Thinkpad W1? Blurry photo.

Someone just posted this over at forums.thinkpads.com:

"A friend of mine with connections inside Lenovo, who knows how disappointed I was by the new W540 (my W500 would need replacement sooner or later) got me this interesting bit of news:



Specs as far as he said:
Name: Thinkpad W1
Release date: Q1 2015 TBA
15 inch 3:2 display, 2560 x 1700 resolution (no idea who produces these screens, can't find any info through google).
No info on processors or GPU, apparently 16 GB of ram soldered to the motherboard with only 1 extra ram port (bit unsure about this).
6-row keyboard (leftover from W530?).
Adaptive keyboard strip that works when computer is off (same as the old status bar leds?) .
Trackpoint WITH trackpoint buttons, and Clickpad with integrated graphic tablet.
3 USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt, HDMI, MiniDP (no VGA).
3-cell battery integrated in chassis, selectable 6-cell or 9-cell (same as on the X240?).


If this is true I'm sold. I haven't tried a 3:2 display, but I loved the 4:3 display on my X60. But basically what gets me sold on this one is the trackpoint WITH the trackpoint buttons!"

Gotta fully agree on this one, but a bit unsure whether this is just someone trolling. If so I would be hurt.

 

And now...it was removed...but that does not mean its real.

Lets hope so.

 

I'm for anything that indicates a comeback for trackpoint buttons! My T61 is getting a bit long in the tooth.

 

10char 10char

 

Yes! Moar discrete buttons plox! Hate clickpads with a passion. It's ridiculous how discrete buttons has become a feature (as opposed to a given).

 

I'm a bit apprehensive. It doesn't have a fingerprint reader which is things the W-line usually has, neither is there a color sensor. However, 3:2 and trackpoint buttons are just amazing. Have anyone figured out if there is a manufactor of 3:2 screens in 15" size? I'm thinking it must be the same manufactor as the Chromebook Pixel.

 

Well, if it is real, this might be still a prototype picture / not finalized, that could explain why the FPR and the color sensor are missing - but I still have my doubts thats real.

That being said, it could make sense - after all, Lenovo itself said they are going to value customer feedback more than in the past, so this might be the answer to the complains (which are not all really eligible, because the W540 is not that bad).

 

I really hope that is real, or at least representative of Lenovo's current laptop design direction.

 

Lenovo said they were thinking about "alternate" Palmrests and returning to the classic Trackpoint buttons. Looks like they valued customer feedback.

What really shocks me is the 3:2 display. If this gets released, I'm so buying it. 3:2 ftw.

 

Wow, if this IS real, I am SO glad I didn't end up pulling the trigger on that W540 I was going to get last month. Hopefully playing the waiting game will eventually pay off !

 

ThinkPad chromebook pixel.

 

Same here! I find the trackpoint works perfectly for how I like to use my computer. Glad Lenovo is bringing it back (hopefully).

 

I wouldn't hold my breath. There is no other sources for this it seems, and someone on reddit pointed out that the trackpoint buttons looks a bit "off" in size.

 

If the clickpad is the same width as on the *40 series, the size of the trackpoint buttons is proportionally correct. If they made the buttons as wide as the pad, it would be almost as awkward to use as the clickpad is right now.

What really makes this image a bit weird is the width of the keyboard compared to the screen. If we assume the keyboard is the same width as the existing chiclet design, the base of the laptop will be ~11.75 inches wide. A 15" 3:2 display should be ~12.46" wide. The bezel on the image appears very thin, but is very unlikely to be less than .25" thick. So, the total width of the display should be almost 13 inches, which doesn't really work out.

If the screen was actually 14 inches diagonal, the width should be around 12 inches, which fits much better....

 

Hm.14" W1? Might be interesting. Or, just a badly done mockup from Lenovo or a rather ok done photoshop from some troll.

 

Just came to think, could this be a T1 instead of a W1?

 

Well, I still think this would be a Windows machine: It still has a Windows button (which Chromebooks, like the 11e, lack), and also, its a W-Series, Chromebooks aren´t really intended to be Workstations - they are much more focused on low priced Netbook-like devices.

 

Such a thin bezel on a thinkpad... This has to be fake...
But a part of me wants to believe in this...

 

Supposedly 14" T1 at left and 15" W1 at right. Proximate source is 4chan. Real source unknown. Potential bogosity very high. Take it for what it's worth.

 

Well, 4chan isn´t really known to be a reliable source. But who knows...we will see...

 

I just read the /g/-thread, seems they are only render prototypes, and that the wacom trackpad thing is probably just something they're testing. I was a bit unsure about how that would work anyhow.

 

I'm not familiar enough with Lenovo notebooks, it say's Release date: Q1 2015 TBA.

Would they show a notebook that far in advance? I could see if it said Q3 or Q4 2014. However again I don't know enough about how they do things.

 

some products are developed quite far in advance, especially their new models. I think Lenovo has a regular 18 months product development cycle. Sometimes, some products have even longer development pipeline, depending on how important they are.

Given how much interests people gave to the Frankenpad T61-T60p hybrid, i guess Lenovo thought it was an important for Lenovo to show that they are listening to the customers and release a product that the diehard Thinkpadders want.

 

I just realized this might be one of the Windows 7 backgrounds. Think that might be the coffin in the nail for this one.

 

Since these are just renders it doesn't have to mean anything. Lenovo still offers Haswell models with a Win 7 downgrade.

 

True. That T1 looks simply stunning though. I've yet to come across any laptop that I find more utilitarian and elegantly designed than my X61, but this one rivals it. On an interesting note, the right bezel on my W500 (with the 1920x1200 display) is only 0.8 cm wide (that's 0.3 inches, for people who still measure things with their feet and thumbs). That's on a laptop from 2008, we're 6 years in the future from that, so thin bezels should be possible.

 

Sounds pretty good, seems like there are dedicated function keys AND the LED strip from the new X1?

Chiclet layout aside, seems like a product a lot of users here would buy.

 

The notebook in the picture still has the horrible trackpad. Nevertheless I am really excited to see what Lenovo does with their upcoming Thinkpad line.

 

all i want for christmas is this machine. This is the best ThinkPad in the last 5 years.

 

That trackpad is a concept, it has an integrated wacom digitizer. Expect the release model to have a normal touchpad.

 

I expect the new Lenovo Thinkpads to have the same trackpad that they have now although I still have hope that they go back to dedicated buttons for trackpoint and trackpad.

 

I'm glad some design exec in the company came to the realization that increasing vertical dimensions with the 3:2 screen gives them enough room to stick the large touchpad and media keys they've put on the 40 series AND still have enough room left over to put the full keyboard and trackpoint keys that many here were upset to see leave.

 

first of all, there is not even a WEBCAM, second lenovo has recently worsen their laptops in terms of usability. a complete new formfactor would completely display a total twist in its politics. i doubt if anything of this 3:2 computers will ever be real.

 

Hello,
just for a few seconds I've dreamed about this best thinkpad in X years. Unfortunately I'm afraid this is just a poor attempt of fake. The reason is simple, author probably used dimensions of T2x/3x/4x and put Windows 7 screen there. The bezel around the screen looks so familiar. Well, where is the fingerprint reader nearly ubiquitously available on all highend thinkpads? Author, please make better job next time.
Anyway, thanks for the attempt to please die-hard ThinkPad owners.
Karel