Lenovo Announces The World's Largest ThinkPad: The ThinkPad W700

Lenovo today introduced the ThinkPad W700, a 17-inch widescreen mobile workstation offering unique innovations like a built-in digitizer surface and color calibrator for graphic artists and designers. The new ThinkPad W700 also combines new NVIDIA Quadro FX mobile graphics and Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad Core processor technology with other features such as optional dual hard drives with RAID configurations, up to 8GB of high speed DDR3 memory, a range of wireless connectivity options and an optional Blu-ray DVD burner/player.

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The ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation, Lenovo's first notebook with a 17-inch display, extends Lenovo's portfolio of workstations, expanding the offerings from the ThinkPad W500 and ThinkStation S10 and D10 workstations. Since working professionals in the fields of computer-aided design and manufacturing, digital photography and the oil and gas industries become increasingly mobile, they demand the features and performance of a desktop workstation in a mobile workstation. The W700 aims to satisfy those demands with a range of unique elements.

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As mentioned, the ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation includes an optional built-in palm rest digitizer and color calibrator. Designed for digital content creators and users, the mobile workstation's digitizer helps them easily draw or edit an image, either mapping it to the entire screen or to an area defined by the user. Digital photographers will benefit from models with the built-in color calibrator for the WUXGA (1920x1200) 17-inch display with 400NIT brightness and a 72% color gamut (typical LCDs only offer a 45% gamut). The calibrator automatically adjusts the display's color in up to half the time of many external calibrators and with higher accuracy, resulting in accurate, true-to-life images.

The W700 can be equipped with dual internal hard drives, including solid state drives. Lenovo offers both the NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M and 3700M Open GL graphics processors with up to 1GB of dedicated video memory. The hard drives can be configured for RAID 0 to help users access and save their data faster than traditional disk-writing methods, or users can choose RAID 1 for mirrored data redundancy.

For external connectivity, the ThinkPad W700 supports Dual Link DVI, Display Port and VGA. A 7-in-1 multicard reader, and five USB ports provide additional connectivity. The W700 comes with an optional compact flash reader and Blu-ray DVD burner/player. An optional mini-dock extends the mobile workstation's capabilities with eSATA and digital audio ports.

Pricing and Availability

The ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation will be available beginning in September with models starting at $2,978. It is available through Lenovo Business Partners and www.lenovo.com.

 

That must be one of the most amazing laptops to hit the market but the starting price is pretty scary!

 

All I got to say is wow... businesses will be snapping these up like hotcakes soon. While doing temp work at CDW while configuring computers I noticed about 85% or so of laptop orders that businesses ask to be configured are Thinkpads. With a new Thinkpad as a workstation, I'm sure a lot of businesses will be interested in it.

 

Thats hot.

Engadget has hands on photos: http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/...-thinkpad-w700-and-we-get-our-hands/#comments

http://www.gottabemobile.com/Lenovo+Unleashes+The+ThinkPad+W700+Mobile+Workstation.aspx

 

Thanks for that, it's beautiful...

 

Ahh...the ultimate battery sucking machine. At $3K USD, I'd rather get a desktop.

It's definitely an innovative notebook though.

 

I want one. Anyone want to buy a kidney? its only had 17 years of use.

 

But no reviews of the W500 / T400 / T500...

And no mention of the X200t and X301.

 

That makes another Quad core annouced today, all be it this one way too big for me (and prolly outside my budget factoring in exchange..)

 

Not for everyday people... that price is beyond reach.

 

Mmmmm, I loved the idea of integrated tablet! More companies should do that (as an option maybe), tablets are cheap these days. I could actually add one of those to my current laptop for a 100 bux, but then it would have cables around it and look ugly in the end

 

it has always been difficult for me to understand these things from a design standpoint but really after having the chance to really get my hands on one I can understand. They are just such tanks and really just seem to have an excellent build quality. And in terms of design they are kind of in the same category as Apple to one extend, each companies designs couldn't be more different from one another, as well as all other companies out there, and I think that is what makes them both so appealing. Lenovo is really pushing to offer features that just aren't available anywhere else.

This almost seams like a mini server with a screen. I would love to have 10 of those things without screens stacked up as a incredible renderfarm/cluster.

I have always kind of eyed a ThinkPad as a machine to get into learning more and more about Linux.

EDIT:

I wonder who is manufacturing the tablet? If it is Wacom, consider me extremely impressed. How amazing would it be if Wacom started working with companies like Lenovo and Apple to incorporate Cintiq style screens as the new palm rests for notebooks?

Even if they just incorporated a Intous style tablet into the palmrests as something to just replace the trackpad all together. But as I said, something like a multitouch Cintiq type screen to replace palm rests would be extremely phenomenal.

 

Yep, Wacom, and I sign under every word you said below... oh dreams :SLEEP:

 

Wow, 400Nit WUXGA screen!!! Lenovo's answer to HP DreamColor????
Continue this trend, my next notebook will be a thinkpad again.
About the same time to compete with HP 8730w, now the game is still not done. Where is Dell?

 

Interesting, although I value portability.

Will they make a version for left handed users where the tablet is on the left side of the palm rest? Then I could scribble with my left hand and use the mouse with my right hand, at the same time.

John

 

I love Thinkpads, do not doubt that, but I think this is pushing it. It's not as if you're going to move it, since it's so big. Frankly, you could buy a much better desktop with the drawing pad and everything at a cheaper price. And have a bigger screen as well. It seems a lot like buying a thinkpad just for a thinkpad.

 

If I had the money, I'd take this one up in a hurry. As a student in an engineering college, it's a pain in the rear end to try to write up equations or diagram

 

Write up equations or Diagrams ?? using what?

 

I love the innovation that this thinkpad is incorporating. Integrating tablets into laptops 15in and up will most likely catch on very well, especially in the asian market. I see many tablets in asia connected to a computer, and this would be an awesome space saving feature.

 

You big wussies. Back in the days we used to cart these around, and we liked it!

 

Actually - there is a review for W500 -
http://www.extranotebook.cz/thinkpad-w500-–-centrino-2-naplno
(horrible translation to english http://translate.google.com/transla...3-centrino-2-naplno&hl=cs&ie=UTF8&sl=cs&tl=en)

 

MS Word? OneNote?

 

What a monster!

 

yuck, the new 17 inch elitebook owns this thinkpad look wise... can you say "big black brick"?

 

Anyone who finds worked over an hour with a graphic tablet knows that by the size and position that is going to be very uncomfortable working with this add, another thing is that it serves to draw in times of distress or off.

 

Very Thinkpady. I like!

 

Hold your horses. Lenovo finally got around to sending out review units ... so in the coming weeks (and days) you'll be seeing reviews of every ThinkPad under the sun.

We'll be working hard to include some other product reviews so we don't have to change the name of the site to ThinkPadReview.com.

 

pardon me. but it kinda looks big and ugly. the screen bezel is one of the biggest ive seen on a laptop.

im jealous of your pricing in the US. in most other country everything is not price ever so friendly .

 

ah, ill be waiting for the review of the t61 replacement

 

And that would be a problem because... ? ;-)

 

Too big for me, but I hope they make a 15" with a similarly good screen and number pad.

 

There are many that don't like the new HP look either, I can call those "big metal brick" too.
Thinkpad has always been thinkpad, but HP is trying to start a revolution in their traditional design, and so, not many like it.

 

FINALLY we get a Thinkpad that has a built-in DVI port. Previous models required the use of a dock to get DVI. And this DVI port is dual-link too, which should be able to drive a 2560x1600 30" LCD. Awesome.

I was planning to get a Dell XPS 630 desktop, but this thing might do as a true desktop replacement.

 

Numpad on a 15"? Enjoy your ridiculously small keyboard then.

 

I think many are missing the point that this monster is for a niche market and not marketed towards students, gamers, people lugging their laptops back and forth. This is mainly geared towards people who work with CAD, various engineering, architecture, and energy industry. Sure you can get a cheaper desktop, but despite this being a DTR, its still a helluva lot more portable than a monitor and a box with a keyboard.

 

Were it not for the price, this could be some serious competition for the new HP EliteBook 8730w. But as it stands, it's simply too expensive to justify the purchase. The built-in digitizer and calibrator are nice, but still don't justify the price. And that starting price is without those options!

I'd take the 8730w over this any day, just for the price. That and HP's business notebooks can really hold their own against Thinkpads IMO.

 

digitizer ? That is one beast of a useful engineering laptop.

 

Yeah, so do I think. But it is really soooo big. If you watch the video-reviews you can actually make out the dimensions it has. Except this Tom Ribble (Director of Thinkpad Marketing) is so dam(n) small.

 

Prices on the HP ones are not cheaper either.

 

this thing is only 8lbs, much lighter than many 17" machines out there with a lot more options.

all thingpads look like bricks anyways, that is part of their appeal, haha.

 

Yes they are cheaper. The starting price for the 8730w is $1699, while the W700 starts at $2978. The HP is over $1000 less than the Lenovo.

Granted, I don't know what the exact specs of either machine are at those prices.

 

Starting price for the HP is at the lowest config, an upgrade to the Quadro FX 3700m and some upgrade with the CPU, prices will be skyrocket.

 

Are there any other manufacturer making Thinkpads besides Lenovo?

 

??? What a question? It's a trademark owned by lenovo.

That would be the same if you ask: Are there any other manufacturer making precisions besides Dell.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I believe Lenovo has the all the old IBM laptop division, including Design&Development and Manufacturing of the ThinkPad.

 

I also had a similar question. Not because I want to know the answer, but because of a title of this thread. WORLDS largest THINKPAD? Are there any other Thinkpads in the WORLD that THIS Thinkpad is competing against? I guess hp79 had the same in his mind
Anyway, no need to answer. Just this choice of a title (or use of the word WORLD'S in this context) puts a smile on my face

 

lol, I was thinking the same thing. It's not the "world's largest Thinkpad", it should be "Lenovo creates Largest Thinkpad Yet", or something to that effect.

 

you make me laugh

 

Would you like guys to hear a joke?

In my country (Czech Republic) price of normally equipped T61 (T8300, 2x1GB, WXGA+, nVIDIA, NO on-site) starts at $2000 +- $200 (in US these days $800-1200). I'm really looking forward for T400/T500 pricing, probably starting at $3800 and I really can't imagine pricing of W700, maybe $5000..... Not kidding at all.

World is so cruel -(

 

Actually, the T400/T500 will be around what you pay for a T61 today, maybe a bit higher.