Thinkpad hindsight

If lenovo were to redesign the current t -series, what do you think they should do/not have done from the past.

all input kindly appreciated

 

I want the legendary keyboard to be untouched.
And better screen, please!

 

I wish they could have kept the 4:3 standard aspect ratio. From what I hear it was out of their control (due to panel makers no longer making them), but it would have been really nice to have the option.

As for my T400, I kind of wish I didn't get the discreet option. The 3470 I'm finding is a really puny card and is only good for older games. New games like Dawn of War 2 have to be played at 1024x768 with everything on low or off. Kind of disappointing.

 

Seconded.

I would add:

• IPS displays
• Sturdier build design for the keyboard deck/palm rest areas
• I could do without the touchpad - at least leave it off but available as an option
• Nearly as important would be: bring back the blue and red stripes on the TrackPoint buttons!

 

agreed about the discrete option. i bought it because others highly recommended it, but i knew all along i'd likely always use the integrated gfx for everything.


and to answer the question:

- Fix the case issues. Remove unnecessary plastic like the piece around the Thinkvantage button.
-Make sure there are no gaps in the cd/dvd area. The drive should sit flush with the case, should be no gaps.
-I have a 9 cell battery, not only does it have a slight wobble, but one side doesnt sit flush with the bottom of the laptop; that should be fixed.

I guess my problems are aesthetic issues. I have no problems with the performance.

 

1. Provide higher resolution LED-backlit displays for the T500 (Dell has them, so it's not like the displays do not exist)
2. HDMI instead of DisplayPort output (I know that DisplayPort is a royalty-free port, which is why it was adopted, but adopting a half-baked port seems to be a design flaw, no matter the financial savings)
3. ThinkPoint colored buttons (I loved the red and blue stripes - Lenovo should never have removed them)
4. Better speakers (I know it's a business laptop, but slightly higher-quality speakers would not break the bank to add, I would think)

 

lovin the replys so far. it would be great for lenovo to also add a touchpad on/off button to give flexbility like hp has in that category

 

Maybe you should learn more about your laptop you have, because Fn-F8 already does that.

 

1. i see you have nothing to add to this thread..
2. i already know how to do that, a button
imo just seems to be a great feature/convience
3. and no, i do not own a computer

 

No need to be so defensive (regarding point #1). AA was just trying to help in case you didn't know it was part of the UltraNav software set.

 

assumptions dont always lead to factual results, but thanks

 

1. Less Heat
2. Offer a 14.1 SXGA+ 4:3 variant with Discrete Graphics( Panasonic still makes a notebook with the 4:3 14.1 SXGA+ panel why can't lenovo?
3. Less Fan Noise
4.Bring back support for legacy ultrabay devices
5. Bring back Flexview

 

1. lenovo should bring back fuller rollcage as it will be much sturdier than todays tp's. it will lead to a heavier laptop, but i don't think it be too bad for some as the x series was intended for that

 

upgrade to a T400/500, i have little to no heat. i can use this thing all day and it barely gets warm.

 

I thought the t61p was suppose to have great cooling too. Shouldn't be a problem overall for the past couple generations of thinkpads.

 

I find it a major problem in my T60. It's obviously improved drastically since the T60 model, though.

 

My current Thinkpad is a T60p with IPS screen. I really like the screen.

If there is an area where Lenovo can improve upon, it is by bringing back the IPS screens.

 

I agree with the above comments (however, my T61 VERY rarely gets warm, let alone "hot"). My personal list would be as follows:
1. Flexview . . . . BRING IT BACK !!!
2. FIX the Thinklight (READ: BRIGHTER !!!).
3. Better audio. Wait, make that MUCH better audio.
4. Have the T series (14, and 15.4 models) have 4 instead of 3 USB ports.
I guess that's all I can think of for now. Truth be told, I still LOVE my T61 just the way it is I've owned many-a-laptops, and this one is by far the best of them all

 

1. FlexView for at least the W models, and higher quality screens for the rest (x200 Tablet excepted).
2. HDMI [w/ audio] on all models (including x200), VGA should be maintained if at all possible (ditch 1x USB or the modem to free up space)
3. Re-enable stereo mix
4. Consider a 4x3 high resolution (SXGA+ or UXGA) option for the 14" and 15" models (I think 16x10 works great at 12", 13", and 17"; but not so much in the middle)
5. Maintain the rest (keyboard, battery life, weight, durability, etc.)

 

my T61p 14.1 SXGA+ burns my lap, it is a fireball. But it is one of the most powerful 4:3 computers ever created, I just wish it didn't run so hot. At least its much quieter than my T60p....

This will be my last thinkpad as I require native serial port and with the new ones they don't offer it.

 

From A loving W500 Owner
1. A graphics card that exists

 

Backlit keyboard. PLEASE...
Ship more HDD with hardware encryption.
Standard remote wipe and kill function to protect data.

 

The backlit keyboard has been brought up but don't ever expect it. You can't just add it and keep the feel of the keyboards. We want a keyboard for function, not flash.

And hard drive encryption and wiping is easily done with software if you want to "play around" with it .

 

USB is a serial port. Just buy a USB-to-RS232 adapter, like this one:
http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cab...-1MB&cats=199&catid=2345,199,461,106,1009,601

Dont choose another laptop because it has a serial port. That is meaningless, for many reasons. First being noone is interested to include a 'native' serial port just because you want it. Your only chance is then to have a T4x model or an older docking station, if it works. Anyways, shelling out money for a laptop just because it has a serial port is not IMO a good deal. Buying an adapter is

 

And now, the wishes (including the no-wishes)

1. Less flex, more rock. Period. Work, work, work, research materials and physics, work more. Thinkpads are Thinkpads because people want to rely on them. Watching a brand wash out leaves no hope somehow.

2. Even longer durability. As the marked goes opposite direction, where manufacturers "expect" consumers to buy laptops that last a couple of years, and offer short warranty times, Lenovo with its Thinkpad line should do the opposite - 10 years or even lifetime warranty would be ideal. I know the latter is just insane, but that is wishful thinking and would allow them to do a better research on weaker parts or parts that go belly up because of bad design.

3. Good quality screen. LED was a step in the right direction. It may only go better from there. But many people buy the CCFL without knowing the difference, and then complain.

4. No aluminium heatsinks, that was a cheat that Lenovo does with integrated graphics solutions. Obviously they think that since integrated graphics run cooler, the computer does not need the copper part, but in my experience this shortens the life of the components because it is not only the graphics card that produces heat, and more like the RAM sticks and a loaded Core 2 Duo CPU.

5. Again, LESS flex, more durability. I dont know why I am repeating this, just feels like it has to be repeated.

6. Dump the legacy ports, include them either as option, adapters, or in docking stations. This means including digital video and audio.

7. No more audio jacks in front. That was a bad mistake.

8. Bring back the red colours!

9. Lower the lowest fan revolutions-per-minute. Starting up at about 2900RPM may be quiet, but it may be even quieter. I hate noise, and you would be suprised how much I hear

10. Make it thinner. T43 was 2.6cm, now it is about 3.1cm. But I guess, with LCD rollcage it is as thin as it is gonna get now...Well, still worth trying...

11. And finally improve Linux support. And not by doing Linux, but by disclosing specs - this way other operating systems may take advantage of the hardware. Buying a a brick for 1000$ is the worst waste of money, and when one does not want to run Windows, it can look like a brick sometimes.

12. Increase price if the above sounds too good.

 

well said. i dont think removing the audio jacks is such a great idea, but removing that wireless on/off switch would be.

its something i never use, and if i want wireless off i can easily disable it though software.

 

Better GPU options, better screens, better quality control, and less variation on parts (ie. sturdy keyboards all around).

 

I don't think anyone said removing the actual audio port, just removing it from the front.

That being said I don't think there are really that many non-necessary ports on the thinkpads, except maybe a modem (but there is the option to not have that).

 

[7] I never got what people have against the audio jack in front. The audio jack on the side of my laptop is getting on my nerves, because the cable tends to get in the way when I'm typing and moving my arms. Besides I have an african bamboo thing which I use to hold my laptop on my lap, and the cabling would be better when the audio jack was in front.

[12] I couldn't agree more to the rest of your list, but I'd happily spend a few bucks more, if that would actually help.

Off topic: I think I should make some photos of this bamboo thing .

 

I don't like audio jacks in front either. It makes it not so nice to balance the front edge of the laptop if you're lying down for example. If you are using external speakers, you have this unsightly cable sticking out the front and under your wrists. Where the audio port is located is a point that I do consider when looking at a laptop.

 

1) Screen with better vertical sweet spot. In fact a more improved screen (brightness, contrast, viewing angle) would be my first choice.
2) Enable stereo mix like the older Thinkpads
3) Keep running cool, long battery life.
4) Better video card (I have a T500) would be nice.
5) Perhaps a brighter LED screen for outside use.
6) Yes 4 and 5 may cut down on battery life. But dual video cards (T500) and ability to adjust screen brightness would even this out pretty much.
7) I like the connector placement on the T60/R61e better than the T500. No connectors in front.
8) Don't change the keyboard.

 

Is the african bamboo thing a case or a computer stand? I would like to see pics of it

 

Here they are:




This really is a perfect case. So I add this to the wish list: I want another bamboo case with my next Lenovo That could shape Lenovos image to help african tribes, maybe .

I use it since ~ 4 years, everywhere (at home at least), including in bed, and on the toilet . In bed it is very useful for cooling, because it keeps the laptop about 1-2 cm from the bottom. And on the lap it's extremely comfortable, I can lay in every strange position and it will sit comfortable and cool on my lap. I even sleep with it in my Ikea chair when it rests on my lap, like I did today.

I haven't weighed it yet, but it ways next to nothing (you see that I easily hold it with hand on the side while I took the photo, it could be twice or three times the weight before it would be uncumfortable).

It has "air vents" at the bottom and on the sides (I didn't take a photo from the side, there is an even gap of about 7mm where the two bamboo pieces are meshed).

I think the real purpose of this thing was to serve as a plate for food. At least that's what my mom bought it for from a 3rd world fair trade shop, until I saw it .

 

That looks like the perfect lap desk. I'll be on the lookout for something like that now. Thanks!

That's one funky looking keyboard you've got there.

 

for T500

1. WSXGA+ LED
2. bring the switchable ATI Radeon 46xx into T500 series.
3. stop using low quality plastic for internals.
4. 4-5 usb ports
5. audio ports on either left or right, maybe place some usb ports int eh front. add an extra headphone port like the dells
6. use aluminum alloy in the bottom.

 

They should take a look at these polls: http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/showpost.aspx?i=569

Get the most important interfaces (display, keyboard, touchpad) right and the notebook will be a success. Whoever had the idea that business notebooks don't need good displays is a moron.

 

Seconded. It seems only Apple does it right in regards to display and touchpad (though the res is too small for me and we don't need to argue about ports either). PC vendors seem to have the drive of a wandering dune these days, with little to no passion to improve in these areas and with nobody willing to do the next step.

 

If the folks at lenonvo could keep the same mechanical rigidity, theyd have the machine.

They need performance also.

-Renee

 

Why should they care? They sell enough not to. That is one of the corner stones of capitalism economics. Supply matches demand, that includes the kind of supply and the kind of demand too.

Until the average consumer that Lenovo includes in their statistics wakes up, nothing, and I mean NOTHING is going to be even slightly changed. Or unless the competition heats up, which it does not. Laptops are getting WORSE, not better, in terms of quality of construction, despite material advances. Some do have expensive alloys, but they use it as a marketing gimmick to sell exclusive models. Take a look into your nearest computer outlet, you will see all kinds of cheap plastics with expensive looking 'silver' paints and flashy stickers.

Nobody was ever fired for buying IBM, they say. But IBM was also voted numerous times to be the best company to work at. Can this be said about Lenovo? No.

If YOU were manufacturing Lenovo laptops, what would you do? Probably change a lot of things, you would say. Well, why does this not happen already? Probably because the rules of this business change people, even most ambitious and idealistic.

Even Matt Kohuts blog smells business. And he is an engineer. Hear him say things like, quote, "what’s the incentive for us to start providing all of this intellectual property for free to the Linux community?" An understandable stance, but still a very outdated one, since it is NOT Lenovo who invented Switchable Graphics, but AMD/ATI and Intel. It is not like if they for example include the graphics on-the-fly switch as part of the ACPI interface, that anybody will figure out HOW they do it. We just want a public (documented) switch for our switchable graphics, not necessarily dig into how they did it. He is an engineer, and seems to be wandering elsewhere.

I take all this as the state of things as they are. Pardon me for taking too much space, but I believe it has to do with the wishes here, and how Lenovo may or may not care. And being a Thinkpad lover, it hurts a bit.

 

Worse yet, when we average consumers decide to make our opinions known in the true spirit of capitalism - by not buying their product - my guess is that those who are responsible for these questionable ThinkPad design changes will look at the drop in sales as a reason to cut costs on the build process even further to increase margin, or even the discontinue the under-producing product line altogether, rather than make a better product. Someone either just doesn't get the ThinkPad community or isn't interested in making more money on fewer sales.

One worrisome fact to note, over half of the notebooks being sold these days are sub-$500 netbooks. That pretty much makes them a direct competitor with the standard notebook industry, as people will now consider a netbook first when determining what product best suits their needs. Sure, they have their niche, but the fact is many of the people who were buying notebooks before, are opting for netbooks now.

 

You are very right indeed.

Also, somehow it escapes Lenovo, that there always will be a part of their consumers that will ONLY buy Thinkpad, no matter HOW MUCH it costs. That is what I am paying for - quality. That is why I want to shell out 2000$ and enjoy a premium design, engineering and manufacturing for more than 3 years. I am a programmer, and I like to travel. I want something powerful enough, light and thin, and something that does not fall apart by meeting the elements. How can I ever rely on something else than Thinkpad, when I almost weeklu service all those Fujitsu-Siemens, Packard Bells, ASUSes, and even Acers and Dells, latter being marginally better than the first two. I have so many stories to tell, awkward stories how money saved in design results in almost hilarious customer service for me. I dont want to be part of that culture. I just want a black thing brick with one green light that says "I am on, I work, I am ready for input", THAT IS IT. I type on it, it responds, I shut it off without worrying about it might not living to see another day. Next day, same routine. Life of a roadwarrior. Is it too much to ask - build me a racehorse - I will PAY you for it. What excuse do you have not to? Ah, of course, I am just a minority, not important enough to warrant a change. Fair enough. The art of seeing things as they are.

 

After burning up time studying on various Lenovo laptop options/performance, I am very seriously considering buying my first Apple computer (first PC was an AST 386-20, back in 1988....)

Yep, the MacBook Pro 17" looks to be the machine I would buy RIGHT NOW if it was a native Windows machine.

Get a clue, Lenovo...your W-700 is configured ONLY for full-time Pro photographers, most of whom already are wedded to Apple. We serious amateurs, who have other reasons not to fully migrate to Apple OS, are not impressed by the idiotic Ford Edsel-like W-700....Give us a better, BRIGHTER IP-S/FlexView type screen in a 15.4" chassis, and stand out of the way while they fly out the door....RAID in a laptop isn't wanted as much as switchable Video cards, and optimized battery life.

Take a look at the new MBP 17" and get a clue.

 

Meh, MBPs are nice but the W700 is a serious machine and can be configured to be way way more powerful than a 17" MBP. The MBP's 9600M GT doesn't even compare to either of the W700's graphics options and you can even put a quad core extreme in it.

But I think that the MBP provides a more attractive package for the general population and it's a very solid choice.

It's a compromise... I'm not so sure that people interested in a behemoth like the W700 are much interested in off the grid computing so switchable graphics isn't necessary. A claim of 8 hour battery life on a 17" notebook is very impressive and probably a first though. Got to hand it to Apple if it's true.

 

Economies of scale are important. While many of us would promptly pay for features and quality to justify it in a manufacturing run would necessitate a huge corporate rollout market. Unfortunately there is a lot of competition in the business computing world and it is not like the economy is exactly helping either.

I do wonder though what the discounts were like on IBMs for corporate customers. I know IBMs were extremely expensive for individual buyers, but there are deep discounts in larger quantities. I am interested to see the comparison of IBM and Lenovo for corporate clients.

 

For big corporations they are not worried so much about price of the hardware as much as the product support and reliability.

IBM was able to produce and deliver large quantities of computers and had pretty good support. Their products are also durable and many parts are interchangeable as well.

Thinkpads tend to age gracefully and provide years of service life beyond typical consumer laptops.

 

I really love my x200 and I'd keep it the exact same except for two things:

1. Better LED screen, my previous laptop was the Eee 1000H and it's screen was gorgeous compared to the x200's.
2. An eSATA port, I hate having to use an express card.

 

eSATA would be great. They could even do the USB/eSATA port. If they needed to save space.

 

No, with all due respect, you miss the point...the W700 is spec'd to be a photo editing machine. Yet it falls short in portability and screen quality.
I'm telling you, the serious amateur photographer is drooling over these new MBP's, even if they have already switched.
The self-calibration is nice, but any serious amateur or pro is already using calibration equipment to profile their equipment. RAID 0 has questionable improvement for photo sized files, and leaves you very vulnerable. Lots of RAM is far better than stepping up to a quad core with power and heat issues. The video card is immaterial beyond a certain point, for photo processing. There is certainly no advantage in having a workstation card. RAW photo files are not CAD.
Portability is the key.
I'm telling you, the new MBP is the machine to beat.

 

I just wish Lenovo would get their ordering system up to par....It takes forever for them to ship laptops, and their tracking system is cryptic....If they could get their act together on the order processing/fulfillment side, that would be the biggest "Upgrade" they could do to the thinkpad.

 

Sure, if photo processing and trendiness are your only concerns.

I do think Lenovo has priced themselves out of a lot of that market, though. I could see where professional photographers might consider it for all the additional features, but probably not that many hobbyists. The W700ds suited my needs better than any other machine available (short of some level of portability), but in the end I just couldn't justify spending that much on it.