Lenovo Unveils 2012 ThinkPads: New L, T, W, X and the Stunning X1 Ultrabook Discussion

Lenovo showed off their new laptops in NYC last month, with updates to almost every notebook the company owns. New ThinkPad L series, T series, W series, & X series were unveiled, as well as the super-chic new ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

Read the full content of this Article: Lenovo Unveils 2012 ThinkPads: New L, T, W, X and the Stunning X1 Ultrabook

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Still no numpad option for the Thinkpad W? That's a deal-breaker for me.

The X1 is the coolest ultrabook out there by far. Wowza. Love it. 3.0 lbs, 14" 900p screen, spill-resistant keyboard...it's perfect. If I was in the market for an ultraportable, I wouldn't even need to cross-shop anything else. Just love it.

 

I really like what the x1 brings to the table, the folio 9470m has a great competitor.

The price, however, will be accordingly high, if the x1 doesnt start at 1300 or more I dont see a reason for the t430u

btw I would have wanted to all of those ultrabooks to come with thunderbolt.

 

Does the new X1 have a matte or glossy screen?

 

Unfortunately, it seems like the s430 only comes with a 630m unless another option will be added later like maybe with the 650m in the y480: http://forum.notebookreview.com/8524252-post45.html

 

according that whats released the x1 is matte.

what is the notebook in the photo 76?

 

Not bad coverage coming from a guy that's an Apple devotee and can't see why anybody would buy something that's black, boxy and ugly

Hey, at least the X1 can't be called a MacBook Air clone like every other company that releases an Ultrabook hears as a knee jerk reaction. I don't think they mentioned any pricing on that, J.R. do you remember hearing anything?

 

I'm kind of sad to see the classic Thinkpad keyboard go. Are the new keyboards just as good?

 

The E420 has that style chicklet keyboard and it's fantastic. Long, precise key travel for a chicklet design. And I'm sure the T and W will have higher-quality machinery behind them even though they look the same as the E420. As is, I have to say that the E420's keyboard is better than most laptops twice its price.

Lenovo doesn't do everything right, but I have yet to see a bad keyboard come from the company.

 

No mention of the quality of the display panel? IPS somewhere?

 

The W series has never had a numpad. It's what differentiates it from Dell and HP. Some people prefer the centered keyboard. I just have an external USB numpad, not a big deal IMO.

 

Fair enough. I just get cranky because I really like ThinkPads in general but I insist on an integrated numpad. This is what I refer to as a "first world problem"

 

I know keyboards are really subjective, but I also loved the chiclet keyboard on my old x100e. I actually liked it a lot more than the traditional keyboard on my T61. That x230 has my name written all over it!

 

I though I would be fine with the new style keyboard, but now I'm not. The forward and back keys that I always use next to the arrows are gone. And the keyboard layout is no longer standard (pg up, home, end, etc). They are all crammed. And where is the right click key? I don't use it often, but its still nice to have. Some fn keys moved too (multimedia, thinklight, brightness). I don't appreciate that.

 

Too bad I was hoping for a bezel shrink on T series...
X1 carbon small bezel is nice though!

 

Which GPU will be in the X1 Carbon?

 

Well, was about to purchase a T420 last month or so and had to back up a little bit. Turns out for the best I guess.

Now, the T430 for an "affordable" and reasonable purchase in June or the X1 later this year for a much more expensive (and cooler) one?

 

No Matte IPS displays with 1440x900 or 1600x900 resolution?

 

The chiclet keyboard on my E420 is actually quieter than that of my thinkpad i1454 since the latter is more "mechnical".

 

If I could wait, I would choose an X1. However I can barely wait a month.

 

Given the ultra-thin profile, I'll lay money it'll just have integrated graphics, not a dedicated GPU. Luckily, Ivy Bridge's integrated graphics are much better than Sandy Bridge's.

 

It might be worth waiting just long enough to get the full specs on the X1 before making a final decision. Since I assume, given the ultrabook moniker, that it won't be upgradable, I'm curious if it will launch with 4 or 8GB RAM and 128 or 256GB SSD, and how customizable it will be at purchase.

I'm certain it will have the IvB integrated graphics as well.

 

I like that they've finally embraced the chiclet-style keyboard. About time

 

I am distressed by all the chicklet love. Sure the feel is fine, but they are a hundred little pieces that break on a whim. You don't need chickets for splash resistance or replaceable keys, island designs can do that too. True, popped keys usually snap right back in, and replacements come fast, BUT... if the circuit board's plastic retainers are damaged, why you've just lost that letter! My letter d hangs by a tiny nylon filament, even after 2 key replacements and hours of microsurgery attempts. Never had a problem with island designs, especially the nice kind found on the E220S, a *fabulous* machine belonging to my better half. Its island keys have a strictly linear travel and silent, silky resistance that is perfect for long typing jobs. I have to own a tablet for writing equations, but what I wouldn't give for a solid replacement for my X200T...

These are great machines with less garbage and better diagnostics than the competition, but the chicklets are an unneeded weakness.
Gracias

 

Errr... as far as I know, "island" and "chiclet" refer to the same style of keyboard, they're just different manufacturer terms. Lenovo prefers to use "island" to describe its Thinkpad Edge (and now Thinkpad Tx30, W530, Xx30) laptop keyboards.

 

There needs to be an industry standard on what to call them.

 

Well I did some digging and gee, Lenovo is doing exactly what I want. I had been told my keyboard was a chicklet one, but it wasn't. Now perforated separator plates will be ubiquitous on the new line...DOH!

Thank you MidnightSun for explaining!

 

I noticed late last night the new Thinkpad Edge's are available at the SPP site, and it says shipping as of 6/3.

 

which edge?

 

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. The Edge E430 and E530 with Ivy Bridge processors.

http://www.lenovo.com/shop/americas/content/pdf/system_data/e430_tech_specs.pdf
http://www.lenovo.com/shop/americas/content/pdf/system_data/e530_tech_specs.pdf

 

both are packing SB and were already available.

 

Something is messed up. On the preview specs, it says:

But you click through, to View Models, you get:

 

If I configure either machine, it lets me select an i7-3612QM, so.... plus the specs list them as having the "Mobile Intel HM77 Express Chipset", so you tell me.

 

Oh, that's weird. You can choose between 3 SB options, or one IB option. That can't be right.

 

that has to be right, the launch date of dual core ivy is june 5th

 

Now, I don't know what to do anymore...

Was about to purchase a T420 about a month ago and had to hold on. I'm back at my purchase decision again and there are these new laptops coming out soon.

Should I go right ahead with the T420 that are available (prices seem to have dropped a little...) or wait for the T430?

For instance, here's what I can purchase for 1500$ today:

Description
ThinkPad T420 - 1 Yr Depot Topseller Warranty
Processor: Intel Core i5-2540M Processor (3M Cache, 2.60GHz)
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Professional (64 bit)
Display type: 14.0" HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display
System graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor graphics with dynamic frequency
Total memory: 8 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Camera: 720p HD Camera with Microphone
Hard drive: Intel 160GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA
Battery: Lithium Ion 9-cell Battery

Accessories and options:
3Yr Onsite Warranty Next Business Day

I know it'll suffice my needs at the moment, but the buyer's guilt is usually strong in me... Especially when it's on a last year's hardware purchase.

I guess XKCD puts it better : xkcd: Shopping Teams (Except I don't need a buddy...)

Anyway, I'm opened to any enlightening suggestions!

Thanks!

 

Don't upgrade to the i5-2540M. Get the i5-2520M. There is very little difference in performance between the two processors, and $50 isn't a justified price tag for the upgrade.

Consider upgrading the memory after-market instead of on the configuration page. It is significantly cheaper to do so.

Solid State Drive: Evaluate the price difference between buying it yourself and selecting it on the upgrade page.

-------------------

One of the main trade-offs between the old T420 and new T430 is traditional keyboard or faster CPU.

 

Thanks for the tips!

I guess at this point, I might just wait for clearance though. I'll have less configuration options, but since the Thinkpads are kind of "easy" to upgrade after purchase, it might be better to hold off a little longer.