Lenovo's ThinkPad W500 and W700 now on sale

Not like Lenovo has been keeping this duo on the DL or anything, but the potent W500 and W700 are now available to order. Hailed as the company's "most powerful notebooks ever," the 15.4-inch W500 gets going from $1,629 with a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 CPU, Vista Home Premium, a WSXGA+ display, 1GB of DDR3 RAM, ATI's 512MB Mobility FireGL V5700, a 100GB HDD, DVD combo drive, WiFi and a 6-cell battery. Overshadowing that is the 17-inch W700, which starts at $2,978 and features a WXGA+ display, T9400 CPU, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA's 512MB Quadro FX-2700 and a 160GB hard drive. The W500 should ship within 1 to 2 weeks, while the W700 isn't expected to head your way for a solid month. No worries -- that gives you plenty of time to save up for the $1,275 QX9300 Core 2 Extreme option.

[Via 32packets]

[cy21 @ Aug 24th 2008 1:10PM]

I really hate notebooks like this.. the button in the middle is totally worthless... it's like a brick..

[avester @ Aug 24th 2008 1:34PM]

That's why we got iLaptops, and Laptops.

This is a Laptop.

[Zero_Lux @ Aug 24th 2008 2:10PM]

That "useless" middle button is one of the many reason's I'll probably never buy anything but a ThinkPad.

[wes @ Aug 25th 2008 3:46PM]

Surprisingly the red button works pretty well. I have used a Thinkpad before and the acceleration/deceleration control of the button becomes intuitive after a short while.

On another note, for a professional photographer on the go, this laptop is probably the only real alternative to a Macbook Pro setup. We didn't have much of a choice for the longest time due to the LCD of PC laptops. Even with the price of the 17inch, it's not too bad considering the calibrated screen and system spec. Having a built-in Wacom pad is a real boon for minor retouching work.

[JeffM @ Aug 24th 2008 4:48PM]

cy21, seriously open up Firefox or IE and hit help. You can find _a lot_ of uses for a MMB.

I agree- After using a couple generation of T series ThinkPads I wouldn't consider owning a laptop that doesn't have a MMB and a pointing stick.

[Slawek @ Aug 24th 2008 4:53PM]

I thought the joystick was the dumbest thing ever before my company got me my ThinPad. Now I can't work without it. But I think you basically need to use it to appreciate it, otherwise it just stands out for no reason.

[cy21 @ Aug 24th 2008 6:32PM]

I still stand with my remark! dell is beautiful and better in every way.. especially with the new studio version they just released. or HP. even asus 1000H eee pc is more something i would rather buy than this..... brick. (i hope i meen no offense to those that only got to have a brick and never seen a dell or hp ... ever)...

Cy21

[Paulmichael @ Aug 24th 2008 8:25PM]

Seems to me some of the repliers to your comment are business-types, meaning they have definitely tried Dell, HP, etc. I had an older Thinkpad before and loved that MMB as well...

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 8:51PM]

Obviously you speak of someone who has never had a Thinkpad. Quality product. Durable, stylish in that non-flavor of the week look. Brick it is not.

[Eli @ Aug 24th 2008 1:10PM]

Those prices are pretty steep for the specs, but it's certainly worth it for Lenovo quality.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Aug 24th 2008 7:22PM]

Yeah but what's with the specs? Since when is a Q9300 a 'Extreme' branded CPU? That's their budget Quad core from the Q9 series.

[Vivek @ Aug 24th 2008 1:44PM]

A fully specced-out W700 costs $6183 (or more) and yet only offers a one-year warranty with no upgrade options!

[avester @ Aug 24th 2008 2:23PM]

If your company shells out over 6 grand for a business laptop, they probably can buy you a new one every year.

Also, stuff rarely breaks out magically after warranty is over.

[JamesM @ Aug 24th 2008 11:27PM]

@avester. About 13 months after I bought my Sony Vaio SZ series laptop, with the standard 12 month warranty: (1) the trackpad stopped working - it now works sporadically at best; (2) the battery stopped working - the system no longer recognizes it; and (3) it started freezing whenever it gets hot. The cost to fix these problems must be about the same as the cost of a new laptop. I'm never buying a Vaio again.

[Gokie @ Aug 24th 2008 1:56PM]

1440x900 (WXGA+) on a 17" just makes me cringe, especially at the $3K mark (have to add over $200 to get 1920x1200) Other than that, looks like the same great laptops that ThinkPads have always been.

[quiksilv3r @ Aug 24th 2008 2:25PM]

It's a misprint. The resolution is actually WUXGA. (1900x1200)

[JMMGoalster @ Aug 24th 2008 1:59PM]

sounds like you need your eyes checked

[Chris @ Aug 24th 2008 2:06PM]

Only a gig of ram? It may be DDR3 but for that price you can get 4 gigs of DDR2 that'll preform better.

[Peter @ Aug 24th 2008 2:11PM]

Wow, it doesn't seem like a very nice laptop according to everyone else.

[PCIV @ Aug 24th 2008 2:14PM]

What? 100gb hdd? my 75% priced macbook has a 160. stop being a cheapstake...

[Kelmon @ Aug 25th 2008 3:11AM]

Sorry that your comment has been "Low Ranked" but it's bang on the money. If I'm going to spend almost $3000 on a laptop, why is the hard drive so paltry in capacity? My current 2-year old laptop came with a 160GB drive as standard and it's too small (I didn't think so at the time, mind). These days, and at this price, I'd be expecting something around 320GB+.

[avester @ Aug 24th 2008 2:34PM]

Also, for anyone complaining about the low ram/hdd space, please notice that those are "from" pricing and features, you can get bigger and better from the customization menu when you buy.

[Kelmon @ Aug 25th 2008 3:13AM]

I don't think that's the point. At that price I'd be expecting better specifications as standard, although it's always nice to know that you can give them a bump, if you have the money to spare.

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 3:12PM]

The Lenovo product I don't know what to think of.

Though, for graphic artists, the Wacom-tablet built in would be nice. I just... too pricey for me. If they are as solid built as normal Thinkpads are though, they should be worth it

[DBrim @ Aug 24th 2008 2:51PM]

Please stop using display acronyms and start using actual resolution... nobody knows what those stupid letters mean!

[msalivar @ Aug 24th 2008 5:44PM]

Speak for yourself.

[Stranger @ Aug 25th 2008 1:34PM]

I know.

[TOM @ Aug 24th 2008 2:53PM]

mine is currently on its way it shipped out on 8/22

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Aug 24th 2008 2:57PM]

Simple question, what does the red button actually do. Does it have a purpose or is it a programmable button for any purpose.

[Chibi @ Aug 24th 2008 3:49PM]

It is used to activate an unknown swarm of flying fishes from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and make them fly to Japan to become sushi.

No really.

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 3:31PM]

It's a control stick. Alternate to the TOuchpad. I like the fact thinkpads still have it. I don't really use it that much, but some do.It gives a nice "second option" if that is your preferred method if doing mousework on the go.

[Blooper62 @ Aug 24th 2008 3:53PM]

Its like a mouse. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_stick

[Mr. Snuggle Bunny @ Aug 24th 2008 3:02PM]

I accidentally read "notebooks" as "netbooks". I was like those things are NOT netbooks! Then I re-read it and read notebooks right =P

[Zinger314 @ Aug 24th 2008 3:04PM]

The Dell XPS 1530 spits on the W500 Price::Specs-wise.

Plus, the W500 will probably only have 30 minutes of battery life with that RAM and processor...

[Ivand @ Aug 24th 2008 4:04PM]

but break on half the time, and get ugly on a quarter of it

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 8:51PM]

And not last as long, and this is a WORK laptop not a gaming one (Though they still are fair shakes at gaming too)

[Here @ Aug 24th 2008 3:15PM]

Also, stuff rarely breaks out magically after warranty is over...

Avester.


While I agree with you but I cannot help but to remember the word DELL. DELL is totally a different case, it looks like to me that DELL puts in their computers and laptops a mini time bomb or something that when the warranty expires, they will press the denotation button from the HQ and make people bring it to their repair center and start charging up people with sky high price.

[anthony @ Aug 24th 2008 3:26PM]

stop hatin on the red button(track point) it is the reason why i will only buy a lenovo. if you are using the touch pad, your just wasting time and energy.

[Sam Welson @ Aug 24th 2008 3:27PM]

Nice. Lenovo makes great laptops

[AlexL @ Aug 24th 2008 5:36PM]

The reason I loved the original Txxp series so much was because they were some of the only laptops that come in 14inch sizes but still offered very good dedicated GPUs. I really hope Lenovo produces the new W series in sizes below 15.4 inches, that was the main appeal of the original line of "p" series workstations for me.

[cy21 @ Aug 24th 2008 6:37PM]

ok.. i just saw the DDR3.... so asus eee pc is dropping from my list.. rest stands

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 8:52PM]

You are a troll. That's it. You don't speak of any sort of computer knowledge, just ignorance.

[Lancelot @ Aug 25th 2008 11:22AM]

I'm finding it harder & harder to get excited about any new notebook / PC release due to "Vista" being installed on most of them. As I can't run OS X on any of these I find myself reading the spec's hoping to see that "Linux" or "XP" is also available..Unfortunately this isn't the case with most of these so called powerful offerings.

[AlphaTeam @ Aug 24th 2008 8:27PM]

Another great Thinkpad is out. This is my PC of choice, but I now know never buy another 17" computer again.

[Mike @ Aug 25th 2008 1:22AM]

Love that red dot. Huge productivity booster because you can work without moving your hand over to a mouse or down to the trackpad every time you need to mouse around. Combined with the thumb buttons you can scroll a page without moving your hand from the keys as well. Please don't hate if you've never even tried it.

[bertross @ Aug 25th 2008 4:12AM]

What's that massive (darker) black thing next to the trackpad?

[Yont @ Sep 12th 2008 4:02PM]

Dude I want that Thinkpad w500 dude i want that fucking laptop it freaken the beast next to the really big beast!!! Thinkpads are freaken nice I am typing on the thinkpad t61p right now but i need to get an upgrade so as soon as i get my paycheck soon I will order mine!!! YEAH super happy!!

[Ray @ Oct 9th 2008 9:55AM]

HI frirends,i don't care the out look, I just wanner buy a notebook to do maya,do you think this Thinkpad w500 is good enought.Thank you

[jasper @ Nov 9th 2008 10:33PM]

I really think comparing Thinkpads against Dell is well, not really a comparison.

I am currently on my 16th Laptop/Notebook/Portable (over 15 years ), and in the past 5 years have all been Thinkpads. This is because Dell is Cheap Crap, and needs no other comment ( I still think they use B Grade quality HDD CPU ETC ). Compaq, Toshiba and ACER are just too flimsy and weak, and I have rarley been happy for more than 6months with any of those brands.
I recently sold an Alienware machine, and although the price tag was HUGE it still did not have the robustness and build quality of the Thinkpad.

As far as controls go, it has everything, pad, stick.. only peoploe from the early 80's should be whinging as it doesn;t have a trackball.. so seriously, they cannot be beaten.

Sell a few 100 notebooks in the next year or so .. Thinkpads ar enot boomerangs