Prettiest and Ugliest Thinkpads

What do you think is the ugliest and the prettiest thinkpad ever created?

Look at this website for a catalog and pictures of all thinkpad models to date:

Category:Models - ThinkWiki

For me,

ugliest = Thinkpad 500

Category:500 - ThinkWiki

prettiest = X61s

Category:X61s - ThinkWiki

 

I sure liked the T4x series for a while. However, I've got a Thinkpad X61 Tablet.

I couldn't comfortably go back to a single core CPU based PC.

 

Prettiest = all

Ugliest = edge keyboards

 

The Edge 220s is an extremely good looking laptop. It may not be a true Thinkpad, but it's a Thinkpad nevertheless.

 

lol I actually like the look of the edge keyboard, the typing experience might not be as good as the traditional Thinkpad keyboard.

Agree with 360 about Edge 220s being very good looking machine.

 

I like the way they look, still prefer the real thinkpad look much better, but the keyboards are horrendous and really stink to use. Honestly thats the only thing I can see wrong with the series. With a normal thinkpad keyboard they would be on par with the t w x series and would be a nice alternative for those who want different styling.

 

I disagree. I dislike how the Edge line doesn't have the full 7-row layout, but other than that, I don't see how it's so ugly. Frankly, typing feel aside, chiclet keyboards do look cleaner. I've found that the feel of the X100e's keyboard is quite nice, actually (and I would assume the same with the Edge models).

In my opinion, one of the ugliest (granted, I don't know too many of the really old Thinkpads) is probably the W701ds. There's just a limit to how bulky and thick a machine can get, and I think that behemoth crosses the line

The prettiest is probably one of the X-series machines--I'm eagerly waiting to see what the new X220 will look like.

 

liquidxit2,
Have you use the keyboard yourself. All the reviewer have like the keyboard on the Edge, maybe are just sub-par to the traditional Thinkpad Keyboards. I absolutely adore those keyboard.

MidnightSun,
The keyboard on the x100e and the Edge are mostly the same, the only difference that I know of is that the Edge have longer keystrokes.

 

I almost bought the x100e. It was the keyboard that turned me away from buying it. There has never been a chicklet keyboard that felt decent let alone good. As for looking cleaner I disagree, making the keyboard look like a pack of dentyne gum makes it look more like a toy then a business tool. But different strokes for different folks.

 

Chiclets are just plain bad keyboards. They are used purely for aesthetics.

 

Really? I know everyone has difference preferences, but that just isn't true.

 

Form meets function. I personally don't like chicklet keyboards for office work, but for entertainment, non business related stuff they are okay. I would prefer the squishy Dell keyboards found on modern Latitudes over the chicklet (like my Latitude 13).

 

This post is purely about aesthetics and not about functions, at least this is what I think the OP had in mind.

 

But they aren't aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. Like I said dentyne gum tastes good and makes your breath smell good but the look isnt attractive on a computer.

 

I think the T400 looks great from the right side when it is opened. It's the perspective that makes it have a thin look.

The symmetry of, as well as the restoration of the colored trackpoint buttons to, the T4/510 and T4/520 make them look pleasing.

In general, I think thinkpads have evolved to be sleeker. Though they are all black and look similar, the newer ones have cleaner lines.

 

The X300/X301 is still the nicest looking Thinkpad I've ever laid eyes on. It truly was an engineering masterpeice, and in an attractive form factor as well.

Chicklet keyboards drive me crazy, mainly becuase I find them positively revolting to look at, but they do work well. Not as well as my Thinkpad keyboard, mind you, but the chicklet style on the X100e I tested, and on my Google Cr-48 netbook are both far better to use than the keyboard on my mother's Vostro.

Going for the ugly side of the spectrum, I have to vote for most of the G series, especially the G41 that currently serves in my house as the kitchen-puter. It works well, and it still has that Thinkpad mojo - great keyboard, stellar trackpoint, build quality that stands the test of time. When you step back and attempt to admire it, though, the hideous wedge shape, the "bump" on the bottom that IBM tried to call a feature - something about making the computer easier to turn around on a table - all comes together in a horrendous cacophony of failure. I'd still take it over 99% of the consumer notebooks on the market today, though.

 

SL series would be the ugliest, the X301 is the prettiest.

 

I always took a shine the Z6xt machines with the titanium lids. They may have been the best wide screen ThinkPads to date.

 

I totally forgot about my Z61t, it does look pretty. It have more curves than Beyonce, which is not something found in many Thinkpads.

 

T42. When the lid is open I really like the tapered front edge, it underlines the thinness of the machine. The newer T/W series have a more rounded edge.

 

T4x series, tied with the X3x series. I like the "busy" designs of the past generations, but I also must say that the design of the T410 is quite well done.

I've got a soft spot for the T60, but that's mainly because I think they were a fitting end to the 4:3 ThinkPads -- they're a little too plain to make the "best of" list, but they really are exceptionally professional-looking machines.

 

This is what makes makes my t400 so comfortable to use. Vary boxy and sharp edges but actually the palm rest has a curvy bevel that does not hurt or dig into my wrists.

 

Prettiest: X301
Ugliest: A21m

 

Have you tried the apple keyboard? That thing is great, I actually kind of like it better than the Thinkpad keyboard. I notice I have to push the thinkpad key a little longer than using the apple keyboard. I can type really fast on the apple keyboard with less error too. I guess I must be the freak in all this keyboard stuff. I'm currently waiting for my apple keyboard to arrive

 

I also like the apple keyboard(wireless one), not so much on the macbook white. They are the same keyboard, but yet they fell so different to me.

 

I had a Apple keyboard for my Mac. I hated that thing.

 

Was it the chicklet one or the old one. I hate the old one with a passion.

 

Looked like the one on the web site now.

 

That's what I felt the first time too. Trust me spend a good few hours on it. I would have to say apple maybe has made the best keyboard ever.

Macbook keyboards do feel very different, not as good as the external keyboard.

 

I would respectfully disagree. I used mine for about a couple months before I moved on.

 

Really? Interesting. I love my apple keyboard (the chiclet one). After I sold my macbook (which included the keyboard) I ended up buying another one. I hate their computers, but I love their keyboards. :laugh:

 

Yeah, really. I guess you can't love everything.