Lenovo's new Thinkstations look pretty sharp

We got all the specs on Lenovo's new Thinkstation line earlier today, but pics of the new S10 and D10 case design just landed in our inbox and we've got to say, it looks pretty slick. Sure, that handle doesn't seem like it'll be all too useful, but compared to Lenovo's last attempt at advanced design, this thing is positively restrained. Check one more pic after the break.

[JuggleNuts @ Nov 6th 2007 5:07PM]

Great, maybe they'll next figure out on-time product delivery. I've ordered two laptops from Lenovo on separate occasions ... one took 3 weeks, the other took 5 ...

[BrettB @ Nov 6th 2007 5:09PM]

Wow, I'd say these look pretty boring and outdated. The previous ones linked to in the story (referred to as looking like props from the Death Star) actually look pretty cool to me. I guess to each his own.

[bback @ Nov 6th 2007 5:37PM]

looks like it means business just like a workstation should.

[CleverShark @ Nov 6th 2007 5:10PM]

Actually the handle doesn't really seem useless. As someone with multiple PCs I often find myself rotating and/or moving a box to gain access to the slots at the back or to plug something into the powerbar, which is most often behind the PC.

[Mad Anthony @ Nov 6th 2007 8:41PM]

The handle is useful if you need to move PC's from office to office or cube to cube regularly as well, not just within a workstation. I work for a college, and it's not unusual for us to have to move PC's around campus (new setup, machine needs to be swapped or reimaged, ect).

We're actually an IBM/Lenovo shop, and most IBM'S back to the P2's have had some sort of handle - although on some of the newer models it's part of the plastic faceplate, so if you try to carry it by the handle the faceplate falls off.

[V3LOCIP3D3 @ Nov 6th 2007 5:11PM]

Traditional, good IBM look, much better than their new consumer PC design . . but that handle just isn't right at all, it just ruins it for me.

Besides, what purpose does it serve exactly? there aren't two of them, so it can't really be used to transport the PC . . . they should remove it.

[Jonathan Keim @ Nov 6th 2007 5:27PM]

Agreed.

[Jesse S @ Nov 6th 2007 5:28PM]

Yes there are, look at the side.

[I.P.Freely @ Nov 6th 2007 5:29PM]

The handle is to hold it steady while you're grating cheese with it.

[PDubNYC @ Nov 6th 2007 5:53PM]

Their models now have one built in handle by which you can carry it. You do not need 2 handles. This is no 50 lb gaming rig. One hand is more than enough to carry this thing around. And that is not a handle on the side, the is the door mechanism.

I'm a big fan of PC's with handles, as we are moving machines around all the time. The only ones I hate are on the G5/Mac Pro. Those handles hurt like hell.

[Tim Supples @ Nov 6th 2007 8:19PM]

The handle is removable.

[V3LOCIP3D3 @ Nov 6th 2007 10:25PM]

Ah, thanks Tim I was wondering that. I'm pretty sure there's no way you could carry that computer with that handle though. First of all that would mean you were carrying it at a 45 degree angle and putting tons of stress on the joint where the handle is attached. Also that handle doesn't exactly have an ergonomic-friendly look to it.

I'm pretty sure that handle is about 90% cosmetics PDub.

[PDubNYC @ Nov 7th 2007 10:39AM]

@V3LOCIP3D3

I think it is most certainly a handle. These boxes weigh very little and do not put much stress on the joint. Surely they would have to build it with sufficient strength because people WILL carry the box by that handle.

I am not speculating so much is I am telling you how it is now from experience, not pictures, and looks to be moving forward with this design.

Either way, as long as they keep the quality up, it doesn't matter what it looks like, it's a business box.

[pokey @ Nov 6th 2007 5:56PM]

This looks like an AS/400. From ten years ago.

[Balam Herrera @ Nov 6th 2007 5:28PM]

that's a cheac macpro rip off. They were only good enough to copy the holes in the front and the handle. And they did a terrible job at that.

[Jesse S @ Nov 6th 2007 5:29PM]

You have GOT to be kidding.

[zargon @ Nov 6th 2007 6:09PM]

Um, except for the fact that they look like a upgraded version of their IBM Intellistation. Which have been black, had holes and had a handle for many years.

If anything is a rip off, it would be the Mac Pro, from the IBM Intellistation.

I would also not call a IBM/Lenovo a cheap rip off, they are not cheap by any means. They are some of the best built (sturdy and logically placed parts) computers I have seen. The Intellistation we have at work are some great and tough machines. Their laptops are also great, surviving the many office morons.

[Andrew Horn @ Nov 6th 2007 6:38PM]

I mean. . . really?

[Loonie @ Nov 6th 2007 6:39PM]

Wow, so Apple invented the metal grill?

[taggie @ Nov 6th 2007 7:51PM]

For the love of all fanboys!!!
Please tell me (semi-fanboy) you didn't say something like that???

[reticulate @ Nov 6th 2007 8:49PM]

I don't quite know what to say in response to this.

Other than: Balam, you're a fucking moron.

[Balam Herrera @ Nov 6th 2007 9:11PM]

I did say something like that. And I do think that. And get over it. That lenovo is just a stupid, ugly computer. No need to get all upset.

[nikster @ Nov 7th 2007 1:05AM]

This comment is an insult to Apple fanboys everywhere.

It's typical IBM Deathstar-inspired design. Good at what it does. I would like it if they lost the blue and red accents. It should all be gunmetal gray and black.

[Rainier @ Nov 6th 2007 5:29PM]

"Lenovo's new Thinkstations look pretty sharp"

Surely you jest!

[blaktornado @ Nov 6th 2007 5:32PM]

It's an obvious rip off of a Mac Pro. You can tell by the way that Mac Pros are black, have a big handle, have three disk drives and run Windows... you know, in the way Mac Pros do.

Why can't these companies just stop ripping Apple off!?!?!?!?!?1?1?11?1!!?!?!?1?!/1/1/!?!?!?1?!?1?1??!!!?!?!


:P

[Balam Herrera @ Nov 6th 2007 5:44PM]

It's not exactly the same, but the design does remind me a lot of a Mac Pro. And by the way, this computer is really ugly.

[John @ Nov 6th 2007 5:47PM]

So, they remind you of Macpros because they're both ugly? Apple doesn't have ugliness copyrighted, even with the new nanos

[Jon @ Nov 6th 2007 5:33PM]

I love it. It isn't boring and looks IBM'ish at first look. The handle to me is useful for lugging around the desktop.

[Andrew Horn @ Nov 6th 2007 6:43PM]

"The handle to me is useful for lugging around the desktop."

-As handle's so often are. . .

[brokenkeyboard @ Nov 6th 2007 8:16PM]

The handle to me is useful for stealing it from work when I get fired. I can even take two!

[Westy @ Nov 6th 2007 5:45PM]

It looks like a cheap japanese hifi! Im not convinced.

[Jeff C @ Nov 6th 2007 7:01PM]

If my memory serves me correctly... They have had a handle on the Tower M and A series models long before Lenovo even acquired IBM's Personal Computing division. This one is just more pronounced.

At the risk of sounding like a Lenovo/IBM fanboy - I am more than happy with my ThinkCentre M52/M55 series towers and desktops. I support over 1,000 of them and they seem to be pretty rock solid (as opposed to our previous Dell Opti 1xx/2xx and Precision 530). Boring Business Black is a great color for any enterprise environment. The last thing I need are corner office people trying to color coordinate their desktops with the decor of their office. Of course, my primary workstation is an HP xw8400 but that is another matter altogether.

HP makes a great desktop. Lenovo makes the best laptop (ThinkPad T) on the market. We originally went with the ThinkCentre's because of the ThinkPad's. In retrospect, it was a great decision.

[zargon @ Nov 6th 2007 6:17PM]

I have to agree that the IBM/Lenovo computers are rock solid. We have about 3,000 and possibly will be adding another 4,000 (dependent on a contract we are for bid). They have been great to work unlike with like other brands I have had to deal with (Toshiba, Panasonic, Dell, HP, Gateway, Micron and Reason), seem to have logic used to put them together. We don't have many problems with them either, one of the other places I work who used Dell exclusively had a 33% failure rate of brand new out of the box. We have had no where near the issue with the IBM/Lenovo.

We recently looked to see what computer brand would be best for the company and Lenovo won hands down.

Can't wait for this winter, Lenovo is going to fly us out to their hq in NC to give us a tour. Which I am looking forward too, but I am also as much interested in the wining and dining they are know to do. :)

[reticulate @ Nov 6th 2007 9:34PM]

I've got the unenviable job of swapping out around 350 S50 Thinkcentres for HP DC7700's over the Christmas break. Lenovo's EOL support has been fantastic (and we're still exclusively use IBM for servers, including our tasty new BladeCentres).

I gotta say they've served us extremely well, but come purchasing time it appears the higher ups thought HP offered a better deal.

[andrew @ Nov 6th 2007 5:46PM]

in 1993 IBM had a white version of this sans handle, not sure how it is earthbreaking, all that is diff is it says DVD+-RW vs CDROM 2x!

[Jon Acheson @ Nov 6th 2007 5:46PM]

I gotta say, I kind of like that asymmetrical handle.

And no, it isn't a ripoff of the Mac design, IBM made desktops with a handle at the top of the front fascia back when Apple was still making crappy beige boxes.

[Sirocco @ Nov 6th 2007 5:51PM]

The handle is for carrying it out to the car.

[Sirocco @ Nov 6th 2007 5:54PM]

The IBM Aptiva (circa 1997) had a similar handle. Easy to grab onto so you can access the rear ports. Very practical.

[tony @ Nov 6th 2007 6:02PM]

Here it is again. Nearly every time you Engadget boys throw out your opinion on whether something looks good or bad I find that I couldn't disagree more. You guys really should withhold your opinion on subjective matters like this... it tends to lower my opinion of you.

[inward9 @ Nov 6th 2007 6:02PM]

The holes in front were obviously inspired by the MacPro. Show me another machine that had that feature. The MacPro won all sorts of industrial design awards so it makes sense that others would adopt some features. Of course, black, three drives, and Windows were inspired by another source. :)

[Matt @ Nov 6th 2007 6:11PM]

Thinkcentres have had them for a long, long time.

Lots of other computers also have cooling holes because they all get hot. Funny that.

[liin @ Nov 6th 2007 7:45PM]

@all who did and didn't see the MacPro design feature

Though all computers have cooling vents of some sorts, none had got rid of the front bezel entirely like the MacPro. I had a couple of Intellistation for years. You take off the plastic slot-vented front bezel, and yes, there's a layer of aluminum honeycomb vents "inside". There are also version of Thinkcentre with a small panel of honeycomb vents below the front bezel. But so far, no PC had used that venting panel as their entire front bezel.

However, I don't think it's a "copy". IBM had years of design language evolution( with help from Richard Sapper, mind you ). And Lenovo paid premium for that identity. It's just that if designers tried to minimize parts both to cut production costs and create greener production lines without compromising aesthetics, you'd arrive at the same solution of ridding the front cover entirely and making the vents look good.

[Chris @ Nov 6th 2007 8:07PM]

ummm.... Boxx has been making workstations with the grated front for YEARS... but let's credit Apple for being the source of Lenovo's design... sheesh!!!!

http://www.boxxtech.com/

[Max @ Nov 7th 2007 2:11AM]

If you're all going to be Apple design zealots, at least use the correct name formatting. Not "macpro", not "MacPro", not even "Macpro".

Mac Pro.

Oh well. I guess it's not nearly as bad as seeing "I Pod".

[liin @ Nov 7th 2007 4:30PM]

While you're at it, please correct my Thinkcentre to ThinkCentre for me. Sounds much better.
And I prefer IBM's trackpoint ( or is it TrackPoint ) over touch pad when it comes to laptops.

[vdogg89 @ Nov 6th 2007 6:05PM]

why cant IBM freaking update their style. I know its a business computer, but sheesh, that doesnt give them the right to make a crappy retro look. and ive always hated the blue and red colors.

[Twitchy @ Nov 6th 2007 6:07PM]

Does that handle look like a weapon carry handle (ala M16) to anyone else?

[MARSHAK @ Nov 6th 2007 8:05PM]

gun nut.

[Twitchy @ Nov 6th 2007 8:13PM]

I'd be offended if I actually owned any firearms. But I don't (and won't), so I've nothing to do but giggle, just little bit, deep down inside.

[Matt @ Nov 6th 2007 6:12PM]

Its just a shame it says "Lenovo" and not "IBM" really.