Thinkpad Ultrabook T430u

Hmmm...interesting! Might be applicable to me too! But then again, it would mean getting the whole phone, tablet and laptop thing from Apple and I am not sure I'd like that - and more than anything else, it would be very very expensive for me.

Or, maybe I'll just think about another line of the ThinkPads where they keep the original design. The most hopeful thing in the title is the letter "u". It could mean that only one variant of the T430 line is the "u" series sporting the looks/ capabilities under discussion. There could be other series within the T430 line up where Lenovo may not muck around with original ThinkPad design. I am sure there will be...no?

I guess - for me - a lot depends on how tablets work out within the next 12 months. I find myself increasingly thinking of getting a high-end tablet (it will be a toss-up between Win8 and Android) with a portable dock/ KB (this actually has to be very very good though!), a mid-level smart phone (OS determined by OS on tablet) have a good desktop (Win 8 + maybe a linux setup as dual boot) - dual screen setup - at home and use "the cloud" to maintain some sort of sync-order.

So seriously off topic! Apologies!

 

I'm just alarmed that they called this a T series at all. Is it Lenovo's way of boiling the frog, so to speak? This one now and then spread the same features into the real T's with the next round? And the same with the X series?

Maybe I should start looking for a backup X301 or spring for an X220 now. Or an Air.

 

We dodged the X220 getting the X100e keyboard once. I think we can see the X230 dodge the X1 treatment again.

Anyways, I would wait until the new models are announced. Its not like they are replacing the X220 as soon as they start talking about the X230.

 

I think the X221 seems more likely than the X230.

The more I use the Air, the less I like it, mainly due to the touchpad.

It could be they didn't have the space for the traditional keyboard on such a thin model. I'll reserve judgement until I see it.

 

Some feature choices on this notebook could be debatable but I consider the edge style keyboard an huge improvement over the classic thinkpad one.

Thinklight: although is a really nice feature to have, is not on par with a good retro-illuminated keyboard.

BTW given the ridiculous price of the added thinklight during the production, and given the thinklight and a backlit keyboard are only partly overlapping features, I hope in a notebook with both thinklight and a good retroillumination

 

everyone keeps saying there's no thinklight but what's this in the picture?



that box next to the camera sure looks like a thinklight to me.   the keyboard looks illuminated in the product photo, too.

i'd guess 'yes' on the thinklight and 'no' on the backlit keyboard.

but, i could be wrong.   i'm a terrible guesser.

 

T430u, first Hands on: Lenovo's ThinkPad T430u Ultrabook hands-on -- Engadget

 

very modern looking indeed. Thinkpad Air lol.

 

Looks like a thin Edge more than anything else.

 

Ragesauce against the clickpad... Unless they actually made it not suck, i.e., made it like a MacBook trackpad.

This does look like it belongs in the X-series, as an X2 or something. When I think of T430, I think of the T420 chassis with Ivy Bridge or something. The T400, 410, and 420 all use similar chassis, with spec bumps, and that's okay.

 

This image from Engadget of the T430u screams Thinkpad to me.

Spoiler

Very much unlike the E420s.

Spoiler

Until you open it up, I think it looks pretty much like a traditional Thinkpad, but thinner. The T430u definitely carries a more traditional Thinkpad design language compared to the Edge series, though isn't quite traditional Thinkpad. It maintains the rectilinear shape, the Edge chrome accents aren't there, nor is the infinity screen. All it directly borrows from the Edge series really is the keyboard, which quite honestly is a really good keyboard aside from its poor layout.

Also, pretty sure its going to have a Thinklight. Agree with Erik.

 

They still should name it an Edge, because you know, thin things have a sharp edge.

 

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the battery. There's ports on the back of the T430u and there is "nothing" on the bottom. See this pic:

Spoiler

So is it going to feature that fast charging non-self-replaceable thing?

 

Misappropriating this imagemacro, but:

 

The lid is aluminum! ALUMINUM! What was the last ThinkPad that had an aluminum lid?

 

It's say cover with rubberized paint

 

Yes, but it's still aluminum underneath. What happened to cfrp lids? They're more durable than aluminum. My point was more about the aluminum material more so than the visual look of it.

 

Cut costs? A while back they promised an $800 14 inch Thinkpad ultrabook, they've obviously had a hard time meeting that price considering its now supposed to be $850.

Sad. How much more can an CFRP lid possibly cost?

 

Judging from this picture: http://img.clubic.com/04859076-photo-lenovo-thinkpad-t430u.jpg
It would seem that there will be a Thinklight that's activated by "Fn" + "Space." I also agree that the battery will not be removable (stems from the X1 lineage) as there are no latches/separate battery compartment on any of the photos. But batteries are very reliable nowadays, and they had to keep it thin.

IMHO, you are already getting a lot of bang for the buck with a slim ultrabook with tons of upgrade options (discrete graphics, 1TB of storage, etc). The Al lid shouldn't bother most people as a notebook like this isn't meant to be abused. Of course they are going to cut costs! Pay attention to what Intel is doing to the Ultrabook market, forcing manufactures to limit a price of <$1000, less than 1" thin, all the while enforcing relatively high chipset costs. A notebook like the T430u a year back would probably cost more than the X1 if it were designed to true "Thinkpad" specs.

For those die-hard Thinkpad owners, it's pretty obvious that there will be a separate T430/T430S lineup that conforms to the more traditional style. They didn't put that "u" in there for nothing.
Just like in the past; Lenovo never really got "rid" of any lines, they are just creating more options for the consumers. This is a plus in my book.

The only things they could have improved are ExpressCard/3 USB, and of course - higher resolution screen.

 

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great ultrabook, especially if they can pitch it at that 800-900 price point. I just don't think it's worthy of the T lineage, and their branding of it as a T irks me. And when they call it a T, I notice the deficiencies of it as a T-series; whereas if this was an edge 430u or even an X* then I would probably notice the things that set it apart and put it above an edge or X*. I just see it as a w***ing out of the T series badge. For lack of a better expression.

 

I won't argue with that, but to be honest, I've had enough of Lenovo's naming schemes and after all these years, I think it's best just to move on. Complaining won't help. Just accept it for what it is. What's in a name anyways? Let Lenovo do want it wants in labeling. Maybe they could have made another single letter series, but what's done is done.

 

Well put.

I don't understand why people are getting so irked because it is being lumped into the "T Series". I personally feel it is most closely related to the T series and am not going to get upset if an ultraportable version "belittles" the T series.

They had to create an ultrabook for under $1,000, and I think they did a pretty good job at it so far.

 

Well, to be fair, I understand where the "Edge or Thinkpad naming" party stands. Brand dilution can be a very scary thing! But it has happened SO many times before, that it's moot to argue about anymore. Remember when the Thinkpad "Edge" series came out? Or when the "X1" debuted? People were furious! Now, they probably couldn't care less.

The important thing is that Lenovo didn't get rid of the 'legacy' format completely as of yet. We just know that now there is a suffix "u" series (or Xxxxu). We can expect a "X220u/X221u/X230u/whatever they decideu" soon.

 

People were and still are furious about the X1 because compared to the highly respected X301, it was a disappointment. The X1 is super strong and has a good backlit keyboard, but little else stands out.

 

I think the vast majority of the complaints about the X1 are about the screen resolution. While the X301 had a nice 1440x900 screen, the X1 drops down to a 1366x768 panel. If the X1 had a nice 1600x900 panel, personally I'd call it an improvement to the X301.

 

Agreed. Hopefully we'll hear something this week.

 

I wonder how many of the people who are up in arms about the naming scheme now were IBM customers back when the i series was introduced...

 

Many of us were ThinkPad customers before IBM sold out to Lenovo.

 

What's with Lenovo going for the under 1000 price point. People are willing to pay for a nice, quality ultrabook.

I mean, the only thing they got gong for them is "it's cheaper than a Mac"...

Why not compete with quality, performance, features and so one. Instead of, "we're cheaper, buy our stuff".

 

I was, and I didn't like the i series either. Or the 380 series, for that matter.

 

Maybe I'm playing too much BF3, but does the -u suffix remind anyone of the AK-74u?

 

Nevertheless, the 380 did coax a "very nice machine" out of you. Those must have been the salad days for ThinkPad brand management.

 

To be honest, I was as well. However I have not been disappointed with Lenovo so far.

Since the Lenovo takeover I have had:

An X61, a T61p, an X301, a T500, a W500, a W700, an X200T, an X201T, a T400s, a T510, a W510, a W520, an X220 and finally a T420s ... and I have loved every single one of them ...

 

Must have been the new PC smell that went to my head momentarily!

 

ThinkPad or Edge or whatnot, but Im liking X1's design more than this so far

 

Fair enough. I'm not a fan of the i line either (with two exceptions). My point was merely that the production of consumer/business hybrid ThinkPads is not without precedent.

Personally I actually like the T430u and X1 designs, apart from the glossy screen. I haven't used a T430u in person -- maybe my opinion will change when I do -- but from what I've seen in the shots so far it actually looks pretty professional.

 

Because people are not willing to pay that much. Nowadays, "high" laptop budgets are around $1000, for most of the people who ask me for advice. More frequently, it's between $400-600. And generally, I agree. Gone are the days where I would be willing to pay more than $1000 for a new computer, especially if I'm going to need to invest in an aftermarket SSD as well.

Premium high-end computers that command a $1000+ price don't generally sell as well. The most common line I hear from people switching back from Mac to PC is that Macs are too expensive.

 

The T430u and X1 and Edge are not real Thinkpads, if the T430u is suppose to be how the T400s to the T510 than I am doubting to get a new Thinkpad. T430u is more of a netbook with just an i5 or i7. Less ports and screen options no optical drives and more money? Shouldnt that be reversed? More money and more options?

 

I disagree. People are willing for pay more for quality and brand. This is why iPhone is the best selling phone, and iMac is the best selling All-in-one Computer. Not saying that Apple products are the best because people are willing to pay for something that they believe is a good product.

 

What do we really know about the T430u at this point? Have the full specs been published?

 

We know it's a 6-row keyboard. I'm not sure I need to know more than that.

 

I take it you are lining up to buy one.

Yea, the keyboard looks like crap. Just wondering about the rest.

 

fillerfiller

 

hopefully the thunderbolt port is included on the T430u. The screen resolution is the biggest disappointment.

 

How can you know it's a 6-row keyboard? The NBR Omnipresent Social Networking Bar could be hiding the 7th row.

 

Then one you get it JaneL, you can gimme your X301!

 

I find it quite odd that Lenovo decided to show us the T430u at CES when it's supposed to be released Q3. I'm thinking that the T430/T430S and X2xx will be out before then. Expect Ivy Bridge. They better offer HD resolution upgrades. Otherwise people will flock to the regular T430. It's the main reason why the X1 didn't sell well. Lenovo has to know that. They included a 13.3" 1600x900 touch screen on the just released Lenovo Yoga, so I can't see why they can't meet us at least halfway this time on a 14" laptop.

 

I think Lenovo didn't have mainstream Thinkpads at CES last year. I don't see HP or Dell talking about their business notebooks at CES either. Maybe consumer electronics implies only consumer stuff is being shown.

their decision to go again with 1366x768 instead of 1600x900 really bugs me. Especially at 14 inches. 1366x768 is for 10/11 inch notebooks, somewhat acceptable at 12, 13 is really pushing it, and 14+ is absolutely unacceptable imho.

 

Lenovo ThinkPad T430u: Hands On - YouTube

 

Interesting. So the machine in the video is a complete mockup. The final product was stated to have a matte screen, different keyboard (didn't mention backlighting), and drive access on the bottom though the mockup doesn't.

The port configuration looks good though there was no mention of docking.

What on earth is the reason they even announced this?