Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13 Review Discussion

Lenovo is not only refreshing their current notebook lineup this year, but they have just announced an all-new Thinkpad; the Edge 13. This notebook is designed to be a cross between a small-business and consumer notebook, adding a spark of color and style not really seen in current ThinkPads. The biggest change that people will notice besides the glossy top is the completely redesigned Chiclet-style keyboard. In this review we look at the new 13-inch ThinkPad Edge and see how well it stacks up to previous ThinkPad models.

Read the full content of this Article: Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13 Review

Related Articles:

• Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 Review
• Lenovo ThinkPad SL300 Review

 

Nice to see the new Calpella platform 6000 series Intel wifi card included in a culv machine.

 

It's closer to 4 lbs, so it seems just about right for a CULV.

The new keyboard design is kind of strange, and I'm kind of disappointed that they removed the separated F1-F12, Esc, Del, etc keys. If this hits stores soon, I'd like to go get a look at it though.

Great review, Kevin!

 

Hopefully the build quality is just a sign of pre-production model and by production time things are better.

 

Thanks for the review Kevin, I am glad to read that the keyboard is up to the normal ThinkPad standard!

 

ThinkLight or back-lit keyboard or neither?

 

Why are the FN and Ctrl keys switched around on Lenovo machines?

 

I like it.

For some reason i have never really felt thinkpads before. It just seemed too old school. I REALLY like the new looks. It brings it with todays notebooks while keeping what made these notebooks popular in the first place. Great job Lenovo!

 

Looking at that screen and lack of any lip I'm guessing neither, I'd be curious to know as well. Also, Kevin does it have other ThinkPad features such as the Active Protection System and spill drainage system for the keyboard?

Thanks for the review, I think this will appeal to consumer/small business buying market thanks to the design. The HDMI was a very wise choice, glad Lenovo didn't opt for display port, as HDMI is major port feature most consumers want.

For the price I'd expect there to be a few build aspects that might not up to par with a flagship ThinkPad, those hinges would have me worried relative to the width of say a T-series hinges, but since it comes from the ThinkPad design labs I'm sure due diligence was done in testing the strength.

 

Thanks for the nice review Kevin.

I don't mind the the chiclet style keyboard in principle, but the rest of the design is a big turn off for me. Very mainstream and common as opposed to the industrial and no nonsense design of the traditional ThinkPad. Quite disappointed to see Lenovo moving in this direction. At least the new X100e looks okay in black, but in red it looks terrible.

It seems Lenovo is truly milking the ThinkPad name for all its worth. At least the SL series still look more or less like a normal ThinkPad.

I think it is the wrong strategy to introduce more and more mainstream products using the ThinkPad name and continuing this trend will only dilute the ThinkPad brand. Instead they should keep to the IdeaPad range and continuously develop that instead. I believe that Lenovo will cannibalize their IdeaPad range by commercializing the ThinkPad range further, which won't necessarily lead to higher volumes, whilst at the same time reducing their "Edge" within the business/corporate segment. But time will tell what is best for sales and brand image.

 

Don't like it at all :S. T400 is a beauty compared to this...

Again I might be the only one who thinks that way (hope not )

 

I'm glad it appeals to you. However, it seems that the edge has very little of what made ThinkPads popular in the first place (save for a TrackPoint). The loss of all indicators, the seventh row of the keyboard, volume controls, steel hinges, and display reinforcement are highly troubling to me.

I definitely think the x200 is a better way to go (despite being almost 1.3 years old). It is smaller, lighter, faster, far more durable, and only commands a small price premium compared to the Intel CLV version.

 

Amen to that, jonlumpkin

 

Well the question arises, does the x200 have a better screen? I would think keyboard would be a personal preference thing, but is there much of a difference? Why not the x300 or x301?

 

Couldn't agree more. Or a X300/X301 at the recent low prices if one wants 13" screen real estate.

 

Sadly the x200 (like most ThinkPads [including the x300/x301]) does not have a very good screen. The only exception to this are the x200 Tablet, w700 (WUXGA), T400 high nit, and to a lesser degree T500 WSXGA+. The newer models may have better screens (possibly as a consequence of switching to 16:9), but it is too early too tell.

To your other question, YES there is a HUGE difference between a six row chiclet keyboard and a traditional seven row ThinkPad keyboard. Anyone that types quickly, by memory, and especially uses keys outside the alpha rows (e.g. F1-F12, home, end, ScrLk, etc.) can attest to this.

I did not mention the x301 because of price. It certainly is a superior machine but tends to command an even larger premium over the "Edge" than the x200.

 

Glossy finish but still a high black value? Is the panel that bad or is it just a higher nit backlight?

Other than that I'm pretty sure the Edge line won't be a flop.

 

I think I prefer the X200 and T series, but I think this is nice too for a lower budget machine.

Seems like the only thing ThinkPady about it is the trackpoint.

 

Enough about the Edge - when will we see the T410/410s review?

 

I like it.

But I like a $500 refurbished T400 about twice as much.

 

At 899$, it's at exactly the same price as the HP Probook 5310m and there aren't a lot of reasons to pick the Lenovo over the HP at first sight. Unless you badly need the trackpoint.

I'd love to see however battery life benchmarks for the 549$ version with the Turion X2 l325. It looks like a decent competitor against the Dell Vostro V13.

NB: for once, the prices here seem to match $ vs €, taxes included.

 

$549 version? Now we're talking for this kind of notebook...

What are the specs on the Turion X2 l325? (i can't find them)

 

You have it here: http://yertech.blogspot.com/2009/11/specifications-for-low-power-amd.html

The slightly more powerful l335 (1.6ghz vs 1.5ghz) is benchmarked here:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

I need to correct myself btw, the l325 is the Athlon Neo not the Turion Neo.

 

I would expect it to be lower from what i can gather from the dm3z and dm3t which use both the AMD neo and Intel CULV platform. The neo plus the HD3200 consume more power than the Intel CULV plus the 4500MHD. Ofcourse, there are benefits and disadvantages to both platforms which you need to take into account while comparing them.

 

I found this :



They give 7.8h for the 6-cells and the Intel CPU, the OP got 7h.

The AMD version with the 4-cells should, without surprise, get a bit less than the announced 3.4hours. It also puts it roughly on par with the Vostro V13 with the su7300.

I'm going to wait and see if they sell a version with the AMD and a 6-cells battery for around 600€. This would be a very interesting one.

source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/19/lenovo-thinkpad-edge-to-bridge-gap-between-ideapads-and-pro-mach/

 

I agree that it is strange they are calling this a "thinkpad." Seem much more in line with their consumer oriented lines.

Compared to the ASUS ul30vt it makes for an interesting match-up. Sounds like the Edge has a better keyboard and maybe better construction. While the UL30vt has much better performance considering the 33% overclocking built in and the switchable graphics. You could overclock the Edge, but I'm guessing 97% of consumers will not.

 

It has the G-sensor for shock protection, but lacks the standard assortment of other "ThinkPad" features. No light, no keyboard drain (tray *might* be sealed, but no drain holes), and overall just doesn't have a business vibe to it.

 

Couldn't agree more. Especially about Lenovo milking the TP brand name.

I'd be interested in trying those chicklet keyboards, the only one I like at the moment are the ones found on the Sony Z.

 

Strange to see this ... but at the same time I am curious about it having the "best chicklet keyboard" design.

Hmm ... battery life is still less than what I would want in one of these types of machines, though.

 

Chiclet style keyboard, flashy design and lacking other standard thinkpad options makes me hate this computer right out of the starting gate. Not to mention they had the you know what to brand it a thinkpad and not an ideapad? No thanks! Go back to the drawing board lenovo...

 

Looks decent, but i dont like the ctrl-fn placement.
Put in the AMD Turion Neo 45nm and i would buy it.

Edit: Just realized it has a glossy screen.
Business notebooks with glossy screen ís crazy. xD
(Even if this is a "entry" level one)

 

If this isn't really upto thinkpad standards, then why would one choose this over the Lenovo U150 with similar specs, and I think even a lower price? Would it be screen quality, keyboard feel, or something else?

 

Either redesign the Edge and turn it into something resembling an actual ThinkPad....or just quietly rename the beast. You don't see Dell or HP muddying the waters with products like this......

 

The Turion L635 is announced as an option (see the chart on p.3). I've only seen for sale low end versions with Athlon L325 or high end versions with the su7300 for now though.

The U150 has a 11.6" screen, no ? 13.3 inchers are much more comfortable to work on imo.

 

Oops I meant to say the U350 my mistake.

 

I'm not impressed. It seems like Lenovo is just trading on the ThinkPad brand name that they inherited to introduce an entirely new model that emphatically is NOT a TP. Hopefully, its a flop anyway.

Glossy screen, choices of colors, flimsy hinges? I'll pass. I don't mind the chiclet keyboard, though, which is great in my eeePC 1000HA.

Like some others have posted, I'd rather deal with used versions of existing, similarly-sized real TP models. Hopefully, Lenovo won't continue to cheapen the brand.

 

The Thinkpad Edge laptop looks so much in design to ASUS and Acer laptops....

and @Kevin O'Brien according to some sources Lenovo have dropped Magnesium Rollcage on T510 and W510.... and According to Matt Kohut all the new Thinkpad will be on Ultrabay enhanced drive and dropped ultrabay slim devices (T410s still use ultrabay slim devices).... basically to save weight and increase airflow............

 

I like it. Actually I like x100e (which i will buy in a week for sure) more but there's no review yet so...

I like the traditional Thinkpad design, and I fully agree that using the name "Thinkpad" for less than stellar machines like Lenovo has been doing hurts the brand in the long-run (at the end, this is Lenovo, not IBM, so what do you expect? I am surprised that this demise of Thinkpad did not happen before), but a cheap and a bit more consumer-oriented Thinkpad is not bad either.

I really love the trackpoint (I actually love this more if there is no touchpad which i always disable), and better (well except for real Thinkpads) keyboard. I like glossy screen for enjoying movies on an airplane. So a decently priced machine with trackpoint, better-than-most keyboard, and glossy screen, what to complain?

 

That could just be a design thing due to the use of the i5 and i7(and I think i7 quad). At least the airflow part. No?

 

It's a nice enough notebook I suppose, but not for $899, and it's no business machine. The glossy screen and HDMI port are good indicators of that, both of which are out of place on a business-use machine.

I don't see why anyone would not choose the HP ProBook 5310m over this:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5423
Falls behind in battery life slightly but otherwise is a much more suitable business ultraportable.

I agree with this - Lenovo is milking the ThinkPad brand. The ThinkPad brand has boatloads upon boatloads of goodwill stacked behind it, and introducing mainstream wolf-in-sheep's-clothing products like the Edge will only serve to bleed it out gradually. As noted this product shares very little with traditional ThinkPads.

 

I think it looks like a solid notebook, but there are certainly way better choices out there for the price.

As long as they don't start changing the other Thinkpad models drastically, I think a consumer Thinkpad like this isn't a terrible deal.

 

I couldn't agree with this statement more. I have somewhat come to grips with the quality of laptops going down, but marketing something like a low end laptop as a thinkpad is just an insult.

 

A 16:9 screen, because everybody watches HD video on on their laptops these days, even for professional business!

Give me a [expletive] break. What on earth is Lenovo THINKING??!? 768 for a vertical resolution is way too reminiscent of 1998. And don't give me that "It's-because-of-the-LCD-Manufacturers" crap, because can't the pc companies fight back?? Maybe not.

I may have to go with something used for my next notebook if I can't find anything with a 16:10 screen anymore....

As for the rest of the notebook.... why didn't they just call this an IdeaPad?? They're really selling out the ThinkPad brand name. That's not to say that it's a "bad" laptop per se; I just don't think it's worthy of the Thinkpad name. Why? Too much style, too much glossyness, and not so great build quality (Although that keyboard does look nice for a "chiclet" keyboard, I will admit).

 

Is it just me or that thing just looks plain ugly, even in black?

 

I tried working on a 16:9 ratio screen a few times and I have to say that coding with such terrible vertical resolution is just plain painful. You bring up a good point as well as many others do about how these are business machines and there is still a large amount of people out there that do work and other things then watching an "HD movie".

Just plain tired of the idea of paying the same or more for a much less productive screen ratio.

 

I'm glad that the Edge ditches those VGA port screws - I really wish the T-series Thinkpads would do that too! They waste space and add unnecessary clutter to the side of the notebook while not giving much, if any benefit (VGA cords stay in just fine w/o the screws).

 

I like the X100e.

That said, it's not a Thinkpad. Lenovo should create a new moniker for the "work & play" laptops they sell... the SL series and the Edge series.

But no, about the only thing marking these as Thinkpads is the Trackpoint.

 

Good god no. I've seen many a presentation ruined by some VGA cable falling loose from a desk. Sometimes the cable won't even fit right without the posts.

 

I haven't had that happen during any presentations I've given in class using my laptop, but I have seen a laptop get pulled off the table and damaged by someone tripping over a screwed-in VGA cord. I think I'd rather the cable come out than the laptop falling on the floor.

Which also makes me wonder why no manufacturer adds in-line power wire breakers like those on the Xbox controller cables.

 

I think it looks pretty good, some tradeoffs had to be made i guess to meet the price point. You don't have to get it with a glossy back, you can order it with a matte one too!

I do kinda feel that having two small business lines (Edge, SL) makes no sense. There should really be just one line aimed at SMB's and one aimed at corporate types, along with IdeaPad for the mass market.