Stop Going Sleeveless
ThinkPad sleeve
For years I’ve tried to find a nice simple sleeve for my ThinkPad. I like them because they offer very convenient protection for those trips where a traditional carry case and all the assorted compartments just aren’t needed. You would think that finding a simple sleeve design would be easy, but it isn’t. Most sleeves are offered in goofy colors or with ridiculous patterns smeared all over them. I wanted a sleeve that was truly ThinkPad worthy. I could never imagine pulling my ThinkPad out of a pink sleeve sporting some sort of daisy motif. People would ask “what have you done with the real David Hill? ”
Something just doesn’t seem right about this
The hunt for sophisticated simplicity is finally over. We just released ThinkPad branded sleeves with an appropriate design. There is a 12″ and 15″ version . I’m already using one of the early samples for my machine. It has my full endorsement. I also plan on using these new ThinkPad sleeves to store our precious design models in. The models look so authentic that people treat them like the real thing. Tossing models around like they were built with mil-specs in mind just won’t work.
I love the red interior accent
We decided to add a little visual zing to the design by making the interior TrackPoint red. We don’t do this on our traditional cases, but given the scale of the sleeve it seemed appropriate. I hope you like it.
David Hill
Lenovo Meet the Modder Dean Liou
Lenovo Meet the modder- Chris Blarsky Dairy 2
Lenovo Meet the modder- Chris Blarsky Dairy 1
Lenovo H320 desktop
August 26th, 2009 7:11 pm
Can’t fit a T60p 14″ or a T400s snugly, can it?
August 26th, 2009 7:54 pm
How does the 12.1″ model deal with extended batteries (in particular an x200 Tablet with 8 cell)?
August 26th, 2009 7:56 pm
my two cents here:
1. What is the user scenario for sleeve? Is it for a user carrying a regular business suitcase without laptop protection? The reason asking is I am thinking the steps to use it, put TP into a sleeve first, and then put the suite to a TP case you mentioned in previous blog? seems the regular case is safe enough.
2. Will there be a pair of back-belt with sleeve? The reason is that sometimes I am riding out with a TP, might stop by a cafe to drink and surf on the web, but not intend to carry all of the accessories. Lightweight is a key here, also an identification of a lifestyle, business casual…
3. Will it have a small sleeve specifically for accessories? maybe not sleeve, maybe not only for TP accessories, but also design for cellphone, notepad etc.
4. Will it have a special edition to imitate the TP Reserve Edition? not have to be leather material, but just look and feel, that might be interesting.
so long…
August 26th, 2009 8:45 pm
WaterField Designs (sfbags.com)is my choice in bags and sleeves. they are well designed, high quality, and stylish without being gaudy. the laptop sleeves are custom-sized to your model, too. they’re made with an outside shell of nylon mesh and a thick neoprene layer on the inside. you can customize the sleeve to have flap/no-flap, straps, etc. also, they have EXCELLENT personal customer support.
i carry my x61t in the sleeve inside my normal backpack. it works great, and doesn’t announce to the world “hey, he’s carrying a laptop!”
there’s no way i’d buy a thinkpad branded piece of junk when there are other much better sleeves out there. apparently, david hill, for years you’ve never shopped outside of the thinkpad store.
August 26th, 2009 9:21 pm
Andy,
Your first scenario is exactly what I do with my Lenovo laptop (IdeaPad S10). It’s in a CaseLogic sleeve, then in a CaseLogic shoulder bag. Since it shares the compartment with the power cable and other stuff, I don’t want them rubbing on the case. And unfortunately, the local Lenovo retail stores here in the Philippines didn’t carry that wide a stock of Lenovo/ThinkPad-branded sleeves and bags at the time I bought my IdeaPad.
August 26th, 2009 11:47 pm
Indeed, Waterfield Designs at sfbags.com has great sleeves. I housed my X60s in one for a year. Eventually the velcro wore out, so I sent it in. They replaced the velcro and shipped it back to me for free! Customer service doesn’t get better than that. I’m a customer for life.
Your sleeve looks okay, but I’m worried about zippers rubbing on the case.
August 27th, 2009 2:05 am
Lucas, the bulk from stitching the zipper to the neoprene protects the case from rubbing.
Dave, first, thanks for the sleeve! Can you give more details, perhaps some more photos from an open sleeve? What’s the interior color? How thick is the neoprene? How is the Thinkpad label imprinted? What zippers did you take?
Ant the most obvious request: Please make a sleeve in T400s dimensions! I would want one immediatly.
Ben, Lukas, do you close the velcro so tightly that the laptop is also protected from falling onto the open edge? Is this possible?
For me, this design is not suitable as i regularly shove my sleeved laptop in between other papers and stuff, the velcro would get stuck every time:-(
cheers
Hecke
August 27th, 2009 2:33 am
I cannot reach both link:
“Unfortunately requested item was not available.”
Anyway, I using a “Zeroshock” sleeves from a Japanese maker, tough like ThinkPad!
August 27th, 2009 3:55 am
I still hope there will be some sleeves for X200 tablet (even with 8 cell bat) where you dont have to take out tablet.
August 27th, 2009 5:06 am
Seems that sleeves are popular. I really don’t get it, though. On an everyday basis, I want a backpack with the specific compartments that I need to carry: ThinkPad, Papers and Papers, Books, AC adapter and other cables, Calculator, Writing material.
Otherwise, I have a lot of stuff in a big bag or something like that. And then I just put the ThinkPad and AC adapter in as-is. Since they are (more than) tough enough to take it, why carry something don’t needed?
August 27th, 2009 5:59 am
O8h7w, i like sleeves for
- scratch protection of the shell (got some nasty ones from a ring booklet on a conference)
- minimization of punctual pressure onto the lid which, i guess, is the most dangerous thing for the screen.
- extra cushioning while transportation, be it on the bike (no, i do not have accidents *very* regularly, but i like to bike a bit more risky) or in a bigger backpack while traveling. Especially in the latter case i do not always get to stuff everything so nice, that there is no edgy item like the AC-adapter threatening the laptop.
August 27th, 2009 8:57 am
To tell the truth,from what you present above,this piece of design do look easy:paint it black,and give it a ThinkPad logo?
I wonder whether the inside shows more of the so called authenticity.
August 27th, 2009 2:41 pm
[...] have been absent. David Hill, Lenovo’s VP of Corporate Identity & Design and blogger at Design Matters, unveiled the company’s new protective [...]
August 27th, 2009 2:46 pm
I update the post to include a detail of the interior. Yes, it’s red!
August 27th, 2009 4:16 pm
Hecke, I like my ThinkPad to be non-scratchable
and non-bendable, and it almost is. At least till the extent that I don’t need to worry about it. Yes, in good light, you can see several marks in the matte finish on the lid of my ThinkPad, but that is not a problem.
On the last situation, I often have the AC adapter lying next to the ThinkPad. But my bag is always stuffed full, so that nothing moves. And then I use to make sure nothing moves when driving my car too, I don’t like any weight shifting if I need to drive sharp. Elks on the roads are not usual, but it does happen every once in a while. But there are a few other animals, and quite a lot of more or less dangerous humans on the roads too…
Anyway, I’ll have to rethink my opinion about finding a TrackPoint cap in this one, of course you shouldn’t have those caps lying around in there.
Which leads me to another conclusion: This one just must have the TrackPoint cap zipper pull! I will do that design this weekend, just need to find my spare caps. I use only the flanged one, you see.
August 27th, 2009 4:30 pm
I use the old ThinkPad sleeve as seen on this photo:
http://www.schwoll.de/thinkpad/sleeve2.jpg
I use it to carry my 14.1″ T60 with 9 cell battery in a standard eastpack bag. Works for me.
These new sleeves look nice but I’m afraid there won’t be a standard 14.1″ version. David?
August 27th, 2009 4:34 pm
The 12W sleeve is designed to snugly fit the X200 / X200s / X200 tablets and the 15W sleeve is designed to snugly fit the R500 / T500 / SL500 / W500 notebooks… with their respective extended batteries. It will also fit the R400 / T400 / T400s / SL400 notebook, but unfortunately it won’t be snug. We’ll have to take another look at that.
We thought the sleeves would be a nice complement to the ThinkPad notebooks as a way to protect them from scratches and bumps. Some people don’t like to use notebook cases and prefer their regular backpack or messenger.
The zipper pulls have a tear drop shape and are tapered to make it easy to pull. The neoprene is 4mm thick. And as David already noted, the interior is red!
August 27th, 2009 5:04 pm
red interior looks geat! Thanks for the update.
August 28th, 2009 9:38 am
Hey! “goofy colors or with ridiculous patterns” That sounds like my beloved-laptop sleeve!
August 28th, 2009 9:40 am
My T500 is always on the dock at my office meanwhile I’ll continue going sleeveless with my X301 because Lenovo doesn’t offer sleeve to it! just 12 and 15!!!!
August 28th, 2009 12:42 pm
I figured I’ve missed out on one thing in my comments so far. I like this sleeve!
Yes, frankly, I do. But I still think that sleeves are for those having shiny and fragile computers – not a ThinkPad!
I hope I’ve made myself clear enough now. (Really can’t imagine that I have not)
August 31st, 2009 2:41 pm
Can this sleeve accommodate my T500 with 9 Cell battery? please advice thanks…
September 1st, 2009 4:45 pm
Khalifa… yes, the sleeve can accommodate the T500 with the extended battery.
September 1st, 2009 6:38 pm
Hecke,
I think the WF sleeve would protect pretty well along the open end if you choose the flap option. it’s not padded as thickly as the rest, but i think it would offer as much protection as one could expect from a sleeve.
the velcro is really good stuff, and holds very tightly. it requires a pretty good tug to pull apart. it’s not that cheapo stuff you find on kids toys and such.
i put papers and books and lots of things in with my laptop+sleeve, and i’ve never felt the flap to be a problem. if i was carrying some important papers, i’d put them in a folder first, though…but i think that’s mostly because my backpack itself would cause the papers to get folded and crushed without something to brace them (like a book or folder).
2 other nice things about WF sleeves is that they have an extra little compartment for flat stuff, like papers or whatnot. there’s also a “loop” on the bottom to hold onto when you pull the laptop from the sleeve. Because the sleeve fits so snugly, it’s a nice addition.
September 2nd, 2009 10:16 am
Waterfield Designs makes sleeves for every imaginable laptop. I use them for all of mine. Very durable and well made.
http://www.sfbags.com/products.....ecases.htm
September 2nd, 2009 8:33 pm
“Your ThinkPad Doesn’t Need Extra Clothing”
http://lenovoblogs.com/yamato/.....anguage=en
September 2nd, 2009 11:59 pm
pls let us know when a sleeve is available that will snugly fit a T400s. will place an order the same day.
September 6th, 2009 2:59 pm
I know thinkpads are really well-built machines, but adding a sleeve with “memory foam” wouldn’t hurt. Normally i carry my t43 “naked”, but adding some memory foam sleeve would protect it from accidents, even kids or both.
September 14th, 2009 6:28 pm
Notice how good it looks with only one logo? Please make the thinkpad lids like that! Only the thinkpad logo, lenovo on the inside lid, bottom, where ever else…
September 14th, 2009 8:25 pm
So I ordered this and the new USB keyboard. Got my keyboard last Monday and this still has not shipped. What’s up with the delay?
September 16th, 2009 4:18 pm
Wow, looks really nice. Do you have plans for a 14″ Sleeve in the future, e.g. for the T400(s)?
October 25th, 2009 10:23 am
where can i get it?
November 3rd, 2009 8:55 am
Finally got my 15w sleeve – had to order it through Amazon.com though. I waited almost a month and 1/2 after ordering it from Lenovo only to get a no stock/order canceled notice.
It’s a decent sleeve. I expected it to fit snugly around my W500 with the 9 cell battery but its actually a bit bigger than I expected. There is a bit of room around the notebook and it’s definitely not a snug fit. ThinkPad logo on it looks pretty slick.
December 1st, 2009 7:25 pm
I’ve been searching for a good sleeve for my x200 for a while now. I am currently on my third one, and I am getting frustrated.
(1)The first was from BuiltNY. A wonderful piece of work, but advertised as a 12″ sleeve, when in fact it is a 12/13″ sleeve, proportioned for MacBooks. failure #1.
(2) The next sleeve was a cheap-o from eBay. Black and red, a perfect, snug fit with my 6-cell battery, but it literally unraveled in less than a week. My X200 goes in/out of my bag about 20 times a day as I am between meetings and classes in b-school. Threw that one out.
(3) Came across the ThinkPad one. Sweet! I thought, it will fit perfectly and look good, and stand up to abuse. It arrived, and it is sized for an X200 with the extended battery. Even with that, there is a bit of extra space… the sleeve is not that snug. I wish I had been able to tell this online (perhaps I missed this crucial note). As the extra flappy neoprene annoys me to no end. I have gotten spoiled by years of having apple laptops with perfectly tailored sleeves- the advantage of having laptops that never have larger batteries or other things sticking out…
So, I continue my search for a perfect fitting sleeve. The Lenovo ThinkPad sleeve is the best one I have tried so far, but I still hope to find one that actually fits my X200 with the 6 cell battery! Could Lenovo offer the sleeve in two sizes (12″ and 12″ extended?) I know the costs would be higher (and people would probably order the wrong one frequently, and need to return the orders, but a man can dream, no?
January 30th, 2010 8:34 am
Hey David,
the x-th question: Will there be a sleeve fitting
the T400? We are all desperate for this