T series refresh

I would really like a think pad for work, i like the durability and the design but it just looks outdated right now. When can we expect a T series refresh? what can we expect? complete system redesign or just components updates? can we expect Core i7? better video card?

Thanks!

 

Well, updates are expected next year and ofcourse would likely inclde new cpu's/platforms if released by then...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/leaked-lenovo-roadmap-shows-calpella-laptops-coming-january-2010/

 

Historically, the look of a ThinkPad hasn’t changed much over the years—thank God. If you’re going for something that does not look outdated/reflects the latest design fads, buy a Mac.

 

I assume the updated t500 will come with core i7, at least radeon 4670 class video card and maybe an hdmi port instead of display port. is that a reasonable assumption?

 

When i said outdated i meant the components. as i said, i like the design. it can be improved on many aspects though like for instance, the weird offset display.

and no thank you! no macs for me, especially the new uni body design. maybe the older MBP which looked professional and classy at the same time.

 

actually, i believe it will be a 4650 because the current one has a 3650 and the 4670 is a bit too powerful for this category of laptop.

 

I've never quite understood Lenovo's many models. If a person wants a 15 inch there are four models that look nearly identical and have nearly identical features. Is this marketing brilliance or just confusing buyers?

Plus of course the G series, the Y series, and the new 650.

 

Will the i7 also be too powerful for the t500 too? does the W500 have different cooling to allow for the i7? i cant imagine a workstation laptop not utilizing the quad core/8 threads i7.

 

t-series will be i5

 

W500 just has more powerful graphics card options. The W700 has the quad core options. I don't expect that to change too much.

And yes, lenovo does have a lot of models but probably in an effort to clearly delineate the products for those who do not understand what a radeon 3650 is vs an intel 4500...

And I wouldn't consider the non-thinkpads as similar offerings at all. Entirely different market segment.

 

Yes it's very important to not associate the Lenovo conceived series such as the IdeaPad line with ThinkPads. I've seen this alot, some guy was selling a Y550 IdeaPad as a T61p, even the display picture was of a T61p. Lenovo thinks that just because they now manufacture the ThinkPad line, that it puts up an invincible shield around their not-as-well-built lines such as IdeaPad, and exempts them from having poor build quality. Never tried one, so i'm not the one to infer on this, but i would never expect them to be like ThinkPads.

 

That's the nature of the beast, and always has been with the Thinkpads. What you do get is a solid and reliable machine. What you don't get with a Thinkpad are good looks or all the latest hardware options. They've always been slightly dowdy-looking black boxes that don't follow trends and hopefully always will be.

 

The studio xps 16 got the i7 and used to only come with c2d's. i don't see why would lenovo not use an i7 in the next T series refresh, especially with their superior cooling.

 

Are you saying its a plus that they do not offer the "latest hardware options"?

Regarding the design, I'm not saying they should "change" it, I'm saying that lenovo should evolve the design and at least fix/improve its flaws and quality. Nothing is perfect.

 

I do not think the new T-series will get Core i7 processors. The W510, just maybe, and the W710 definitely will, but I highly doubt the T510 (and definitely the T410) will get Core i7 processors. They'll probably have the newest Intel dual-core processors.

That's what Lenovo is probably doing with the new T-series refresh, if the T400s is any indicator. Don't expect any drastic Thinkpad-mold-breaking design changes - rather, the improvements on the T400s may move to the new T-series.

 

The newest dual cores will be branded as i5 and i7s...

 

yeah and as mentioned above, the cpu in workstations will be more powerful than the t series.

 

Agreed. The onyl thing that has really changed as far as thinkpads exterior is the aspect ration and thickness. Other then that not much has changed and I will say it too THANK GOD! I love the way mine looks and wouldn't change it if I could. Its everything I need in a sleek stylish rugged chassis. I am hoping when i buy my future children laptops in 15 years that they look the same as they do now.

On topic the refreshes are planned for Q1 2010, so around Feb-march they should be rolling out i7. Will be tough to not spend my tax refund on a w700 refresh...

 

No, I agree it's not a "plus" that thinkpads do not sport the latest hardware etc. It's just how it's always been and I guess that's because businesses want reliability and legacy capability over cutting edge. It's one reason why Thinkpads still have the old legacy serial port and have only just acquired firewire (years after it became commonplace on other laptops).

Personally I like the boring black box design. It's a nice statement in these days of faddish throwaway stuff.

The only thing I'd like to see Lenovo improve is the build quality, which has gone noticeably downhill in recent years IMO. I'd happily pay a bit more and put up with slightly more weight if they would give us a better keyboard, better plastics, better fit and finish, and better screen options.

 

er...how does it not have the latest hardware? granted, it doesn't have the core i_ yet, but it was the launch partner of some of the previous generations hardware...

 

This is what I'm wondering. It still has the latest chipsets in them, yes I7's and are showing up, but the platform as a whole hasn't launched yet. That is when we will see new Thinkpads. Heck, there are even other brands running the current chipsets with DDR2 memory modules whereas Thinkpads are DDR3.

 

Practically every other company offers core i7 and ATI Radeon 4000 series or Nvidia 200 series. Lenovo is way too late, you guys just don't care that much. a big company like Lenovo have no excuse for not offering the latest component at the same time, if not before most companies.

 

Dell did the same thing mid 2008 with montivina. Not every OEM is 100% ready to update when a new technology comes out. Lenovo waiting til Q1 2010 will not ruin them at all.

 

lenovo's customer base for the t-series is not the early-adopter crowd
lenovo makes t-series for bulk-order corporate customers
these bulk-order corporate customers do not care if lenovo releases an arrandale t-series now or in january
there's a small number of us enthusiasts that recognize the t-series as a great laptop
but we are not the reason lenovo makes the t-series

you slamming lenovo for this is ridiculous

lenovo's corporate customers (and i, as well)
would much prefer lenovo take their time developing a completely new platform
so that when it is released it is reliable and stable and well-tested
rather than rushing something to market just to say "HEY WE WERE FIRST" and having it be a piece of junk

 

Yes, Lenovo's attitude with enthusiast ThinkPad or individual buyers is that they'll accept the business, but aren't really begging for individual/mainstream user business.

 

I think that is a much needed reality check here: often times a user here is not the intended user.

 

Agreed, and that's why you, I and countless corporate customers like thinkpads

Thinkpads are not too far behind the hardware curve anymore but when I buy one I know I'm getting a machine that will work and work well rather than a machine that'll score big on benchmarking tests and have every type of port known to man.

 

Feel free to buy from [insert name of first-to-market company here] instead of getting a ThinkPad. Just be certain to let us know when your fan starts to howl or when your new [insert name of first-to-market company here] notebook starts burning your thighs.

 

No they haven't. Lenovo Thinkpads are a business computer model line, equivalent to the Dell Latitudes and HP Elitebooks. Neither the Latitudes nor the Elitebooks have been updated to the Core i7 CPUs or Radeon 4xxx series GPUs (or the Nvidia 2xx series).

That is because business users value stability and proven platforms much more than the extreme cutting edge. The Thinkpad refresh will come in Q1 2010, and I would expect the Latitudes and Elitebooks to be refreshed around then as well.

 

even sony's or fujitsu's don'y have any core i7's yet. and sony releases new laptop models every other day

 

Which happens to be *drum roll please* Core i7! (Arrandale)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_i7

 

Yeah, sorry for the confusion - I'm so used to calling these quad core processors "Core i7," forgetting that there will also be dual core processors labeled i7. Thanks for pointing that out, and sgogeta4 too.

 

WOW! you guys are really die hard fans! i got your point that Lenovo do not update their laptops because they cater for large business and corporate customers. But please, don't tell me that you, as an enthusiast like it the way it is. I would like a T500 but can't really justify the outdated specs, especially the Radeon 3650. i have been waiting for months and months, it just seems so slow and stale with Lenovo. they should at least update the video card. it won't break balance i swear! I want a laptop with current gen technologies that will last for a long time not just because its rugged or durable, but also because i enjoy using it as a good performing machine.

So i can either buy a Lenovo or burn my ears and thighs! come on, it can't really be that black and white.

I have a dell Inspiron 4000 that is still working since 2001! although using it is pretty useless since most flash based sites run extremely slowly on it.

 

Of course I would love to have a Radeon 4650 in my T500. What I was trying to say in my post is basically that, do not expect anything until Q1 of 2010, since historically, business laptops such as Thinkpads/Latitudes/Elitebooks are usually not updated between new Intel platforms.

If you want completely up-to-date hardware, you'll have to wait until then.

A lot of Thinkpaders are die-hard fans, obviously, but hey, this is the Lenovo subforum, so what do you expect?

 

I like it the way it is.

You can buy one of Lenovo’s consumer-focused products—non-ThinkPads. Less engineering and planning goes into these and, as a result, you can have the latest and greatest sooner. On the other hand, a little more goes on behind the scenes with ThinkPads—so don’t expect bleeding edge here.

 

thinkpads have been looking like this for some time now, and this is how thinkpad fans like them. If you like your gloss and other eye candies then you have totally missed the point of business laptop category like thinkpad.

 

For the third time, i like the design! it just needs improvements. for example, i would like the old thinkpad rubberized feeling and better materials overall. a fix for the weird offset display would be good too.

 

Lenovo will be adjusting their display, since the T400s have been released with centered display.

What do you mean better materials??? Lenovo Thinkpads in the T, R, X series used equally or better materials than the previous T, R and X series just before IBM sold it to them. If you want to pay X301 prices for each one of the thinkpads, then Lenovo could consider using the full titanium or carbon fiber for the exterior (note most of the thinkpads other than the SL, use either an external magnesium chassis or internal magnesium full rollcage).

Rubberized finish is still there on the top casing of the thinkpads, in T, X, W series. If you are talking about the palmrest area, it is present on the X30x series. This is a cost issue, so if the customers are all willing to pay more for thinkpads, then lenovo would obviously seize the profit generating opportunities. But most people just want a thinkpads at consumer laptop prices.

 

Hmm, so the X series has better build? i never knew that! i thought the whole idea with the X series is then and light. What i need then is a 15 inch X series! I remember Thinkpad's in general to be more expensive than the rest. Now its usually cheaper than a similar dell. i would gladly pay for better built T series. after all, what are the SL and R series for?

 

X series are the ultramobile series of thinkpads, they are made in 12.1 inch and 13.3 inch format. They are expensive because more marketing goes into them, use of miniature parts, the smaller sales volume compared to the R and T series, etc.

Find me the part that i said X series have better build. I said that the X30x series use more exotic materials like carbon fiber and fiber glass with rubberised palmrest, because it is more expensive.

Thinkpads were expensive under IBM, which is why IBM parent company was making year to year financial losses that lead to PC/Laptop division been sold to Lenovo. The commodisation of the laptops meant that cheaper price was more important than most other factors, including outright quality. Business laptops like Thinkpad, Elitebook and Latitude can be more expensive than the consumer laptop range, but it can't be priced too outrageously like they had been before.

Laptop companies like mining companies, make more money by selling more of lower priced products, then less of more expensive products.

Lastly, one has to remember Lenovo is not a boutique laptop manufacturer, so it can't cater for niche market as well as some smaller laptop companies.

 

Why would you want an updated GPU but no Arrandale processor? There would be no point in updating the graphics and not the chipset and processor. Since Arrandale processors won't come out until Jan 2010, obviously there isn't any reason for them to upgrade yet.

not a lot of laptops even run that cool after some good use anyway. I would recommend not using any laptop for that long on your lap.

 

I never knew that, either, but having just got an X200 for my GF it is indeed put together better than my T400. That little thing just feels absolutely solid and is a pleasure to use, while my 2-month old T400 creaks, whines and groans like an old man. The off-center screen is silly (the X200 screen is centered), I've already replaced the keyboard, and have had to do a fix on the palmrest.

I think there are many of us that would pay more for a better T-series -- better build quality, better keyboard, better screen options etc. In theory that's the point of the T400s, but that model has too many compromises on the hardware front IMO.

 

T400s is suppose to be like a flag ship to build marketing value as it hopes to reflect on the regular T series. Unfortunately as the business notebook market is I do not see the strive for higher quality control.

 

well if you are so hung up on having new technologies the very minute they hit the market
then don't buy a t-series
they aren't for the benchmark enthusiast, they aren't gaming machines, and they aren't for early adopters
it is just that easy - i don't understand how you can be confused about this
what i suspect is that you realize this but are just trying to troll us because you have nothing better to do

 

Like I always say my t400 always runs cool even while gaming or multitasking. As for top bleeding edge, well lenovo had that for montivina but not i7. It will happen again where they are launching new tech as its released and where they are not. Almost every major company does things this way.

 

"i like the design. it can be improved on many aspects though like for instance, the weird offset display."

You mentioned that display twice and I don’t even notice it on my t61P.

"No they haven't. Lenovo Thinkpads are a business computer model line, equivalent to the Dell Latitudes and HP Elitebooks."

MidnightSun,

I hate business but I love Thinkpads. Thinkpads are just well engineered basic machines. They have their style which is no style which in turn, is a style. There is really nothing that makes a thinkpad a business machine.

Renee

 

the creak of the T400 is due to the fact that the torsional stress placed on it by you holding the machine is more than that would experienced by the X200. In addition, T400 use a ABS-PC outcasing with a magnesium inner chassis, the outcasing has a different stiffness to the internal chassis, the difference in the bending will cause the creak, as the two surfaces move against each other. While, the X200 have no internal chassis to worry about.

But the T400 survives drop better, since the ABS-PC can some punishments, it is also easier and cheaper to replace the outside abs-pc casing then a magnesium casing. In addition, if you ever drop a x series you would know, if the magnesium does break, a critical crack will form that can self propagate.

 

I humbly disagree with the "nothing". Also Lenovo uses the tag line itself that thinkpads are the "ultimate business tool". Now that is not to say you have to exclusively use a Thinkpad for "business". But the Thinkpad certainly targets a business market.

 

In Mexico, there's a national university that uses both Thinkpads and ThinkCentre's for use on their employees, actually they lease the equipment but it has been this way way before Lenovo took over the Thinkpad division.

 

the whole pc division, actually