Thinkpad X200t surfaces in the wild

While we've seen tons of evidence that the Thinkpad X200t is ready to hit, the tiny tablet's managed to remain thoroughly hidden until now -- and unsurprisingly, it looks a lot like the X61t it's undoubtedly going to replace. Still no specs, pricing, or release date to be found, but we're guessing those'll come any day now.

[Via GottaBeMobile, thanks diode3diode]

[Muhammed @ Aug 24th 2008 1:43AM]

nice, I would've preferred a touch pad on it though.

lenovo really is dominating the market, though not on par with hp or sony's high end finish and quality, the price is tempting.

[nerdtalker @ Aug 24th 2008 2:08AM]

HP has "high end finish and quality?" I honestly don't know what kind of high end finish and quality you're talking about. Unless you're not referring to the shiny, prone-to-show-every-fingerprint, confusingly-obfuscated-product numbers HP I know and loathe.

Lenovo is in a class of its own compared to HP or Sony.

[msalivar @ Aug 24th 2008 2:26AM]

He means the high end finish and quality which requires you to replace the machine every 2-3 years because the chassis can no longer stand the stresses of everyday life

[snife @ Aug 24th 2008 2:29AM]

Please do not comment on any ThinkPad articles again!

Lenovo are trying to compete on price now (which is not necessarily good) but what does and has always set ThinkPads apart is that they have a better build quality than any of the competitors. Sony have good design but not great quality and often choose form over function, HP have neither good design (with the exception possibly being the latest crop of business notebooks) or good quality and, worse still, the support is horrendous.,

And not having a touchpad is a good thing for most people who use ThinkPads and know how to operate a superior pointing device

[Jaws @ Aug 24th 2008 2:33AM]

I'm a typer that learned in high school on a manual typewriter.... I hit keys HARD when I type. I literally shred HP/Compaq keyboards. I'm talking keys flying off of the thing, not just not working... but actually flying off of the unit.

I've never had that happen on other brands (including Lenovo).

HP and quality... tee hee... someone is into the acid me thinks... and its a really wacked out trip. ;)

[Muhammed @ Aug 24th 2008 4:56AM]

Thank you guys, you really lightened up a few arguments that sure will help me, I was just saying my opinion as I own a hp dv5 notebook and I like it a lot, tech-wise, performance-wise and design-wise, I just thought lenovo's design is not for me, but thanks for letting me know it has good quality, I just didn't recommend it to my friends in the past, now I will.

[Richard Lai @ Aug 24th 2008 6:39AM]

@Muhammed: I am considering the HP dv5 as well, which does have a nice case design, but like most people I am worried about its reliability and heat. Any inputs so far?

[hpfanboy(yep, that's what I am) @ Aug 24th 2008 9:29AM]

@Muhammed: You're doing it Wrong!, if you think a touchpad is needed.... it is a Tablet ;) that's what the pen is for.
also; pointer nubs FTW.
@nerdtalker And msalivar: Hp does build some high quality computers, BUT they are all in the business category. for example. I own a tc4200 (same case as the tc4400) and it flew off the roof of a car at 50MPH..(long story) and I am still using it. there are just a few scratches on the case.
@snife @: About the HP support; their support for business computers is much better than their other support. After said accident with my tablet, they offered to replace it (even though I didn't have accidental coverage. (maybe I just ran into a nice person.... it happens)

finally I will say this: I never really care for hp, and thought all their laptops were cheap, until I got the bussiness computer. I just wanted to make it clear it is like a whole different company. (wow that was long.... oh well. :)

[Muhammed @ Aug 24th 2008 10:50AM]

@ Richard:
as for the heat it is much much better than my old Fujitsu in terms of heat, I could fry an egg on my old Fujitsu-Siemens laptop!

but the only problem I got so for was a driver failure after installing Opensuse 11, I'm guessing It's just a faulty .iso but just pointing it out.

the build quality is superb "in my opinion of course" so go on with the dv5, you wont regret it.

[Dennis @ Aug 24th 2008 12:37PM]

touchpad? i think someone already thought the screen was a touchpad... look at those smudgy fingerprints!
oh wait... its a tablet isn't it?

[Richard Lai @ Aug 24th 2008 1:14PM]

@Muhammed: cheers, but I went to check out the dv5 today and the screen is simply horrible - the bezel-free design is nice, but it also killed the screen quality.

I'm now thinking of the Acer 8920G instead - the dual lamp full HD screen is brilliant.

[Jeffery @ Aug 24th 2008 3:06PM]

@hpfanboy(yep, that's what I am)
I agree. HP's business support call center is at least usually helpful, and if they've messed up badly, they will completely rectify it (after initially trying to brush you off). I'm on my second free replacement (read: upgrade), the first one that was replaced being two years out of warranty. They also gave me a free wlan card of my choice, since the one I had didn't work in Linux, and I bought an OEM card before I knew they were BIOS-locked >:(. I've never really used Lenovo/IBM computers, except for a few low-end ones, so I can't comment much there. I'm not at all a fan of the super-shiny, glossy-screened, silver-and-blue consumer models from HP, but at least they could be construed as pretty. I know appearance is secondary to performance, but they could rework their case design a bit - they haven't changed it much in years, and it's a bit dated.

[Muhammed @ Aug 24th 2008 4:34PM]

@ Richard:
are you kidding me!
that 18.4" CineCrystal LCD on the 8920G is awesome, it totally owns the dv5's screen
and the CineBass subwoofer, Now that's a cool thing to have in a laptop!
8920G is Simply Awesome spec-wise, don't know nobody that has it though.

[Magnificen7 @ Aug 24th 2008 1:56AM]

Thinkpad X200t, now with velvet LCD!

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 1:29PM]

Like a Velvet Elvis? ;-)

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

What is that, Velvet!?!?

[feffrey @ Aug 24th 2008 1:26PM]

No, thinkpads just love fingerprints

[waiownsyou @ Aug 24th 2008 1:56AM]

Damn, Lenovo's really rolling out stuff at a time when they get the most exposure from the Olympics... I swear, more than half of the people I know have never even heard of Lenovo...

[BigD145 @ Aug 24th 2008 2:14AM]

Mention "IBM" or "ThinkPad" and I'm sure they will know exactly what's going on.

[PynkFloydd @ Aug 24th 2008 7:47PM]

They're pretty established in the US business (and government) world as THE laptop. Their latest ad contract went to some agency in India. I'm assuming that they're more worried about getting a foothold in emerging markets at this time. If the Olympic commercials are any indication, we might see a larger consumer targeted ad campaign in the US. ...but, Thinkpads really do sell themselves. Once you've used one, it's hard to switch to anything else.

[Andrea @ Aug 24th 2008 2:02AM]

Finally! It's been a long wait on an update to, what is in my opinion, one of the most utilitarian tablet pcs to date.

Can't wait until an official list of specs, pricing, and a release date.

[Sakura3210 @ Aug 24th 2008 2:01AM]

I know nitpicking can be frowned about, but...undoubetedly?

[Ben @ Aug 24th 2008 2:07AM]

Not to mention those'll.

[snife @ Aug 24th 2008 2:29AM]

Should it not be 'frowned upon' :D

[msalivar @ Aug 24th 2008 3:10AM]

Don't forget your question mark.

[AndrewAmazed @ Aug 24th 2008 2:23AM]

no touch pad...
whats the point of buttons then...ugh

[CAgnew @ Aug 24th 2008 2:32AM]

Ever used a thinkpad? The buttons are for use with the red nub 'mouse' in the center of the keyboard, which is vastly superior to a touchpad. Touchpads are so cumbersome and uncomfortable compared with the nub.

[bolezhinkov @ Aug 24th 2008 2:38AM]

agreed. the multi-touch makes it a little more evolved at least. and a sensitive tap to click was a big step up for touchpads. but the nub . . . oh the nub.

[collegekid13 @ Aug 24th 2008 2:35AM]

how bigs the screen anyone? the last 12.1 screen was so cramped when it was tableted

[Andrea @ Aug 24th 2008 2:40AM]

Well, judging by the size of the bevel(?) around the keyboard, I would say it most likely has the same dimensions (compared the the T61 with 14.1" screen I'm typing this on) as it did before, which is rather unfortunate, I was hoping they're step it up the 13.3 at least

[diode3diode @ Aug 24th 2008 2:49AM]

Comparing pictures w/ the x61t, it seems to be shorter. Like from the previous 4x3 (x61t) screen into a 16x9 like the one on the x200.

[Stranger @ Aug 24th 2008 12:56PM]

The keyboard should be a fair bit wider than on the old X61 since it carried a normal 12.1" screen (width ~9.6", height ~7.2") and only had a thin bezel on the sides and the new one is a 12" widescreen (width ~10.3", height ~6") while at the same time the screen bezel is a tab bit bigger. So I wouldn't be surprised if the overall width of the keyboard has grown roughly one inch and since the proportions seems normal (no keys have been stretched) I think we can safely assume the the entire keyboard has grown rought 10%, making it identical to that used on the widescreen T60.. Well, we can at least assume.. (ass out of you and me you know..)

[bundle @ Aug 24th 2008 2:50AM]

The design doesn't look like its changed at all since the X40 series. This I find a little disappointing.

[wickedpheonix @ Aug 24th 2008 10:44AM]

You may find it disappointing, but what Lenovo's thinking is that the VAST majority of their customers love the subtle elegance and reliability that the design brings. Good designs are not necessarily good designs because they're new or constantly refreshed; some designs are timeless classics.

[tom @ Aug 24th 2008 12:35PM]

Thinkpad's design is not meant to be trendy. It is this subtle black box, where you can recognize..ahhh, that's a thinkpad! even from 20 feet away. It is an Icon, brand recognition. Not like some other brand of computers, you really have to walk close to see...oh a Dell EH?

Look at Rolex watches, they have the same shape and design ever since. People still buy them wear them. Is the design boring? Maybe. But if someone wears them, you know that's Rolex, which also identify that person as having "good taste" and should have some decent disposable income =)

~IMHO

[DaHarder @ Aug 24th 2008 2:56AM]

Why does every Lenovo effort have to look so aesthetically unpleasant... They're the Anti-Style i.e. U.G.L.Y... Regardless of their solid functionality, I'd never be seen carrying one.

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 3:37AM]

Thats becuase you care more about looks than function.

Personally, i like the very serious, no nonsense look of it, and noticed on the new Dell E series, they are imitating it.

Good. its not a SHOW laptop. Lenovo makes durable, business laptops. Stark black with industrial design? perfect. My Thinkpad is great looking IMNSHO. Its not "trendy". People will look at my laptop when it is 10 years old and woefully out of date (its already edging on half way there) and will still be fairly timless looking, long after the Mac-Imitator Craze has long gone. Look at an IBM and the Clamshell iBook of the same era. Heck, look at an IBM, an iBook, and a HP/Compaq/Dell of the same era, and see which one aged best? Would be the IBM.

[TMFAN @ Aug 24th 2008 4:12AM]

Ok, stop it. Every time someone says Lenovo needs to make their laptops look better, some people always comes out and say that 1) It's not supposed to look pretty, 2) function is more important that looks, or 3) I like the way it looks.

Face it. The Thinkpad design looks outdated. It may not be ugly, but it's really beginning to show its age. I mean except for the size, there's pretty much no difference in looks from a Thinkpad from 4 years ago. I understand its for businessmen and that it's supposed to look professional, but it's obvious that Lenovo isn't trying hard to advance their Thinkpad designs. Just because people have been happy with how they look, it's almost like they don't want to risk anything by updating the design.

Being professional doesn't have to mean that it has to look like a black rectangle. There are plenty of ways to make these laptops look both professional and attractive at the same time.

We don't want 4 more years of the same design. It's time for change!

Lenovo '08

[snife @ Aug 24th 2008 4:21AM]

TMFAN/Daharder - its difficult to argue with you guys because you clearly dont understand the point of a ThinkPad - look at a ThinkPad 600 from nearly 10 years ago and look at an X300 - the design has evolved in a way that no other manufacturer can match yet both are still unmistakably ThinkPads - good design does not mean trendy design.

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 5:57AM]

@TMFAN:

If it is so outdated, how come Dell is now imitating the look?

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/brand/latitude_odg?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ST=latitude%20e&dgc=ST&cid=14754&lid=364481

The new dell E series Latitudes. Angular, black, fairly matte, what looks like metal hinges.... wow, seems to be very Thinkpad-ish there. Heck they are even doing the offset name on the side.

So if the design is so dated, and should be beyond, WHY is Dell imitating it?

Becuase, I will tell you, it's a fairly timeless design that works well.

People pay a little premium for the Thinkpad line because they are well built. They don't bed to "whats the current style trend" for the purely business models.

Want a flashy Lenovo? Get an IdeaPad.

[msalivar @ Aug 24th 2008 6:06AM]

What do you propose?

Most Thinkpad buyers will never, ever buy a laptop:

with gloss, anywhere (watch, SL won't make it to a 3rd gen being glossy and TP branded)
with any compromise to the keyboard
with any appreciable amount of flex
with any components which we perceive as overheating

These are all things 'fashionable' laptops tend to give up in order to achieve that status. And honestly, 'fashionable' laptops looks like horse s**t.

There are a few places Thinkpads can improve, but looks aren't one of them. They could use much, much better screens (I miss Flexview.) They would also do well to fix the drifting issues with the trackpoint. And, of course, build quality can always be better. They just aren't as solid as the Toughbook executive series, with their all mag alloy shell.

By the way, my X61s is downright sexy. It's black, and it's tiny. How can you go wrong with that? Honestly, pictures don't do it justice. Unfortunately, the T series has moved in the thicker direction towards the R, and has lost that dynamic some. They need to either get the T back to being a truly thin and light workstation, or cancel either the T or R and make an X400 and X500.

[TheMagnificen7 @ Aug 24th 2008 8:36AM]

I agree with the posts that say while the ThinkPad isn't aesthetically pleasing, it does age very very well. I think that the only other laptop that ages better is the aluminum/titanium Powerbooks/MacBook Pros, just because it is very elegant and simple. It never looks out of date, and the ThinkPad captures that very well. If I were to go to a Windows machine (exclusively Windows) it would be a ThinkPad.

[damoose @ Aug 24th 2008 10:55AM]

If you like it's design that's cool with me but don't attack other people for saying it looks rubbish - in the end it's always a matter of opinion.

In my opinion he is absolutely right, this is one of the worst computer designs there is! Saying that the Dell is imitating the Thinkpad is just plain ridiculous to me - the Dell actually has a design and i have to say it is looking OK. I think the Lenovo however isn't timeless, this is the way laptops looked 14 years (except that nub) and no they weren't considered as nice back then.

In my opinion there are some really appealing designs out there without any of those said drawbacks. (Just mentioning that i don't have this fingerprint paranoia everyone seems to have but hey, it's absolutely OK if you hate glossy stuff, matter of opinion, right?).
Again, a really good design is actually timeless and professional looking...(I don't consider HP's designs to be good for example)

I wish Lenovo would care a little more about it's design, if i am supposed to spend so much money on something that I'm going to work with every day I want it is the least to ask for a pleasant design.

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 2:05PM]

Sorry damoose, but I disagree.

Show me HOW the Dell design is significantly different? I mean SIGNIFICANTLY. It even angles at the bottom in, like my t42 does. It's like... they hired some of the old Thinkpad designers to design it.

I would say a majority of people would either (politely) disagree with you or (impolitely) tell you that you are full of s... you get the point.

Becuase I LOOKED at a newer non-ideapad Lenovo at a microcenter recently, and the logo placement and EVERYTHING were pretty much identical to the Dell. Just becuase it is "new" for the Dell doesn't make it suddenly stylish becuase they are doing it.

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

I'm not advocating they make the Thinkpads look flashy, but they could "refresh" it a bit. Take my HP Business notebook: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/images/emea/compaq-6715b-business-notebook_400x400.jpg - it isn't at all flashy or shiny, but it doesn't look nearly as clunky as some of the TPs.

[msalivar @ Aug 24th 2008 5:04PM]

It's not fingerprint paranoia, all that gloss everywhere is just plain ugly. In my opinion.

There really isn't anyone who can match the Thinkpad at it's game, except the Latitude. I've yet to see one of the new models in person, but the old D series most definitely are ugly. HP, despite it's business line being close, are still playing catchup to the Thinkpad in build quality.

Panasonic has superior build quality, but they can't match the keyboard. They do have smaller form factors, but they don't scale as high in performance. All in all, they're not targeting quite the same market, but one that does have a fair bit of overlap.

[ivanotter @ Aug 24th 2008 5:29PM]

Ummm... Jeffery? That HP looks BORING. Even more boring than you claim the TP looks.
No edges around the screen, no thinklight (hands down one of the most simple, innovative, and best thing that (besides durability) sets the thinkpad apart).

That has some generic looking flat bezel around the screen. THAT looks 90's. and not int he timeless, TP way.

[diode3diode @ Aug 24th 2008 2:55AM]

With all those fingerprints, I am hoping the screen is capacitive. Too bad there aren't anymore pictures to guess at.

[cayton @ Aug 24th 2008 8:23AM]

It looks like it was dusted with baby powder.

[Howard Hughes @ Aug 24th 2008 3:13AM]

too many fingerprints