What if Lenovo was to make a ThinkPad branded netbook?

That's the question David Hill is asking at LenovoBlogs tonight:

Think Netbook? Think Balance.

 

think netbook doesnt sound great if the screen size is below 12"
since it will cost smaller keyboard layout etc

i think S10 has do his job well do no need for think netbook ^^

 

I personally am only interested Netbooks with WXGA resolution. Anything else, the resolution is too small for extended usage for me anyway. The ones I've seen have have made some sort of compromise to be netbooks - cheap, bad keyboard, ran hot, slow, etc. The question then becomes if Lenovo does it right and makes a nice WXGA netbook, how much does it cut into the X sales? I think most ultraportable users are pretty savvy in general and probably know you don't need a Core 2 Duo for most typical netbook tasks like Office, Internet and email. Because the margins on netbooks I would think are pretty small, how many netbooks do you have to sell to make up for a lost X series sale? It's a catch-22 really.

 

well dell has 12" netbook and full size keyboard but the price is pretty high but still below vaio p

if it's 12" would it be rather use the X200 ?

 

I don't get the hype with netbook at all. Come on, that was like 20 years ago when we first had a laptop.

I hope they never do, never ever.

 

I don' think ThinkPads and netbooks are a good mix. After all what makes a good ThinkPad are things that you can't really provide in a netbook, because it would make it cost more. Netbooks are also not known for their exceptional quality or performance. As the blog post suggests, if you want a small ThinkPad, think about X200.

 

To me, even if labelled "Thinkpad", it won't be a thinkpad, and it will water down the brand, in my mind.
This of course have to do with such clear cut (lol) things like a proper keyboard, the quality of same, and pure ergonomics. In making a netbook, most of the things I like about Thinkpads would be impossible.
With that said, though, I would buy a "thinkpad" netbook before any other netbook. But it just shouldn't be called thinkpad even if it looked like a miniature of the real Thinkpads. I'd buy it, because apart from anything else, I also like the (lack of, some would say - little do they know) styling of the Thinkpads.

 

Well, Dell, ASUS, and HP all have their "business" netbooks. Lenovo probably wants to follow close behind.

 

It's a contradiction in terms. Thinkpad and Netbook are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

You know,I'm in the hospital now, and I'm truly penniless. But I hope to come into some money soon and when I do, it seems that I'm going to have difficulty replacing even the, not functionality, but physical functionalism of my t61p, afterall am I going to get a mushy keyboard was not a question I asked myself.

On one hand, it seems that they are two different topics but they aren't.
The common denominator is the cost of the THINKPAD - money.
-Renee

 

I just want a netbook with a trackpoint; I don't care if it's a ThinkPad.

Anyway, I don't think there will be a ThinkPad netbook according to what seems to be the current definition of a 'netbook': ultra portable, cheap, underpowered, and pre-built (not customizable on order). I can see them making a smaller version of the X series if there's enough demand for them, but I wouldn't expect it to be cheap. They'll have to make sacrifices with the keyboard though - which seems to be one of the defining qualities of a ThinkPad.

 

I agree that this isn't that feasible for the thinkpad line because of the factor of having to be "cheap" as a netbook.

 

how about Thinkpad Lite Edition instead of Think Netbook?

 

Very good point - if such a product were to be designed, Lenovo would have to decide whether to choose a small niche market that preserves the Thinkpad name (Vaio P, for example) , or create a cheap mass-marketed model that would potentially dilute the Thinkpad brand.

 

And in those iterations where does the value come from? A premium thinkpad netbook would not be a business tool for email, internet, and basic document work. You would use an x200(s/t).

From a mass market standpoint to call it a thinkpad would not necessarily highlight the netbook on the market because the mass market doesn't even really know the thinkpad brand.

However if there was small tablet like machine (smaller than a 12inch tablet) with the potential as a wireless point of sale system...inventory management system...etc then that has some value. However, those already exist in proprietary packages .

 

if they make it, i think it will errode the thinkpad brand.

they already has the ideapad S10, just stick with that, i think.

 

I have a T61. I'd like something smaller to travel with so I've been looking at netbooks and, man are they small. Which is the point, I guess. How about instead of an S10 I got a refurbished X61S. Full size keyboard (almost) 12" screen (I don't need widescreen), surely more power, pretty darn light, 2 GB ram, 120 GB HD, 8 cell battery.

I saw one on the Lenovo Outlet store (they have a ton of them) for around $650. Would I get $250 "more" by going this route? I use the Trackpoint on my T61 all the time.

 

I'd argue you'd do a lot better than "$250" more value with the x61s. The x61s is at least three times as powerful (two cores, and the Core processor is much faster than the Atom clock for clock), the keyboard is actually usable, and you have superb build quality.

The x61s debuted at around $2000, so picking one up for <$800 is a great deal, and it provides a much better experience than a netbook.

 

Is a netbook really ideal for business?

I've given presentations from a netbook -not the easiest thing to do. The resolution on the monitor isn't supported by the projector, nor is the resolution on the projector supported by the monitor.

SpotBurner - the tablets were recommended to me too. I just use my netbook for taking notes in class. A lot easier to pay attention on a 10.1 rather than a 15.4.

Guess it depends on your needs. If you plan on doing more than just browsing the net, a netbook definitely isn't for you.

 

Sl300 was hot.

Where did it go?

 

What does this have to do with netbooks...

 

Zaz is OK with me.

-Renee

 

Now this is an interesting article:

http://apcmag.com/a-business-class-thinkpad-netbook-watch-this-space-says-lenovo-exec.htm

 

Hell no!!!!
I'll be really mad

 

I agree with Bao Quan.

 

If it utilizes the new intel core ULV chips then I would be more interested. But I am curious how small of a keyboard they will utilize. I really like having a full sized keyboard on an x200 but of course that isnt really an option on a netbook. If it is basically on par to the x61 series thenI will be impressed.

 

What's there to be mad about? If you don't like it then don't buy it. It's not like they're going to stop selling T and X series ThinkPads.

It'll probably be in a different category too, so what's with the worry about it 'diluting' the ThinkPad name?

 

A ThinkPad netbook would just be an upscale netbook/downscale ThinkPad that sells for around $700 - $800. I'd rather buy a refurbished or used X61 for that price. Heck, Lenovo.com was selling brand spanking new X61 ultraportables Tablets for $649 to clear out inventory a couple of months ago.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/expired-deals/910227/

Why wouldn't I just buy last years ThinkPad ultraportable 12"?

It would serve as some nice blog buzz for the company yes, I doubt that would equate to profit.

 

this kinda reminds me of thinkpad design!?

screenshots from Resident evil 1 movie.




and

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/keeper00/ResidentEvil-1-laptop.jpg