keyboards, keyboards, keyboards

Many of my friends (who could be considered "prosumers") prefer island-style keyboards over the traditional keys. I think it's a trends you can see among the general user populace. The loss of the 7-row layout was also probably for cost purposes, since most users don't really mind it either.

Looking forward to playing with a x30 generation Thinkpad and see how the keyboard really is. Especially interested in the X1 Carbon.

 

i think the choice of six row and the function key layout is due to the Apple effect.

This Apple effect is quite prominent in the Edge series, where it replicates the Apple's shortcut style function key. When using my Edge 320 under dim light, i can't even see the F1 to F12 numbering.

 

Frankly I think they are just trying to blend in with the other makers. Trends influence even the most prominent companies to change (for better or worse).

Lol, not really. I'm in that "younger user" group and neither me or anyone I know (in that segment) considers thinkpads cool. I got one because I needed a machine to run my business, in that it excels. I probably would've gotten one anyways, but cool would be the last consideration... if at all. I believe most my age would agree.

I don't think you'll need to be jealous on this front. I really doubt it will happen, but here's to me hoping it does so I can swap out my x220 panel (hopefully).

 

I agree the changes to the new kind of keyboard. and the backlight will be cool.

but I not agree the changes in the layout.

But, it is the life.

BR

 

And that was the beginning of the end for many great names in various industries...some of them were wise enough to turn the ship midway and go back to finding their roots...

I'm well aware of that sentiment, given that I interact with that age group on a fairly regular basis and have heard that ThinkPads would be cool if they had a backlit keyboard/glossy screen one too many times. And if I've heard it, so has Lenovo, to the point of their collective ears ringing...

I, for one, have never associated the term "cool" with ThinkPads but have known people who believe that they are...in this field, to each his/hers own...

 

What do you and your friends consider cool? Why?

 

I use ThinkPads because of the build quality, keyboard, and my requirements at work for a computer aren't high. I get all the time, oh your laptop is so ugly, and I retort, well mine will survive a few drops.

 

I think a ThinkPad is "cool" ("good Notebook" would be better than "cool") because it is not the Mainstream and a nice counterpart to the normal-silver Mac-styled Mainstream Notebook today. The T/L/W/X are also cool because they are very robust. The most people who know ThinkPads think that they are good (although some of them are still thinking that they are ugly) and the most people who don´t know ThinkPads and see one the first time the say that they are uncool, because they judge them by their looking. But if you give them a ThinkPad and tell them the pros, most of them will change their opinions (until some will remain to say that ThinkPads are not cool).

For example, my Mother now likes TPs, because she now uses a T420i and she love it, because it feels so robust compared to her former Vaio, which felt down (screen broke). All I needed to do to convince her was telling her the pros like the dockingport, which is very usefull for her, because she use the T420i as her workhorse and as her home machine, and showing her videos like this: ThinkPad T410 Crash Test - YouTube That convinced her, because her Vaio broke in a similar way.

 

I'm a university student and a number of my friends and I view Thinkpads as "cool," in a professional way. But if you view a laptop as a status symbol or a fashion statement... well... I don't know what to say

 

Yes, "cool" is the wrong word to descripe this (sorry, I am not a nativ english speaker, so sometimes my sentences can make no grammatical sense). You are right. :confused2:

 

Definitely agree with you on that one. Don't think the new trends are particularly good for thinkpads future, but who knows. Going to stick with my x220.... for a while. That is one thing I liked about thinkpads, they were different. Seems the trend is that of blending in more and more.

I've never described a computer as cool, useful sure. So if you're asking me what computer I think is cool, then probably none. Ha, I'm just being honest. I use computers because I'm an internet marketer and frankly I can't really get away from them. Would I rather be a professional snowboarder/golfer/footballer... yes. To me, those things are cool but for now just hobbies.



But back to the topic at hand, I don't want to derail. I'd really like to try one of the newer keyboards (maybe x230) just to see how it performs. I actually do use a few of the 7th row keys, don't know if I could go without them. I had heard you can use some key combo's to the same effect, but who really wants to do that.

 

thinkpad is more than cool. it is a legend.

durable, good screen, good performance, excelent look and fill case. very solid. I have a W510 and plan to buy a W530 soon.

the others notebooks, are just notebooks for ho not have a thinkpad or need high games performance.

BR

 

I would be super PO'ed if they did add that screen option... I just settled with the 1366x768. I'm coming from SXGA+, so it's definitely a loss, but it's time to get with the times I guess.

Same. I'm in university (third year), but have used Thinkpads since the 600X days (thanks Dad). Every comment I've got regarding my laptop has been "that thing looks like it's from 1996," but who cares. I doubt your Satellite or Vaio or whatever will last nearly 10 hours on a single run. But minus the graphics performance, it's just as fast as yours. And you don't type as fast as I do, that's for sure.

99% of consumers don't even know that there's more than one panel type on the market, so that's just a plus for me to have IPS and actually know why it's better. Several times I'll walk into a lecture hall and find I'm the only user of a black box amidst a sea of Apple logos, but I rejoice in knowing my laptop is better

 

Why but? You should say and!

I also heard that "your computer is old" quote while I was a student (which was right before the Mac momentum) and I wasn't ashamed, because I actually like this black, neet design. You can tell right away that it's a Thinkpad. Be proud of its design and of the philosophy behind that design: Apple puts design first while IBM/Lenovo's priority is functionality.
When you're surrounded by people using "think different" products, you know that it's you who's actually thinking differently.

Alas, the upcoming 6-row island keyboard is a terrible blow that will reduce the quality gap of our TPs from the competition.
"Dumbing down" is the expresion that sums up my feelings.

 

I've got a better one for you - going *way* OT here - imagine the following scenario:

You've graduated and landed a temporary - but well-paid - job in a Fortune 20 corporation. Something that would look good on a resume/CV. However, orientation and additional training are needed in order for you to actually start working.

On the first day of the course that everyone and their seventh cousin have told you was the most important one of them all, and passing it was mandatory for your future employment, walks in this middle-aged instructor, bids you a good morning while speaking with a noticeable-yet-impossible-to-define accent, and then whips out a T20 to start the presentation...running W2K no less...in year 2011.

I've used ToughBooks on occasion, but my old T20 always froze quite a few faces in the class...priceless...

If I ever go back to teaching, so will my ancient ThinkPad...

 

Yeah, should have been and. Can't blame me after a heavy dinner and a few beers

I too value the functionality aspect, which is why I'll probably never own anything but a Thinkpad.

I'm with you on the 6-row keyboard. I suppose we'll get used to it with time, but if they ever decide to remove the Trackpoint... I'll be waiting with a lit pitchfork at Lenovo headquarters, that's for sure.

 

If macbook is so great, and have fenomenal funcionality (I do not think this, I have a lot of macbooks and it be the same of any good brand notebook) why just thinkpad is aproved by NASA to be used in space stations ?

Macbook today is just a drean for ho like it. the OS is just a unix, like linux with a graphic enviroment remenbered form original MacOS for the people forget that now it is just a PC like a Vaio.

Macbook was good in the era of PowerPC, now it is just a PC with a stigma apple.

The new keyboard funcionality, is the same. but now thinkpad have the layout like others notebooks, but I belive the quality is better than the others. I have a ideapad y570 with this kind of keyboard, and it is not bad. I can say is more cool use it than may macbook with unibody keyboard. the keys is more soft.

The 7th how was good, and I will miss it in my future thinkpad. but it can not a negative thing. I prefer the new backlight option than the 7th keys. for me, to use it in the dark will more usefull. and, the key lamp, os OK, but farway than a backlight keyboard.

the most important is the keyboard mantain the cool tiping experience, and the rest of the computer maintain the good quality and performance.

BR, and sorry about my terrible english.

[]'s

 

Now that's cool !!!

 

If there's any further divergence from the traditional ThinkPad line, I may have to fly over to China and do that.