Lenovo needs a Thinkpad Netbook

Imagine a netbook with all the sensibilities of a thinkpad, complete with a responsive keyboard, solid chassis, eraser-head pointer, and a 10" screen. Oh wait, it exists:





It's a Thinkpad 240X from nearly a decade ago. If lenovo were to update this subnotebook to modern specs, I suspect that it would sell very well given the thinkpad line's popularity.

If Lenovo wanted to separate themselves from the pack even further, offer the quality components that other netbooks refuse to use: Atom 330 dual core CPU, Nvidia Ion with 9400M graphics, and a 1366x768 resolution screen.

EDIT: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2345975,00.asp

Ahahahaha they're listening!!!

 

x200 and x300 not good enough?

 

12 and 13 inch laptops are not considered netbooks. I think netbooks are usually 10-inch or less.

 

I love the Thinkpad design, looking at those pics I wouldn't have been able to tell that the netbook was from a decade ago!

[aside from the obvious old Windows logo, etc.]

 

No, it doesn't. Netbooks are NOT Thinkpads.

 

I more/less agree with Renee, netbooks can stay with the Ideapad lineup.
I'm not satisfied a netbook (at least what I've seen) would meet the standards for the market thinkpads are designed and built for.

 

LOL! Those are the most expensive netbooks I've ever seen!

 

I have a Lenovo netbook, and though I like it, I also agree that given the normal price point of an average netbook ($450 and below, averaging $3-400), I'm not sure you could engineer ThinkPad quality into one.

 

I'll just consider the x61/s to be a netbook...considering dell has a great than 10in+ netbook.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing a return of either the s30 or 701c with modern components. They had 10" screens and great keyboard (the 701c was even a Butterfly). Naturally, I wouldn't expect these to be at a <$500 price point.

Here is an s30 next to a T23.

 

I would love a netbook with the trackpoint nib on the keyboard.

 

Not interested. If I'm going to carry a bag with a computer in it, it is going to be large enough for serious work.

Now, IBM -did- make a machine that is worthy of copying into an ultra mobile computing device with modern hardware. The PC110.
http://www.basterfield.com/pc110/pc110idx.htm

Way way way ahead of it's time. It still has no real modern equivalent.

 

There is no netbook Thinkpad, and there shouldn't be. Those who want portability and a Thinkpad can already buy an ultraportable which combine the power or a normal notebook with the size of the netbook. The only disadvantage of ultraportables is their price, and Thinkpads have, if anything, a slightly upmarket brand.

A netbook ideapad would on the other hand make perfect sense, and allow nearly the same entry into the market.

 

Lenovo can keep the fancy-schmancy black casing and the titanium rollcage. All I want is a trackpoint and a keyboard that takes up most of the space on the bottom half!

That S30 is hot as hell, thanks for posting that. I'd love to see it next to an X20 (same hardware) though.

 

Dang, that S30 is crazy cool. 1024x768 screen resolution? I hope that I'm not alone in hoping for a refresh of this computer with modern components.

 

I like the jutting-out keyboard. Really shows the amount of thought they put into making it tiny yet usable.

 

It had a 10.4" XGA (1024x768) display, and generally did a great job of not wasting any space. Unfortunately, it was never offered outside of the Asia/Pacific market. Most of the models had Japanese keyboards like this one:



You might want to read more about it on ThinkWiki.

 

Comes with iTry!

iTried so hard, and got so far...

 

The best thing about it is that it is 4:3!!! Looks really nice!!!

 

Wow that S30 is one interesting looking notebook...............They could bring that back just change the styling more modern, thats sweet though

 

Styling? Looks like a thinkpad, just tiny. Unless you mean the thinness.

 

You actually need to look at the Top cover. The s30 is unique because it had a Piano Black Glossy top cover, as opposed to the normal rubberized matte. It also has interesting styling because of the way the keyboard juts out the side.

 

S30 is amazing!

Lenovo!
Make it matte'n'widescreen, call it X100, sell it now!

 

If Lenovo can bring back the butterfly keyboard, they will rule the netbooks world.
But even that, I don't care for those pathetic, little laptops

No they don't. What the hell for?

 

I agree that a ThinkPad netbook probably doesn't make any sense for Lenovo. To design a netbook of ThinkPad quality, would make for a product that would be significantly more expensive than the typical netbook. Though it may be worth it to those who would like to see it, it probably wouldn't appeal to enough people at that price point to justify a new product line.

It would be like Randy Quaid's lawn mower in that movie, Neighbors - a Chevy big block 350 with dual exhaust mounted on a riding mower for about .01 acres of lawn.

 

"Pathetic little laptops" ?

Haha someone has their emotions showing!

 

I know what he means since I feel that same way. Once you've had a thinkpad in your hands, you know what a real instrument is.
-Renee

 

Doesn't have to be a thinkpad. Those netbooks are kids' toys. At price range $300 and below they are alright. But since every other manufacturers start making little laptops and charge higher price, then it becomes pathetic.

 

I've owned a Thinkpad X20 and seen an X300 in the store. My NC10 feels almost as well-built as either.

 

I just think it is idiotic to put a tiny, worthless touchpad on such a small computer when it is practically begging for a trackpoint. It would just be ideal on a small computer.

I understand that there might be patent issues etc, but it is just so much more convenient to be able to use the mouse without moving the hands from the keyboard. If the samsung NC10 had a trackpoint I would by one right this instant.

Then again, I'm of those guys that always lugs around a whole backpack full of crap, so i might as well stick to my 15.4'..

 

Han Bao Quan.
Your right, it doesnt have to be a thinkpad, but thats been the only tool I had in my life is a computer and the thinkpad is nice.
-Renee

 

yeah I got ya

 

I wanted a 240x, 240z, or s30 for a long time. I liked my x23 but wanted smaller. Then I realized that unless I got a 240z or s30, I was going to have 800x600 res, and both of those are pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to find since they were not imported to the states. And I was always looking for a decent deal on a 512MB ram stick for the x23 because those pc133 SODIMMs have been very expensive (about $100) for a long time. And then my x23 screen started getting vertical lines in it...not bad and not enough to justify fixing.

So then along comes the S10. Add 2gb ram for $20 and internal bluetooth for another $20 and i'm still right about the same price as adding 512MB to my X23 and getting a new screen. For the price I got the low end S10e for it was a very easy decision.

The only thing i'm missing really is the trackpoint. I do REALLY miss the trackpoint.

 

I have to agree. If the S10 had a trackpoint, I would already own one. But I use the trackpoint, so no trackpoint, no note/net book.

 

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2345975,00.asp

Oh nice, looks like they've listened.

 

The problem is that the cost savings in the netbook field come not just from sticking an Atom processor in there, but from using lower quality construction and components. If the Thinkpad brand stands largely for high quality construction and components, then you have yourself an unavoidable contradiction.

If anything, a Thinkpad "netbook" would not look like the Mini 1000s and Aspire One's of the world, it would look (and cost) closer to Sony's VAIO P offering.

 

They already have X200 for that (or close to it) price.

If everyone else can make a netbook for $300-350, they can make one for $550.