ThinkPad T431s / X230s Leaked

This is not correct. The Lenovo laptops, like all Windows-certified hardware maker devices, will have an option to disable SecureBoot to allow installation of whatever OS the end-user wants.

The current Lenovos just use slightly newer/same stuff as the previous gen so whatever worked before with Win7 will work now.

 

I never said anything about Lenovo in the post that you've quoted from, did I ?

Lot of threads on that issue all over the web, but this one was the easiest to locate:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...8-windows-7-pro-64-bit-hp-g7-2240is-cant.html

 

You would just have to disable UEFI to install Windows 7. They are not locking down x86 devices, only ARM devices.

 

That thread is not easy to follow because from the very first sentence it's just two pages of anti-Win8 chatter. There's not even much attempt to actually answer the question.

- Just because OA3.0 is on the laptop, doesn't mean Win7 can't be installed. It surely can. We have T430's and T530's with OA3.0, big Win8 Pro sticker on the bottom and everything, and Windows 7 not only *comes* on them standard, but can be installed clean later with zero ill effect.

- If Secure Boot is enabled in BIOS, disable it. Microsoft's own certification program requires that Secure Boot be disable-able.

Let me repeat that.

- Microsoft's own certification program requires that Secure Boot be disable-able.

Windows Hardware Certification Requirements for Client and Server Systems

This is the one and only single factor that would block a Win7 install. It can be turned off.

 

T431s picture on the Lenovo website:
http://www.lenovo.com/images/products/nps/2013/laptops/lenovo-laptop-thinkpad-t431s.png
I assume it won´t take long until Lenovo announces this one (still, no info about X230s/X231s).

 

Great viewing angle.

 

And another one: http://www.lenovo.com/images/products/laptops/ideapad/t-series/t431s-hero-tabbed.jpg

 

Nice find. Thanks. Looks more "perfected" or "streamlined" than for example a T430 in my opinion ( just compare: http://www.lenovo.com/images/products/laptops/ideapad/t-series/t430-hero-tabbed.jpg and http://www.lenovo.com/images/products/laptops/ideapad/t-series/t431s-hero-tabbed.jpg).

 

The trackpoint aside, it looks like any other of the hundreds of ultrabook-or-whats-it-called models. One might just as well go get a chromebook pixel, or something from best buy, like a mac or toshiba.

 

Except the pixel is dead on arrival. What a joke.

 

Odd,
- the ThinkVantage button is gone
- the Trackpoint looks less prominent (lower)
- from close up, the touchpad does look significantly bigger... but they STILL have room to fit in teh physical buttons (top and bottom)

 

Hmm. Quite disappointed with the T431s so far. No dedicated trackpoint button on a T series. Looks like my last thinkpad ever will be my current x230.

 

There are dedicated trackpoint buttons, yes there are still physical switches.

 

I may like or dis-like T431s depending on the final specs, but I believe there are more variety of thinkpads to choose from to fill in the gaps of my computer needs. The next thinkpad I am looking for should come with a tablet form and a stylus so that I can read pdf files on the go.

 

Any news about product or upcoming release? I really hope that price tag will be in the line with 430u and thus won't disappoint potential customers.

 

No news until now, but maybe tomorrow...

And no, I think the price won't be in the line with T430u, remember, this is ThinkPad T431 s, not T431u. I would estimate the price in one line with the T430s, which is more expensive than T430u. Also, T431s contains things like a Backlight-keyboard or a HD+ screen, which you don't get with the T430u, and which are expensive.

 

Thank you. I remember your posting about Lenovo webinar on March 13. I would assume that 430u won't go from Lenovo product line and will be offered along with newer T series models. Is that correct?
Also, considering that Dell 6430u with HD+ screen is offered for $52 more than HD version I hope that HD+ screen won't make 431s very expensive. I'm hoping the price tag won't go above $800. However I think that 431s will be offered for something close to $900 which won't be an attractive price tag (considering tough competition in this price segment).

 

It has "s" after its name, but rumors say that current "s" -> nextgen vanilla. So that would put T431s in the same slot as T430u.

 

Well, I sold my T430s so I am ready for anything.

 

I once cared about the thinklight, trackpoint, and traditional/nonchidlet keyboard. But lenovo can make up for all of that by giving the option for a quality HD+ (1080p or 1200p or 1440p) screen, massive battery (possibly built in battery plus optional add-on), quality X1C-style glass trackpad, and retain dock-station friendliness. I don't care for the X1C thinness but I know carbon fiber is the future for lenovo.

Even Google got the display right on their Chromebook pixel. A 3:2 ratio, retina-quality display, with touchscreen!

Lenovo, I don't even need the touchscreen, just go beyond 1600x900 and I'll buy it! I realize not every notebook lenovo makes will compete with Apple's MBPs, but seriously, put together a single solid 13-14" workstation (or, like Apple, put out a coherent line) with the features and power of the T/W series and styling/build quality of the X1C and you'll win over the PC world. Just do it.

 

Eh? Already? Hope you managed to get some profit.

Yeah, it is a really nice notebook. Nothing is impossible. Depends on whether one has the guts to lead.

 

Profit? LOL. Have you looked at the used notebook computer market on eBay lately? I got nearly what I paid and was happy for that. I sold the T430s because the wife decided not to use it, and I really don't need it. That and I wasn't impressed with the machine. It's ok, but the screen being just so so was always a last resort compared to my other machines.

The Samsung Series 9 market is a buyers market. Sellers can not sell at the price they bought at. This is primarily because of the odd SKU's Samsung introduced in the market this year which screwed up the Series 9 line-up and has caused nothing but confusion. I am definitely stuck with my Series 9 until the end now.

The only machines that seem to fetch good resale value are the Apple MacBooks (Air, Retina).

 

http://i.imgur.com/ujDtFN4.jpg

 

Really quick, manifestiatio

Another interesting info: It will start at 1149 $.

 

What will start at $1149 ? 431s?
Just ask yourself: is it really worth it..?

I hope that they are not insane and $1149 is a price tag for model with SSD and i7 processor (however even among SSD models there are a lot of offers for less price but better screen, more compact size and longer battery life than we should expect from 431s). Hope that preconfigured models with regular hard drive will start from much more reasonable price point.

 

Remember, thats just the official price. I am sure there will be as many coupons as always, so you will get one for less than 1000 $.

 

you'll likely be very disappointed.

 

Well, we will look at the final price. So far 431s doesn't look like a reasonable purchase at all. I'm really interested in Lenovo products (particularly in 431s) but not going to pay "premium" just because Lenovo wants so. But again, let's hope that $1149 is a price tag for 128 GB SSD model which will be pretty much in the same line with competitors (like Dell and HP business ultrabooks with SSD).
By the way, there did you get $1149 from? I didn't notice anything like that at yesterday's webinar (may be just missed).

 

It was in the webinar, on the slide with the updated Topseller-Portfolio guide (from April 1- to June 30). T431s was listed there with this starting price.

 

Looks like the same old non IPS, non X1C, 250nit screen.

And if it's officially an Ultrabook does that imply ultra low volt and slower CPU's?

 

Yes. As an UltraBook, the T431s has to use the u-CPUs. But I honestly think that this is not much of a difference. A 17w i7 serves you as good as an 35w i5, and I consumes less power. I think that 17w is the way to go in the future.

And no idea about screen. Maybe its the same, maybe its a different screen, we will see, when the first users will get one.

 

Lenovo ThinkPad T431s Ultrabook: refined exterior, widened trackpad, shipping in April for $949

 

Are they still going to release T440 this year? I need a new ThinkPad that's why.

 

Sure, but as mentioned in the last Lenovo webinar, Haswell won´t release until the second half of the year (for notebooks, the dual-cores in 17w and 37w), precisely not until September, so you will have to wait until then for a T440.

 

Thanks, You think Haswell is worth the wait?

 

Already faulty chipsets are found by intel (usb 3 bug New hardware required to fix Haswell USB 3.0 connection bug - TechSpot).

So either wait long, or go with today's cpus.

 

I don´t know, we will have to see how much bigger the performance is and how much lower the power consumption is.

But I would always suggest: If you need a new Notebook, buy it now, don´t wait, unless the new platform is just some weeks or maybe one month away.

 

I hope they won't kill the product with 100:1 contrast display.

 

The same 1600x900 screen that people complained about in X1C and X1CT?? The one with the screen door effect?
I guess they will never learn...

 

What does the T431s start selling on lenovo.com?

 

According to theverge, order's start in April, but when you'll actually get the laptop may be another question. I like the clean look but won't bite if it has the same 1600x900 display. However, starting $949 suggests some decent options, probably a 1080p screen too. Still, I'm more interested in the T440/haswell lineup, and that's when we'll see the true direction of the new ThinkPad brand. The budget-minded will also soon get some killer summer deals on the current 230 laptops.

 

The Verge first impression
Lenovo to modernize ThinkPad brand with redesigned T431s ultrabook (hands-on) | The Verge

 

i like the new direction of their lineup regarding design, but i'm personally gonna wait for haswell before committing.

 

Yeah, and 16:9. That's now officially so... 2007.

 

I wonder if you can remove the case on the T431 easily and change the storage device or memory. Anyone know?

 

Yes, you can. See:

HDDs/SSDs are normal 9mm ones (in addition, there is also a free M.2 slot for an additional SSD) , the RAM is 4GB soldered and one free SO-DIMM slot, so a maximum of 12 GB.

 

I couldn't _not_ notice that ALL of the leds/status indicators are now gone from the display part of the notebook. I am really not happy if that is the future direction for ThinkPads. But it would seem it is! After the T500 and X201i my current T430 has substantially less status leds. This new T431s has none!

Could Lenovo not redesign them if they were bothered by the old style indicators? Although I cannot imagine what harm they did in the display other than provide useful information.

For example, how will I know if I have numlock on and that is why my password is not accepted? How will I know if the notebook finished charging after I turned it off? (And by comparison, I can tell if a Macbook Pro is charging by the led on the power cable connection. I can check battery charge levels on the side, although that seems to be going away as well with the Retina versions ... *sigh*)

The purpose of these indicators is to give you an indication of various system functions at a glance. Taking them away is like taking away one of your senses - at least it feels like that for me. When you are used to walking around while looking with your eyes, you feel a little awkward and bad when you are blindfolded.

I doubt any complaining in forums like this by current users will have any affect on a company like Lenovo. They claim they ask users about all the changes and spend much time testing them out. Well I have my doubts about who they ask. Because not all of the recent changes (not just the T431s but some changes to Thinkpads in recent years) do not seem to reflect the opinion of professional users at all.

I guess there is nothing else left than to wait for reviews of this and other new Thinkpads as they come.
(I will not judge the buttonless touchpad right now - although I am a little bit skeptical - but am very interested in opinions once reviews show up).

 

Yes, the U at the end of the CPU type indicates ultra-low voltage, whereas the T430s generation have an M type CPU (Mobile)

 

Why did the T430s have an ultrabay and the T431s doesn't? Is there going to be a T440s that is more of a true replacement for the T430s? This seems closer to the X series, then the previous T series.

 

ThinkPad T431s:
1. T431s product home page
2. t431s-datasheet.pdf

Enjoy!