Thinkpad WISH LIST...I Wish My Thinkpad.......

I've been using ThinkPad notebook for more than 10 years already, and I always have a wish list that i expect it will appear on my next ThinkPad:

1. swap the "Fn" and "Ctrl" key (this is really a big big problem for me when I use some other notebook while I thought I'm using a ThinkPad keyboard)
2. really really love the unique keyboard layout (well, except the "Fn" and "Ctrl" key) and trackpoint, hope it won't be changed like in SL series
3. the on/off status LED should be visible when the lid is closed (just wonder how can one tell if the notebook is on or off when the lid is closed!???)
4. bigger screen option (e.g. 17") on R or T series
5. louder speaker
6. would be nice to have 4 USBs instead of 3
7. have built-in card-reader
8. re-usable component across different models and generation (i.e. AC adapter, battery), just save the world a little

 

It is visible from the outside...

 

I don't own one but i'm interested in possibly buying one in the future.
I would like to see the x301 have a slimmer bezel around the display. I suppose they could also improve the looks of the current one.This is one thing that makes me have doubts about the x301. May be having different colour options like the E4300 might be a good idea as well. May be dark brown (on configure to order) and black nothing to garish. I know they used to offer this in leather but they seem to have scrapped that now.

Also, they should add in HDMI and may be improve on the capacity of the 6 cell battery, a standard 5400mAh would be nice.
I want them to go for the 1.6 processor although i think that they might do that anyway.

I tried to email these suggestions to Lenovo but i cannot seem to find the link on their website.

 

for t61p, in this order:

Had Fn-Ctrl swappable BIOS option
Had DVI.
Had swappable discrete/integrated graphics*
Booted from card reader slot.
Could open screen 270 degrees*
Had Fn-Numlock capability.

*Not reasonable demands

You know what occurred to me the other day - if you were to take into consideration the layout of the keys that had a Fn-Extension to them (ie had extra functionality when pressed in conjunction with Fn), and the fact that the most useful two-key modifier actions are designed to be single handed (see Ctrl-Z, Ctrl-X, Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V), and then based on that choose THE MOST INCONVENIENT PLACE to put the Fn key on the keyboard - it would be in the bottom left. That is the corner where you can press the least number of Fn-X actions with a single hand (8 by my count).

 

i wish my thinkpad could take a beating like a Panasonic toughbook can.

 

Well, I haven't received mine yet, but as always, things are a compromise, so here is what I wish WEREN'T there (it's an X200s without the Webcam).

A) The big bezel (well, it's big relatively speaking)

B) The unuseable wwan-slot (apparently it has no antennas to make use of the slot)
C) That it didn't alter the height in the back when using the 6-cell and 9-cell (I like my keyboards flat and find sloping kbs unergonomical unless I'm standing at a very high table)

These things are extremely pleasing are NOT there:
D) Optical drive.
E) Dual graphics card
F) more than one speaker
G) Colored case/alu case
H) Touchpad
I ) Backlit keyboard
J) Number pad ...


And I'd like to see:
Firewire – preferably 6-pin (i.e. powered) – man, I'd be euphoric instead of just extremely happy with my purchase!

Hmm, that's about it, actually. In fact I think that I prefer having few but useful features, assuming that other people can go buy similar, but with "their" features. The FW-port is an exception, as I know it will be a b!tch to have an external FW HDD connected while using an expresscard audio card. I haven't figured that one out yet.

 

It does, you can choose to have that integrated. I can't really think about much that I would wish my TP had, other than the Media Player controls on the arrow keys would work iTunes...silly Mac programs..the backside of having an iPod is iTunes.

 

I think he's referring to the circle with the jagged line (powered-on light), which, at least on the T500, isn't visible when the lid is closed. That would be a useful addition though.

 

Can't you just look at the sleep light? and the battery light? That should give an indication if it's just in sleep or completely shut down.

 

Oh, I see.

Exactly. Both the battery light and the AC light are on the outside, and one of the two has to be lit for the notebook to be on.

Edit: Actually, the battery light is on even when it's charging.

 

100 % correct. I agree with you. But then again, this is a wish list, so if he wants that light on the outside, sure, it's just completely useless. ;-)

 

CPU settings in Bios, FSB Multipler etc...
Better LCD Panel

 

1. Premium LCD options (the beautiful RGB LED used in Dell's M4400/M6400 systems, for example. Or, bring the Flexviews back!) Good brightness and viewing angles are important.

2. Appropriate LCD resolution options. 14" and 15" LCD panels should offer at least one premium option with SXGA (1280x1024), WXGA+ (1440x900), or higher resolution. SXGA+ (1400x1050) and WSXGA+ (1680x1050) are good too. UXGA and WUXGA are good options for graphic/photo artists and 3D/CAD users, but are generally too high resolution for comfortable 8-hour days of document work (without good DPI scaling, such as in Windows 7).

3. Non-widescreen display options. I much prefer the 15" SXGA+ in my R51 to the 15" WSXGA in my T61p. As a software engineer, I need vertical resolution much more than extra horizontal.

4. Displayport, with optional DVI/HDMI adapters (similar to the Dell Precision notebooks)

5. AC adapters with L-plugs, or even better, ones with replaceable cords between the power supply and the notebook! I've gone through two AC adapters inside of a year, due to the cord breaking at the connector due to repeated bending!

6. Leave everything else the same, Lenovo keyboards and touchpads are the best in the business, and Thinkvantage software is great!

 

A Backlit Keyboard dump the Thinklight !

 

i wish my thinkpad had the normal 4:3 original ibm dimensions
i wish my thinklight was centerd and provided good illumination for entire keyboard.
i wish thinkpad had the original NMB keyboard found in the t42s
i wish thinkpad had a nice centered bezel dispaly on my thinkpad(not 1 inch on 1 side and 1 cm on the other side)
i wish thinkpad had horizontal USB ports (compared to the vertical)
i wish thinkpad had the headjacks on the sides. not in the front.

please make my wishes come true .

 

I want the ThinkPad to not be a ThinkPad (by incorporating these ideas from other people) lol.

 

I strongly support this!!! Not just 14.1" but 12.1" as well!!!

 

1. Continue making 4:3 screens for 12.1"~14.1"

I think the smaller the screen, the more desirable for it to be 4:3. Wide screens are more suitable for larger screens, for the simple fact that the vertical space on a 12.1" gets too small and too high resolution is not good.

(I'm not sure if this is up to Lenovo or we have to tell this to the screen makers?)

2. By all means keep the Matte screen (kudos for having kept it so far )

3. Minimize the weight

4. Touch pad and optical drive for the 12.1" (I know a little hard to fulfill both)

5. Batteries with lighter weight and longer life. (What about a lighter and smaller AC adapter as well - if possible at all?)