Lenovo Abandons Beveled Keyboards On New ThinkPads, Unveils X1 Carbon
Subject: Mobile | May 14, 2012 - 01:23 PM | Matt Smith
Tagged: Thinkpad, news, Lenovo
Brace yourself, enthusiasts. The recent rumors that Lenovo will be ditching its traditional beveled keyboard in favor of a more modern – and some would say, inferior – chicklet-style design are true. Lenovo today announced new ThinkPad L,T, W and X series laptops. All of them ditch the old design for a keyboard similar to the one Lenovo has been using on the ThinkPad Edge since its introduction.
Lenovo’s ThinkPads have held strong for years as chicklet-style keyboards overtook the industry, causing enthusiasts looking for a great typing experience to flock in the company’s direction. Changing the design is sure to raise the ire of some enthusiasts.
The “Precision Keyboard,”as it is being called in Lenovo’s literature, is not entirely without benefits. The key surface allegedly reduces typing errors. It also finally gives ThinkPad owners a backlit keyboard option, something that couldn’t be offered on previous models because the beveled keyboard could not accommodate it.
Some rumors had suggested that the ThinkLight (a small LED used to illuminate the laptop’s interior) would perish as a result of the new backlit keyboards. This does not seem to be the case. Screenshots clearly show that the light remains.
Lenovo’s other big announcement is the new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Lenovo’s previous X1, which we reviewed last year, was an ultrabook that predated the ultrabook – super slim, fast and expensive. Lenovo is now bestowing the X1 with the label and, as the new name suggests, a “roll cage” made of carbon fiber.
The changes don’t end there. The new X1 is lighter, weighing it at 3 pounds instead of the 3.73 pounds of its predecessor. It has a better display, which is now 14 inches in size and ups the resolution to 1600x900. And, as you’d expect, it receives Intel Ivy Bridge processors. That’s true of all the other ThinkPads announced today, as well.
What do you think of the new keyboard? Love it? Hate it? Or don't care?
Podcast #190 - PCAudioLabs system giveaway, the future of NAND Memory, potential Ivy Bridge delays and more!
Subject: Editorial, General Tech | February 23, 2012 - 04:10 PM | Ken Addison
Tagged: Thinkpad, podcast, piledriver, nvidia, Ivy Bridge, Intel, gpu, cpu, amd
PC Perspective Podcast #190 - 02/23/2012
Join us this week as we talk about a PCAudioLabs system giveaway, the future of NAND Memory, potential Ivy Bridge delays and more!
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Hosts: Ryan Shrout, Jeremy Hellstrom, Josh Walrath, and Allyn Malvantano
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Program Schedule:
- 0:00:31 Introduction
- 1-888-38-PCPER or podcast@pcper.com
- http://pcper.com/podcast
- http://twitter.com/ryanshrout and http://twitter.com/pcper
- 0:01:45 Intel, PCAudioLabs and PC Perspective Rok Box System Sweepstakes!!
- 0:03:45 How We Review Laptops At PC Perspective
- 0:05:30 MSI Graphics Card Division Interview: Alex Chang Takes our Q's
- 0:09:10 Lenovo ThinkPad T420 Review: Kickin' It Old School
- 0:12:00 NAND Flash Memory - A Future Not So Bleak After All
- 0:27:15 This Podcast is brought to you by
MSI Computer , and their all new Sandy Bridge Motherboards!
- 0:28:30 Mass Effect 3 is Coming, Pre-Order Now and Get Battlefield 3 (PC) Free
- 0:31:00 Intel may delay shipments of Ivy Bridge processors
- 0:35:10 VIA teams with Tensilica to roll their own SSD controller
- 0:40:53 HP dates NVIDIA on Valentine's Day. We get Z1 workstation.
- 0:46:30 Wi-Fi on Rosepoint SoC die. Intel flexes before ARM wrestle.
- 0:51:15 Of Near Threshold Voltage and Atomic Transistors
- 0:55:15 AMD and Cyclos reduces clock power usage with Piledriver
- 1:04:00 Intel becomes a 22nm foundry -- yes, for other people.
- 1:11:35 Contest Reminder - http://pcper.com/contest
- 1:11:55 Hardware / Software Pick of the Week
- Ryan: IKEA DIODER + HOLY AWESOME https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LmEQUm1PUXU/T0W8e-KQz0I/AAAAAAAAYNA/XB64fVxgLvo/w402/engagement.jpg
- Ken: SUPAboy
- Jeremy: Hardware Leaderboard
- Josh: Get it while you still can!
- Allyn: Nintendo 1982 Game & Watch Donkey Kong (counter to Ken's pick)
- 1-888-38-PCPER or podcast@pcper.com
- http://pcper.com/podcast
- http://twitter.com/ryanshrout and http://twitter.com/pcper
- Closing
Introduction, Design, User Interface
As you may already know from my ultrabook editorial, I’m not entirely sold on them. There are disadvantages to being thin.
And as if to remind me of it, a Lenovo ThinkPad T420 suddenly appeared at my doorstep. Okay, that’s exaggerating a bit - I did know it was coming - but the timing of receiving an old-school laptop couldn't have been better. Not only because I wanted to take a closer look at a laptop purposely designed to not be thin, but also because we haven’t had a ThinkPad T series for review in, well, forever.
This is a return to form for me. I owned several ThinkPads during my late teens, my college days, and the years just after college. My favorite was a T42 with a 14-inch display.
Of course, laptops have come a long way since then. The ThinkPad T420 we received for review is a good example of a mid-range model. Let’s look at the hardware specifications.
According to Lenovo’s website, this configuration is the second pre-configured option available. It can be had for about $1000 after an eCoupon provided by Lenovo. All of the features above are standard, even the 1600x900 display and Nvidia graphics. They are standard only for this model, however - some less powerful versions are available at lower prices.
The only option that came with our review unit was a 9-cell battery, which will set you back $50. We received both the 6-cell and the 9-cell batteries, so we will be testing the laptop’s battery life with both.
Continue reading our review of the Lenovo ThinkPad T420 laptop!!
CES 2012: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Hybrid Demonstration Video
Subject: Mobile, Shows and Expos | January 8, 2012 - 10:07 PM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: Thinkpad, Lenovo, hybrid, CES
Earlier in the weekend we heard about Lenovo's new ThinkPad X1 Hybrid notebook that combines standard Intel x86 hardware with a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor running an open-source Linux OS. While you will not be able to run both pieces of hardware at the same time the Media Mode allows you to put the Windows OS and hardware to sleep and run the light-weight OS with about double the battery life.
Lenovo was on hand at CES Unveiled to give us a walk through of how the feature really works. Take a look!
PC Perspective's CES 2012 coverage is sponsored by MSI Computer.
Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!
Lenovo Unveils ThinkPad Ultrabook, ARM-Powered Laptop Ahead of CES
Subject: Mobile | January 5, 2012 - 01:00 AM | Matt Smith
Tagged: ultrabook, Thinkpad, news, Lenovo, edge, CES
Were you thinking about an ultrabook, but worried that the ones already available just weren’t tough enough? Lenovo has you covered. They’ve taken the wraps off the Lenovo ThinkPad T430u, which blends thin design with durability.
This isn’t exactly new territory for Lenovo, has the company already offered the ThinkPad X1, an extremely thin laptop that we reviewed in the summer of 2011. Lenovo has also long offered the T420s, an thin-and-light version of the already thin-and-light T series. The new 430u has a 14” display and will be starting at just $849, a surprisingly low price for a ThinkPad branded ultrabook.
Specifications include third-generation Intel Core processors, optional Nvidia discrete graphics, mechanical and SSD storage options, battery life of up to six hours and an island-style keyboard similar to the ThinkPad X1. Thickness will be no more than .8 inches and weight will be under four pounds.
Another interesting debut is the ThinkPad X1 Hybrid. Based off the current X1, it includes a feature not yet seen in consumer PC laptops - an dual-core ARM processor built by Qualcomm. Don't get too excited yet, because the ARM processor doesn't run Windows. That task is left to a typical Intel x86 processor. It does, however, run a secondary operating system called Instant Media Mode that allows users to access the web, watch videos and perform other basic tasks. Lenovo claims that using IMM instead of Windows allows for 10 hours of life on the X1's realtively small battery. Owning such an exotic piece of hardware will cost you - the X1 Hybrid starts at a lofty $1599.
Other new ThinkPad offerings include the Edge S430, a “premium” laptop stating at $749 that will offer a 14” display and Thunderbolt connectivity as well as third-gen Intel processors and optional Nvidia graphics. It also comes in a color we haven't seen yet in ThinkPads - Mocha Black. I'm not sure how this differs from regular black, but it makes me want a coffee.
Smaller still are the Edge E130 and E330, 11.6" and 13.3" laptops that fill out the small half of the new Edge line-up. Those looking for a more mainstream option will be able to consider the Edge E430/E435/E530/E535, a series of laptops starting at $549. They will be available not only in the Intel/Nvidia combination but also with AMD Fusion APUs (Lenovo designates the AMD models by ending the model number with a 5). There's also a new color to choose from, Cobalt Blue, while the old Midnight Black and Heatwave Red options remain.
If even that is too expensive, you’ll be able to grab the ThinkPad B480/B580, which start at $499 and offer “essential computing.”
PC Perspective's CES 2012 coverage is sponsored by MSI Computer
Podcast #160 - Lenovo ThinkPad X1, OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2, Crysis 2 DX11 update, Llano preview and more!
Subject: General Tech | June 30, 2011 - 02:50 PM | Ken Addison
Tagged: podcast, X1, Thinkpad, revodrive, ocz, nvidia, llano, Lenovo, Intel, dx11, crysis 2, amd
PC Perspective Podcast #160 - 6/30/2011
This week we talk about the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2, Crysis 2 DX11 update, Llano preview and more!
You can subscribe to us through iTunes and you can still
The URL for the podcast is: http://pcper.com/podcast - Share with your friends!
- iTunes - Subscribe to the podcast directly through the iTunes Store
- RSS - Subscribe through your regular
RSS reader - MP3 - Direct download link to the MP3 file
Hosts: Ryan Shrout, Jeremy Hellstrom, Josh Walrath and Allyn Malventano
This Podcast is brought to you by
Program Schedule:
- 0:00:45 Introduction
- 1-888-38-PCPER or podcast@pcper.com
- http://pcper.com/podcast
- http://twitter.com/ryanshrout and http://twitter.com/pcper
- 0:02:16 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review: Thin is In
- 0:03:08 Samsung Nexus S 4G Review: Google Bliss.
- 0:05:04 Super Fast PCI Express Cable Capable of 32 Gbps Announced By The PCI SIG
- 0:08:37 OCZ RevoDrive 3 x2 480GB PCIe SSD Review - Seriously Fast Storage
- 0:24:23 This Podcast is brought to you by
MSI Computer , and their all new Sandy Bridge Motherboards! - 0:25:00 Crysis 2: DirectX 11 free update released
- 0:31:45 NVIDIA Releases GeForce GTX 580M and 570M, Brings Optimus to Hardcore Gaming Laptops
- 0:34:10 Badaboom, the once NVIDIA only transcoding accelerator, now works with Sandy Bridge
- 0:38:40 Llano's dance card is available, pick a date with your favourite new AMD APU tomorrow
- 0:41:05 Just Delivered: Cost effective AM3+ Boards.
- 0:42:30 Show and tell: Llano CPU and MB
- 0:44:26 Free games?
- 0:48:20 Quakecon Reminder - http://www.quakecon.org/
- 0:50:45 Hardware / Software Pick of the Week
- Ryan: Bitcoins? Ken is testing a LOT of GPUs for this!
- Jeremy: I guess I'll shout out to Might & Magic entertaining me for 25 SMEGGING YEARS!
- Josh: Eyefinity! It is a lot of fun. Surprising capabilities from many modern applications. Even a lot of older ones...
- Allyn: RevoDrive 3!
- http://pcper.com/podcast
- http://twitter.com/ryanshrout and http://twitter.com/pcper
- 0:56:35 Closing
Introduction and Design
Achieving smaller, thinner profiles is a long-standing goal of laptop manufacturers, but there’s been a particular obsession with ultra-thin laptops ever since Apple introduced the MacBook Air by taking it out of a manila envelope. Since then, tablets and smartphones have only increased the appeal of thin laptops. Consumers are becoming used to the idea of their electronics tightening their waistlines, and there’s no sign that this trend will stop.
The manufacturer response to this demand has been a lackluster. Laptops like the Dell Adamo came and went, but didn’t seem to put much dent in the market. That wasn’t terribly surprising, because making a laptop thin is expensive, and the Windows laptop brands generally struggle to bring in customers for products priced over $1000.
One of the most successful responses to the Air was arguably Lenovo’s ThinkPad X series. The X series had always been thin-and-light, but was never targeted towards the average consumer. Still, these laptops – particularly the X301, which had a display size similar to the MacBook Air – seemed reasonable competition. Then Lenovo pulled the plug on the X301, leaving a 13 inch thin-and-light shaped hole in the roster. Today’s we’re looking at the plug for that hole.
Continue on and read our full review of the Lenovo X1 notebook...
Lenovo's thinest ThinkPad yet, the X1
Subject: Mobile | May 24, 2011 - 03:21 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Lenovo, Thinkpad, X1
There is a lot to love about the ThinkPad X1, inside a Core i5-2520M @ 2.5 GHz (with Intel HD 3000 graphics of course) 4GB of DDR3 and a 7200RPM 320GB HDD powers a 13.4" 1366 x 768 LCD which is covered with Corning Gorilla glass. All that in a package weighing 3.73lbs and with dimensions of 13.26" x 9.1" x 0.84". Even the back plate is interesting, with a USB 3.0 port, HDMI port, Mini DisplayPort port and a powered eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port, in addition to the card reader and USB 2.0 ports. Unless you are married to the IPS LCD on the X220 TechSpot highly recommends this laptop.
“A couple of months ago we were checking out Lenovo’s then latest ThinkPad offering, the X220. Based on Intel’s second generation Core processors, this system was classic business-oriented ThinkPad throughout. A few months before the X220, I had the IdeaPad U260 in-house which was classified by Lenovo as a “thin, light, stylish travel companion”.
I mention those two units as a transition to what we have for review today, the new ThinkPad X1. As the thinnest ThinkPad ever, the X1 seemingly takes the best features from the X220 and the U260 and merges them into one. The result is an extremely thin and sleek 13.4” notebook that is a real follow-up model to the X300 series that many came to own and love a couple of years ago.”
Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
- Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E220s Review @ TechReviewSource
- Toshiba Satellite M645-S4118X Review @ TechReviewSource
- Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch 2011 Edition @ TweakTown
- Cooler Master NotePal LapAir Notebook Cooler Review @Hi Tech Legion
- Samsung Series 9 900X3A-A01CA Laptop Review - This May Be a Work of Art... Almost @ The SSD Review
- Acer Iconia Tab A500 Review @ t-break
- Motorola Xoom WiFi 32GB Review @ t-break
- Tablets- just not there yet @ t-break
- Motorola Atrix and lapdock video review @ The Inquirer
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Play (Verizon Wireless) Review @ TechReviewSource
- Smartphone, the abridged version: Ars reviews the HP Veer
- Otterbox Commuter and Impact Series Cases for the HTC EVO 4G Review @Hi Tech Legion
- Samsung Galaxy S II Review @ TechReviewSource
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Review @ t-break
- Doro PhoneEasy 410gsm Cell Phone Review @ Hardware Secrets
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 ultra-portable laptop
Subject: Mobile | April 27, 2011 - 08:40 PM | Joe Kelly
Tagged: ultra-portable, Thinkpad, Lenovo
Lenovo has added a laptop to their ultra-portable notebook lineup. The ThinkPad X1 features a Core i5 2520M CPU, 8GB of RAM, 160GB SSD and a 13.3-inch screen made from Gorilla Glass with a 1366x768 resolution. All of those features in a small 0.84-inch-thick package. The ThinkPad X1 also included a good keyboard and the great build quality we come to expect from the ThinkPad brand.
The bad news is the ThinkPad X1’s battery is sealed, meaning you will not be able to remove it yourself but the good news is the battery comes with a 3 year warranty and has a few replacement options. The battery can be replaced at a repair depot or Lenovo will have an on-site technician can come to replace the battery as early as the next business day. Lenovo clams the ThinkPad X1’s RapidCharge battery will last three times as long and will charge to 80% within 30 minutes.
With all of features the ThinkPad X1 has. Is it worth the $2900 price tag? You can buy a 13-inch MacBook Air for $1299 but, it’s unfair to judge the two of them by price alone because of the differences in processor, memory and hard drive size. Is a faster processor, more memory, larger SSD and a better battery warranty worth the extra cost?
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