretty much right there in terms of quality.

Yes a whole new chassis with more metal and strategic use of carbon-fiber and the most advanced roll cage design they can make, something that can pass the tougher MIL-STD-810G drop procedure used by the military. A standard which current thinkpads currently don't make, but could with a bit of good engineering.

We need a new X series that keeps the over-all feeling and look but is clear to all as being NEW and fresh. J

[Jason404]

After seeing the new L-series (R-series replacement) models, I think the new X-series model will be called the X212.

And I thought of another thing I hope to see: USB3. I'm not sure if this is a standard part of the Huron River chipset.

[ov_Darkness]

USB3 +1

AFFS WXGA+ +1

Less flex in the chassis and that's all, I think.
Perfect 12" laptpo.

[penartur]

USB3 +1

AFFS WXGA+ +1

Less flex in the chassis and that's all, I think.
Perfect 12" laptpo.

DisplayPort onboard, hybrid storage, gorgeous 13" FullHD screen (i don't care whether it would be TN or AFFS until contrast ratio, saturation and brightness are great and viewing angles are acceptable), no flex in "Esc/F1" keys area.. and i guess that's all.

[Jason404]

A 13" screen would make it the X312, and they have already said that the X3xx series is discontinued. I certainly do not want the X series to get bigger.

[aceo07]

1. Higher quality screen. Higher resolution 1440x900 or higher.
2. Lighter. Especially lighter tablet.
3. Better battery life.

[penartur]

they have already said that the X3xx series is discontinued

X3xx series has pretty nothing in common with 13" X212 version i'm talking about.

I certainly do not want the X series to get bigger.

That was exactly my point. I was talking about X200 chassis with a different upper lid assembly, with 13" screen and narrower screen bezel.

[Jason404]

Well, the first number in the name tells what size the screen is...

X100e - 11.6"
X200 - 12.1"
X300 - 13.3"
T400 - 14.1"
T500 - 15.4"
W700 - 17"

...so they would have to change the number to X31x even if they did keep the size the same.

[pianowizard]

I guess if you really want the X2** to get a larger screen, a 12.99" screen would still allow it to be called an X2**.

[penartur]

Well, the first number in the name tells what size the screen is...

X100e - 11.6"
X200 - 12.1"
X300 - 13.3"
T400 - 14.1"
T500 - 15.4"
W700 - 17"

...so they would have to change the number to X31x even if they did keep the size the same.

I don't argue with it; but would you refuse to purchase such a laptop just because its model number starts with X3?
Or did lenovo said that they're not only cancelling current X30x line, but also never will produce another X3xx?

[Anonymo]

Need Nvidia Optimus in here or with a manual switch.

[penartur]

Need Nvidia Optimus in here or with a manual switch.

Do not want.
If you need discrete nvideo gpu, go with T410.

[Jason404]

Yeah, ultraportables are all about mobility and battery life. Not hardware accelerated 3D applications and games.

[Anonymo]

Yeah, ultraportables are all about mobility and battery life. Not hardware accelerated 3D applications and games.

But this gives you the option to turn it off and on.

[Jason404]

The majority of X-series are bought in large quantities by large firms. X-series are not workstation laptops, like T and W series, so don't get your hopes up.

[erik]

The majority of X-series are bought in large quantities by large firms. X-series are not workstation laptops, like T and W series, so don't get your hopes up.

that's also the same reason why you aren't likely to see IPS/AFFS/PVA panels.   besides, this is a wish list after all.   it's only fair to let others wish, too.

if you need an X series for lightroom then buy an X200T/X201T with the frameless display.   not only will you gain a great display but you'll always have a drawing tablet with you for retouching images.   in my opinion, it's better than having a wacom cintiq 12WX.

[jdrou]

No reason they couldn't make an 'ultraportable workstation' though. The X201 is smaller than the Dell/Alienware M11x R2 and has a faster CPU and larger screen. Just needs a switchable GPU squeezed in as an option. If there's no way to make it fit in the X200 footprint then give it a 13" screen and call it an X310 or X350 (or some new label to indicate it isn't really a replacement for the X300).

Also agree with the USB 3, 1440x900 or higher screen option, and DisplayPort onboard.
I see Seagate has hybrid HDDs available now at NewEgg so that should certainly be an option on any future Thinkpads.

[sanjuro]

smaller LCD bezel with the largest and highest resolution LCD that can fit inside it.
Option for IPS or AFFS screen would be great.

[mulambo187]

No real buyers remorse on my X200, but I can't afford to upgrade for at least a couple more generations. Its still real good after a year, but how thin and flimsy the lid is, really really bothers me now. I want a ROCK SOLID Thinkpad in the future. I feel Lenovo really cheaped out on some aspects of the x200, mainly the chassis.

[jl123]

"but how thin and flimsy the lid is, really really bothers me now. I want a ROCK SOLID Thinkpad in the future. I feel Lenovo really cheaped out on some aspects of the x200, mainly the chassis."

Therefor again...
However....what I'd really like to see is an entirely new chassis. One that dovetails nicely with words the head of the thinkpad design team made recently that their R&D was focused on making thinkpads even more durable.

With that said I think its time for a whole new chassis that brings us back to older thinkpad quality and yet improves durability even further; further serving to separate the thinkpad as THE business notebook of choice- bar none. As it stands right now HP's line is pretty much right there in terms of quality.

Yes a whole new chassis with more metal and strategic use of carbon-fiber and the most advanced roll cage design they can make, something that can pass the tougher MIL-STD-810G drop procedure used by the military. A standard which current thinkpads currently don't make, but could with a bit of good engineering.

[ZaZ]

I don't know, my X200 seems pretty solid and I don't think I really need it to be made to a military standard. For what it costs to build it to military standards, you could probably just buy accidental coverage. I'll take the wider bezel if it means I get the full sized keyboard. Perhaps if they go 16:9 you'll get a thinner bezel.