ThinkPad T431s / X230s Leaked

Parts FRUs used in T431s: http://download.lenovo.com/parts/ThinkPad/t431s_fru_bom_20130321.xlsx.pdf

2 different screens, one from CMI and one from AUO, so not the same screens as in T420(s)/T430(s), and since there is no LG screen, Screen-Door effect won´t appear on the T431s (since all Screen-Door screens until now came from LG).

 

Yea, well, they said the X1 Carbon was coming with an IPS screen. That didn't happen.

 

I weighed my wife's T420s with the DVD drive removed. 3.6lbs, exactly what the T431s weighs. So why did they put a somewhat cheaper keyboard, limit to 1 DIMM, limit to Ultra Low Volt CPU, got rid of some buttons and status lights, Got Rid of all 5 Track point buttons and not save a single ounce over the T420s/T430s ? And it supposedly has the same cooling as the X1C which can't keep up with an Ultra Low Volt i7 with 8GB of RAM.

What's the point of lower profile if some ounces don't go along with it.

 

Why does the T430u weight the same as the T430s?
Other than the Carbon, Lenovo has been failing pretty hard at making lightweight and thin laptops.
When the T430u was first showed at CES, I thought to myself: a borderline-ultrabook? It must have either amazing battery life or a full voltage processor.
Well I was wrong, and looks like I will be disapointed again.

Personally, the only "great" thinkpads are the T4/530, W530, and X230(t). Although these are heavier and/or bulkier than the average, at least they have amazing durability and extreme batterylife.
The T430s and Carbon IMO are really just average computers with the thinkpad brand.

 

Sure, this is rightt. But I just wanted to say that the chances are high that the "dark time of screen door screen" could be ending. This says nothing about the other screen qualities (viewing angles, contrast etc). But the screens in T410(s) also had no screen-door effect, and while they are not really better in terms of contrast/viewing angles etc., they were nonetheless considered better, because they suffered not under the screen door effect.

You see, the Carbon is really thin and light, but other than this point, it has many compromises compared to T430u oder T431s, you can´t really replace anything, you can´t put two SSDs in, you have the Maximum of 8 GB of RAM etc.

 

All of this was done to get the "Ultrabook" sticker on the palmrest. Apparently it's a big deal if you have it.

 

The AUO screens in T420(s)/430(s) also have the screen door effect. Hopefully this isn't the same model, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

What kind of logic is that?

There are people who actually use real products and know for sure. Then there are people who read documents and speculate with crooked logic.

 

No, they have not the "Screen-Door" effect, they have a bit different effect. See this review: ThinkPad T430s There, they have a close-up comparison between the different screens (or, the pixel-matrix of the different screens) used in T420(s)/T430(s). The screen door effects on the ThinkPad LCD panel is due to the large separation between the pixels structure. Those screens that have the screen door effect usually have pixels separation distance of more than 0.150 mm. As you can see, the AUO screen has the smallest separation, and the LG screen has the most significant. The AUO screen has more of a "glitter" effect.

I don´t think this is the same model, since they have a different FRU. But we will see.

It is not unlogical. I only wrote, that there won´t be a LG screen anymore, and then I speculated, that screen door effect won´t be there anymore.

Have you used a T431s? No? Have anyone used a T431s yet? No? So, then please be quiet. You have nothing to add to this topic, other than attacking people, who actually have added something important to the topic (because it is important to know which screens are used, and some speculated that they use the same screens as before. The answer is: No).

 

Only this can be read from the FRU list: "2 different screens, one from CMI and one from AUO."

Nothing more is known about the characteristics and levels of quality of such screens. Same as before? Don't know. Better than before? Don't know. What are the actual screen part ids? Don't know. (For example: B146HW03 V.9, etc.)

Until the T431s is released and people actually use them and evaluate them, nothing can be said. However, you wrote as if you knew for sure. This is the problem.

That's much better.

Including you.

 

I hope this doesn't come off as me jumping on you alongside Kaso, but the way you worded your post matter-of-factly stated that there will be no screen door effect. Especially in a pre-release thread where we know absolutely nothing about the screens aside from a simple part number, I don't think it's okay to do this when this topic will be indexed in google search and anyone looking for information on the laptop in the future might stumble upon your post.

Just a little nitpick with your wording

 

Does anyone know if the Ram on the T431s is 1333Mhz (like the failed X1 Carbon) or will it be 1600Mhz?

 

While it's premature to say T431s wont have LCD with screen door effect, my two kids and I can confirm that T430 with the AUO LCD does not have the screen door effect.

 

Does anyone have any information about X230s ?

 

Not sure but there's only one slot so no dual channel benefits.

Full fat, full voltage laptops seem to be better in every respect except weight (I use mine at a desk all the time so don't care) and aesthetics. I do care about looks but not at the expense of function.

The Sammy Series 9 is dead sexy but its keyboard is criminal.

The T431s looks appealing but so does the Latitude 6430u and that has dual channel memory, 1600mhz and removable battery. And a keyboard almost as good as the X1 Carbon.

 

Well, that not correct, it has one SO-DIMM Slot and 4 GB of soldered RAM, so the T431s has indeed Dual-Channel.

According to ThinkPad T431s Service Training Course under "Technical overview" and "ThinkPad T431s Specifications" is noted that the T431s uses DDR3L-1600 PC3-12800 RAM (=> 1600 MHz).

The problem with the 6430u is, that it is heavier than the T431s and that it only uses one mSATA SSD (T431s: One 2.5" HDD/SSD and optional M.2 SSD). Also, it lacks the Dockingport.

 

Hmm back on the short list then!

 

Regarding the question about the red stripes on the ClickPad (where the TrackPoint buttons are). I think those pictures answer it (taken from the official userguide):


So wee will see them on the production units, and they are not "now presented in graphite black".

 

Cool! Can the touchpad be disabled, leaving only button function for the track point?

Great to hear that it's 1600Mhz ram. I'm more excited now!

 

These photos do not show the red stripes:

View attachment 93921

Nothing is definitely sure at this time. As there are preview units for the press, there are unofficial preproduction versions of the user guide. What is illustrated in such documents is not final and does not necessarily reflect the product as it will be released some time in April.

 

I have some red fingernail polish waiting.

 

I actually looked at the userguide (or some T431s document with the same pictures) back when its was first unveiled and those 2 pictures were there sans red stripes. Hopefully it's a last minute design change.

 

Well, if I remember last year, all new ThinkPads shown on the announcement event (2012 Lenovo Accelerate) had in fact a blue FN-key, blue FN functions and a blue ThinkVantage buttons, as well as the first review units sent out (see Andrews X230 review). However, when the user-guides of these new models were released, the FN keys had changed their colors to gray, and the ThinkVantage buttons was black. This was firstly shown in the user guide, and all production models later on had these color scheme then . So maybe these documents are more final than the pre-production units showed in the Engadget event.

The first, chinese user guide (see the first post) also showed the T431s, but still without these stripes on the clickpad (perhaps this was the "preproduction version of the userguide). I don´t think they are there because of accident.

But as you said, we will see it when the first production units will arrive.

The TouchPad can be disabled in the UEFI-BIOS, but I am not sure what happens with the integrated TrackPoint buttons if you do this.

Also, you still have the possibility to turn the TouchPad off in Windows There are two modes: TouchPad mode and TrackPoint mode:

 

Thank you.

This thread is entertaining as long as nothing is taken seriously.

 

This seems confusing to me because at first glance, the mode just changes the region for the right click (mostly). I just hope the drivers and software allow for two finger tap for right clicks. Many people have become accustomed to this already with other makers. And of course two finger scrolling had better be flawless (like the Mac).

 

47whr battery on the t431s is a joke. You won't get anywhere near Lenovo's estimated 8 hours of battery life. x1 carbon has a 45whr battery and most professional reviewers benchmarked it around 5 and a half hours, under conservative use (emailing/writing/web browsing).

 

Lenovo has just released the newest version of the PSREF. See: http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf T431s is also included.

 

According to that version of the PSREF (March 2013, Version 434), Thors.Hammer will need some red fingernail polish.

 

I don't get it. The X301 is lighter and slightly smaller, but it has more ports, an optical drive, and a larger user replaceable battery. And it's a five year old computer. It's like the technology and engineering prowess has gone backwards. Am I missing something?

Why don't they just stick a 14" display in the X301 chassis (since lots of people are having no problem shrinking bezels these days), update the motherboard and processor, and voila, you'd have a better computer than the T431s. No "year of careful research and design" necessary.

And don't even get me started about the keyboard. I guess where some people see streamlined, I see less functional. Simpler is not always better. (And by the way, I have never once thought I wanted a larger touchpad with no buttons.)

Anyway, I think they should have just called the T431s the X2 or something (since it is far more derivative of the X1 carbon than the T series) and kept the T series more traditional. That way they'd have a true ThinkPad for people who appreciate them, they wouldn't be diluting their brand identity, and they could still market a more "modern" "sleek" X series ThinkPad for those who want a MacBook facsimile.

This is so sad. I was already trying to wrap my head around the messed up keyboard on the T430s, for when I need to upgrade from my X301 and now this. Yuck.

 

Now there's something you don't see every day. That line taken out of context is wonderful :-D

 

Now wait just a minute there...

 

So, Thors... Are you going to buy one of these?

 

I still think it's hasty to jump to conclusions regarding such detail choices. Until the site with em for sale goes live as they say...

 

Jumping to conclusions? Only joking among those who can get it.

 

I'm already ordering a T431s in my head based on the descriptions in the Tabook.pdf.

The last remaining variable I'm undecided upon is the SSD. There is a 240GB FDE option (full disk encryption) and the 180 GB option. Does anyone know which drive is faster I assume these options have been around for other ThinkPads so perhaps there is some feedback out there. i.e. does the FDE options slow down the SSD making the 180GB option a better choice? My preference would be speed over security.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

@bdoviack. We expect a full-review from you soon then

 

Not sure, but we use disk encryption at work and it has absolutely crippled my SSD, so much so that it's now no faster than a 5,400 rpm disk. So if that's anything to go on, don't go anywhere near it!

 

Its APRIL. Where's my T431s???? >_<

 

In certain parts of the world, April's Fool runs the whole month, sometimes longer.

 

April fools is already over.. Now I'm really feeling like April's fool!

 

It's sad that they've forced these "features" onto the users. Button-less touchpads is one of the worst innovation ever. It did nothing to increase usability, only to make ultrabooks look sleeker. Now they want to go that way with the trackpoint as well. Very disappointing. What's next? Button-less keyboard?

 

Already happening:



Extensive "consumer research" will incorporate such things to ThinkPads. A bit here, a bit there...

 

Both are likely to be Intel 520 or 330 series SSDs, which both support FDE encryption. There is no slowing down with encryption, it's done in hardware. In fact, there is no way to switch encryption off - data is always written to the actual flash chips encrypted.

 

It is the exact keyboard as the Lenovo Twist. Definitely not as good as the original X220, and X230 keyboard. The only difference from the Lenovo Twist keyboard is that the X230s has larger arrow keys.

 

why cant lenovo make it possible to use middle click on the bottom row? i have to use a registry setting just to unlock in on the t410.
do they not realize how useful this button is in windows and browsers (for tabs)?

 

If I see one more post about the buttons being gone I'm going to go insane. Seriously, complaining here about the buttons being gone isn't going to do any good.

Now lets talk solutions not problems. If this box isn't satisfactory (which I agree it isn't) , what do you guys recommend for a thin and light (13-14 inch sub 4lb) business portable machine with a trackpoint that isn't Obsolete (out of production)? Are we talking Dell XPS now?

I just got an ASUS ux32vd but returned it cause of the ugly bezel and the stupid touchpad which I can't get used to.

 

Complaining before a machine ships is entertainment on the internet. Complaining after a machines ships and is in the hands of real owners can also be entertaining.

Prepare to be entertained.

 

You are probably left with Toshiba Tecra, HP Elitebook, and Dell. I'm going to say that both the legendary Thinkpad keyboard and trackpoint are effectively dead since it doesn't look like Lenovo is bringing them back, personally I'm moving to Macbooks. The Apple touchpad is actually fairly awesome in OSX.

 

how can the trackpoint is dead? Please finger out what it is, there is a few pictures showing it.

 

Right, you meant the legendary ThinkPad keyboard and the legendary trackpoint that existed in, say, the T510 or the T60.

There are a keyboard and a trackpoint in upcoming ThinkPad models, not that they are completely removed (as there are plenty of pictures showing them), but you don't consider them legendary. Therefore, you said the legendary ThinkPad keyboard and the legendary trackpoint are effectively dead.

Fair enough.