ThinkPad X1, X230, X230t, T430, T430s, T530, W530, L430, L530 Official

The USB3.0 chip-set is not backwards compatible with USB2.0. The physical plug has USB2.0 connections that will be taking care of with a separate controller. just thought it'd point that out

 

After a couple missed connections with FedEx, I received the X230 today.

 

O.O

You have an X230 Zaz?! When are you going to write up a review?

 

do we know if the X230T is being released at the same time as the X230?

 

I do indeed. I don't think sites are allowed to post anything about Ivy Bridge until next month. I'm hoping in the next few weeks, perhaps sooner if I'm really gung-ho.

 

I gotta think the embargo is going to get lifted at or before Computex. All of the planets are lining up for that time frame.

 

Zaz you have connections for sure!

The perks must be nice!

 

I expect a good review on 5th June. Or on June 3.

 

Care to share any impressions on the x230 so far?

 

It's black and boxy.

 

Sounds perfect

 

And, how is the new "Precision Keyboard"?

 

That would be my first question too

 

I'm going to join those who dislike the new keyboard. I don't have to try it to dislike it, I can base this decision on the fact that the new layout sucks. I am not opposed to the Chicklet or Island keyboard style, what I oppose is the change from a 7 row to a 6 row layout. I have seen people justify this based on cost savings, those of us who buy thinkpads pay a premium for what is one of the most expensive laptop lines vs performance being produced today. Telling us that a change saves production costs really does not register, unless you can say that you have made something cheaper while making it better at the same time... Hard to say when you remove a bunch of keys and make an illogical keyboard layout! What is up with the Print Screen button where the menu button should be? Maybe I am a minority, but I use that button that is no longer there... I also liked the page fwd / page back buttons that used to be by the arrows. I also prefer keeping the more standard layout at the top that was allowed with 7 rows. I work with AS/400 mainframes on a regular basis, the seperation in the F keys was something that I really liked having since I am a touch typer. I see no reason for this change, hell they didnt even move the keyboard up with this move to create more room below for the touchpad, they just removed it and filled up the void left behind above with more room for the power button! Had they gone chicklet, and kept the 7th row, I would actually be quite happy, but they didnt.

I hope my current thinkpads last while, because I'm not looking forward to my next one.

 

I assumed when I heard about the keyboard change that it was because they wanted to make the machines thinner. That doesn't appear to have happened so backlighting and cost must have been the reason.

 

Adn they changed the 7-row -> 6-row, because they think that a 6-row is simpler looking and eliminates visual complexity. IMHO they are right, most people had no idea what the keys in the 7th-row did and they doesn´t care about them. I never used most of them on my R60 (except PrinScr and the ThinkLight Button). So I don´t miss this buttons on my L520 with a 6-row keyboard with classic keycaps.

Sorry, but I´ve never ever used the menu button. I know what it does and it is still in its position on my L520, but I don´t use it.

 

Hmm, you never used HOME or PAGE UP? interesting.. you clearly don't use your keyboard for much.

--- Edited ---

I also believe that having the keys PGUP, PGDN, HOME, END, Delete ... in the proper configuration that they have been on keyboards forever makes things LESS complicated... Having them all in one row is much harder to use when you don't look at your keyboard.

 

I know what these keys are doing, but I simply don´t use them, because I forget about them in my daily use. They are a useless addition for me, not more. The most people don´t use this keys too.

 

I don't use the F01-F12 keys often, nor the scroll/pause/break. The Print Screen button was replaced by snipping tool programs that have more functionality and hot keys. The Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys I do use however. Perhaps Sharpkeys can allow us to make custom hot keys to remap these missing buttons?

 

The buttons you use are not missing, they are just rearranged in such a way that they are harder to find as a touch typer. For some reason, Print Screen has taken a prominent position between ALT and CTRL to the right of the spacebar where the Menu key should be??? It's stupid.

 

Well, these keys stay there. Home and End in the upper right corner, PageUp and PageDown near to the arrow keys (they replace PageForward-Backward)

 

Lenovo have already broke that rule in the previous layout with large Esc/Delete, when Insert was moved. And these Forward/Back keys above arrow keys were super annoying too (they could be switched off on the laptop, but not on the external USB keyboard).

So it was already hard with the current layout if you have to use some other keyboard. It's just a little bit harder now. Most people, who don't use the keys that are gone, like menu or Break, are not going to complain. And there are not many people nowadays who remember what ScrollLock does

Plus Lenovo seems to be listening a little, and the X1C keyboard has gaps between function key groups, which were missing in X1, so perhaps some keys will come back in the next iteration.

It must be hard to please all consumers and reviewers anyway. Some of them require an opportunity to bend their wrists when typing, others want function keys to be media keys and brighness adjustment by default (no kidding! "We'd much prefer adjusting the volume, brightness and other settings without having to execute a key combo." ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A Review | Ultrabook Reviews ), thirds want Thunderbolt even though there are just a few devices available that actually use it (perhaps because Apple has it now) etc.

 

I see. I never use the Menu button though. A simple right click with the mouse touchpad button underneath the spacebar is good enough I think, considering its proximity to the original menu button screen. I wonder if the print screen button can be remapped to serve as a hot key button for custom shortcuts.

Another concern is the missing numpad within the letters via the Fn key. I use Excel a lot and I've become accustomed to the square/parallelogram layout of the numpad. Is that there still or not?

 

I understand that... Frustrating because at this point there was only one option left for those of us that DO use all of these things, and I realize that those of us that work with things like mainframes or use keyboard shortcuts more than we use pointing devices are far and few between today, ... but now there is NO good options for us... It's a sad day. I adjusted to the large DEL key pretty quickly, didnt like it at first, but it was only 1 real displaced button which between all of them I use the least (insert). For the most part, everything was still the same. All of the other changes they made were able to be swapped (Fn / CTRL) or disabled (Pg Fwd / Pg Back) ... There is no BIOS fix for this mess.

Menu button for the track point is a bit different.. And it does appear that your loved Fn Number keys are no longer there, ... Maybe someone who has one can let you know if the functionality is still there without the labels?

 

Yup. Zaz will have a grand time with all of our curiosities and questions! I look forward to hearing his views and answers on the keyboard.

 

Did Fn+numpad work in the xx10/xx20 series? At least on my T410 and W520 Fn+these keys has no effect.

Which is a shame, as I use some apps that treat "Numpad +/-/*/Enter" differently, and getting this functions w/o external numpad requires Numlock On , press , Numlock Off.

 

Some function will maybe be there, even if the label is not there. For example, on the E420s or the X130e, some of the function are there (taken from the E420s Userguide):

 

Whoa! Thanks ibmthink, I was wondering about SysRq on the new layout.

It's probably a pretty small number of people who also care, but it's pretty important for me: Magic SysRq key - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shift + Insert for paste (on Linux) is also an important one that I use a lot.

 

Very rare that I use it, but I have in the past ... I would much rather have the buttons than all these shortcuts though!

 

No doubt, I would much rather have the real keys too, but at least the functionality is there. It will make for some awkward keystroke combinations...

 

Anyone want to bet on when will we hear the first "omg I was trying to hit Alt-b but the new keyboard made me hit Alt-PrtSc-b by accident" story?

I mean, Alt and PrtSc will be right next to each other. And the result should be pretty hilarious.

 

I would personally have a Menu key where the PrintScreen is, but ignoring what I'm losing by having the PrintScreen key there, I personally like the positioning. --Putting PrintScreen back up where it supposedly belongs would make the Delete key smaller. I like the enlarged delete key and would very much like to keep it.
-Putting PrintScreen as a Fn combo would be inconvenient for a key a lot of people use a lot

And thus most consumers don't buy docks, which is the main place where Thunderbolt has some significant advantages over USB3. Thus Thunderbolt will be a niche product for power users.

You don't, probably because you need to go over 60km/h. But what about someone that doesn't? If the limited car is cheaper or more efficient, why pay more for features you don't use. I don't drive a minivan since I don't need to carry 7 people at once and a compact sedan is cheaper and more efficient.

To apply this to the dock. Why would I pay more for Thunderbolt if I'm going to be plugging in a mouse, keyboard, and a display? USB3 handles it just fine.

It's still more expensive than USB3. USB3 is only starting to justify its extra cost over USB2. It's not just a scale issue either. Thunderbolt is inherently more expensive than USB3. For example, Thunderbolt cables will never be as cheap as ethernet or USB since they are active cables.

And thus Thunderbolt will most likely end up being a fairly niche product mainly used for docking situations where USB3 doesn't cut it.

Ultrabooks are thin for the sake of thin. They aren't significantly lighter than traditional ultraportables, they aren't cheaper, nor are they more functional.

I don't hate the trend of thinner and lighter laptops, I personally use an X220, which makes some compromises for portability, but ultrabooks push it until the compromises required for thinner+lighter outweigh the gains.

Building something that has limited functionality is a great idea if your target is okay with the limits. For example ultrabooks. They are slower and have less connectivity than regular laptops, but that doesn't really matter unless you need top of the line performance or the missing ports. In exchange for those limits, you get more portability and more attractive design compared to normal 15 inch notebooks, or a lower price than an ultraportable that tries to do it all like the Sony Z.

It's a down to earth scenario that might never happen to certain types of users. "You drop your laptop" is a down to earth scenario. If you think this is likely to happen, you buy a Toughbook or something, if not, you don't waste the money.

You are not going to be served well with a USB3 based dock. Neither am I, but for a lot of people, a USB3 dock is sufficient.

 

oh stupid Intel and their secrets about Ivy Bridge. I'll blurt the secret right now. The i5 3360 (dual core 35watt) is the same performance bracket as a 2720QM (45watt). That is what I'm getting in my T430 for sure. It actually scores just a little bit higher!

 

What is your basis for this information?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

Thanks for reading the manual, I reported that the functionality seems to be gone from the X230 but betting it's the same as the E420/E430 and is there with the same key strokes. In my defense, I got no manual for the X230.

 

Yeah, I would think so. I just tested out some of the keystrokes on my X120e's 6-row island keyboard, and they work. No reason for Lenovo to change things up with the new keyboards. Thanks for the post, ibmthink.

 

I've read this whole thread and can't decide if I should just order the x220 i7 now or wait a couple more weeks for the x230. I've always been a fan of the old thinkpad keyboards, but newer is always better right?

 

A modern pro notebook without thunderbolt connections is a bit disappointing

P.S: sorry for my English

 

Lenovo won't add a connector that isn't anywhere mainstream, not used in a professional environment. Also anything ThunderBolt is still incredibly expensive.

 

And yet they switched from the fairly popular DP to the unheard of except on iProducts mDP. Then failed to put Thunderbolt on it even though they had the physical port for it.

I personally would have preferred that they kept Full Sized DP and ignored Thunderbolt, but since they already forced us into buying mDP to DP/HDMI adapters, Thunderbolt would have been a nice to have since the price increase to add Thunderbolt isn't really that significant in a premium laptop that is already fairly expensive.

 

Haha, and evidently very stealthy.

 

I went with the X220 after seeing the keyboard thing. I'm open to change, but not when it comes to productivity. I don't want to change the way I type, especially when an i7 will last me years to come. (Yes I've used one of their chiclet keyboards, on an Edge.) I'd be more open to the change if they simply switched over to the chiclet style whilst retaining the 7-row layout.

I also disagree with the notion that "most people don't use Pgup/Pgdn" or whatever was said above. Got any proof?

 

i have been watching a lot of x230, i think it worth to wait little more

 

Any info about T430u, im looking for a new laptop for architecture student stuff.
Thinking about new sony vaio s15 and hp 8570p with quad, but lenovo with hd+, design and portability will be great for me i think...

I hope they put some good contrast and black screen, not the same in the t420s, cus its.... ty. Dont talking about x1 for that price is a joke...

 

According to the new products page on lenovo.com, the ThinkPad T430u won't be available until fall 2012 (see attachment). This probably means a Windows 8 launch model in October.

As for the X1 price, where have you seen the X1 Carbon price? I didn't think that information had been released yet.

 

I hope it will be possibilty downgrade to 7, also i want to buy new PC in that time.

Wondering they will put low voltage (slower) CPU, i hope not cus s430 is only 3 mm thicker and have normal processors, not speaking about x1 with 16,5 mm... and sb i5. Anyone know what type of dGPU they want to put to t430u, some nvs or standard geforce?

Im very exciting abou t430u i hope Lenovo not disappointing me, cus i actualy buy e420 waiting for IB W series, but i see i no need workstatnion power for my architecture student needs, but portability will be great. And 14 incz screen with HD+ is ok, my current hd is crapp and i want to shoot myself about that .

 

quadro K2000 will have 384 Cuda cores. use 55w

I got some product details of W530 from a Chinese thinkpad seller, he sent me a ppt says it's from offical lenovo, i don't know if everything on it is true, but it shows K2000 will have 384 cores, which sounds great.

 

Great news! Hope it is true. This in combination with kepler architecture would be a more than 100% performance increase.

 

Starting price of w530 is higher than w520? I think some good configuration like quad, k1000, backlit keyboard and FHD panel will cost something about 1900 USD which is crazy for me... Not speaking about K2000.

 

Lenovo gives some great discount for students in germany. Last year i got the x220t for 1300€ instead of 1700€. I hope there will be a configuration with the k2000m below 2000€