How often does Lenovo refresh Thinkpad T series?

I am wondering when might Lenovo release new models for T series Thinkpads? T61 was replaced by T400. Is there any word on what will replace T400?

 

When intel comes out with a new platform is usually when most notebooks are refreshed.

 

I see. Thanks, ZaZ!

We are at Montevina right now; so the next refresh should be at Calpella. Calpella will most likely be out by Q3 this year. So, I guess, during back-to-school sales, the current T400 will be available at a good bargain. It's going to be difficult putting this purchase off for another 6 months!

 

well during back to school sale they want most of the inventory to sell out so they can some out with some new items and stock. so if want something new you will have to get one during october november but i would advice to get something after the holidays. because that is when they have after christmas sale. you are looking a sale of 20% and if ther is a software glitch it would be taken care of

 

You mean, to wait untill January 2010? I like the current t400 specs (specially, now that they've already taken care of keyboard flex issue) but it's a little over my budget right now. After adding all the options I want like LED screen, bluetooth, fingerprint, 4GB RAM, and processor with 6MB cache, DVD-RW, and a 9 cell battery, it comes out to be at-least $300 more expensive than I am willing to spend. So, I am hoping to get this one when the price drops a bit.

 

I think theyr coming out with new ones this summer

 

Gotta say, I'm looking forward to a good refresh, which will hopefully include a 14" T series that will be 1" thick and under and less than 5.2 lbs, which were the T41-T43 specs that they were able to pull off SIX YEARS AGO. Haven't replaced my T41 since for that reason..

 

Yeah, they should be able to make these things lighter without sacrificing any durability. I am just waiting for the processor price to go down a bit (the 2.53 ghz 6mb cache). Right now it's $100+ upgrade. I am hoping it to become standard/base processor.

 

That's a big time frame. Couple of months to almost a year. Oh well, I guess, I am going to get a t400 as soon as the price drops a bit on processor upgrade, and LED screen upgrade.

 

we should hear something new about the new thinkpads in a few weeks.

 

Ok. No news from Lenovo so far. I am itching to buy one as quickly as possible. Haha. But I think t400 has some serious shortcomings that make it slightly less than the 'perfect laptop' I have in 'my' mind:
a. lack of HDMI or Display port
b. lack of backlit keyboard; thinklight is fine but I read in reviews that thinklight is actually somewhat blinding. So, even a better angled thinklight is good or a backlit keyboard.
c. slightly overweight
d. flex on palm rest areas
Rest all is great, I think.

 

Don't expect any news - the Thinkpad refresh will likely come with the Intel platform refresh, so expect it to be available for purchase late 2009 or early 2010.

 

Backlit keyboard is not coming. You can't just add that without completely changing the keyboard. No thinkpad user would want that.

 

Yeah, this information is pretty much on the mark.

Agreed.

 

Any updates on Lenovo refreshes?

 

Well the 2767-RD7 ships with the new 6MB cache 25W P9600 but only available in China I think

 

T400 has DP, what it doesn't is eSATA. Also, it is about average weight compared to similar models from Dell and HP. And you won't get a backlit keyboard as stated above.

No updates until 2010.

Most people never require the power in that CPU anyways.

 

I am convinced something is coming. Everyone is moving to the 4000 Series from ATI. Lenovo has had a few website errors that had the 4000 Series pop up at a cost over $9,000.

I am waiting. There has to be an update to the 3650 to a 4650/70. Everyone else is moving there.

 

Kind of ironic how you worded that since the main difference between the P9600 and T9600 is the P series uses LESS power. It is also LOWER clocked at 2.66ghz vs. T9600 2.8ghz which is already offered. There's always people who can use the extra clock but even if people don't need faster they sure could use less power consuming, like the P series offers. Also, I'm not sure what the purpose of your comment was. I wasn't reporting a rumor... this is an actual update to the T400 line, like it or not.

 

The problem is that lenovo is not asus.

 

since when does the t400 have display port?

 

Sorry I meant the T500. T400 doesn't have any digital video.

I didn't mean power in terms of power consumption. While it is true the TDP is less, most people do not stress their CPU much on battery. On idle, the P and T series are almost identical in terms of power consumption. What I meant was that the high clock of the P9600 isn't that useful for many people. Most users will be fine with even the P8400. If a person requires CPU power for computation, they would choose the T9600 or T9800. I don't see where you posted that there is an update on the T400, the only thing you said was that in China there was a model w/ the P9600. While they have added options to their CPU selection, Lenovo doesn't actually refresh their lines until a major platform release.

 

My theory is that Lenovo will not completely refresh till the next big platform, but they do understand that people want newer graphics, so maybe in their mainstream non-business notebooks they'll add more in, which they ARE in the process of doing, or have already done(Y650).

Edit:
Someone please prove me wrong!

 

I was actually wondering this as well... do you think we'll see a refresh to the T series around when Windows 7 comes out? I'll probably be switching back to a PC from my MBP as soon as 7 is out, hopefully we'll see a refresh on the T series by then.

 

No digital video out? really?

Wow, that stinks. I also thought of DVI as standard now'a days

 

i have a different question - how soon after new models come out does lenovo start to heavily discount the laptops? Like with those 20% coupons?

 

Couple months about the last time around...

Or you deal with the problem of the laptops being more expensive on CTO compared to the announced prices...

 

Is it better to wait now until maybe Aug/Sept to buy a T400/T500 then?

 

It's better to buy it when you need it... prices always go down with time.

 

not always. it also depends on where you buy it from, and your local exchange rate. For example, in Australia, many same-spec machines could be bought 6 months ago for much less than today because the A$ has fallen 35% in exchange with the US$. In a general time-sense, computers and their design improve over time, and the price more often than not reduces. But for my needs I have found that a quality laptop the past 10 years has remained just about the same price. On the other hand, cheaper laptops have definitely got cheaper. The components have changed much more, across the board.

 

I've been following these business notebooks for about 8 years now (From IBM->Lenovo/Dell/HP). They ALWAYS refresh (and only) when Intel comes out with a new platform. You'll get mid-platform refreshes, but that's just the CPU. Usually this involves die shrinks. For the newer models as of late (like the past 5 years), it's been when the integrated graphics come out for the next Intel chipset iteration. The Calpella, PM55 supposedly is coming out in q3, But the GM55 is what you should be relying on. It won't come out till q1 2010 from the latest reports.

Another thing to consider is these business class notebooks come in generations. For instance Dell had D-series notebooks from 2003-2008. All the notebooks from the DX00 to the DX30 series were interchangeable in module bay drives and docking stations. They didn't really change the Latitude series until the E-series came out and were incompatible with the D-series. Same thing happened with the Dell C-series -> D-series. For instance they didn't add displayport or SATA-based external drives until the E-series (just last year). In moving forward an Intel chipset platform, Dell has to retain some backwards compatibility while staying with the generation. A lot of it has to do with the docking stations. IBM/Lenovo has done the same thing. Same thing for HP (though I'm not as familiar with their laptops).

Lenovo seems to switch over these generations faster. The R50/T40 versions, which included several iterations of Intel platforms(like the T40-T41-T42 and T43 all have diff iterations of Intel chipsets) , are incompatible with the T60, T61 and T400/500 (the next Lenovo generation).

http://www.intel.com/performance/mobile/vista_bl_config.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrino

So:
T4/500 Montevina GM45 (2008)
T61 Santa Rosa GM965 (2007)
T60 Napa (2006) 945GM

***Non-interchangeable Lenovo generation switch in between***

T43 Sonoma (2005) 915GM
T40/T41/T42 Carmel (2003-2005) 855. They did many model refreshes here. First version of the Centrino lasted a while, but this pattern didn't continue.




Dell started the D-series with Centrino. IBM started the T4x series also with Centrino. Before that Dell used C-series and IBM had the 30s.

My guess is wait till the mainline Calpella platform comes out, in which Lenovo will base a new T-series model. They probably will update the generation of it too, making it incompatible with the T60/T61/T400 docking stations. In doing so you might see DisplayPort/eSATA added? Keep in mind also, Dell is pushing DP technology, I find it unusual for a business grade laptop to have them so early in their current line.
I would say this is gonna be early 2010...