Your dreampad

What features would you want in a Lenovo laptop that doesn't already exist?

This year's Sandy Bridge refresh has me chomping at the bit, but I can't help but think I should wait another year to see what all can and will improve.

The biggest problem for me is laptop graphics. I'm eager for the day when laptop GPU's are good enough that I can break away from desktop gaming for good. I want something that will let me play Battlefield 3 when it comes out later on this year. With Optimus, I was actually kinda hoping we'd be seeing that with this year's Sandy Bridge refresh.

Where's the Blu Ray? I suppose they didn't announce them spec'd out with Blu Ray players because that would cause an increase in price. I get the feeling they'll be optional once consumers can buy them.

Will we ever get the option for backlit keyboards? I wouldn't want the Thinkpad keyboards to change the way they feel, which IMO overall Lenovo has the perfect laptop control scheme. I don't want a ThinkLight. I know some of the Edge series had backlit keyboards, and they're a major selling point for the fruit's laptops. I just want to see it on a laptop with hardware that I desire.

If it were a 14" high-image-quality with great viewing angles, matte, reversible touchscreen that allowed us to make it into a tablet PC if we wanted, USB 3.0, SSD (a given), HDMI-out, 720p webcam like what we got with the refresh, some media buttons, and a button that lets the user turn only the monitor off. That would be laptop nirvana for me right there.

Currently I'm doing the whole desktop for gaming/netbook for portability thing. I'd rather have a single computer that I use for everything though. Lenovo, hear my plea!

Here's to 2012.

 

12 hours of real world battery life with 100% brightness, cpu load watching movies/working with intensive audio apps, built like tank with absolutely no flex nowhere to be found, under 1.5kg, as slim as possible while abiding laws of physics, battery not protruding, HD+ resolution, ultraportable size 12.5"-13.1" inch. WWAN and mSata available simultaneously and not either one or another. Thus dual disk setup possible mSata and regular size hdd/ssd combo. Oh and powerful enough graphics to toy with some graphic software in case need arises. Inaudible in operation.
At least one piece of every port and perhaps expresscard/equal expansion slot.
Under 1k USD
Touchscreen could be nice, in fact, touchscreen and swiveling/otherwise rotation changing screen could be fine thing, could phase out regular tablets that are bigger and heavier like current X200t

 

14 inch Thinkpad, Full 1080p resolution, 10k 3dmark06 capable GPU, Backlit chicklet keyboard, 8 hours of battery and sub 4 lbs.


On a more realistic level.... Lenovo, please put a decent GPU in the T410/420.

 

Dear Lenovo:

Collaborate with these guys and incorporate it into your keyboard, with the default backlighting being "white".

Thank you.

 

I would like a 12-13 inch Thinkpad, with a SL/SU Core 2 Duo or ULV Core i series processor, powerful IGP, ability to go to 8 GB RAM, tablet, Lenovo keyboard with backlit option, Intel G3 SSD, Expresscard, ODD not necessary, max weight like 3.8-4 pounds, a way to get a flush 9 cell battery, and back to SXGA+ IPS screens that is LED backlit.

 

With todays tech:

13-14in 1080p WLED matte screen, quad core with HT CPU, switchable GPU with intel IGP and ati 6XXX (option for switchable, discrete, and integrated in bios), choice of trackpoint and/or trackpad, 9 cell battery, slot load optical drive, ultrabay battery with software to not fully discharge the ultrabay first, t400 or better build quality, screen rollcage, back-lit thinkpad keyboard (no chicklet), HDMI and vga ports, advanced dock with desktop gpu and triple monitor ability, and 8+ hours of battery life.

Im sure I could think of some more.

 

I have seen a Sony Z series with 1080p on ~13". I think it was too much pixels for such a small screen. 1440x900 is a good resolution for 13-14"

 

This is basically exactly my dream system. Save changing the consumer gfx card to the workstation equivalent (for the driver support). And a decently sized power brick. The Sony Z series is pretty close minus the quadcore. That said, I'd be pretty happy with just a quadcore T420s and use a vidock when necessary.

 

While I agree that wxga+ is good enough, 1080p would be a dream for me. The idea behind the z is awesome, but the idea of getting a sony is out of the question. I need something that doesnt have a chicklet keyboard, and can actually take abuse. The z has neither. But the mere fact that they put a 1080p screen in a 13in makes me happy.

 

The idea/intentions are good but in actuality my eyes were killing me reading anything on that Sony screen.

I 100% completely agree with you, chicklet keyboards are the worst invention known to mankind, and curse Apple for making other manufacturers say hey maybe chicklet keyboards are a good idea.

Unfortunately the unibody design for the MBP isn't as strong as Apple claims and they scratch so easily. I prefer the Thinkpad/Latitude feel of the chassis.

 

This is probably the silliest idea in a long time, but getting a discreet GPU option, and a better quality LCD into the X2xx line would do it for me. (1440x900 wouldn't hurt either.) Leave the rest alone - the unit is otherwise perfect.

I know, for a discreet GPU, I should look at something bigger - but with Optimus technology on the market, why not give me the option, at the very least. To be perfectly honest, I haven't found anything that taxes the Intel HD graphics yet, at least that not that I'd want to do while mobile, on a 12 inch screen.

 

Dream?

A 2000 USD notebook with a Core i5, 14.1" 4:3 UXGA panel with decent blacks and viewing angles, an all-magnesium chassis, build quality worthy of its price, and a 3 year warranty standard.

Basically, a 14.1" T4x w/ UXGA and updated internals.

 

Basically I would like a T410 w/ better graphics and a quality IPS LCD. Also better construction. This thing is creaky as hell.

 

MF'ing exactly. Man knows his shazbots.

 

Well, I'd have to say that if I could have anything in the world inside a TP chassis, I'd have to go with mid-high range workstation graphics and CPU: Quad-core i7 of some sort, higher-end FireGL GPU, and four RAM slots. Delete the modem and make sure it has at least one memory card reader and one ExpressCard slot. 16:10 WSXGA+ or WUXGA(although I'll admit that might be a little much for me on 15.4"), 720p webcam, boost the onboard audio a little, and stuff it inside a slightly reworked T500 chassis. I'm not too concerned about battery life, but 7-8 hours whilst doing light work would be excellent.

 

I am waiting for quad core HT ULV chips. I hope they become an option as this computer we dreamed up would be absolutely amazing and is actually possible to make today (minus the ULV option). If I could get those specs and the mobility and time away from a charger like my t400 I would be in heaven. As for which gpu is installed doesnt matter to me, whether it be workstation or gaming. Just as long as it is an ati card Ill be happy (I enjoy stable linux and right now nvidia switchable and linux do not mesh well at all).

I would honestly prefer a 14in for the screen, but Im not opposed to a 13in. As for chicklet keyboards, they are the only keyboards that I consistently mess up on as well a loathe. My wifes macbook is such a pan in the you know what to use as well as its about as durable as a wet piece of paper, although I cannot comment on the pros. Apples pre chicklet keyboards were actually pretty nice and even with the different layout that you have to get used to they were enjoyable to type on. I just hope the chicklet style is just a phase and goes away, or at least business class keeps the traditional style.

 

Right the Apple chicklet styled keyboards are okay, but hardly anyone elses is. HP ones are garbage, dm4, dm3, dv7, Envy, and now the Elitebooks are coming with chicklet styled keyboards. Why can't everyone just keep their old styled keyboards, like the ones from 2006-2007...

Man oh man I would love to see like an x200 or x300 with a fast Core i5 dual core with a normal touchpad.

 

There isnt a single chicklet style keyboard I like. I guess I should have mentioned that its not just apple...