Lenovo's nixed ThinkPad Secure hard drive prototypes caught hanging out together

Just a few days back we got our first look at Lenovo's ThinkPad USB Portable Secure Hard Drive, the one that boasts a physical pass-coded keypad. And this? This is the graveyard of Lenovo's discarded ideas, dreams, and prototypes. We're super fond of the sketch to the far right which shows how a button is pressed by a finger (or is that a toe!?) That's all -- we just really like this photo.

[Anthony @ Nov 26th 2008 10:49AM]

It's like looking inside someones brain & seeing their fears through their eyes. I don't like it at all.

[Outlaw12CZ @ Nov 26th 2008 11:23AM]

I would like to see one of those with a masterlock dial face on it, three spins to the right....two spins to the left...

[Flashpoint @ Nov 26th 2008 11:33AM]

The only way I'd buy one is if entering the wrong code 3 times caused it to burst into flames.

[Google @ Nov 26th 2008 11:42AM]

Why does everything made by Lenovo/IBM look so... old and ugly?

Before Low Ranking me... try to picture one of these things on the set of like... ET or something... old old old.... they look like a TV remote from like... 1987

[LondonConsultant @ Nov 26th 2008 12:16PM]

@Anthony: If only you could see what I've seen with your eyes...

[benderillo @ Nov 26th 2008 2:50PM]

@ Flashpoint

http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/14/lenovos-thinkpad-usb-portable-secure-hard-drive-will-make-you-l/comments/15612896/

it only works once.

[Jake B @ Nov 26th 2008 3:53PM]

Damn those look old! There are neanderthal drawings of these inside caves in Europe. I'm pretty sure my grandma has a stack of those next to her old cookbooks in her living room.

[Verbatim47 @ Nov 26th 2008 10:50AM]

And to only think, "this" is where millions of cash in R&D go to......sad, sad......

[tom @ Nov 26th 2008 11:27AM]

Sufficient R&D spending allows a company to innovate the differentiate itself from the competition.

This money is well spent. Plus, these products targets government customers, not regular consumers like you and me. (They've got the $$$ and will pay more for a well built product)

[inteller @ Nov 26th 2008 10:51AM]

actually this kind of shit sells well with the pentagon gov types. Because you know, the only way to bypass security is a keypad with big buttons.....just like in the movies! /sacasm

[dagwud @ Nov 26th 2008 10:59AM]

And here I thought the sketch to the right was a biometric security device. Silly me. Must be because of the one I use on my Thinkpad.

[jmayone @ Nov 26th 2008 11:13AM]

Good call! I'm with you- even has arrows showing swiping motion required on some.

[dagwud @ Nov 27th 2008 11:04AM]

There's also the model in the top left corner with a fingerprint scanner. I didn't notice that before.

[MarbleMind @ Nov 26th 2008 11:22AM]

Good god, this gives the word "pathetic" a new meaning.

*Goes off to rack his brain about that new paper clip design*

[dazepro @ Nov 26th 2008 11:23AM]

IBM/Lenovo needs to really take some design classes, because almost everything they make is ugly as hell. I works great, but can't you make it a little less 1980's.

[kadajawi @ Nov 26th 2008 1:19PM]

Nay, it looks cool. Retro'ish and serious. I like it. And it won't look dated in a few years. Probably because it looks dated already. But cool.

[trankzen @ Nov 26th 2008 11:40AM]

Is it a fingerprint reader I see on the first one from the left?

[Kelmon @ Nov 26th 2008 12:22PM]

You know, what would be nice is if once you've connected the drive that the keypad on it could be used as a numeric keypad for data entry purposes. Sure, you can buy dedicated devices but if you're going to have an external drive then it combines the functionality nicely and adds a bit more use.

[GeneralPublic @ Nov 26th 2008 1:08PM]

right, 'cause there's nothing more fun than accidentally changing your code to 11258*143+18.75-355..