Thinkpad netbook: I would get one

So since everyone is making netbooks now, why doesnt thinkpad make a netbook also. Under $500-600 bucks I'd get one today. But it has to be better than other brands in quality. It would be awesome if it was a 'mini' version of say the X series (i.e. looks exactly the same in all aspects but just smaller with understandably smaller keyboard).

I used to own an IBM PC110. Doesnt work anymore but it was pretty cool cause I was running windows 98 on it.

 

I'm not a great fan of the netbook trend... all the manufacturers are now trying to make them essentially mini laptops loaded with ever fast processors, ever larger screens and windows XP, which sorta defeats the purpose IMO.

A true netbook to me has a 10" or smaller screen, runs linux and goes forever on a battery, making it truely portable and lightweight. A "lapbook" is a compromize at both ends of the spectrum -- bigger than a true netbook yet poorer performance than a regular laptop. Why bother?

 

... IdeaPad S10 , IdeaPad S10-2, IdeaPad S12

 

Yeah, I've been puzzled at seeing people around with a netbook thats as thick as any laptop and tied to an ungainly power brick. I just didn't see the point vs. a moderate low end laptop.

 

If Lenovo were to manufacture a proper Thinkpad netbook, it would cost more than $500 since pretty much all decently equipped netbooks cost upwards of 400 bucks, yet use flimsy plastics and lack business-specific features like roll cages, biometrics etc. With a price point of 600-650ish, it wouldn't make much sense since low end Thinkpad notebooks/laptops cost that much anyway.

 

But on price, so do other companies that do offer netbooks, also offer laptops equally as expensive. Its not the point though. If theres a market for it, and they can make money of it, regardless of how much it does not make sense to some, it should be ok.

But I agree it should definately have small powersupply adapter, be SMALL (I'm thinking less than 10 inches screen FOR SURE, perhaps the size of the HP mini or smaller is ideal and it has to be THIN). I dont think its too hard or too high cost (materials & manufacturing wise) to make a very sturdy product. Plastic is cheap, and some plastics are plenty hard. I think a lot of laptops have these build quality issues because they are either just plain bean counting on materials or they have shoddy designers, or equally as likely trying to make a machine that can be disassembled easily, so that when put into the realitites of a production machine you get tolerance issues leading to crappy flimsy builds. They dont need to do this for a netbook. Noone should be upgrading a netbook cause its silly (since it is crap in performance to start with). Just make a design based on solid pieces of materials that are not easily user accessible if need be and it will be a solid product I think. A block of thermosetting polymer is plenty hard, for example.

 

New netbooks are not as cheap as they're made out to be. Those that are are just that - cheap on price AND quality!

There's no getting around the fact that you pay for what you get. For companies to make money, something's got to give. And that's usually quality, engineering, design, build and heat dissipation issues.

For the amount you shell out for a netbook or less, you can get a pre-owned X series machine that'll run rings around netbooks on performance, durability, battery life endurance and the comfort of a full-sized World's Best keyboard (except on video performance for ION equipped netbooks).

Someone may want to do a variant of this for the netbook vs notebook debate:

 

Good point... I just picked up a used 14" t42p in excellent like-new condition for less than a netbook $$. Not quite as small, but small enough and I can use the full size keyboard and not be frustrated with a tiny screen. And it runs windows 7 just fine.

 

"You are smarter than the average bear" - Yogi Bear.

 

Always a classic quote, my barber used to say that, and right on point.

 

IMHO the form factor of the X200 is nearly perfect. The only criticism I can say is that there is too much unused space around the edges of the screen. There HAS to be technology soon which can fit a bigger screen in there. It could fit 13" easily without changing the dimensions from the X200.

In terms of form, the old 12" powerbooks are also a gold standard.

 

yea i agree. i cant wait until they release one that has almost zero screen bezel. i think only toughbooks ever do this though. almost all laptops have wasted bezel space

 

I'd like to see a well built ThinkPad netbook in ultra small CPU nm flavor with a 40nm discrete GPU.

10" or smaller LED display. 9 volt battery option.

 

This is my thought exactly. Although XP home on a netbook is fine in my eyes.

 

If you are going to buy something small why not just by a smartphone?

 

HP is offering their HP Mini 5101 for $399 plus tax/shipping. The 5101 and Dell's Latitude 2100 would appear to be a match for a Thinkpad netbook.

 

X40 body (no bezel and perfect keyboard) with LED screen, CULV, and ION would make my day.

 

I'm inclined to agree that an x40 or s30 sized machine with a quality screen and a decent small SSD would be about perfect. The 9400M would just be icing on the cake.

 

There never will be a netbook ThinkPad, or ThinkBook (Apple cocktail anyone?) because ThinkPads are business oriented and netbooks are for consumers that do not wish to pay alot and only need it for light word processing. The proffit margins would be razor thin, it is not lucrative, in fact it would probably cost them money by the time all the money they pay for outsourcing of laptop repair companies comes into the final price. Netbook and heat dissipation issues..? It's an Atom they'd most likely use because almost every other netbook uses the Atom.. so. what heat?