Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 15 Review Discussion

The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 15 is the biggest notebook in the Edge family that also includes 13 and 14-inch models. The Edge series is known for its stylish looks that set it apart from other models in the ThinkPad series as well as its chiclet style keyboard. In this review, we see if the ThinkPad Edge 15 holds up as well in our testing as the two previous models.

Read the full content of this Article: Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 15 Review

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• Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13 Review
• Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 14 Review

 

great review! though to me this seems to be a disappointment... keyboard flex = FAIL.

 

It doesn't deserve a Thinkpad logo.

 

...wonder if they are grasping at straws here?
for such a long time, lenovo would not listen to consumer requests because they rely on large businesses as i understand it... but now this?

 

Hmmm...not sure how the amount of keyboard flex could have gotten past Lenovo's Q&A, they must have known after the furor over the amount of T400 keyboard flex that this will be the first thing that reviewers test for...I see a fix coming soon.

The keyboard itself should be good though...am typing this review on the chiclet-style keyboard on the X100e, love it as much as the keyboard on my old T60.

 

I really like that they included the trackpoint. I really wish they would get better screens. Nice review!

 

I don't like these low-res screens, especially on a 15"

Seems to me that the 14" Edge would be a much better choice.

 

Sad how the Thinkpad brand continues to be diluted by these consumer-oriented models. Honestly, as a long time Thinkpad fan, I have as much interest in the Edge as I do in a Dell or Toshiba....

Increasingly, I find myself scouring Craigslist for old stock T-series Thinkpads... as with every new variant, they seem to become less appealing. Good work Lenovo, turn a computing icon into another disposible toy.

 

I'm wondering how they could have messed up the build quality on the 15" model when apparently the 14" and 13" models have decent quality.

 

We still have that 13" model in the office. Solid as a rock! The Edge series doesnt have any form of metal framework or chassis, just plastic. My best guess is smaller sizes with less open cavities allow the design to maintain rigidity. Moving it up finally pushed the limits of that model.

 

But the plastic frame is solid on the smaller models right?

Yeah I suppose the design wasn't made for larger sizes. A shame really

I think Lenovo is really pushing the Thinkpad name >.>

 

Every new Thinkpad is worst than it’s previous, Lenovo is making money today based on IBM legendary reputation but it will lose tomorrow! New Thinkpads are very cheap in quality and the news is spreading very fast and none of its new customers are returning back, when my Thinkpad dies I'm shifting to Mac immediately, its sad but all good things come to an end...

 

I am sorry but after listening to so many people complaining about the "thinkpad" brand I am left wondering why there is so much outrage?

Is the T-series or X-series(read 201-301) not good anymore?
What about the W-series?
Are they all built that poorly that people are turning away from lenovo in droves?

I am really confused.
And having the Edge or X100e series devalues the thinkpad name? how?

Ok i understand that the thinkpad name is synonymous with build quality so that is why you pay $1200-$2500 for those T/X/W series. Just keep buying them and stop complaining.

If lenovo discontinued those models and replaced them with Edge and SL I would understand....but they haven't.

At the end of the day these are just tools to get your work done, nothing more. So get over it.

p.s this is not directed at anyone particular so I apologize in advance if you feel i have slighted anyone of you in anyway.

 

Is it safe to say that Lenovo will move to Chicklet keys across the Thinkpad lineup?

 

I don't think it's outrage, people are just pointing out that Lenovo is trying to milk the ThinkPad name for all it can. There's no way this thing is worth the $869 MSRP or even the $649 street price -- 2GB RAM, 250GB at 5400RPM HDD, Intel graphics, 1366x768 display ("Compared to other 15-inch panels on the market, this one rates below average with very poor contrast")... almost every component is the cheapest and lousiest currently on the market. Even the Core i3 is the worst current-gen CPU Intel offers; it's just luck that they're still quite good and AMD's products were unavailable until later.

When you add the build quality to that, this is basically the type of laptop that Best Buy sells for $500 ($400 when on sale). Lenovo is trying to charge much more than that by calling it a ThinkPad.

 

Well, I do think that cavedog raised a good point - that sometimes there is this knee-jerk reaction against Lenovo for bringing out anything new or making modification to the basic Thinkpad design. As a current owner of a X100e, I have to say that although it does feel more "cheap" as compared to my T60 or T30 laptop, I feel that it still retains enough of the unique Thinkpad qualities (e.g. good keyboard, trackpoint/trackpad combo, matte finish/screen, spill-resistant keyboard) that I do not think that Lenovo is "milking" the Thinkpad name by putting it on models like the X100e or the Edge 13.

Having said that, being the owner of 4 current and past Thinkpads, and having recommended Thinkpads to several friends/co-workers, I do think that there is a certain build quality that people associate with the Thinkpad name. Therefore, when there are these significant issues of major keyboard flex and poor screen contrast with the Edge 15, people are justifiably going to worry that it's going to decrease the value of the Thinkpad name. Because for those people that may not know any better, they may buy an Edge 15 based on the belief that it's going to give them the experience and quality that reviews and trade journals give to the Thinkpad name, but they'll find out that it actually falls short of that.

 

that comment about people buying resent thinkpads and not buying another after? I'm one of them my T500 was a piece of junk (my brother Studio XPS 16 felt stronger than the T500).

Elitebook is where it's at now BTW.

 

Seeing as Lenovo just updated the keyboard for the Tx10 generation, I doubt that will happen on the "true" Thinkpads any time soon. I'm fine with the chiclet keyboard, however, I would like to see the 7-row layout preserved (which is not the case on the Edge-series and X100e).

 

cavedog

No outrage I'm a proud ThinkPadder and i haven't bought a Thinkpad from Lenovo that is less than $2500 in price and Ive always been a T customer but quality lately has been sinking faster than the Titanic!!! and this is why I'm complaining i hate bad quality that's it! Thinkpad = Top Notch i have letters from IBM and Lenovo sales that says Thinkpad is top notch in quality! well now that has changed and that's why I'm upset no rage here!!!

 

yuio

A good friend of mine is in Lenovo sales in my country and he says quality is hell and he also told me that we are losing business here because of quality issues specially corporate customers as they are shifting to HP or DELL because of Lenovo Inferior ThinkPad quality...

 

I think it really is a matter of Lenovo milking the Thinkpad name for all it is worth, as was previously mentioned.

We have a T400 and a T500 in the office, and they are ok, but they are not up to the standards of the pre-Lenovo Thinkpads we have/had.

I also agree about the HP Elitebooks being very good machines - probably my favored "brand" for business use atm....

(We have Dells, Lenovos and HP machines in the office.)

 

I don't really care if the keyboard on the Edge flexes like a yo-yo because it's not a real thinkpad. Those that buy it probably won't care anyways. If the T-series flexes then I'll complain. My T61p is rock-solid.

HP's latest elite line is nice but is the cooling system up to the level of the thinkpads' performance (also as quiet)? Is it as rugged as a thinkpad in day-to-day travels when handled roughly?

I think most customers are pleased with the quality (which can vary) and those that have a real issue can send it in for a new one. The biggest issue I can think of is when they redesigned the keybd in the T400 with a flexy one - that was a real issue and it was resolved due to complaints.

You cannot beat thinkpads for the quality/dollar you're getting. If you happen to get a lemon, which is always possible, return it.

 

^^ I can answer those two questions. 1. cooling performance is about par, but they tend to be a little nosier. 2. day to day build? Elitebook wins no contest. when I picked up my thinkpad the first thing I noticed was the palmrest bending... the Elitebook? nothing. no flex period. I'm not convinced I got a lemon either everyone who bought a early T500 had similar issues (and look on youtube for video of it). I also know a tec who manages all the machine a big company the uses thinkpads and he flat told his boss when the T400/T500's were coming that they were crap (I should have listened to him...).

at this point Lenovo needs to raise there prices a couple hundred $$$ and improve there quality.

I think the Edge 15 would be ok if it wasn't a "Thinkpad". but then again the T series has seen quite a number of quality reductions in the last few years. no Mg roll cage anyone?

 

Did IBM implent the rollcage? Lenovo only got rid of the top Mg rollcage and unless someone can prove that the new material is less sturdy than the one before, it's too early to jump to conclusions.

I do agree with you that they need to improve the finish on the real Thinkpads though.

 

You got the T500 palmrest to bend when you picked up the laptop? Do you have a video evidence to show that? I don't think anyone on the Lenovo forum managed to get their T500 palmrest to bend when they pick up the laptop.

Apart from the youtube video where people pushed on the palmrest area, but i did not see the video where people got it to bend when they picked it up. Where is the link that showed the bending of palmrest where people picked it up.

Maybe, Lenovo should ask the US customer to pay the same price as everyone else is paying in the world. But that is not going to happen, since that would just drive the sales away to their Dell and HP competitors.

Edge 15 is just a consumer laptop with Thinkpad look.

 

FYI, I briefly owned the Edge 15 and I didn't see this enormous flexing that appears in the notebookreview video. Furthermore I went to a store and tried to make the Edge 14 flex and it largely resisted. The amount of flex achieved in the video would require a lot of pressure, or perhaps using a hair dryer first to melt the plastic.

 

That seems pretty contrary to my experience, I always hear about constant quality issues with Dell and HP, especially their notebooks. The Dell forum here has a huge thread about problems with the XPS 16.

 

I think he means their business line of notebooks. While far from perfect, Dell and HP's business line is night and day compared their consumer models(where the Studio XPS 16 falls).

 

+1. It's like saying Panda Express serves genuinely Chinese food. PHAIL.


Flames aside, those small hinges and the plastic flex that some people are noting would make me think twice.

 

used one of these today

For an average laptop,its not all that bad. Untill you use the keyboard.

For one,it does flex pretty bad in the center of it

Secondly,its the EXACT same size as my x100e keyboard, with only redesigned keys. I bet I could swap out these keyboards if I wanted,it would be pretty funny if it works (not that I am going to try).

Aside from that, the shop I work at wants to start selling them, which I cant complain,because we also sell the stupid G series crap, and we cant work on that stuff on warranty without having to ship it off to a depot center, but we can work on the Edge models.

 

I tried Edge 13 keyboard and i like the tactile feel. The review is correct about the keyboard.

Based on pictures on this review, i can see the Edge 15 design on reality is a bit mess. Look at the side picture, left and right. You can see that the silver line is breaking, the design is fall apart...