New ThinkPads Coming Soon

Whoops the X300 is widescreen. The X61/s/t is normal aspect. My bad. the HD 3650 > FX 570M (which is slightly better than its base, 8600M GT) >> NVS 140M (which is also better than its base, 8400M GS)

 

I think HDMI in business class notebook is less likely than Display Port. Would be nice if Thinkpads would have Display Port. But somehow I feel that Lenovo will put Display port in non-Thinkpads this year and Thinkpad notebooks will get it only next year.

 

I understand there would have been crossover between an X300 and T300 but I think that crossover is vital. Some people want the popular 13.3'' screen but also want the performance.

The ATI HD 3650 is a very efficient graphics architecture, I'd be very happy to have it in my laptop. I think it's power would be very near equivalent to the 570M. That's based of the desktop counterparts.

I'm very encouraged. I was thinking of buying an HP DV2799 for the style and performance but it's making me think twice. You can't beat Thinkpad build quality or their keyboards. They last.

 

OMG M$ SUX MOV 2 LINUX!

 

I'm guessing the new X400/X500 (maybe the X200 too?) will also use the new 7mm thin optical drive as in the X300. Somehow I doubt they'll be able to squeeze a Blu-ray burner or even a Blu-ray player in this thin formfactor this year?

Heck I don't even think the 7mm DVD burner on the X300 is dual layer capable (can someone confirm?). I bought the X300 but don't have a DL DVD blank disc to test with...

So for the larger 14"/15" screen sizes, I'm more interested in the T400/T500 with discrete graphics and hope they come with Blu-ray burning option (using standard 9mm optical drive formfactor) and all the usual ports and slots that are missing on the X300. And also the fast SSD option, which I love on the X300. But at the same time I'd want the T400/T500 to be as slimmed down as possible

 

The new Dell Latitudes are getting DisplayPort, so I'd be surprised if Lenovo didn't keep pace and offer it in the Thinkpads.

 

The integrated graphic solution could be PUMA, too. By a video posted somewhere else in this forum, it should be available Q2 this year; in a second thread I read some big companies were moving to AMD/ATI IGPs.
That way, they could keep costs down a bit (since I want to believe PUMA will be offered at a competitive price point).
Anyway, until an official release, we're speculating .
Cheers!

 

Oh fack... and I just bought an LG P300 because the current Thinkpads were too "low-speced" for me. Oh well, guess there's always something better on the line no matter what you buy. Another two years... maybe then I'd have a Thinkpad.

 

Will the x200 be the successor to the x61?

My concern is it having a touchpad. I specifically use the X series because it DOES NOT have a touchpad. The red dot rules!

 

I'd like to hold out for the LED screen, but I fear that with the release of new models, prices will skyrocket.

Is this usually the trend?

 

The thing I'm concerning about is the build quality. If lenovo can manage to have the same rugged with a thinner design, that's awesome, otherwise.....

 

Can anyone confirm the Firewire Chipset on Lenovos?... are they TI ( Texas Instruments)?

 

The dealbreaker in all this will be the screen quality, it must improve drastically.... The poor quality screens in all current Lenovo products is the sole reason I haven't bought one.

For me, no matter how good the hardware is, if the screen isn't up to par then it's a dealbreaker.

Mention of LED's may fix the brightness issue, but is there any word on glossy screens?

 

My screen is awesome maybe I just got lucky but it is defenitly better than any M1530 screens I have seen and even most HP screens.

 

It needs to be as nice as or better than my VIAO FZ190 glossy screen, for me to switch.

 

Well any matte screen will do JK I can't stand glossy screens I use my laptop outside too much and it is hard to see.

BTW I'll take a well built powerful notebook with a good screen over an expensive underpowered laptop that has a spotty build and a great screen any day.

 

You're looking at a different category.
Many people will also says "it needs to be as well built and durable as or better than my Thinkpad, for me to switch".
Screens are not the key selling point of Thinkpad. There is a reason why thinkpad is a business notebook and Sony Vaio is not.

 

Ugh, glossy screens suck. Newsflash: You can have bright, colorful screens without the hindrance of a glossy coating.

 

One only needs to read the user reviews of 61P to see that current Levono screens are not bright enough. Levono's machines are very robust and can take a beating, which is what I need since I travel.

There’s a reason why every other laptop company--from Dell, to HP, to Sony, etc--are all going glossy: Glossy screens are much clearer, crisper, and true to picture. I happen to do a lot of photo editing and a glossy screen is the best for this. Go compare the best matt screen on the market to the best glossy screen and you’ll see what I mean.

 

They're business machines, you won't be finding glossy screens on them. Brighter, possibly/hopefully with the introduction of LED Backlighting like the X300 - you should really compare it to that model.

Matte screens are better for everyday computing and working outside in direct sunlight.

 

I just did. The best screens are all matte, just as I thought. Glossy screens are nothing but a consumeristic fad, and a way for manufacturers to cut costs by not putting a good matte anti-glare finish on a screen. They cut costs and every manufacturer follows, thus we get rows upon rows of screens where you can see yourself better than what's actually being displayed.

Glossy screens suck in any condition other than darkness, and I like to use my notebook outside instead of being cooped up in the basement all day long.

Can you tell I hate glossy screens? They drive me up the wall.

Unfortunately Dead1nside, I think PowerUser1234 will get his wish and we will see glossy screens in the next Thinkpads. Its the same as the megapixel race in cameras and the refresh rate race in LCDs - consumers fixate on one element to the detriment of all else.

 

I agree that matte screens are a staple for Thinkpads. They're just easier on my eyes at least, and the glare on glossy screens...speaks for itself. I'm sure with the LED backlight the screens will be just perfectly fine.

 

The T61p review equipped with a WUXGA, and the screen is only 150 nit, so it's not for everyone. The WSXGA+ is better.
and FYI, the Thinkpad Flewview screen was the best screen on the market, better than any glossy screen you can find. Too bad it's not in production any more.

 

Why is everyone moaning over the possibility glossy screens? Just look at Apple. There's a very good chance that there'd be an option for both matte and glossy on the next Thinkpad refresh. Choice is good -- keep the purists and the critics happy.

 

Glossy screens indicate that the product is going more consumer-oriented. That means that they're likely to cut costs in many areas in order to keep the price competitive with crap like HP Pavilions and Compaq Presarios. Thinkpads have traditionally been extremely high quality machines, but that quality could slip if the price point targeted goes lower.

Case in point: I work part-time for the IT department at my college (I'm a college student). We support T42s, T60s, and Z61s. The Z61 by far is the worst despite being the newest. They feel cheap, they look cheap, and they have more problems than the 3 year old T42s.

 

You readily admit the ThinkPads of today are of worse quality compared to years past....then you state quality will get worse if glossy screens are put in? Sorry, I'm not buying it.

Glossy or matt has nothing to do with the quality of the rest of the machine, it exists independently. If the build quality is getting poorer, it's because the company has decided to not care....it has nothing to do with the screen.

 

The link I was drawing between glossy screens is the following: glossy screens are preferred only by consumers rather than business customers. Therefore glossy screens suggest a consumer focus. Consumers care more about price and less about durability. So if a computer has a glossy screen it is likely targeted to consumers and as a result the quality of the unit will likely be lower than that of one targeted to businesses.

 

I find all this screen discussion moot. If they only sell gloss, then we buy gloss; if they only sell matte, then we only buy matte.

Anyway, I'm glad I just placed an order for a T61p with Intel T9300 pretty cheap at that, too. Even if the ATi GPUs perform better than current Nvidias, it's going to cost a bomb considering the inclusion of the blu-ray.

Unless you're an early adopter, you'd buy when the prices settle down, like in a year or so. But by that time, another new model would've been out again soon. Rinse, repeat.

So, my advice, if you really need a laptop, and ATi/Blu-Ray isn't make/break just buy one now when it's cheap.

 

I want more info on the T400. (and the whole new lineup in general.) I want to buy a new laptop for college. I'll wait, but for how long?

 

Mid-June is a good bet. But we'll definitely get new Thinkpads by September I think. They'll just be expensive.

 

It's a bit annoying since they don't really have availability until January after their release in the UK. Plus the price is still astronomical and there's no cheap way to get hold of them (eBay) at that point.

I'll hold out though for the information to come out on them. I think they could be potentially very exciting products. The LED backlit screens and integrated webcams sound good. So too is the talk of AMD/ATI graphics solution and the talk of integrated + discrete.

 

how expensive i wonder. i want the T400... am i looking at $1,200? or at the $2,000 range?
how much was the T61 when it first came out?

 

I'm hoping not past 1200, but I don't expect it to, considering how the trend in consumer electronics are probably going to shoot up in the near future, especially those coming from China.

 

I was considering an IBM for my next laptop sometime down the road, and I'm nearly sold with this.

 

I just looked at an r61 in an office depot.. and the screen was really dim and bad. it was a 1280x800 one. the hp screens seemed way better(also 1280). I was thinking about a t61 but I definitely wouldn't get one with the current screens

 

I agree uncola, the HP screens are a lot nicer. I've been so put off by the screens on the new Thinkpads which aren't cheap by a long shot that HP's media notebooks have been appealing to me. They may lack build quality but they've got an awful lot of features for a lot less. Good specs too.

 

Still, Thinkpads are more focused towards business users, so the screens are weaker compared to consumer laptops like the Vaio and HP. But, with the LEDs, we'll see.

 

You're right zephyrus17. I wouldn't be complaining if I hadn't seen the most beautiful screen ever though. T60p with 15'' 1600x1200 Flexview. If I hadn't seen how good it can be, then I wouldn't be complaining now.

When you pay the premium for a Thinkpad you should get a good quality, bright screen too. Not gloosy, matte, but bright. There is no reason not to.

 

Oh man, the flexview screens are absolutely stunning.
Simply gorgeous. The color dept and contrast, breathtaking.
People spend all the time staring at screens, I dont know why more empahasis is not placed on screen quality.

Have you tried thier current WUXGA screens ? I looked at a dell WUXGA, and while it wasnt no flexview, it was good too.
The thinkpad SXGA+ screens on the other hand remain total crap.

 

I want to get the cheaper, older t61p, but I'm afraid they'll refresh the lineup before I get the cash. Any idea when they'd update their site with the new models? The Gizmodo article said June 3rd I think.

 

I'm sure the older models will be around, at least for a few months after the refresh.

 

I just hope Lenovo does a better job with the LED backlit screens on these new models than what they introduced in the X300, which was rather disappointing to say the least.

Would also be nice to have an option for either SSD HDDs or regular SATA HDDs.

 

TBH, i somehow hope they rly mess up, coz i just got me a T61^^.

 

This is already June 3rd and there's no sign that Lenovo has their new T series ready to be shipped. I hope the delay won't be long due to the delay of the release date of Montivena platform. I wish the new T series will come out soon and that their price wouldn't go beyong 1,200$.

 

More on the new ThinkPad line.

Does Anyone know what switchable graphics is?

http://www.batteries-wiki.org/?page_id=55

 

The article says "switchable ATI-based graphics so users can swap between discrete and integrated mode". So it is probably just like the Sony SZ and others. You can switch between the higher-performing battery-sucking discrete graphics or the lower-performing battery-friendly integrated graphics.