ThinkPad to Compete with MacBook Air Ultra-thin full-power computers converge on the market One of the biggest Mac news items circulating right now is the release of the MacBook Air, a super-thin ultra-light laptop that has many of the major features of a standard notebook. Apparently it’s not just Apple that has been able to make this type of machine. Information has leaked which suggests that Lenovo is soon to release ThinkPad notebooks similar to the MacBook Air. The notebook is said to provide “optional integrated broadband with the X300 series, such as WiMax, Cingular HSDPA 3.6, Row : Vodafone/KDDI, and Verizon EV-DO.” It’s advantage over the MacBook Air is reportedly the inclusion of an ultrathin DVD burner. Release dates and price are not yet available.
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 | | X Series is already close The X series is already very close to the Macbook Air specs, I doubt it's going to take much retooling to shave off about .1 inches of thickness and .3 ounces (IIRC from the specs of the current X line) | |
| |  | | | Re: Misssed the mark? I think this Air laptop is just a fad. Apple users will buy into it of course.
They almost always do. | |
| | |  SteimesI make internetsPremium
join:2002-01-08
Belle Vernon, PA
kudos:1
 ·Comcast
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Misssed the mark? said by Anonymous:I think this Air laptop is just a fad. Apple users will buy into it of course. They almost always do. I'm not sure it is a fad, but I see it as the start of thin computing. Not to say that Apple is the first with an ultra thin, Sony had a production model just as thin, or just a smidgen thinner a few years ago. I just do not see the benefit of a somewhat crippled laptop, by number of ports, media drive, and expandability, when you essentially end up with the same over all size (by footprint) of a full feature laptop.
Although true ultra compacts, well poor sellers now, should take off as technology catches up.
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Making procrastination an art form since Pluto was still a planet. | |
| | | |  djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
kudos:1 | Re: Misssed the mark? I like small light laptops, but lack of an optical drive makes it a non-starter in my opinion. No, you don't need it all the time, but I'd rather have a laptop that's SLIGHTLY larger and has that capability. | |
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| |  firephotoKDEPremium
join:2003-03-18
Brewster, WA | Yep, it's just a fad. That's why the masses are packing around the good old trusty motorola brick phone. | |
| | | | | said by Anonymous:I think this Air laptop is just a fad. Apple users will buy into it of course. They almost always do. Apple Fanboys and Fangirls would buy Steve Job's excrement if it looked cool. "Wow, blue poop that plays Quicktime and iTunes! It smells like Apples too! Only $399." 
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| | | |  Titus PulloI came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
kudos:1
·Embarq Now Centu..
| Re: Misssed the mark? said by supergirl:said by Anonymous:I think this Air laptop is just a fad. Apple users will buy into it of course. They almost always do. Apple Fanboys and Fangirls would buy Steve Job's excrement if it looked cool. You mean it doesn't? I'll be damned.
A website leaked that it's wrapped like a Cuban with a bite out of one side and glows in the dark 
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ugh | |
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1 edit | If it has a built-in optical drive... Then they missed the point of the Macbook Air altogether, considering the Macbook Air has features to access a host computer disc drive and easily transfer files from it via its docking station making it more of a PC companion then a ultra-thin notebook. Not to mention from some people the feel of owning what can be considered a giant iPod.
With that said though I believe this Thinkpad will be more then enough competition for the Sony TX, Fujitsu LifeBook S6500s and Toshiba Protege M600. | |
| | | | Re: If it has a built-in optical drive... So a optical drive is bad?! | |
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1 edit | Re: If it has a built-in optical drive... Not at all in fact its great for all the reason you are probably thinking of such as easily installing software and listening to DVDs. But it also is a source for spent battery life and like disc based hardrives hamper it from being really man-handled without damage.
However, a notebook without one which doesn't have adequate syncing software is a lot worse off in usability. | |
| | | |  FiLPremium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD | Re: If it has a built-in optical drive... Syncing software?
Whats the big deal with attaching a usb harddrive? They too come with synching software...
If theres no disc in the drive, the battery doesn't need to access the drive, so no battery life spent. The op drive is perfect for all the obvious reasons; if it breaks, you got yourself a cheaper MacAir...right?
Again, it would probably be easier to "synch" ya shit with usb drives then with software where your at the whim of your connection speed...either way, its not as if synching software blows usb 2.0 out the water. | |
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| | ThinkPad T Series suck My company deploy them and they are terrible laptops. I would rather do HP or Dell than Lenovo machines. Ugh!
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The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary. | |
| |  HetermanPremium
join:2004-02-28
Fayetteville, AR | Re: ThinkPad T Series suck Do they happen to be the T6x series?
IMO, the last good ones were the T4x series. | |
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1 edit | Re: ThinkPad T Series suck Yup, the T6X series. They are a piece of crap. Some machines no more than one year old already had motherboards and hard drives replaced.
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The only place where Success comes before Work is in the dictionary. | |
| | | |  MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | Re: ThinkPad T Series suck said by fatmanskinny:Yup, the T6X series. They are a piece of crap. Some machines no more than one year old already had motherboards and hard drives replaced. Really? I've beat on my T60 for well over a year now without a single issue. | |
| | | | | FiLPremium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD | Re: ThinkPad T Series suck same, every think pad I've been on worked like a charm...i worked on p3 think pads running audio creation workstation proggies, worked like a charm.
Maybe ya'll got a bad batch...lol. Otherwise, I think the thinkpad is an excellent pc/laptop... | |
| | | | | |  grcoreChallenge Accepted
join:2003-12-06
usa
·AT&T DSL Service
 ·VOIPo
| Re: ThinkPad T Series suck MY experience with the T series is quite mixed. Company has deployed thousands of them, and the system board failure rate over three years is 20%. HD's die just about as often.
The Dells we are moving to (620s) are bigger, heavier, but seem to be more durable.
What scares me away from these ultra thin laptops is flexing. All that SMT circuitry cannot take that sort of movement. (I worked in the circuit board industry prior to this gig so I know what works).
But if I needed an ultra light device, I would get an EEpc. | |
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| | | | I luv my T61P, just got it in Jan 08. Intel Centrino Pro T7800 processor with Nvidia FX 570M 256M Graphics and 3G memory 1680x1050 Res screen with two 200G 7200rpm hd's. Works for me. I did have a memory problem but Lenovo took care of that. | |
| | | |  IridiumPremium
join:2003-04-02
Los Angeles, CA
·DSL EXTREME
| Re: ThinkPad T Series suck said by Bender :
I luv my T61P, just got it in Jan 08. Intel Centrino Pro T7800 processor with Nvidia FX 570M 256M Graphics and 3G memory 1680x1050 Res screen with two 200G 7200rpm hd's. Works for me. I did have a memory problem but Lenovo took care of that.
Slightly off topic, do you know if you can play games with the Nvidia chipset? I have a T60, and someone gave me an EPP login, I see some good deals on the T61P's, I am not a huge gamer, more of a CG aartist, but the added ability to play games and run Vista Aero would be nice. | |
| | | | | MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | Re: ThinkPad T Series suck said by Iridium:said by Bender :
I luv my T61P, just got it in Jan 08. Intel Centrino Pro T7800 processor with Nvidia FX 570M 256M Graphics and 3G memory 1680x1050 Res screen with two 200G 7200rpm hd's. Works for me. I did have a memory problem but Lenovo took care of that.
Slightly off topic, do you know if you can play games with the Nvidia chipset? I have a T60, and someone gave me an EPP login, I see some good deals on the T61P's, I am not a huge gamer, more of a CG aartist, but the added ability to play games and run Vista Aero would be nice. I can game on my T60 with an X1300. WoW and Aero run pretty well at 1024x768. Any higher may be an issue, but I bet the nVidia card would be even faster.
Gaming on a laptop blows chunks though and do not keep the laptop in your lap. It is just too hot when gaming. | |
| | | | | | IridiumPremium
join:2003-04-02
Los Angeles, CA Reviews:
·DSL EXTREME
| Re: ThinkPad T Series suck said by Matt:said by Iridium:said by Bender :
I luv my T61P, just got it in Jan 08. Intel Centrino Pro T7800 processor with Nvidia FX 570M 256M Graphics and 3G memory 1680x1050 Res screen with two 200G 7200rpm hd's. Works for me. I did have a memory problem but Lenovo took care of that.
Slightly off topic, do you know if you can play games with the Nvidia chipset? I have a T60, and someone gave me an EPP login, I see some good deals on the T61P's, I am not a huge gamer, more of a CG aartist, but the added ability to play games and run Vista Aero would be nice. I can game on my T60 with an X1300. WoW and Aero run pretty well at 1024x768. Any higher may be an issue, but I bet the nVidia card would be even faster. Gaming on a laptop blows chunks though and do not keep the laptop in your lap. It is just too hot when gaming. I have an x1300 or x1400 I believe. Aero runs, but slowly. It will often default back to the standard Vista look without warning. I think I might just need more ram. I am ordering a 2gb DIMM next month. | |
| | | | | | | MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | Re: ThinkPad T Series suck said by Iridium:I have an x1300 or x1400 I believe. Aero runs, but slowly. It will often default back to the standard Vista look without warning. I think I might just need more ram. I am ordering a 2gb DIMM next month. Interesting. You sure that's not because you're running a program that is not Aero compatible? That happened to me a lot as well, but I'd get a little bubble window in the sys tray telling me my system has reverted to Aero Basic because of a program incompatibility.
FWIW, my T60 only has 1GB of RAM. | |
| | | | | | | | IridiumPremium
join:2003-04-02
Los Angeles, CA Reviews:
·DSL EXTREME
| Re: ThinkPad T Series suck said by Interesting. You sure that's not because you're running a program that is not Aero compatible? That happened to me a lot as well, but I'd get a little bubble window in the sys tray telling me my system has reverted to Aero Basic because of a program incompatibility.
FWIW, my T60 only has 1GB of RAM.
[/BQUOTE :
I don't remember. I only used Vista for about 6 months before I gave up and went back to XP.
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My next laptop will be an Apple, I am fed up with PC's and Windows. | |
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|  MikePremium,Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA | Lenovos suck.
/supports them.
Oh. T60 batteries are crap.
Thus there's a T61. | |
| | |
1 edit | Re: ThinkPad T Series suck After repairing 160+ Lenovos including 3000, T4x, T6x, R5x, R6x, X30, X40 I think I am qualified more than the end user to comment.
Hard drive failures are 99.99% user issues.
Even though the T series includes the same system as Apple that spins down a hard drive when excessive movement is detected, dropping a system when powered up will kill the hard drive. In fact most of the T series I have seen dropped would have been fatal to almost any other brand.
Mainboard failure.
The overwhelming majority of mainboard failures were a result RoHS compliance. The T4x series were the biggest victims. Cold solder joints eventually working themselves loose. Non-reparable as it's almost impossible to troubleshoot a dead board.
It wasn't just Thinkpads who had problems. Dell Latitude D510 have a bad problem with the power fuses and DC power jacks working loose due to cold solder.
The RoHS specs have been relaxed in response to this problem. The problem being that under the old specs the about of heat required to melt the solder paste was so high it neared the destructive temp of the semiconductors. The resulted in the components with larger legs or metal enclosures having cold solder joints.
Here's my current take on just Thinkpads.
As soon as Lenovo took over that line they made some changes to the way Thinkpads were assembled to speed production. Good or bad remains to be seen. The T4x line will remain the classic IBM Thinkpad. Other than that they seem to be the same old Thinkpads. The only portable I would plunk my hard earned money on. I currently own a T60 that I have modified for speed. I really like it.
Thinkpads have the BEST DC power jack on the Windows side.
They virtually never fail.
DC power jack replacement is the #1 cause your laptop goes in for repair. Something to think about.
For all you other brand fanboys here's a wake up.
Lenovo 3000s and Toshiba guts are largely made by Asus.
You are buying a plastic shell and respective customer support by brand.
HPs come from all kinds of places. Most recently the new stuff seems to be manufactured by Hannstar. So are Dells.
There really isn't many portable board manufacturers as well as LCD panels, so most of your brand loyalty is based on support as your "manufacturer" doesn't really design or build your system, just the shiny bits on the outside. | |
| | | MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | said by Mike:Lenovos suck. /supports them. Oh. T60 batteries are crap. Thus there's a T61. There was a recall on most T60 batteries. I got a brand new one shipped to me that is tons better. They have a free utility you can download and run and it will tell you if your battery is eligible for free replacement.
My battery life went from about 1-2 hours on the old battery, to 3.5 to 4 on the new one. | |
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| | Leaked X300 information, comparison to MacBook Air »[Review] Leaked X300 information, comparison to MacBook Air
I posted a thread on this before this article was posted. Here is a comparison from that thread.
Physical dimensions
MBA: 8.9 in. D × 12.74 in. W × 0.16~0.76 in. H at 1.36 kg (3.0 lbs.)
X300: 12.5 in. D x 9 in. W x 0.73~0.92 in. H at 1.14~1.44 kg (2.5~3.17 lbs)
Volume
MBA: 18.142 in.^3 to 86.173 in.^3
X300: 82.125 in.^3 to 103.5 in.^3
Display
MBA: 13.3-inch glossy LED-backlit TFT LCD widescreen display, 1280×800 pixel resolution
X300: 13.3-inch 1440x900 LED-backlit display
Graphics
MBA: Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory
X300: no information
Storage
MBA: 80 GB ATA hard disk drive or 64 GB SSD optional
X300: 64GB SSD
Processor
MBA: 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Merom, with 800 MHz FSB or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo optional
X300: Merom-based 2.0GHz "Dual Core Hybrid LV" processor with a 12W thermal envelope
Memory
MBA: 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM soldered to the logicboard X300: 2 DIMM slots for a maximum of 4GB of DDR2 memory
Wireless networking
MBA: Integrated AirPort Extreme supports 802.11a/b/g/draft n X300: 802.11n, Verizon EV-DO Rev A, Cingular HSDPA and WiMAX options
Wired Ethernet
MBA: none, Optional USB Ethernet Adapter
X300: Ethernet included
Optical storage
MBA: None, Optional External USB SuperDrive
X300: DVD Burner included
Camera
MBA: Built-in iSight, 640×480 pixel resolution
X300: Webcam included, specs not known
Battery
MBA: 37 W-Hr Lithium-ion polymer battery, 5 hours estimated run-time
X300: 3-cell, 6-cell, and 9-cell batteries to be used, No estimated run-time as of yet
Bluetooth
MBA: Built-in (2.1+Enhanced Data Rate)
X300: Bluetooth included
Port connections and Misc. items
MBA: 1× USB 2.0, 1× Micro-DVI video port (adapters are included for VGA or DVI monitors up to 1920×1200 pixels), 1× Audio out (3.5 mm stereo jack)
X300: 3x USB 2.0, 3x internal PCI-E slots, 1x Firewire, 1x DisplayPort, 1x GbE, 1x ExpressCard slot, 1× Audio out (3.5 mm stereo jack), 4-in-1 card reader, and Fingerprint reader
Audio
MBA: 1× microphone, 1× mono loudspeaker, External speakers must be plugged in for stereo.
X300: 1x Microphone, 1× Headphone
Keyboard
MBA: Backlit full-size keyboard with ambient light sensor
X300: Full keyboard
Trackpad
MBA: Supports multi-touch gestures
X300: Touchpad and Trackpoint inputs | |
| |  ZacPremium
join:2001-09-12
Hanna, AB
·TELUS
| Re: Leaked X300 information, comparison to MacBook Air With specs like that, I'd take the X300 over the MacBook Air any day.
Built in Optical Drive, upgradable to twice as much memory, REPLACABLE BATTERY, more expandability (including 3x more USB ports, Firewire, Gigabit Ethernet, and Fingerprint Reader) Plus faster processor..
Now the only thing I wonder is how much it costs compared to MBA. :P Especially since it comes standard with the SSD Hard Drive
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|
| | This windows machine could never be like the Mac Air Book This windows machine could never be like the Mac Air Book
The Windows machine would have to include a DVD or optical drive because the ability to engineer the use of another nearby computers'optical drive would not be implementable in windows software.
Because windows machines vary in hardware, the number of subroutines to allow for the thousands of kinds of drives the LENOVO may encounter is guarenteed to be buggy.
On the other hand, controlling the hardware, Apple can do without the optical drive and use a nearby MAC's optical drive
reliably.
This is the difference between the systems | |
| |  a333A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY
 ·Cingular Wireless
1 edit | Re: This windows machine could never be like the Mac Air Book wtf? why would proggers not be able to create software for windows that they can make for mac? There just different platforms...(rolleyes)
and if u actually gone to the apple website, you would've noticed that both the macBook air and the PC/mac with the drive, need to have software pre-installed on them to use the remote optical drive feature: something that can also be done in windows machines. You just need to adapt the code to work on the windows platform.
in any case, who has nearly the internet bandwidth to remotely access 700 MB of data. FiOS connections will have to be widespread, and not have any capping, for the remote frive feature to work. Even in local environments, both ends of the connection need to have 802n connections, which MANY networks don't have, given the expense of 802n equipment.
IMHO, if i was offered the MBA and the IBM, i'd take the IBM any day, given the fact that almost ALL apple products are just overpriced garbage designed nicely to deceive. I mean, so far, it looks like the IBM has WAY more ports and features than the MBA.
So in a nutshell, I commend apple for finally entering an already-crowded market, but I think there are superior products out there (cough Asus EeePc, with Linux, which BTW pawns Macs any day) | |
| | | | said by dcsos :
This windows machine could never be like the Mac Air Book
The Windows machine would have to include a DVD or optical drive because the ability to engineer the use of another nearby computers'optical drive would not be implementable in windows software.
Because windows machines vary in hardware, the number of subroutines to allow for the thousands of kinds of drives the LENOVO may encounter is guarenteed to be buggy.
On the other hand, controlling the hardware, Apple can do without the optical drive and use a nearby MAC's optical drive
reliably.
This is the difference between the systems
It's already been pointed out that the remote optical drive isn't a limitation in Windows as all it would require is the appropriate software. But that's besides the point since you shouldn't need to use a remote optical drive, there should be one in the laptop. how apple felt they could leave the optical drive and ethernet port out of the equation of all things is beyond me. | |
| | | | | Re: This windows machine could never be like the Mac Air Book said by mike31mets:how apple felt they could leave the optical drive and ethernet port out of the equation of all things is beyond me. 1998: How Apple felt they could leave the floppy drive out of the equation of all things is beyond me. (800,000 iMacs sold in the first 139 days, millions more since then)
2001: How Apple felt they could leave wireless and user-replacable batteries out of the equation is beyond me. (Over 100M iPods sold)
2007: How Apple felt they could leave 3G out of the equation is beyond me. (Around 4 million iPhones sold in 2007, probably 10 million in 2008) | |
|
| Squidii
join:2004-06-30
Little Rock, AR Reviews:
·Cobridge Communi..
| said by dcsos :
The Windows machine would have to include a DVD or optical drive because the ability to engineer the use of another nearby computers'optical drive would not be implementable in windows software.
net use Z: \\desktop\d$
So, umm, that doesn't count for some reason? | |
|
1 edit | More like an intentional leak looks like Lenovo didn't want apple to take all the glory. | |
| |
See 14 replies to this post | |
 dadkinsCan you do Blu?Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
kudos:18 | X505 Sony had the X505 years ago, wafer thin and no drive - dock had an optical drive and an extended battery in it.
It sold... paper-thins never do sell many units.
So Apple is now making a wafer-laptop?
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Think outside the Fox... Opera | |
| |  DogfatherPremium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA | Re: X505 These notebooks are targeted to business travelers who are more concerned with them fitting on a plane's seatback tray than if it has an optical drive.
I know I hated my 17" machine the second I brought it on a plane. It was great on the desk but ooofff, if I cheaped out and flew coach, I nearly had to buy it it's own ticket LOL. I'd love to have a smaller notebook for my trips but given Apple's quality issues of late with first run models I'm going to wait a few months. | |
| | | dadkinsCan you do Blu?Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
kudos:18 | Re: X505 Smaller, perhaps. Paper-thin, no.
Remember... thin = not durable. it will flex quite easily.
PC Boards don't really like to bend.
LCDs are not supposed to flex.
Ya want a laptop for traveling, get a 13".
You want something for the Wow factor, get a wafer.
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Think outside the Fox... Opera | |
| | | | DogfatherPremium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA | Re: X505 If I'm not mistaken the MBA has an aluminum shell instead of plastic so I would think it is more resistant to flexing than other notebooks of similar size.
And for me anyway, it's more than just light and thin. These notebooks usually have power saving features that provide much better battery life. In MBA's case Apple claims 5 hours of continuous wireless use, not just use. That is very impressive. Turn the wireless radio off and you could see 7 or 8 or maybe more with the horribly expensive SSD option. That's another reason I'm waiting, I want to see what battery life is considering the battery can't be swapped out. If it dies, you are SCREWED. A horrible design flaw IMO as I am often away from power for more than 5 hours. | |
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ricep5Premium
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL | Lenovo is dumbing down the TP Lenovo IS dumbing down the ThinkPad lineup to meet price points. Why price an R Series that is the same as the vanilla 3000 series? Makes no sense to me. The R Series is a corporate bean counters dream, but worthless to the people who expect ThinkPad value.
T2x and T4x were workhorses. The jury is still out on the T6x.
Use with abuse will cause any laptop to fail prematurely. Storing in cars in the summer to overnights when its below freezing will always shorten a laptop life.
I have used ThinkPad's since the beginning and consider them very trustworthy, but I have seen some slipping since the Lenovo transition.
I just saw the IdeaPad from Lenovo last week and while it looks great, it is flimsy. They still use the touchpad that is dust/grime sensitive. They need to move to the raised touch "bumps" used by HP. | |
| | | Planned obsolescence The next version of the Air Book will include an optical drive. It's how Steve does things. How many different Ipods are out there? New Iphones coming down the pike soon? Air Book 2 maybe with DVD drive? Companies need to be able to keep the revenue flowing in. | |
| | DogfatherPremium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA | Re: Planned obsolescence Yep, Apple is the only company that comes out with new computer models.  | |
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| | post why was my post deleted? | |
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Although I would take the ThinkPad over the MacBook Air, as it has more "features."
