How would you change Lenovo's ThinkPad W700ds?
By Darren Murph 
posted Mar 13th 2009 10:09PM
posted Mar 13th 2009 10:09PM
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MOAR HUGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111!!!1111!!11111ONE
wtf?
ftw?
twf?
fuck the what?
the whatf*ck
piita?
Moar like moar screenz
Seriously, it would look wicked to have a 3 screen mobile setup... except make them all OLED so it can be thinner (yes, it would be expensive). Anyway, with 3 screens it won't look so lop-sided
gonintendo is my new found love, "MOAR HUGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111!!!1111!!11111ONE"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!+5
+ +
u
I thought it was funny.
Let it wither. This is not a "laptop", it's a tank with a display.
I would add a bigger 3rd screen!...
Make the other screen have Freddy in it and make them fight!!
hmm I was wonder about the lack of jason today, looks like engadget went a little more subtle since last month
We could also have Jason's image etched into the big screen, and Freddy's in the small one...
THIRD SCREEN! J/k, maby lower the price and make it more available?
Make it cheaper by the dozen.
Well I have 2 suggestions
-Make it so that the secondary screen either
-Has OSX running
or
-Has video loops of Boxxy on it 24/7
How about Jason chasing Boxxy?
Actually It would be nice with three equally sized screens and three independent CPU's each running there own OS. One each of Windows, OSX, Linux. On second thought... that's nuts! Why would I need that!?!?!? Three screen would be nice for games but why would I use a laptop for games anyways? That's what home built PC's and consoles are for. And Mac's are for those who like to pay extra for status only. I've used both for years both for programming and design with Photoshop and 3D apps. Neither is better. Mac is only an "image" thing and only for some people who need that for there self esteem.
uh. you guys understand, screen real estate is based on the fact that they'd all be running on the same OS/CPU or whatever right?
How about Jason chasing iGoon#2 so that he stops posting idiotic comments on engadget?
More screens, everywhere... *_*
On a serious note, they could actually integrate the wacompad into the touchpad. My personal choice would be a large capacitive touchpad that would automatically switch to the pen mode when the pen is brought near. It would enable the user to use the new multi-touch capability in windows 7 and have an even larger work area for photoshoppin'.
I like that Idea!
Dude, i think u can actually patent that idea.
Integrating that would hopefully save some much needed space on the monstrosity and also avoid having the awkward placement of the wacom pad.
well as soon as you sell that to Lenovo and they implement that i will DEFINITELY buy one of these. that is an awesome idea!
I would make it a MacBook obviously. Duh.
Yeah and reduce its compatibility ... lol
First, there should be two "extra" screens (so both sides should open).
The secondary screens should also be better quality and the main screen should be a RGB screen like the Sony AW. I hope it is a 16x10 because in teh real world, 16x9 is stupid. (Do I really need a 16x9 screen when movies are really 2.35 aspect ratio?) I like to use my computer for work, not only movies...
I do not dig the wacom because it is just too small to be of value so I would remove it.
The intergrated color calibrater is an awesome idea.
M
Not all movies are 2.35:1. Many are close enough to 16:9 there would essentially be no border when watching a movie, unlike when watching it with a 16:10. But in general I think 16:10 is a more versatile aspect.
Only braindead dumbasses with nothing better to do watch movies and youtube all day on their laptops.
Ya know... maybe you should research something when you think you know more than you do about the subject. Movies come in a wide variety of aspect ratios. I work in post-production and don't even pretend to know all of the aspect ratios, but let me teach you at least one thing. Movies come most commonly in 1.78:1, 1.85:1, 2.35:1 & 2.40:1 aspect ratios. The only one of these that is truly 16x9 is 1.78:1 and is considered Full Frame. Each and everyone one of these aspect ratios are regularly formatted to fit into both the 16x9 and 4x3 (1.33:1) formats by the process of matting.
Don't get so caught up in aspect ratio as editing (and well planned/coded software) will allow for enjoyable movie view on your monitor(s). What really should be considered is whether or not enough viewable real estate will be provided for your particular situation.
As for how I would change this particular set up... I'd change it from the one added monitor to dual pull-out monitors. Each sliding from behind the primary monitor and having varying viewing angles (not just free swinging like a door hinge). If it would help reduce weight, make the lid split in two, becoming part of the framework for the added monitors might help. Remove the touch pad and simply add function keys to the "Wacom" tablet. Also, instead of making the battery a one piece unit, make available the ability for hot swapping battery packs so that one can choose to bring along additional "cells" and swap a freshly charged cell for a depleted one. That alone would help with customizing one's need for more or less power (one person may need 1-1/2 hours while another may need 3 hours untethered).
I'm sure I could think of more, but this will do for now.
1. Cheaper.. MUCH CHEAPER
2. Maybe a bigger second screen?
3. Add OSX because macs are awesome and iWorship Steve... /sarcasm
I appreciate your sarcasm, but I low ranked you anyway just for mentioning anything iRelated.
more cowbell
Maybe a third screen, so as to make it symmetric? I don't know, I just like symmetry...
I totally agree.
I would get rid of the red ball on the keyboard, make the center screen a touch screen to replace the writing pad, and lastly get rid of the chunkiness (although that is lenovo's style...)
NOOOOOOO! The trackpoint is the best laptop pointing device once you use it for 10 minutes.
Yea I can't stand anything if its awkwardly bigger on one side... ESPECIALLY if I have to stare at it for an hour working on whatever.
Remove the trackpoint!? thats the thing that makes a Lenovo particularly apealling to me.
hopefully jason dosent come standar with it...
I was hoping he did!
My advice to Dell: get rid of the freak in the screen.
my advise to gad get. learn to read. IBM makes lenovo not dell
Actually Lenovo made notebooks for IBM and then IBM sold off it's notebook line to the OEM Lenovo. That's why it's no longer an IBM Thinkpad it's a Lenovo Thinkpad.
Actually, Quanta and some other ODM's made IBM Thinkpads, and then Lenovo bought IBM's laptop and workstation division. I don't know who makes them now, for Lenovo, but I'm pretty sure Lenovo doesn't do it themselves.
A dumbass correcting a dumbass getting owned by two educated people...
Man, you can't get away with a single slip-up around here without people hurling childish insults! I said Dell when I meant Lenovo, sheesh! Get a life so you don't have to tear other people down to validate your own sorry existence, douchebags!
Less Jason, more Freddy.
Slide out tablet and cheaper!!!!
Your right they should make a full sized Wacom tablet slide out from the bottom of the case. I'd rather have that then a second screen.
Also I'd get rid of that stupid track point. The track point is the most worthless thing that IBM ever invented. There is a reason that everyone else uses touch pads for navigation on a notebook. And it's not because of licensing fees. If anyone liked track point's manufacturers would gladly pay licensing, put them in and pass on the cost. If you've ever used one you've hated it. I had to use one on a notebook provided by a previous employer for 2 years. That Thinkpad only had the track point and no touch pad. After a month I bought a mouse and mouse pad on my own dime as did every single other user in the company that had one.
@caleb Actually you'd be surprised how many people like those "stupid track point[s]", this laptop isn't the right application for it, where they really excel is on the ultra mobile x series laptops which for the most part have sported nothing but these. There's an independent study somewhere (which annoyingly I can't find now) comparing them to trackpads which found they're noticeably faster and thus lead to better productivity in mobile enviroments. Of course if you've got space for a mouse then great but for what they were intended for which was on the move, you generally don't.
Caleb, stay off the shrooms. The TrackPoint is possibly the best reason to buy a ThinkPad, and _everyone_ I know who has used a computer with both a TrackPoint and a trackpad greatly prefers the TrackPoint, even if they are used to trackpads. I wouldn't even mind ditching my trackpad altogether.
I love the trackpoint, and I actually wish that my Thinkpad didn't have that ugly touchpad. I always keep it disabled because the trackpoint is the BEST laptop pointer interface I've ever used. Touchpads are inefficient and inaccurate whereas I can effortlessly draw diagrams with pretty good precision using the trackpoint.
@duncan
"Of course if you've got space for a mouse then great but for what they were intended for which was on the move, you generally don't."
buy a trackball ?:-O???
Bring back the IBM ThinkPad stickers!
Only IBM doesn't own "Thinkpad" any more. The OEM Lenovo that used to make them for IBM does.
I'm actually evaluating one of these right now. Aside from it's massive size, weight and power brick size & weight, the W700ds is a great engineering system. Let's call it a semi-mobile workstation. The slide out screen is cute but I expect it to be the first thing to break. HP makes a similar speced system (8730W) in a graceful form factor without the slide display.
This system should have a touch screen. The WACOM tablet is frustrating without it.
I guess someone has to be first with a dual screen laptop.
Pound for pound, I would look at another choice.
When you see it, YOU'LL SHIT BRICKS!
First I'd take off my hockey mask!!!
I'd make sure to get rid of Jason.
Also, I think they should either put in a bigger screen (18.4-19 inches) or make the laptop smaller. I HATE THOSE FREAKIN LENOVO BEZELS! lol.
Integrate the touchpad and Wacom digitizer, and make sure it's big enough. I thought it was too small when I tried it out.
More power.
If it were possible, put two screens in. Also, allow three and four screen capability. I think those will require a beefed up graphics card though.
I have a Lenovo and I know it's built solidly, but I'm sad about how crappy their designs are : ( They're looks are outdated, clunky, and have zero elegance. Even Dell has much more modern laptops than Lenovo.
Lenovo has crappy designs? Bullshit. I think the t61 is by far the most elegant laptop I've ever used, it is built like a rock, and I don't mind the bezel because I look at the screen when I use my PC, not the bezel. The keyboard is amazing, and it is just as thin as any other laptop in it's class. I don't want a computer that tries to put form over function and succeeds in making it elegant, but utterly fails in making it functional. For example, the t61 and all of Lenovo's models have a simple black finish and clean lines, and useful features like the TrackPoint, the ThinkLight (yes it helps, a lot), a rollcage, APS, solid design (holding it by the screen supports the whole laptop, and the bottom half won't instantly drop down as far as possible (*ahem*MacBook*ahem*), and the screen has no play or wobble. Also, I can swap out my DVD burner for an extra 2.5" SATA HDD bay. I personally think Lenovo's designs are among the best in the industry, but it depends on what you value in a laptop, like being able to use it on your lap. Having a father who works for IBM, and therefore gets fantastic discounts only sweetens the deal.
I know what you're saying Lando, I have a T61p. It's very functional, and this one isn't even bad looking. But, other manufacturers are moving on with more modern designs, HP, Dell, and Sony being the ones I think of. And actually, bezels aren't so bad, but the whole laptop is larger than it has to be because of it.
Now, I am not going to care all to much about style, but I think it's time to come up with something more modern for Lenovo. Also, the build quality and material quality is lower than it was under IBM. I've used the older ones and I definitely notice a difference.
Also, I think the Thinklight should be replaced by a backlit keyboard. I don't find much use out of mine.
I'd make a left-handed version with the option of keeping the aux display on the right for no additional charge. And if they don't make a lefty version, then they should heavily discount it if you're a southpaw.
amen to that. After all, we do make up 1/8th of the world's population.
I'd have made the second screen a touch screen. I also like Sacapuntas' idea of combining the Wacom pad and the track pad.
12hr battery life, 3-4lbs max weight... and throw in so laser beams for good taste!
instead of having a small screen slide out I would have another full size screen flip out from behind the other screen.
Kinda like the cover of a book.
So the other screen wouldn't be protected so what. Its pretty much already a desktop anyways.
OH! Make the other screen a touch screen and call it a dual-screen tablet so when its closed its a tablet when its open its a dual screen laptop.
I actually have both a W700 and W700 DS , first off light is right It would be great to take off a few pounds. however I didn't buy it because it was light I bought it to crunch stuff. The DS is a little bit bigger all-around than that regular 700. And thepullout screen doesn't quite fit the full size of the of the other screen so if your app is fullscreen across both screens horizontally the right screen is a little higher. I would make sure the lineup exactly the same. additionally lenovo should write some software that supports the second screen. like bring a video camera up on the right screen.
Thanks - I am actually much more interested in owner's comments than anybody else's. Maybe just me...
Do you put the secondary screen to good use or is it more like a show-off feature, e.g. good for wowing people and not much else?
the reality is is that I use a second screen a lot. Initially, I pulled it out just to show off, but I can imagine using the system without two screens now. I've even develop special features in my software to take advantage of the second screen from within the application. I think these laptops are a breakthrough in many ways. Not only do you have incredible 64-bit quad core processing. You also get the visual real estate to do meaningful work. I love these systems. You just doing email you don't need a system like this however; if your real work to do this is an outstanding system. Just bring a Sherpa to carry it for you.
Make it not a Lenovo laptop, add Mac OS X, something to make it less crappy.
Add a third screen of course - it's asymmetric and it looks like there should be enough space to fit another screen in there, to the left.
I would prefer a really awesome tablet though: 1920x1200 resolution, both multi-touch capacitive and wacom-type sensors so it can distinguish fingers from the stylus. 2.5" hard drive. Oh and those zinc batteries that last for > 5 years, but enough of them that it can go 6-8 hours on a charge. Make a smallish bluetooth keyboard that can be docked to the tablet for carrying or detached for actual typing. Build a stand in the back so it can stand up without having an attached keyboard and hinge to support it. Nobody's delivering any one of those specs right now, let alone all in one package.
Stick a 3rd screen on the other side for symmetry and even more screen space :D
Left handed friendly, and dirt cheap. Probably make the optical drive and tablet portions modules. Make a table lthat would pop out like a cd drive, then make both modules on both sides so it caters to both handed ness. Add a third screen on each side.
Finally, somebody has decided to include another screen into a laptop. I will do no work on a computer without 2 full screens, hence the reason I have not purchased a laptop. Not sure how much juice is sucked up by another screen, but I like to see it. If another full screen flips out, I can see how it would make the unit unstable, but I am sure their engineers can figure it out. How about 3 screens?
what about having the extra screen eon the left I like lefty secondary screen ...
I dont get the point of multiple screens on a "portable" laptop.
Yeah first I would freak out that Jason was coming up behind me. then I would take the w700ds and hit him with it. I would then feel safe becuase it is so big and heavy that even Jason wouldn't get back up. That being said a dual screen laptop is just awsome but I would still want it to be lighter
remove the extra screen and call it a "normal" notebook:)
Wouldn't that make it the normal W700?
GPS, TV Tuner, and ti... errr... stereoscopic displays.
I would love to see a sub 5lb version, in the vein of the X200s, with two of it's 1400x900 12" screens.
I would probably lighten it, maybe by removing that second screen?
I would add a 3rd screen.
Change? The PRICE of course! Damn expensive...
lol at the screen
thin it, add another screen, touchscreen, longer battery, core i7, double 3700
basically everything that can't be done
The second screen needs a second screen and add a SSD HD on the second screen because they are awesome. "My second screen has its own screen!" Soon we will have screens that have have screens that have screens screens....screens...more screens. Think about the word screen...just keep saying it..its weird.
A left-handed version would be nice.
The strip which hosts the wacom tablet and the trackpad could be modular/reconfigurable. Since we can have sliding/folding keyboards and secondary displays on laptops, why not?
1.CHEAPER,are you crazy?about 3663 bucks ?
2.the first and the second screen can be bigger(not too much).Look at the frame of the first screen .Its to thick.
3.on the left side a third screen.
4.noble surface
5.Bluray writer
6.prog. oled keyboard bar
How can you even think about changing anything on this 13 pounder... BBW is the way to go! I would like two screens on my laptop but this approach was a bit off.
Remember guys, this is not as much fail as Dells M2010.
I'd like to see a 15" W500DS. I don't need to carry a 17" laptop around with me all the time but I'd love to have the DS feature on my 15" laptop. Surely making a mid-size screen bigger is going to be more use to more people than making an already massive screen bigger?
what the fuck is it with jason in all the pictures?????
He's been hired to chase and remove all iIdiots, he just hasn't been let loose yet, it's a subliminal warning.
Wacom / touchpad integration, no need to have two. make it responds like a touchpad to human touch.
Throw in a Cintiq integration, peopel who buy this doesn't care about how much this cost, just go all out!.
Built in pico projector, works as a third screen (or clone) for collaborative work / presentation.
Fuel Cell batteries. Just because it's big, heavy, and pretty much, more powerful than most PCs doesn't mean it has to have short battery life.
or just make it light, smaller, and runs on ARM. :P (kidding)