Lenovo just revealed the latest ThinkPad T431s...

scotty on 19/03/2013 - 16:01
Last edited 19/03/2013 - 16:36

Just saw this announcement on Lenovo's blog, where they announced the next generation T-series ThinkPad. Data sheet here (PDF file).

I have been a regular poster of Lenovo deals, but all I can say for now is — WTF?!!

  • Keyboard continues with 6 row chiclet style keyboard with no extra large ESC key and highlighted Enter key. It's the same with T430 and they are calling it ThinkPad?
  • No more trackpoint buttons! Actually, the 3 buttons now got all integrated into the glass trackpad (which I usually disable).
  • Non-removable battery that's only rated at 3 cell 47Whr.
  • 4GB RAM soldiered onto the motherboard leaving only one single DIMM slot, which means the thing max out at 12GB.

It also removes the optical drive (which I guess people hardly use these days), but overall saves only 160g comparing to ThinkPad T430s (1.63kg vs 1.79kg). It's just absurd. I'll buy am Asus or a MacBook Pro if I want simplicity and polished "design". However some people buy laptops so they can work on it. Yes typing on a keyboard and moving mouse cursor without leaving the home row and all that.

Well. That's my little rant. My laptop (ThinkPad T410) is due to be replaced in the next 12 months and I'm really keen with what's on Lenovo's card, as like Neil, trackpoint is pretty much the only thing I'll use.

What do you guys think?

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Comments

  • evol on 19/03/2013 - 16:09
    +1

    It looks like they've gone Macbook Pro-esque :(

    I actually don't mind the chiclet keyboard of the current Thinkpads, I reckon they're as comfy to type on, sometimes even better than the classic ones. Removal of the trackpoint buttons is a big no-no though! Same with the fail battery and soldered RAM.

    Surely this isn't a replacement of the T430? If so then they're doing it very wrong. This seems more like some sort of more portable version of the T4xx series rather than a direct replacement? I hope so anyway…

    • scotty on 19/03/2013 - 16:19

      I think it would be a replacement for T430s (slim version of T430). I have no idea what their plans are with T and X series successors. They announced T430/T530/X230 in CES last year, but this year all the rage is with Windows 8 tablets (Helix).

  • _Bruce_ on 19/03/2013 - 16:13

    I agree with your comments, but to be honest I lost interest when the first thing Lenovo did was add a Windows key, making the ctrl and alt too small.

    It took me a while but I am actually OK with a touchpad now, as long as there are real buttons and I can disable button taps on the pad. I will use a real mouse for anything too involved anyway.

  • tonyjzx on 19/03/2013 - 16:14

    i agree here

    it sounds like most Thinkpad fans reckons this is crap

    not interested

    they also removed the nipple buttons… why?

    coupled with the deplorable state of Lenovo support services in Australia, this is a no brainer

    DO NOT BUY

  • Helmuth on 19/03/2013 - 17:30

    I used to think that the chiclet keyboards were crap… but when my X220 died and Lenovo sent me an X230, I was really pleasantly surprised at how good a job they've done. The X230 chiclet is a Good Thing (TM). Give it a go - it's not your usual cheap crap. I think it's better than the classic X220 one.

    Edit: on the other hand, Lenovo support has gone to the dogs. I'm not buying Lenovo at the moment.

  • sm007h on 19/03/2013 - 20:07

    For a moment I thought this would be a replacement for the T430U. They shouldn't be calling the T430S or T431S ultrabooks - I usually refer to them as the premium version of the premium lineup (ie, take a T series and try to lighten the laptop with better materials/components but keep the same grunt).

    However, the specs of the T431S is horrible. They shouldn't be taking cues from Apple.

  • Mrbadabing on 20/03/2013 - 08:46

    Don't Foxconn make a lot of the Thinkpads? I know Foxconn make for Apple… there must be some influences from this manufacturer leaking back into Lenovo. computer sales are falling, especially in China. costs are a major corporate focus for 2013. I have a work T410, and for the amount of work I do as a messaging/collab infrastructure consultant I would hate to have anything else. Lenovo service has indeed gone crap. why?
    well for starters, IBM have shifted pretty much all hardware support for its huge user base back to Lenovo in AP. so the helpdesk peeps at Lenovo are no doubt being hammered not to mention all the logistics folk trying to keep up. cost cuts. the focus of 2013. if you're in IT, leave, get a trade, go back to school, whatever. if you can get the traditional thinkpads, buy one now. new one's have been…. cost cut.

    • scotty on 20/03/2013 - 08:56

      Don't Foxconn make a lot of the Thinkpads?

      No. Lenovo is a manufacturer themselves, and they were originally OEM for IBM before buying the Think brand.

      if you're in IT, leave.

      It really depends on which sector of IT you are in. If you are in to provide service that people can buy cheaper elsewhere, you are in the same league of brick & mortar shop like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman. If you are in IT of actually creating value (as quite a few people/ex-colleagues I know), then there are still quite a lot of things going on there.

    • sm007h on 20/03/2013 - 20:08

      Surprisingly, warranty service is provided by IBM, although IBM may have outsourced that to someone else (I really don't know). All I know is, the Lenovo warranty is god awful. Lenovo have been making noises about bringing it back in-house and I am not sure where that is at at the moment.

      • scotty on 20/03/2013 - 20:30

        AFAIK, it was provided by IBM until mid-last year, and after that the service went all the way down. It would be good if they can bring back what they had before. We usually buy NBD service, and Lenovo's a joke comparing to Dell's.

        • sm007h on 20/03/2013 - 20:33

          Oh gawd, really? It got worse? I didn't think it could get any worse than what I was receiving. Each warranty call we made took 30mins just to book the warranty in, and we needed to wait for them to call us back to confirm the booking. Don't ask me why they couldn't just confirm while we are on the phone.

  • Mrbadabing on 20/03/2013 - 11:35

    agree. im in bau. and unless you are in cloud and storage areas the risk of outsource is too high. service companies are all f'ed in the head now… especially the big one's like the blue place I work for….

  • mini2 on 20/03/2013 - 15:56

    IMHO Lenovo has lost the plot recently…screwed up their keyboard and now no buttons with the trackpad?

    They might as well paint it silver and mimic the Macbook like Dell's XPS 13.

  • uccoffee on 22/03/2013 - 11:15

    what is the main diff between this and the X1 carbon? feel like it is a budget version of the X1 carbon, and lower the class from X to T

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