New Calpella Lenovo's coming in January?

Link

 

Several comments:
1.- Apparently, Lenovo is adding 10 to every model instead of following the old convention of adding 1, like with the X300 --> X301
2.- Also, the X301 is missing from the roadmap
3.- The T410 is listed with "Int" (integrated) and "Hybrid" (discrete + integrated) graphics, but the T510 is listed with "Int" and "Dis" (discrete only?). I hope that's just a typo.
4.- Also, the T510 is also listed in the W-series in addition to the T-series, so I think that may be a typo. Or, it may be replacing the W500, but what would be the rationale behind that...?

 

5. and no R410/R510?

 

Since the Tx00 series has both integrated and discrete graphics now for switchable GPUs, it should be the same for Tx10 series. The hybrid probably means you can use both GPUs together for more power than just the discrete card.

 

Microsoft seems to be discouraging Hybrid graphics with windows 7

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=2942

Will it work?

 

Guys, what will be the major changes for us ? Will they be so great ?

 

The advantages of Calpella over Montevina had been discussed earlier: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=347647

Other changes could include a slightly better current generation graphics chip (Radeon HD5xxx would be on the shelves by then) and possibly support for USB 3.0 on some high end models if mass production of controllers gets underway in the coming months.

 

... and quadcore with HT (Clarksfield)

 

This is what we know until now about Mobile Core i7:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=390986

 

i'm waiting for a calpella T400s.

 

I expect it’ll most definitely work. Microsoft discourages this because they don’t officially support it—and the switchable graphics are really just a hack. It leverages some newer plug and play functionality in Windows Vista and higher to “inject” graphic cards into the system—something akin to adding a removing a USB memory stick.

Truthfully, I’ve never been a fan of this technology—and find it sad, yet laughable, that companies like Lenovo try to attach all sorts of Intellectual Property to the feature. To top it all off, it’s poorly implemented. If the main idea is to conserve battery power, the feature should automatically switch to the integrated card when on battery—I shouldn’t need to push a silly button (software or otherwise) to do so.

 

Too bad the SL300 looks like it hits its EOL in October, that leaves no 13" laptop from Lenovo under $3,000 and that's my favorite screen size/form factor. Oh well, not that I'd buy an SL300 anyway. It's also interesting that the R400 will be allowed to just languish and not get updated, at this point the R-series is a confusing entry given the already pretty low price point of a T-series and the SL400.

January is terrible timing for new releases, everyone wants to buy at Christmas and it pains people knowing that in 2-months something new will be out. Oh well, I guess companies that buy laptops are the main target and they could care less about any religious holidays.

 

I disagree. I may not want to use integrated graphics on battery --I may wish to choose.

Intel integrated graphics have one strength alone --battery life. Until others' discrete GPUs can match them in TDP, this solution is a great one. I like being able to have a choice --perhaps Microsoft should work to let customers have that choice available to them.

 

thank you for this information! tempting to wait for next year, but i need a notebook by the fall, so looks like it will be current-generation for me. i wonder if i could stand getting by for half a year on a super-cheap junker? hmmm

 

They should do both—allow it to be automatic or allow one to choose. All discrete notebook cards today have the ability to switch to a low-power mode when on battery—so until the switchable system can automatically switch to the integrated card when on battery, I consider this half-baked.

 

does this mean that R series is going to get a discrete graphics option? Says Int and Dis on the bars there.

 

There may be certain issues with this, although I'm not sure. There has to be a reason why none of the switchable graphics systems I've seen have an automatically switching feature.

Personally, though, I would disable it - I prefer switching manually.

 

If it did, it would most certainly be a low end card as price is everything with the R series, can't see why adding a $200 - $300 card upgrade would make sense.

Could well be a typo, as noted by the T500 showing up under the W series.

 

I've heard the next generation integrated Intel graphics might not be too bad (OK, I'm not a gamer), so second the interest in a T410s.

 

Any word on "ThinkPad" netbooks?

 

ATI started shipping switchable graphics for desktops on their own site starting Catalyst 9.4. In their version you can use Catalyst Center to either manually switch between integrated and discrete or automatically when you go to/from battery.

I downloaded Catalyst 9.4 and successfully did a selective install (first using the mobility modder beta update) of only Catalyst Center 9.4 still using the Lenovo switchable graphics driver.

Used this combination for a couple of weeks and decided at least for me the automatic switch was not a good idea. (I move between serveral AC power locations and don't really want the switch for just a minute or two in between.

 

Very cool—thanks. I did not know this existed and might have to play around with it.

 

For what?
They have the ideapad for that. Leave the thinkpad alone.

 

I would love to see a ThinkPad with a screen in 4:3 ratio again. I don't think it will ever happen but to me this is more important than anything else. Therefore I will hang on to my current T61 as long as I can

 

2 months since the previous post...anyone heard any spec details on these new models?

I'm looking forward to the T410 - primarily want to see a kickass discrete GPU and hopefully USB 3.0. Also would be nice to have a HDMI port, improved weight, and that the screen is centered!

 

I would like to see them un-cripple the sound. They crippled it in (at least) the T61 and T400/500 series.

 

the T420 will be cool

 

the T510 in place of W510 is definitely a typo. I'm wondering why other Thinkpads wouldn't have hybrid graphics too. Maybe it's because the others will use ATI graphics and ATI won't support it in time?

 

Eh where can I buy one those crystal balls you got?