The Z60m and the Z60t, Lenovo's new widescreen Z-Series ThinkPad laptops
posted Sep 13th 2005 1:45PM
We managed to score a first look at Lenovo's new widescreen Z-Series ThinkPads earlier today (and in the process also confirm that those pics we spotted of a widescreen ThinkPad a few weeks ago were the real deal). The purists won't like that they're offering an optional titanium cover for these new ThinkPads ("If it ain't black, send it back"), but the new wider screens will hopefully win over those of you who couldn't deal with IBM's stubborn reluctance to release a laptop with anything but a 4:3 display. The models we played with had pre-production specs, but we did notice that the Z60m had a 15-inch, 1280 x 800 pixel display, while the Z60t had a 14-inch, 1280 x 768 pixel display. Best part: both new Z-Series ThinkPads will have optional EV-DO internal modules (specifically, a Sierra Wireless EV-DO PCI-Express card) so you can have integrated high-speed wireless broadband. Click to see a few more pics:
A new Z-Series Z60t ThinkPad with the new titanium cover.
The 14-inch Z60t.
The 15-inch Z60m.
Another shot of the Z60m.
Lenovo exec outlining several of the new Z-Series features.
Close-up of the Z60m.
Did you guys get a feel for the weight of the Thinkpads? Specifically, can you estimate how much each model weigh?
While I'm leery about the titanium cover (does it forbode other color thinkpads- yuck), that Z60 sure is a nice looking machine.
fingers crossed for higher res screens...
Why do the covers still say IBM on them?
I can already see them being de-IBMized, and that hurts... rounded corners, windows keys, standard closure with rubber spacers instead of sealing tight with semi-interlocking ridges... *sighs*
"1) The Apple Titanium PowerBook had the weakest 802 reception because of the titanium case"
Actuly that was not the issue. The antenna was on the side of the body wich was carbon fiber. There is more of a sotry that has to do with the indstrual designers where to make the reseption good thay had to put some conductive paint on the out side of the carbon fiber but you could see it, if just barley, and the ID peopel did not like that so they had it removed. The reception was still in spec with no paint but is sucked.
Neil,
Part of the IBM sale was that Lenovo has the rights to use the IBM name for a period of time (3-5 years, I think). So you can expect all future thinkpads within that timeframe to still be labeled as big blue.
Just beware of long lead times:
http://www.heynorton.org/blog/2005/08/lessons_in_cust.html
#6 LaserBeams
I completely agree.
We need a new company to make incredibly durable and long-lasting laptops now. Lenovo is clearly starting to cut corners on Thinkpad production. Maybe they should have hired the IBM engineers too. Wouldn't be surprised if the drivers and integration software start showing bugginess.
I trusted IBM to make a decent laptop. I do not trust some Chinese company I've never heard of.
Although I pound away on a PowerBook, I've always liked the ThinkPads.
Unfortunately these look a little...Dellish. I thought I was looking at Aveartec laptops until I scrolled back up to the top of the story to see they were ThinkPads.
Oh well, at least my next PowerBook will "do" Windows a little better for those times you just gotta use AutoCAD and what not.
y is thr an ibm logo on it?
Resolution too low. The resolution on my T42 is already at 1400, they need to make it wide screen and keep the high resolution...
#10 - you mean IBM software wasn't buggy? Also, you never heard of Lenovo..? Geez, what planet are you from???
But seriously... I'm typing this on a TP with a 15" 1600x1200 FlexView screen (which is awesome) so a 1280 x 800 pixel 15" display sounds rather disappointing. 1920x1200 FlexView screen would be really, really nice...
look like no DVI outputs?
I hope there is a better resolution option on those panels, that stinks. I don't like the speakers on top, or the titanium, or the Windows key... But damnnit, you can bet someone down the line is getting my T42 for one of these suckers, as I'm quite the Thinkpad whore and it will take a lot more for me to stop buying them for our company.
I would rather have a T41 pimp out to no end then these thing with "windows" keys and the metal backs... And fuck the track pad!
Long live the Track Point!
Timmay
Dear No. 10 -
Where do you think everything else is made in? Did you think the pre-lenovo IBM thinkpads are made in the U.S.A? Quit your racist comments on Chinese firms... your whole life is made in China... idiot.
Does anybody notice that these notebooks kinda look like the HP DV1000 series laptops? The keyboard layout and the rounded look is sort of the giveaway....
No.10 - They DID hire the IBM engineers - in fact they basically took the whole of the personal systems division of IBM lock, stock and barrel. Can't comment on the design shifts, but it certainly isn't the result of design being handed over to someone who has never been near a ThinkPad before
IF anyone's wondering, Lenovo has been making laptops here in China for a long time, even made a special edition for some kind of Coke-sponsored contest (I think it also had to do woth World of Warcraft, but I don't know...) and their laptops do fairly well, they even have some that are AV-centric. I personally would buy an original non-Thinkpad Lenovo, just because it looks cooler and because I prefer media functions, but I acn see why business types like the Thinkpad- It's portable and it looks less like a media machine and more like a business tool.
1280 x 800 is the standard resolution of widescreen notebooks. I have a Sony VAIO FS with the same resolution.
ARGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It looks like they are being "de-IBM'd"! They look thick as hell! Long live the T40 series!
Lenovo have been making laptops for a long time but I hope these are made by the IBM local joint venture in Southern China. They have been making Thinkpads for a long time & they match just about any other origin laptops I have seen from IBM.
It doesn't really matter where they are made, the most important thing is the procedures & controls they have in place. A chinese worker can assemble a laptop as well as anyone else. It's the controls & quality of components that matter not the physical location of the factory.
Come on folks - these have been in the works for a long time. How long do you think product development cycles are? The IBM team has only been at Lenovo for a few months now - that is not enough time to revamp the hardware.
10 - you are a moron - as stated by others - ALL of the people that made the Thinkpad what it is today are now working for Lenovo with FEW exceptions. Get a Grip!
6 - They do not have different closures than before - you are seeing the little round piece that covers the screw on the Display and if you have a wider keyboard - why not add a few more keys - especially if they are programmable.
4 - The T30s and 40 series already have Titanium covers and the reception for wireless is killer - I wouldn't expect that to change.
Some of the comments here have suspiciously heavy racist tones. If you only trust Chinese with your slippers and underwear, you are in for a big surprise. A lot of the electronics products are made in China.
higher screen resolution is needed.
1280*something sound like a joke on a 15" widescreen
/J
I think that these look really really bad... esp the speakers on top.. all kinds of crap will get in there...
I have a T23, and man it will last me a loooong time.. I like the 14inch screen... if they made it slightly wide screen and more powerfull, and more usb ports I would buy it new...
These look like dells IMO... I hope they read feedback from customers...I like the T23 sooo much... I might have to upgrade to a T42 soon before they cant be sold :) too bad they cant make a T42 slightly wide screen.. would be perfect etc..
btw, my 4 year old T23 has an optional res of 1600x1200
I'm wondering when we'll start seeing a widescreen laptop that takes advantage of the real estate on the side of the keyboard. Don't know why they couldn't slide the regular keys to the right and stuff function keys down the left side, like in the olden days.
The Z series would not be at all an IBM design. It's a Lenovo design, with a TrackPoint, a fingerprint reader, and black paint slapped on.
In fact, you can buy this laptop, minus the TrackPoint and fingerprint reader, and it's in white, in China today.
Looks like the z60m may have a wsxga+ 1680x1050 option. http://www-900.ibm.com/cn/support/forum/app/tscforum/topic?tid=78940
Why in the blue hell would you not want a windows key? We have thinkpads at work and it drives me nuts when I can't use a full size keyboard. I do SO many shortcuts with the windows key....what the hell is the point of having that retarded Fn key instead??!?
@28
The T23 has a max resolution of 1400x1050, so don`t lie ;)
I agree with everyone... 10, you're an idiot!
BTW, change is inevitable. Just look back and see how the ThinkPads have changed through the years. The change may not be as drastic as HP/Compaq Models, but its going to happen anyway.
In the meantime however, there's no way I would switch my T43 for any Z series, even if you paid me.
i have to say, i feel like something is changing, too. sure, lenovo has all the engineers, etc. but, what about the industrial designers? the thinkpad style was established by richard sapper, a highly respected, experienced and world-class designer, and i have to say, these look like they're pushing away from that established style.
i don't think anyone's comments were racist. i don't care where it's manufactured, as long as it's cheap and quality control is good. but, where my product is actually designed makes a huge difference. last i noticed, there were very few world-class industrial designers from mainland china. that's just the way it is. only recently have they even had established product design education, i believe.
thinkpad's where the only non-apple alternative i was considering, and i was really looking forward to these. now i'm disappointed. i agree, i was hoping for just a widescreen t series, but their essence seems to have changed. guess i'll just keep waiting for that intel powerbook next year. what choice do i have now?
the z series look cool but not sure I would change my r51 for it though. however have you seen the x41 tablets they look kind of sexy
http://www.lenovo.com/think/us/en/