Wishlist for the next refreshs of Thinkpad

the W520 already has what is basically a GTX460M 2GB.
NVIDIA Quadro 2000M - Notebookcheck.net Tech
it seems the main "problem" is the 128-bit bus.

more than likely i'll end up getting the next X series tablet. a higher resolution IPS screen would be nice as others have said.

 

So, any rumours or actual leaks on Ivy Bridge Thinkpads? If not, I guess it's not for the CES...

 

There have not been any romours or leaks, but if my memory serve me correctly, they have been releasing new refreshes around or/and during CES for a number of years now. However the W and X have a different refresh cycle, which is around March.

 

It's basically the same but not quite. The gaming performance is not quite on par. I'd be very interested in a W530 or T530 with a true nvidia gaming gpu. My next laptop will be heavily focused on 3d performance since it is one area that is not upgradable.

I tend to keep my hardware much longer than the average person and continue to gradually upgrade instead of blowing all the money initially.

 

If that is the case, an external eGPU setup with a laptop that has integrated graphics may be a better bet. If you keep your laptop for a few years, the discrete GPU will be far outdated no matter what you do.

 

Unrealistic wants:
- New look, I'm not a fan of the black box
- 16:10 screens

Realistic but unlikely wants:
- Better DAC and speakers (none of this SB software or Beats crap though)
- Higher end GPU

Realistic and definitely possible wants:
- IPS panel option
- ATI GPU option (with switchable graphics)
- more options in general (for example HDD/SSD options: 1TB HDD, Samsung mSATA 64-256GB SSDs)
- Numpad
- RAID capable in all workstation models w/o needing to purchase 2nd drive in RAID

 

I am actually a fan of the classic black box look. Every manufacturer is trying to look like a Mac, but in all honesty, they look tacky after a year of ownership and dent and overheat like crazy. I've owned quite a few MacBook Pros, and it is actually refreshing to use a laptop that looks like it's meant to do work and not show off at the local Starbucks.

However, I too would like a better GPU and an IPS for the T-series. Admittedly, I think a better GPU is unrealistic given the target audience, but I actually use my ThinkPad as my primary laptop at home and was given a HP laptop for work. I get a lot of work done on the x220, but I also plug in the headphones to listen to music, surf the web, edit photos and basically use it as my primary media device. Heck, I even play Half Life 2 on a 12" screen.

If the T-series does get an IPS, I am promptly giving my wife the x220 and buying myself a new toy.

 

IPS and 16:10 for the T4xx series would be very nice. I love the portability of my X200 but I miss the higher resolution that the T4xx series offers.

 

Why not 4:3? A T410 offers you 1440x900 while a T420 offers you 1600x900. What's the diff? Now if I could get 1400x1050, then I'd be excited.

 

That's what I have an R60 for silly

I plan on upgrading the horrid XGA screen to an SXGA soon. I've taken a liking to the R60. I think it's a keeper

I still would like that T4xx I described on my wish list!

 

My dad has a MBP and I'm not a fan of it either. I mean it's nice and clean but I dislike the material used and the entire Apple brand mentality. I like the last generation of Dell Latitude/Precision and HP Elitebooks. The current generation Dells have an interesting style that I don't mind (but a lot of people do), while the Elitebooks have become more MBP-like.

 

To add to this, EyeFinity. I think there is more than enough room on a T series chassis for 3 mDP outputs. It helps a lot with productivity. Also gaming.

 

I think gaming GPU's and any DAC or speaker upgrades (anything significant at least) are out of the question. The thinkpad is a work laptop, and while many of us may use it for media and non-work activities, the business and work world will always be the target market and frankly there's no need for gaming GPU's or speakers that have capabilities beyond presentations, etc.

To change the CFRP/ABS plastic black box design, keyboard style and ThinkLight would be to rip out the TP legacy. Any deviation from the traditional design philosophy always results in step-child treatment of those models with regards to weather they're 'real' TP's or not (X1, X120e, Edge, to a much lesser extent the L/SL/R series). It's like they're smuggling in frauds under the TP name! Design changes, especially to the T/W/X have to be done incrementally so as to not appear like the thinkpad is shedding it's heritage. Look how scrappy people got when they made the Esc and Del keys bigger and tapered the edges! Next thing people are gonna want latch-less lids!!

Personally, I would like to see a return to less-widescreen aspect ratio's, but I doubt it will happen. Going back to 16:10 would be a step 'backwards' to the Tx10 for them. But atleast give us more resolution perhaps. However, IPS displays should be something they're considering. Lenovo has been sorely lacking in their display department for sometime, and they could afford to before. But high res IPS screens are becoming more common on devices and they'll need to catch up eventually, either the next generation or soon after.

I think an ATI switchable graphics option would be good. It worked great and sold well with the Tx00.

I think ultrabay batteries should be brought back, and after a decade we should get better charge control over the ultrabay.

The only deviation from the thinkpad style I'm down for is a backlit keyboard in addition to the thinklight. The thinklight is great, and I think it's benefit is obvious - it lights up a small workspace for you while on flights, in dark meetings, class, etc. But sometimes you just need to see a key in the dark or just want to type without looking, so a auto-dimming backlit keyboard would be nice IF they could guarantee no reduction in rigidity and the water channeling remains safe and effective, as well as no changes to key travel/response.

I think an HDMI port would be personally beneficial, but again, for where this laptop is meant for, I've never found a projector at work or school that didn't have DP in. Plus HDMI would add some cost.

And then the usual requests.. an even more sturdy roll cage, thicker base plastic, stiffer keyboard, even cooler n more quiet operation, etc etc.. have ThinkPad's reached the pinnacle of durability, or do we no longer value what the TP was built around and all about? It seems like most people just want the durability of a TP but with the features n functionality of an IdeaPad/Inspiron/Pavilion/Envy etc

Other than that I'm good, update the hardware and push em out the door!

 

I too want to see a return of manual ATI/Intel switching. Beats Optimus in almost all aspects (except convenience). Much better because it doesn't force the GPU to be on with an external monitor.

A lot of us want to see 16:10 again. =/

Cosmetically, I just don't like the flat bezels. I much liked the old design with the bend at the edge.

 

Yes and if I remember correctly the design element is descended from when TP's had beveled edges on all 3 sides to keep dirt n particles, etc from slipping in when closed.. the clamshell design. Although it doesn't really work like that now, since only once side is beveled, I think the bevel add's strength to the top edge of the monitor, and will make that edge especially stronger when dropped with the lid closed. Also it provides a housing for the ThinkLight! I would be down for a return for the recessed clamshell bezel a la T4x and T6x, and a return to the retro grey keys on the 1st and 2nd rows of the keyboard. I LOVED that look.

 

MY wish for the next gen ThinkPads is better reliability and quality assurance. It's in the dump right now.

 

X1 with matte screen longer battery life and 14,1 or 15,4 option. 16:10 will be nice but im think this aspect never come back . Of xourse HD+ option for x220 and x1. IPS screen for W series... I like thinkpads for their design, but X1 is very nice and put some fresh to this series . But battery and gorilla glass... Not good not good.

 

And you base this on...?

 

I guess their whole thing about full-contact screens and not having rubber bumpers no longer applies (ref. that one Youtube video somewhere).

One thing I noticed was that the edges on the T60 had a right angle on the bottom, but the bevel on the top. With the W520, the right angle is on the top edge, with the bevel on the bottom. I suppose it's so they can still have enough surface area to fit in all of the ports, but I still don't like it.

Never used a ThinkPad with grey keys [yet ], but they do provide for a nice visual point of focus.

Not much a fan of the new TrackPoint button shapes either. They were fine on the previous generation. Might just be this ALPS keyboard though.

 

Something like this?

 

Why? Its only 150p more than 900p, doesnt make much of a difference, if you know what I mean

Probably his personal experience, hopefully.

 

IPS panels and switchable graphics won't happen unless Intel's IB GPU supports 10-bit panels. That's why the HP and Dell workstations don't have switchable graphics like Lenovo's.

 

Going from 768 to 900 is not that much different in my opinion, but 768 to 1050 is a completely different story.

 

I know what you mean, I resisted the urge to post the same thing

 

I will boycott Lenovo unless I get a 16:2 1440X180 'VISOR' view screen.

 

* 16:10 LCD for a narrower and taller viewport. Manufacturers are putting wide top/bottom bezels to try to mask 16:9's squat view. Why not just go to 16:10 instead? The wider palmrest giving room to add two real mouse buttons back into a X2xx.

* SATA-III mSATA mPCIe slot. Renice K3VLAR-3 and Runcore T50 being SATA-III capable mSATA SSDs. WWAN given it's own mPCIe slot.

* X2xx can be thinner and lighter.

* X2xx: suggest designers take some cues from an HP 2510P/2530P keyboard/touchpad layout to freshen up the classic looks.

* Backlit keyboards.

* X2xx: consider adding a socketted CPU so can be user upgraded to a i7-quad.

* 34mm Expresscard slot (x1 2.0) with insert to a make it a Thunderbolt port (x4 2.0 + DP).

* do not go a Mac-like look.

 

On the contrary, I think a jump from 768 to 900 vertical pixels is actually quite significant: many programs have a height of 768 vertical pixels, which is awkward to work with on a monitor with only just that many pixels. 900 vertical pixels makes that much better, and there's not many programs that require more than that many vertical pixels.

In addition, going from 1366 to 1600 horizontal pixels makes a huge difference in multitasking ability. It's pretty impractical to have two side-by-side documents at 1366 horizontal pixels, but it's very practical at 1600 pixels (in Word, for example, the documents can be at ~95% magnification).

 

I'm looking forward to Samsung 830 SATA/600 mSATA SSD!

 

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/ThinkPad-W520-Dead-On-Arrival-DOA/td-p/628553

 

Heh, a 14" 16:10 ultra portable that supported a true dock would be killer too (as in, plop it down into a dock, not by connecting even ONE cable). I refuse to use a machine that doesn't support a docking station, they're so much easier to deal with on a regular basis. Sure, the dock adds cost, but it's worth it for the convenience. I get a dock at home and one for the office. Then an aftermarket tiny travel adapter power supply. Daily back-forth is done in a sleeve, it's only during travel that I use the travel adapter as it's kept in that bag. With enough battery life I'm sure I'd go the same route with a dockable ultra-portable, should one exist.

 

Current Laptop: T400.

Would buy a new one immediately if it had:
16:10 quality IPS (prefer on a T4XX, but if T5XX is the only option i'll get that.)
Very quiet fans
ATI GPU option (with switchable graphics) that is min 2x faster then the new intel integrated one.
would like but not crucial:
HDMI port (every projector i've used in the past few years has had one)
Thunderbolt. Lots of future possibilities with ViDock + other devices.
Proper ultrabay HDD module.

 

That's a rather weak inductive argument.

 

The 15" T series and W series hopefully would get the IPS screen upgrade like the Envy 15. Love the IPS, really hope that Lenovo would put that in on their refresh.

 

• 17 inch 16:10 screen
  
• Full Keyboard - i.e., with Home, End, Arrows etc. on side (= "Number Pad")
  
• Light! No more than 3Kg. With a 15" at 2.6 Kg, there is no justification for a 3.5Kg+ mega monster.

-avi

 

This is only good if Intel updates their GPU to support 10-bit displays. That's probably why this iteration didn't have an IPS panel, awesome battery life vs. Dell and HP.

 

1080p quad core ati gpu t4XX OR w4XX with traditional keyboard.

 

I would LOVE to see a W4XX... I would not hesitate to pull the trigger on that!

 

Must have those specs though.