New Thinkpad Line up

Hello everyone,

Any idea as to when the new Thinkpad T and W series laptops will come out?

After the general bad reviews of the existing ones I am hoping for a re designed version.

 

Thinkpad T440s and the X240 series were announced September of last year. Therefore, new Thinkpads should be announced the same month.

 

T440s was already announced in July 2013 (as well as the Asia-only X240s) - though the big release was indeed in September 2013.

Lenovo releases new ThinkPads when Intel releases a new CPU plattform. This years plattform, Broadwell, was originally planned for the end of Q2 / late spring. As it was so, the new Broadwell ThinkPads (T450s) were originally planned for Summer to be announced. But due to difficulties with the new CPUs (since they are 14nm), Broadwell was delayed to Q4 / end of the year.

So, we may see new ThinkPads announced in Fall - maybe on IFA 2014 here in Germany - which will be available in November or December. But, this should be only the models with ULV CPUs (Core i3/i5/i7-5xxxU and Core M). This would mean the New X1 Carbon updated with Broadwell, the successor to the ThinkPad Helix, T450s, X250, T450, S450/S550 if you take the existing lineup - with the possible extention of a T550.

Higher Voltage chips won´t come out before 2015 - which means no Quad-Core Broadwell Notebooks until then. This would mean that models like the W540, the T440p and the T540p won´t be updated until Q1 2015 - possible announcement would be the CES 2015 (see the rumored T1 and W1...).

 

So buying a T440s now is a bad idea?

 

No, I wouldn´t say so. Even if the T450s is going to be announced in September, it won´t be available then. Buying the T440s now is only a bad idea if you want to wait 5 months +...and the T440s is a great ThinkPad, no reason not to buy one. If you need it now, buy it now.

 

I was on buying a laptop from till August and see what's out there on the market.

 

Why wait for a company to release a product? Unless that product is very "special" in one way or another, there are alternatives. Plus, there is no guarantee that the next line of Thinkpads will be any better. Better means whatever qualities you're looking for. If you want to buy now, there are alternatives. Maybe even better ones for your situation - who knows.

 

i think improvements for thinkpads are done with, only thing you will see upgrades in are hardware where are irrelevant to thinkpads because all companies will see those upgrades

 

Well I'm hoping (maybe in vain) that the T450s will have a proper trackpoint/touchpad, and hopefully 2 memory slots instead of 1 slot + 4GB soldered.

 

Could You suggest alternatives to thinkpads? I am looking for durable laptops some thing that will stay with me for 4 years of my PhD studies, with processing power equivalent to the W540

 

As a direct competitor, you should probably compare it with the Dell Precision M3800: Review Dell Precision M3800 Workstation - NotebookCheck.net Reviews

There might also be a comparable HP Elitebook.

 

The next generation of ThinkPads will have dedicated buttons. (confirmed my multiple lenovo employees)

 

Not that I doubt you, but I'll believe it when I see it...

 

That would mean a real come back of the thinkpads...
I also hope that the capacitive strip will be removed on the x1 and replaced with a proper 14" keyboard. That + dedicated buttons for the trackpad!

 

Thank god if this is true. Lucky for me I was waiting until the next release to upgrade. Hopefully the T450s will become the x301 successor I've been waiting for.

 

Can those employees confirm a reliable release date

 

Whenever the next generation models get released (X2507T450) which again depends on when Intel releases Broadwell.

 

I think my T420 is adequate for now, but I'll definitely need a new laptop when I start working on my thesis in December. I was thinking of getting the T440s now, but I guess it's safer to wait, right?
I'm not sure what will be out there around Oct/Nov... and prices too are an issue...haha

 

Thank god. I unfortunately needed a computer sooner than that and ended up buying a T440s, but at least the touchpad is tolerable on here if you're fine with tapping - plus scrolling and moving the cursor is quite smooth on here. The trackpoint, on the other hand... let's just say I went from using that all the time on the x120e to not using it at all on the t440s because of the buttons. I guess I'll just have to live with it for the next several years (or however long I keep the t440s for). One issue though - click and drag seems pretty tricky on the new clickpad. Either I click and drag with one finger and rely on edgemotion, or I use 2 (one like it's a regular button) and hope it doesn't glitch on me (which seems to happen more than I'd like at times).

 

Thanks to Intel´s major incompetence, the release of all new ThinkPads with Broadwell might slip even further: Wide availability of Intel’s ‘Broadwell’ chips slips to 2015 | KitGuru Broadwell was supposed to be out by now originally...this could mean the CES 2015 might be even more important when it somes to new ThinkPads.

 

You mean Dell M4800; not M3800; that can be compared to W530, not W540.

Then they might just as well return:
-Proper keyboard layout
-eSata port
-Indicator lights

And then we finally have something... like a *20 series with new hardware.

Now if they were to get rid of that chalkboard and put in some 16:10 / 3:2 screens...

 

I'm wondering, if the new Intel processors are due Q1 2015, what will lenovo or other manufacturers will have by this fall??

 

What about centered keyboards? Any chance to see them back too? I honestly would pay a reasonable preamium for a keyboard without numpad...

 

Your best bet would be the W1 which can only offer a centered keyboard because of its 3:2 display. But so far it's only a rumor.

 

It's more like their fibbing than incompetence. They do this every year. Intel promised Broadwell units in circulation for the fall but before the holidays at the latest. I don't think the company ever really intended to meet those goals, as it is still pushing new versions of the Haswell out to the public. 2015 introduction at CES is a good bet.

W1 with a 3:2 display. Where have I been? Guess I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for that.

 

I call fake on that W1. Everyone and his dog can create such a foggy picture in under an hour with Photoshop.

And if it's supposedly from "customer feedback" they would have put back the 7-row keyboard too, along with RAM slots instead of soldered RAM.

#fake

 

I think I'll add a big "I told you so" sign to my sig if the W1 does get released after all.

 

Yes, it is: Intel Core M ç¶æŒ 2014 年登å´ï¼Œ14nm Broadwell 爆發期將在 2015 上半 - VR-Zone ä¸æ–‡ç‰ˆ

That would mean you won´t see a single Broadwell Ultrabook until 2015 on the market (which is expected). But worse, the H-chips, that would be used for the QUad-Core machines (L-Series, T440p, T540p and W540) are even further delayed, they might arrive on the market in one year from now (!)

Intel...

I would say incompetence - if you look closely, Core M will be released in E-stepping - and then in F-stepping, meaning the other Broadwell chips will also come in F-stepping on the market. Normaly, you have A-, B- and C-stepping. That would mean they already had A, B, C and D-steppings, indicating that they have real serious problems with Broadwell....

 

Has nothing to do with incompetence. It's just that their 1-year cycle turns out to be a bit too short. In 2012 Ivy Bridge was just a little bit too late; in 2012 Haswell was later still, so that a lot of educational institutions went with Ivy Bridge laptops for their freshmen again.

Feel free to do so. Although if they keep the castration of I/O ports, missing indicator lights and moronic 6 row keyboard together, soldered RAM, soldered battery... your victory is very minor.

 

New model number leak through the Lenovo Website: http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/mx4ltnc01ww.txt

 

I wonder what the difference between the L450 Tx and Rx is.

 

Yeah, me too. Also, it seems the ThinkPad Yoga was quite a success for Lenovo, considering they will then have an entire 12"-15" lineup of ThinkPad Yoga devices.

 

The ThinkPad Yoga didn't actually sell all that well, albeit better than the X240 for example. Many units got returned due to customer complaints such as ghosting of the screen, touchpad noise and minor build quality issues. Lenovo released a new version that was supposed to address these issues, though the one I examined still had ghosting. (but luckily none of the other problems I mentioned)

Sometimes I wonder if customers just have impossible standards these days. Anyway, the IdeaPad Yoga on other hand really does sell very well. IMHO lenovo is just really trying to push their Yoga concept, which I think is a good idea. It has potential and the fact that every other manufacturer is copying their design has to mean something. I do wonder what it's like though to hold a 14 or 15" tablet in your hand. The 12" ThinkPad Yoga was already quite heavy, not sure how people are going to manage 14", let alone 15".

 

Well, if you have a 15" Convertible, it is likely that you won´t use Tablet mode very often - but still, you have this ability if you want to use it (for example. couch usage). Also, you can use it in Tent mode, which is nice for using the touchscreen.

Maybe. People want to pay as little as possible but expect the best quality possible. But these days, notebooks do not cost thousands of thousands of Euro/Dollar anymore, it is just impossible to have a 1000 € notebook with the same quality as an old 5000 € notebook. And the people don´t want to pay these prices anymore...

 

Back in the day when notebooks were far more expensive, they were built to higher standard, but as prices have fallen, something's got give. Now you can look at this two ways - notebooks are not as well built(bad), which I'm not even sure is true in this internet age where people have many more platforms to voice their displeasure that makes things seem worse than are in reality. The flip side is many more people have notebooks who couldn't have afforded them in the past because of the high prices(good). I would also argue from a cost benefit analysis, you get far better bang for buck than you did in the golden age.

My X220i I bought for $700 out the door is a far better notebook than any ThinkPad I could have bought 10 years ago, at 1/3 the cost. I'd call that a pretty impressive achievement. Same for my Dell.

 

I'm sorry, but I don't agree on impossible standards... when you mess with core properties (like screen, keyboard, connectivity) and add a bunch of gummics and shiny stuff, then consumers should complain... and not once.

The "more affordable card", should not be the Ace card... because you still get to sell more, so you gain by quantity.

I think it's just business as usual, as in any other industry, sell whatever sells and maximize profits... all that consumers can do is to complain.

Just my 0.02....

 

You can argue about the changes Lenovo has made, but Lenovo has to sell enough notebooks, otherwise they go out of business, which benefits no one. I'm just as disappointed as anyone about the new trackpoint, but one can make a good in some ways argument the new ThinkPads are better. You can get a IPS on every premium ThinkPad sold today. For a long time they were all junk, outside of the tablets. Lenovo has a bit of a catch-22 here. Long time ThinkPadders love the trackpoint, but the vast majority users either don't like or don't have exposure to the stick and would be hesitant to do so. What does Lenovo do if it wants to expand its market share? I wish they found a better answer so I didn't have to buy a Dell, but they didn't. The market is very cost conscious and you have the whole tablet market they're competing against as well. They probably can't sell enough premium notebooks to stay afloat. ThinkPadders aren't the drink the Kool-Aid type. Every time they raise prices to offer something better, it most likely costs them sales. It's just a very different market than when I hope some point down the road they'll find a way to placate us stick users, but we'll see.

 

Yes, they will. By bringing back the dedicated TrackPoint buttons.

Also, it seems the Adaptive Keyboard will go the way of the Dodo...

 

You have any more information on this?

I would love to buy a new X1 Carbon with the trackpoint buttons back + removing the adaptive keyboard.

 

I find the new keyboard layout on the X1 Carbon far more problematic than the trackpad and "adaptive" keyboard.

Edit: Now that I think about it I guess that having no function keys is equally bad.

 

They keyboard layout of the X1 Carbon was changed because of the Adaptive Keyboard, so these two things are connected.

The keyboard layout of the 2013 models (T440s/X240) should be pretty much final and is here to stay for future models I think.

 

If only. Until a leak proves otherwise, it seems clear the TrackPoint buttons are gone for good.

 

Any ideas on when we'll start seeing more info like specs, release date, photos, etc.? I'm interested in seeing how the X250 and T450s will turn out.

 

Intel next gen CPU won't be out till Q1 2015. You should buy now if you need a laptop or want on. I also don't see what new features the could change beside a better CPU and larger battery. Sure they "might" bring the old trackpoint back (doubt it).

The following parts seem perfect: Case, Keyboard (ignoring 7th row), screen (AOU), ports, wifi, storage options. How else can they improve on this beautiful machine? 4k screen? pci-express ssd? 16GB Ram?

 

I'm using an X201 for now so I'd like to upgrade but it's not urgent.

My biggest problems with the X240 are the clickpad and the lack of dual channel memory. Only 2 USB ports is also a little underwhelming. It also costs more (and weighs more) than a comparable Macbook Air, but I have no reason to choose the Thinkpad since it lacks what made the previous X series models worth buying.

I'd also like to have the 1080p screen option without having to go with a touchscreen. I'm not sure if that's available in other regions, but it doesn't seem to be in Canada.

 

I hope they get a clue and go back to 16:10 screens, like Apple uses (Lenovo copied Apple’s lackluster Chiclet keyboard—maybe they’ll copy Apple’s revolutionary 16:10 screen size next!).

 

You seem to lack knowledge of the Chiclet keyboard. Sony was the first to use Chiclet keyboard.

 

Sure but I agree with him, if Lenovo was copying Sony they would have done it long time ago. It may have been Sony who used it first, it was only after Apple adopted it that all the other manufacturers started moving to it.

The clickpad is just another example of manufacturers copying Apple, even though that's not necessarily what their customers want (I certainly did not enjoy using it).

 

Lenovo does not use the same Clickpad as Apple. Apple uses the cheaper hinged Clickpad, whereas Lenovo uses the high end model which can be pressed down anywhere. Also I think it is very unlikely that they will move to 16:10. They offer 16:10 on some of their tablets (TPT8 + 10) but for notebooks I'd expect them to move to 3:2 on at least some models.

 

I moved from X201 to T440s (non-touch, AUO) about 9 months ago. I had X200 before that. I considered X240 but ultimately decided that I didn't want an even smaller machine and T440s is only slightly bigger (but thinner) than X201. 1080p on 14" is pretty much perfect. Also, as a programmer the X240 keyboard was a deal breaker for me -- I need the function keys so the FnLock must stay on but then you have to press Fn+Insert to get End and I need all the navigation keys to be easily accessible. On T440s, Insert and End are separate so it's not a problem. Additional USB port and an option to have more RAM (got 12 GB) were nice bonuses. The only part I didn't like was the clickpad but it kind of grew on me over time. Really enjoy using this computer nowadays.