I wish Lenovo would make a T series thinkpad with Llano :(

I guess I'm just thinking out loud, but I would love to see a Llano T series thinkpad. But I know it probably wont happen.
I love the design, durability and flexibility of the T series thinkpads. What do you think are the chances Lenovo might do this?

 

Very, very low. The core Thinkpad series has historically (15+ years) always used Intel processors, so it's already a radical shift (and a testament to AMD's performance) that some of the Edge and non-core models are available with AMD processors. I wouldn't expect to see AMD processors in the T-series Thinkpads in the near future.

 

AMD's thermals and heat management have always been far inferior to Intel, and that plays a big factor in designing the cooling system. That and MidnightSun has stated, mainstream ThinkPad line, W,T, x (x2__,x3__, x6_) have always used Intel processors.

You'd probably find Llano in ThinkPad's Edge and L/SL line, but not the mainstream models. Also IdeaPads.

 

I don't think the regular T series would use AMD CPU, Intel still has the marketing power in the CPU industry.

 

Interesting replies, thanks. Interestingly enough, the Ideapad Z575 is available at Newegg. I just don't care for the Ideapad chassis. :\

Newegg.com - lenovo IdeaPad Z575 (129922U) Notebook AMD A-Series A4-3300M(1.9GHz) 15.6" 4GB Memory DDR3 1333 500GB HDD 5400rpm DVD±R/RW AMD Radeon HD 6480G

There are generic pics at Lenovo.com though.

 

ideapad is a whole different beast altogether. The ODM that manufactures them have several options to cover several price ranges, from cheap and chic to fully optioned.

Lenovo would select those that they believe would sell well and market them accordingly.

T series on the other hand is more of a bread and butter laptop for the business market, which tend to stick to tried and true options and solutions. Obviously, Lenovo could start to offer more AMD CPU ranges on more business laptops, but that would ire Intel.

 

Well that and Llano's strengths are not computing power, it is graphics prowess. Unfortunately for the business professional, who does coding/compiling CPU power is more beneficial than GPU power. That and again AMD's run hotter and get decimated by Intel's offerings for CPU power.

Ya I never fancied IdeaPads, the newest ones further cement that.

 

I don't see it happening.
1. Thinkpad had traditionally been Intel and AMD has traditionally had hot and power hungry mobile parts with Zacate/Ontario/Llano being the first exceptions in a very long time. Maybe in the far future, but Intel exerts a lot of force over the laptop market. Though, many Edge models and the X1XXe series use AMD.
2. Llano is also more multimedia oriented, there aren't enough business applications that take advantage of a gaming GPU. Unless AMD is willing to make a FirePro Llano (which I think they probably could since Radeon and FirePro are the same chip), I highly doubt there will be a Llano Thinkpad. Also, the other productivity advantage AMD graphics has over Intel and nV, Eyefinity and really the support for 6 monitors off a single chip, is not available on Llano.

 

Edge obviously is a good candidate for the AMD processors, since they are more value and multimedia oriented.

 

All the AMD employees probably do, too, so they can trade in their HP ProBooks with AMD stuff in them that last 2hrs on battery in for something much better.