ThinkPad T431s / X230s Leaked

In a Chinese forum, the User Guide of the new T431s / X230s was leaked, see:
T431s: http://servicekb.lenovo.com.cn/KnowledgeResources/2013-01-15/092998/ThinkPad%20431s用户指南V1.0.pdf
X230s: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=FVv4i__vCCBdr_joUnYGSQ&bvm=bv.41248874,d.Yms

Some pictures:



So, new Hinges, the new TrackPad, thinner and lighter. It also loos very much like the T430u. Its a mixture between T430u and X1 Carbon (because of the hinges). The X230s is a mixture of X230 and X1 Carbon 8without docking port, but very, very thin with 17mm) What do you think?

 

Good bye, trackpoint buttons. Interestingly, the docking station connection is still there.

Keyboard layout has apparently faced another degradation step: F1-F12 keys need to be pressed with Fn, luckily there is still FnLock (which is off by default) switched by Fn+Esc. Dedicated volume/mute buttons? Not anymore.

I wonder how many steps we have until it's something like http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/000025365/0925/P1030434.jpg .

 

Wow. They are completely ruining the brand. It took them a couple years but they are completely and utterly ruining it.

That keyboard is an abomination

 

As long as the function and strength remains the same, I see no problems with the changing of hinges.

Apart from that, I will reserve judgement until I get one in my hands.

 

I get down on my knees and pray that the hinges will retain their function.

 

We'll see.
I've used thin Thinkpad hinges before on the T60/T61 it worked perfectly fine, and very strong.

 

See what? If the things have a different function, they shouldn't be called "hinges." Nothing to do with strong, weak, stiff or loose.

 

The problem with those hinges is that you can't open the machine as far (you can get to about 135 degrees before the lid's bottom pushes the whole laptop up, and past that, the laptop rests on its lid instead of its base).

So the functionality of the parts is reduced, therefore I see problems with the changing of hinges.

 

looks okay. But ram upgrade on this new machine requires the removal of the entire base case. Also, there seems to be only one ram slot in this new T431s.

 

No track-point buttons ?? Are they serious ? I wouldn't buy one just because of that. That kinda ruins the idea OF the track-point. What good is it if you can't click anything ? Or, if you DO click something, you have to stretch your thumb all the way down by the base of the touchpad ? Ridiculous.

 

There are virtual trackpoint buttons approximately at the same position where the real ones were, at the top of clickpad (there is a picture in the manual).

May be in the next iteration Lenovo will "improve" it further and drop even that, who knows. They really try hard, it was difficult to make the keyboard layout even worse than T430u, but they managed.

 

Here's a article with a video on the Thinkpad Helix that shows how the trackpad is used as buttons for the Trackpoint.
It's still a physical clicking, so maybe it won't be so bad as I first thought.

Feel free to embed video if you can, I can't figure it out.

Lenovo ThinkPad Helix tablet / laptop hybrid gets a power-up when it docks | The Verge

 

Hmm, might not be that bad. Still though, virtual buttons is better than nothing at all though.

 

Well. At least we know that we get Fkey grouping back next generation.


As for trackpoint buttons. They ruined it by not making them nice and curvy like the old ones last generation, what more could moving them onto the touchpad do?

Am I missing something? The keyboard layout is an improvement as we get Fkey grouping back, and nothing that I noticed managed to get worse.

 

It was not easy, they've already dropped the dedicated volume buttons in T430u.

But now you also need to remember press Fn+Esc after every reboot, or pressing, e.g., F5 will reduce screen brightness instead. I have used a Logitech keyboard with this, what a royal pain... There does not even seem to be a BIOS setting to change the default (at least not in that PDF), and I doubt there is a physical light to show the current FnLock state either.

I really hope that after official Thinkpad brand separation, someone will undo these Macbook-copycat decisions.

 

Well, on Edge Series it is already the ame situation, and there is this optiom im the Bios to switch the function-keys. Im prettysure it will be there too, even if its not in this PDF.

 

Seriously?

That's the generation that had the worst hinges by far in most users' opinion...

As for the T431s...the only thing that it's lacking to be the complete abomination with a ThinkPad name is a 21:9 display...

 

Did you guys even look at the pdf? I see a trackpoint. At least it is potentially upgradable, unlike the X1C and all Apple's products. Docking station looks nice with 2x DVI/DP ports plus USB3.0, but the key ingredients for eGPU simply aren't here....Why not put thunderbolt on it though?

 

Pretty serious, had no issues with hinges on 2 that I used, and maybe another dozen or more we've sold.

Compared to consumer laptops, they're still fine.

 

I guess you're absolutely correct on that level.

When one's workload consists of 99% ThinkPads for over a decade, the perspective gets shifted...

 

If anyone needs a reminder of where we've come from, be sure and use a T60p with a NMB keyboard and a 15" BOE-Hydis Flexview screen. They certainly aren't building them like that anymore and it's a damn shame.

The T431s makes me want to hurl. I hope this is just a bad dream.

 

Well, let me show you a more pleasant dream...should be right up your alley...

forum.thinkpads.com • The ultimate* 4:3 FrankenPad...brace yourself...HUGE pics

 

Really sweet. Nice LED panel. What does one of those cost?

 

Thank you.

Take a look for yourself:

LED Modification

 

I have read the passage about the FN combos again, and it appears that, if you once pressed FN + Esc, this will change the F-keys permanently (until you press this combo again). See page 19 in the user guide.

Also, there is in fact a light that indicates which mode is active, see page 6 & 7. The small light is built into the FN key, it is on when it is in the "F key mode" and it is off when the machine is in the "Function (like mute etc) mode"

 

Thanks. But the setting value probably does not survive reboots, and remembering to press it every time after restart is annoying still. Hopefully there is a BIOS setting to change the default, even if not present in the doc.

I'm pleasantly surprised there is FnLock light, missed that part. Very untypical of Lenovo's of late to permit such luxuries and power hogs; something to go the way of CapsLock light in the future, no doubt.

It's also interesting what's going to happen if the Lenovo's own external keyboard, 55Y9003, is connected to the docked and closed laptop now, and user presses F4 after fresh reboot. Will it go sleep (as Fn+F4)? Will it mute the speakers? Will it work as F4? What if user presses Fn+F4?

I so really hope Lenovo finally hires somebody who actually sees the logic and consistency in the Thinkpad ecosystem, which existed merely 2 years ago, and spares Thinkpads from these ridiculous changes for the changes sake.

 

Problem: You can´t stop changing, especially not in the Electronic sector. If you stop changing, people complain about the lack of innovation and go elsewhere. Changes will come. In some years, computers will look much different from the computers now.

Nothing will happen if you use Windows 8. Under Windows 7, it will go to Standby if you installed all Lenovo drivers/programms.

Maybe it will surive reboots, we will see. If I use the mute button on my L520 and reboot after this, the sound is still muted after the reboot.

 

No trackpoint buttons = NO buy. Wow, this is terrible change in direction. It's much more serious than griping about the keyboard change. This is a total elimination of functionality.

Will not buy, ever.

 

True, but changes for the sake of changes are not a solution. Changes supposed to be either improvements, or, when they are not improvements, at least cause significant cost savings.

The keyboard layout and Trackpoint experiments, suddenly streaming from Lenovo for the last few years, are neither. They're just silly decisions, applied randomly and breaking all consistency that existed, ignoring even the rather vague ISO 9995 guidelines (PrintScreen button next to space? Really??).

Apple does not change keyboard layout in every new Macbook, and I'm sure it's not because they're short of "improvement" ideas. Apple's desktop keyboard is available with exactly the same layout as laptop one. Good or bad, but it's consistent, and user only needs to learn it once. They innovate and change elsewhere, there are plenty of places where innovation and changes are welcome. Lenovo used to be the same, and the keyboard layout and trackpoint were actually excellent. They really need to spare Thinkpad users (rather conservative by definition), at least in the 'workhorse' T and W series, from this inconsistency madness.

 

Added X230s to the start post.

Basically, both machines are inspired by the X1 Carbon, so, this could explain the drop-down hinges etc. They don´t replace X230/T430 (which will be replaced by X240/T440 later this year, in the second half).

 

does it come with a touch screen? the hinge is 180 degree? weights?

edits. Pretty surprised that attention so far has been focused on the lack of track buttons, which have never been good in the first place.

 

I'm sure I'm not alone in judging these changes as motivated by cost-cutting and some aesthetic ideal that will almost completely destroy the features that make thinkpad unique and compelling.

Although lenovo may have calculated that these changes will not affect sales from business customers, which must provide the majority of their revnue, I myself as a personal user am nearing the point of switching to Apple's retina display macbooks when I choose to replace my current laptop.

 

I reached that conclusion last year. The only reason I bought the T430s is because my wife refused to use the MacBook Air or Samsung Series 9. So I got her one last ThinkPad. It's likely the last personal ThinkPad purchase until this madness is reversed.

 

Whatever happened to Robert Hill ( I believe is his name ). He was the primary designer of the X301. I'm hoping he had nothing to do with the deigns of these new recent Thinkpads. The last "true" Thinkpad was the X301 IMO.

 

It's David Hill. And he had *a lot* to do with recent travesties, including the keyboard layout change...:cry:

 

Bah, that sucks

We can only hope things will get better . . . . . .

 

"Sir David" will never happen. China and US don't bestow knighthood.

 

The other thing I'm wondering is that now are we not even able to disable the trackpad and go TrackPoint only, since the buttons are basically the trackpad.

We'll see though. I'll give the Helix a try if I see it in person.

 

I am extremely concerned about the removal of the physical trackpoint buttons. I can deal with the new keyboard layout, and it makes sense with the Helix considering the form factor and design constraints (although to be fair I wouldn't buy the current model because of the lack of an SD slot) but the removal of those keys on mainline laptops probably going to dissuade me from a future Thinkpad purchase.

If I wanted a laptop with chiclet keys and a large buttonless touchpad, I would just buy a macbook

 

I think that summarizes it quite nicely. On top of that with a macbook you'd get a high-res screen.

 

I would love to have a candid conversation about this with him. I bet there is a lot to this story.

 

I'm certain that there is. But that doesn't make the new keyboard layout and subsequent changes any more acceptable, at least not to me...

 

I should probably clarify that I don't mean that as hate towards the brand. I purchased my X220 over a macbook air because of the great feel of the keys and the trackpoint with its sculpted buttons, as well as the wide range of inputs and the screen. As lenovo slims and trims its laptops towards a similar path, I can't help but feel that in terms of features I personally find useful the macbooks are going to become a much better choice if the trends we are seeing continue.

I can't imagine the featureless trackpoint mouse keys on these new Thinkpads having as good of a feel as the set I'm using to type this post. That, to me, is an unacceptable compromise.

Still, I plan to keep this for at least another year or two so we'll see where Lenovo's vision for the premium thinkpad goes.

 

It is interesting to see many here want a X301. I assume that it was discontinued due to lack of public demand.

 

As a concept, X30* was one of the most interesting machines to ever bear a ThinkPad logo.

Unfortunately, Lenovo "cheaped out" on a couple of aspects making the end result less compelling than the idea itself. But they had the machine priced like they had not.

They've pretty much repeated the same mistake with X1C.

I'd absolutely love to see "X302" or whatever you may want to call it, with an IPS panel (1600x900 will do), improved cooling and a classic keyboard.

As the things stand right now, I've got a far better chance of having a seafoam green elephant flying into my room and offering me a lift to Paris.

 

Thanks for posting this ibmthink, and nice find. I'm not convinced Lenovo will carry over all of these changes to the flagship models, presumably the X240 / T440 etc. I don't think Enterprise buyers purchase Ultrabooks in bulk for their workforce (greater expense, lack of upgrade ease for IT managers), but they do purchase the traditional X and T series in bulk, so the big customers will have some say in design changes. It is at least a harbinger though, and if not this year then eventually I believe these changes will make it into the flagship models, so long as feedback isn't overly negative on the Ultrabook derivative type models. It seems it's all about having a large touchpad and doing things to make more room for that these days, which is somewhat ironic given the argument a few years ago that the ThinkPad X series didn't need a touchpad, the pointing stick was good enough. Sure, Windows 8 might make gestures and touchpads more useful, but I don't see businesses moving to that OS for a long time so making design changes around the Win 8 OS for mainstream / enterprise models doesn't make a ton of sense.

 

Trackpad still can be disabled (there is a BIOS setting), so probably the virtual Trackpoint buttons on clickpad will work and cursor navigation won't.

 

Thanks.

This is mostly right.

I don´t understand one thing: Why hate the most people here these new T431s / X230s? They are not going to replace X230 / T430 in any way. They are just a addition to the line to compete better on the UltraBook side with Dell and HP. The design is clearly inspired by the X1 Carbon.

The T431s seems like a very fine offering, if it will replace the T430u / X1 Carbon: Higher resolution screen than T430u, docking-port, which has neither of both, same size as X1 Carbon, which means "Thin display bezels", 1000 % more serviceable than the X1 Carbon, more ports (VGA / Ethernet), more refined keyboard. It is basically the best of both T430u / X1 Carbon and it resolves the most problems people had with both machines (lackluster resolution on T430u, nearly 0% serviceability proprietary SSDs and soldered RAM on X1 Carbon). Whats actually bad about this thing? Ok, the new TrackPad is not tried yet, but I will reserve judgment until some users tried it and shared their experiences.

 

ibm:

By "serviceable" do you mean user upgradable?

 

Yes, the ability to upgrade some of the parts and to access the hardware. But not only upgradeable, also repairable (when the RAM is soldered like on X1 Carbon, you have no chance to repair it other than replace the hole mainboard, if its defect).

Also, the ability to replace the keyboard. This is very important for a ThinkPad IMHO.