Design Longevity
What is it about ThinkPad that makes it special. Can you think of another high tech product that has not significantly changed the design since it’s introduction nearly 14 years ago? The famous rectangular black box notebook computer punctuated by the bright red TrackPoint is anything but simplistic.
Most great art or design on the surface appears simple, but under closer examination is anything but. How many times have I overheard museum gallery visitors comment on how they could have made the famous Picasso Bull’s Head sculpture or a Matisse paper cut out, but did they? Originality, quality of execution, and the essence of a powerful idea are what sets these things apart. The powerful idea behind ThinkPad design is the creation of a synergistic link between both form and function. ThinkPad is not about one or the other, it is about the combined power of both.
The Lenovo IdeaPad U160
The Lenovo IdeaPad V460
The Lenovo IdeaCentre K320
Lenovo Meet the Modder Dean Liou
August 1st, 2006 11:53 am
Many people think the ThinkPad design is boring. “A rugged work horse to be used in a archeological dig in the jungle.”
I think most of them just don’t know the history of the design.
August 1st, 2006 2:37 pm
We’ll have something soon on the history of the design — in the meantime, the Wikipedia has a pretty good blurb.
DC
August 3rd, 2006 4:36 pm
After 14 years of having a similar design, Lenovo now understands every inch of it, how it works, and what can go where with out sacrificing quality. Combine this experience with Lenovo’s ongoing innovation and that is why the ThinkPad is the market leader in quality and design.
September 16th, 2006 7:40 pm
I just hope Lenovo doesnt mess up the design. I think they understand that they should try to leave it be for the most part, but things such as widescreens, titaninum backings, Windows keys, and the loss of red/blue trim on the mouse buttons has me worrying.
September 18th, 2006 6:41 pm
the whole industry is moving to wide screen, i for one welcome it
not digging the titanium.
i DEARLY miss the red trimmings
windows key will be very useful with vista
September 21st, 2006 7:50 pm
Since I started working professionally, I have used a variety of work-provided laptops. When it came time to buy a “personal” laptop for freelance work, the final two choices came down to the MacBook Pro, and the Thinkpad. My 2nd most recent work laptop was a T42p, which I was pretty impressed with.
I decided on the Z61t, with the WXGA+ wide-screen. I work in Linux exclusively, both for development and writing, and the wide-screen format is very convenient for two “rightly” proportioned windows sitting side by side. The Z61t has the same resolution as the MBP, but is considerably smaller. It didn’t hurt that with the same hardware specs, the Lenovo was about $1000 cheaper, either.
I have been impressed with the Z61t so far. My only complaints have to do with the keyboard layout. The keyboard is the heart of the human-machine interface. When I look at the keyboard of the Z61t, I notice several features that compromise its usability:
1. Escape key is misplaced compared to a full size-keyboard. This is a drastic change for “vi” users running Unix.
2. the Fn key is where Control usually is. Fn is relatively rarely used, and doesn’t need a piece of “prime real estate” in the bottom row. Again, moving Control is a big deal for Unix users, especially Emacs users.
3. I prefer to not have the Windows key, since for example in this case, it compromises the location and size of the Alt key. Windows users don’t use it that often anyway.
4. The “Arrow” keypad on the bottom right of the keyboard cannot be “physically indexed” with the fingers, since the “page left / page right” keys are right there. By this, I mean on full-size keyboards or e.g. hp laptop keyboards, I can slide my right hand over and feel the tops of the left/right keys with my index and ring finger and tactilely determine which keys are which.
Some of these points may not make sense for a person who “mouses around” a lot, however, they are pretty critical for Emacs and vi users, and keyboard design is critical for users who are content-oriented.
In retrospect, I should have purchased a model with a slower CPU (I got a T2500), since my tasks are not CPU-bound and lowering the minimum power usage is desirable on the laptop.
Zak Smith
CPU Verification Engineer
Freelance Writer
Fort Collins, CO, USA
September 30th, 2006 2:53 pm
I am a long time t40 series user, and just purchased a t60p. I am disappointed with the “improvements” of the T60 and sometimes feel like I bought a $3k paperweight (200793U)
Most of these are my comments with feedback from others that have echoed my concerns and added some additional detail.
The new round silver volume buttons and power on button is cheap looking and not as classy or businesslike like the t40 series. If the culture is business black and we removed the colors on the trackpoint buttons (which was a tasteful accent or red, blue and gray – theme colors) then why did we add color on the volume and power buttons, that is just a design contradiction.
The front end should be even more blunt (it is now less pointy than the t40 series but should be even more so) especially if it means accomodating larger 2 watt speakers, which is the industry standard and the one area where the thinkpad does not compete, spec wise. This would also probably help in beefing up the palm rest area (see other comments).
I expected to see the t60 series as an improvement and there was with duo core, but little else in my opinion as compared to the t40 series.
There is also the issue of Bloatware, it takes so long to start up and the resources are hogged but many unnecessary applications in the loaded mode.
If the battery is rated at 6.5 hours I should be able to get that with max battery performance settings without having to revert to an ultrabay battery. Although the 9 cell battery is rated at 6.5 hours but it is more like 3.5 hours, perhaps there needs to be a battery option like the HP or like the full bottom case battery for the x40 (which also provides a pitch for typing).
The upper left case area near the esc and F1 key does not fit right and often snaps in and out when pressed. I have the 15in screen and the fit and finish is not nearly as good as the T40, nothing is restricting or binding to prevent the fit on the esc and f1 function key area, just shoddy molding and case construction.
The weakness and flex of the wrist rest has gotten worse. Should be more beefy and stable.
The palmrest over the cardslot is too flimsy.
When the dust door is closed, that corner is plenty strong, but if a card is installed or if the door flips open a bit, it gets pretty squishy. I get a little concerned carrying it around by that corner. I have a bad habit of carrying ThinkPads around by the left or right of the palmrest so that I can watch the screen while moving about. The corner is actually plenty strong for that since the roll cage carries the stress, not the palmrest. Still, it feels weak when depressed and one would expect more from a ThinkPad. Perhaps they will carry the rollcage over the cardslot in the next version.
In addition, the design engineers moved the mic closer to the speakers (almost on top of them) with the T40 series it was at the top of the keyboard away from the speakers. I question the judgment of the relocation when everyone is moving towards VOIP, now it is impossible to use the T60 without a headset (too much echo and feedback). With the T40 series, the mic worked great with the speakers (not over powering each other).
Design changes should improve things, not detract from something that was once better.
October 11th, 2006 10:19 am
I really like ThinkPad’s design. But one think can be ameliorate – that is the quality of the plastic of which the body of the laptop is made. I mean that the plastic looks somehow rough. It should be more smooth.
Thanks
October 11th, 2006 12:44 pm
I like the rougher shell. Doesn’t pick up fingerprints the way a glossy surface would.
October 12th, 2006 3:13 am
Ruggedness and quality of built is the difference Between ThinkPads and other notebooks when i set in A public place people using other notebook brands Are always staring at my elegant T60 i love the Black color and the rugged edges this
Great design should stay forever!
Thanks
May 2nd, 2007 5:13 am
i have never associated the thinkpad with slick design. in fact, i agree with my friends when they say my x60 is ugly. i did not choose a thinkpad because it has sophisticated design but because it is hardy, rugged, long-lasting and trustworthy. I see these characteristics as inner-beauty, associated with the engineering, not design. i would have chosen a vaio or a fujitsu if i am look for an eye-candy. in fact, i think thinkpad’s out-dated look has turned off many of my friends in the design industry (architecture and interior).
January 28th, 2008 2:17 pm
For the Thinpad design I can imagine the final path to perfection:
The Thinkpads will soon be covered with this new ultra-super-black color made with those nanotubes which was in the news recently.
And finally with widescreen displays their ultimate package dimension will be perfect 1:4:9.
I can imagine TV commercials featuring unorganized business people discovering this new Thinkpad at their desk next morning and suddenly starting intelligent and creative work.
(I hope A.C. Clarke would’t mind seeing this TV commercial)
February 11th, 2008 3:35 pm
I personally love the design of the Thinkpad and hope it and all future mobile computing devices under the same brand will stay true to it’s roots. The Thinkpad is a computer that is meant to perform and help people work and create. The difficult task of wrapping function into a solid, simple, and elegant design has been accomplished here.
Please Lenovo, do not become another HP or Sony. Their machines are chagned regularly to be catchy, flashy and trendy. A two year old Sony or HP can even cause me to blush and think…. “We really thought that looked cool then?”. To me, glossy screens(debateable), silkscreening, and designing keyboards to look “cool” regarless of feel are symptoms of a consumer PC industry that is trying to take the success of disposable markets like fashion clothing and apply to computers.
Can I ask for something small? Please bring back the color accents on the trackpad buttons. I can live without a colored IBM logo if you just put those little color accents back on there. (For the time being I will make my own.
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