Thinkpad Ultrabook T430u

Lenovo's ThinkPad T430u Ultrabook targets the business set with discrete graphics and 1TB in storage, arrives in Q3 for $849 -- Engadget

looks like bigger version of the x1. Shouldn't be in the T-series.

 

I dunno, it kind of looks like every other ThinkPad. The 1TB is impressive. Hopefully, you can add a mSATA, but the 1366x768 is disappointing.

 

Eh that's an Edge through and through. Could be the baseline for T430s or whatever the next T series come out, but it should lose the T series so not to confuse people.

 

I don't know how you guys can judge whether it's more akin to the Edge series just from a closed picture. Like ZaZ said, it looks pretty much like every other Thinkpad. Only point of note is that there is no protective clamshell design to the lid.

Hopefully there'll be an HD+ display upgrade option. Don't see why this can't use the same displays from the T420/T420s.

 

Apparently you're missing pics?!
It really looks like an X1-ish thing..

 

How so? It could be made with magnesium alloy, just like the other T series. It's kind of hard to say from a pic.

 

There's other pictures with the Edge styled chicklet keyboard, no ThinkLight, the touchpad/touchpad buttons.

I doubt Lenovo would ever add options as that would further break the boundaries the mainstream ThinkPad and small business. If you want a option high resolution LCD + newest Intel platform, you buy mainstream ThinkPad. If you just want the cheapest business quality notebook you can get, buy an Edge. Also it would increase cost, as now they have to subplant/test new chassis with LCD's as well as marketing, CTO models would go up in price, and most people buying an Edge wouldn't think twice about screen resolution, and this is true with HP's Probook line and Dell's Vostro, there is no option for an upgraded display.

 

scroll down, there are 4 pictures altogether.

 

I did.

 

Would seem logical this would have a 1600x900 display option of the T4x0 series does, no?

 

something wrong with your browser maybe? Anyways I have attached the pictures in my first post.

 

Tappable touchpad instead of the front buttons?

Anyway, if I want a low-res screen I would get a smaller notebook.

John

 

For the third time, I saw the pictures. What's your point?

 

Ugh. Chiclet keys on a T series. David Hill has truly lost his touch.

 

Lenovo should have used this opportunity to bring in a 13" version and make that into a ultra portable. I am also not really a fan of these chicklet keys! These kinds of developments make things difficult for me. I am currently debating on whether I should opt for a new 14" ThinkPad or a refreshed X220 (or its successor). This way, I may be pushed to continue with the 12" screen!

Lenovo are you listening? Obviously not!

 

Many of us also hope that they are backlit keys, but maybe you are one of those people who think that it's impossible to improve on the ThinkLight. Persoanlly, I would settle for the normal keyboard style, provided it is backlit.

John

 

The fact that they chose to include it in the T-series makes me wonder if the T430s will look anything like this chassis. I hope not..

 

I don't think it's impossible to improve on the ThinkLight. I do, however, think that it's more practical than backlit keys because I can use it as a flashlight of sorts to see the characters on an RSA token, for example, or notes that I've taken.

 

More worryingly, I wonder if this is indicative of the gradual dilution of the ThinkPad brand.

 

I was sorta intrigued by this one - can't say i'd get it but still sorta intrigued. Pricing is kinda high as well but I guess that's what we get. I'll be looking forward to see how the T430 and S models shape up - hopefully those are with Ivy Bridge!

 

I think Lenovo took a leaf out of Dell's book and realized backlit keys have a mushy kind of feel, just like my Alienware (even worse than Latitude keyboards). There are a number of issues with backlit bleeding/uneven backlit on keyboards.

They tried this with the X30_ series. They were too pricey and did not sell well, and Lenovo tends to kill models that don't sell well quickly (W70x series is a good example). X30x offered nothing the X20_ series didn't offer besides a slim ODD (wihch in an age where ODD are being phased out) and either X300 or X301 offered SSD only which considering how significantly cheaper SSDs have gotten, X300/X301 lost it's place to T4_0s/normal X series.

And hence I posted earlier they should remove the T series branding and just rename it an Edge or X1(v2) or something to that attune.

 

Only if it doesn't include a Trusted Platform Module. If it does, then based on the form factor, it belongs in the T Series.

 

Disappointing effort.

 

ThinkLight > Backlit
It lights up the area around the keyboard better for reading physical stuff that you might need to refer to when working. Also I feel that it hurts my eyes less than back lit since ThinkLights light indirectly.

I would prefer this to be the E430u instead of T, but oh well. I don't think this indicates anything about the T430, X230, etc. They wouldn't risk a major redesign to the main Thinkpads just yet. Do notice that this isn't the T430s, but rather the T430u.

My only complaint against the chiclet keyboards is that they don't have 7 rows. I wouldn't mind a chiclet keyboard in my next Thinkpad as long as I don't lose my 7 rows.

In other news, anyone noticed they dropped the arrow key block down in the new chiclet design? Hopefully this is a sign of things to come with the chiclet Thinkpad keyboards.

 

Aside from the increased cost, pennies per unit I'd imagine... Why not have both Thinklight and Backlight to please both camps? Make independent software on/off switches and problem solved.

I did notice the keyboard... Hopefully this means NMB and Chicony are involved... and that the experience will be ThinkPad-esque.

 

My thoughts exactly. I think the small changes that are being made to the Thinkpad island keyboard are a good sign: Lenovo's responding to some ergonomic concerns. Once they add a full 7 rows to the island style keyboards and add dedicated volume/mic controls, I wouldn't mind having those keyboards on the main-line Thinkpads.

 

Lenovo's ThinkPad T430u Ultrabook targets the business set with discrete graphics and 1TB in storage, arrives in Q3 for $849 -- Engadget

An island keyboard made it into the T series.. this should've been an edge.
No Thinklight.
No dedicated volume/mute/mic mute keys.
No 7 row keyboard.
No discrete touchpad buttons.
No SCREEN LATCHES.

T series my butt.

Take a look at it next to the new X1 hybrid. They have more in common than this thing does with a T-series. Slap some super glossy gorilla glass on this thing and it might as well be an X1. I hope this isn't the only replacement for the T420s.

And what an awful resolution at that... my eyes are not geriatric you know.

Watering down that ThinkPad goodness. 1 model at a time. Nice.

 

Add to that list:

No Ins/Del/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn block of keys.

 

Article says first Ultrabook with dedicated GPU ... what about the U400?

Looks like Intel is making headway convincing manufacturers that ultrabooks are the wave of the future. Lenovo indicated last year that it would be producing a T series ultrabook. No idea yet if that is intened to replace the full size T4x0 series.

 

This sums it up nicely.

Conceptually what they've given here is even worse than the X1. X220 and T420s work very well as what they are. What they (still) need is a decent 13" Thinkpad. That means 1600x900 and the footprint of an X301 instead of a T420s.

 

U400 isn't an ultrabook I think. At least according to Lenovo it isn't, they are only pushing the U300s as an ultrabook and not the U400/U300.

I doubt its intended to replace the full size T400 series. The T400 and the X200 series are Lenovo's main products and replacing them with ultrabooks would leave a pretty big hole in their product line up. I have some doubts about it even replacing the T400s series. Do note that its a "u" variation rather than a "s" variation, leaving the possibility of a T430s still. The other Lenovo ultrabook, the U300s is an "s" variation so its not like Lenovo wants to avoid using "s" for ultrabooks for whatever reason.

 

First we went with an angled chassis,
Then we lost the bevels on the edges,
Then we saw the introduction of consumer Think,
Then we lost the Ultrabay battery,
Then we were given textured touchpads,
Then the X302 became the X1,
Then we lost latches (X220),
Then we lost touchpad buttons entirely,

And now the T430u in all it's chiclet, 6-row, latchless, low-resolution, poorly touchpadded, "ThinkPad glory".

Not really surprised Johnathan Ive got knighted and David Hill didn't.

 

Definitely not a real T series.

Did I read somewhere that the lid is aluminum?

 

I was thinking about internal materials as well. Who knows what this thing looks like on the inside in terms of the roll cage, keyboard retention, types of plastics used, etc.

@JaneL - yes it uses an aluminum lid. It's still coated with the soft-touch matte rubber, but is no longer CFRP. Because you know, we like dents and dings and everybody knows aluminum is more flexible so it absorbs impacts better than plastic oh wait no. Sorry.

As for the base, I'll bet 50/50 that it's not magnesium alloy like the T4xxs were/are.

 

Will it be quarantined in the non-ThinkPad Lenovo Hardware section at TPF?

 

Clearly Lenovo is violating forum rules by trying to sneak in Edges and X1's into the TP forum by not labeling them correctly

 

It's entirely possible!

 

Is there definitely no Thinklight? I am pretty sure there is an icon on the spacebar for it. Of course, my E120 has one too, but no light...

 

I can't see one in the pictures, not in the traditional location. There aren't any big pictures around yet though. There does seem to be an indentation/slit to the right of the webcam though. It's off center though. I thought the thinklights were usually in recessed housings though to keep the side-to-side light limited and so they don't blind the user. That could just as well be the mic slit. It looks like a FPR but obviously not one. I thought the spacebar icon was the standard magnify/zoom utility thing.

 

Random thought, they could install a 'blacklight' thinklight, and have glow in the dark key markings. No electronics needed in the keys, and possibly less disturbing to the guy in the next seat.

 

I want one of these badly. Why the super long wait? How stupid is that? I do wish for T quality and backlit keyboard. Or think light. And Why not the same type of top as a T series? Aluminum? Ah, but I still want one!

 

I believe the chiclet keyboard Thinklight key is Fn Space instead of Fn PgUp.

I also think that the T430u is going to have a backlit keyboard. They solved their typing experience quality problem with backlit keyboards in the X1's keyboard. I would even expect that all chiclet keyboard Thinkpads will be backlit instead of Thinklight.

 

Well put.. now the keyboard is gone as well

 

I like the idea of this computer, it just isn't done in it its fullest potential.

I like the size and factor of it. Also the port selection looks good and I would like to have a chiclet keyboard on my next T series laptop, as long as it had 7 rows.

Screen resolution obviously is just plain stupid. There better be an option for HD+.

Battery life, if true, is pretty acceptable to me. I could live as long as it realistically got 5 hours of battery life.

Also like the 1TB of storage possibilities and the discrete graphics. So if they'd add a thinklight, have 1600x900 resolution, add a 7th row of keys, then I'd call this a pretty perfect laptop.

As long as it had all of the regular T series durability.

 

Well, to be fair, David Hill is American and can't be Knighted. It's reserved for British Citizens. Well, except Bono who's Irish, but a special case there

Anyhow, I don't think it's all as disastrous as you make out, it's mostly their "halo" products that get weird design treatments. I don't include the X1, T420u or X301 as mainstream ThinkPads. Your complaints about lack of latch and touchpad buttons might be valid, but before the X220 didn't even have a touchpad remember so it's still one step forward from that.

 

I wonder if it has a docking port. I'm guessing no.

 

It's funny you mention that. I was noticing a port in the center back. I'm assuming that's Thunderbolt or something that lets you dock with an array of options like an external video dock, up to four LCD panels, Windows 8 Storage Space cabinet, etc.

Ok, dreams are free.

 

Ah the horror. If Lenovo is truly going this route with ALL of the upcoming T series laptops, I will definitely be buying a Mac-Book as my next laptop.

 

I doubt that there will be a docking option. It's too thin for that (no room for a bottom port) and ultrabooks haven't really crossed over that territory yet. The lack of ports is pretty disturbing. Would have been happy with at least 3 USBs. I think I can barely live with 2.

 

At least that 1TB option gives hope, because it means they have apparently returned to standard sized 9.5 mm hard drives.