Lenovo introduces multitouch ThinkPad X200 Tablet and T400s laptop
By Nilay Patel 
posted Sep 15th 2009 12:01AM
posted Sep 15th 2009 12:01AM
Lenovo Adds Touch of Simplicity to New MultiTouch Screen ThinkPad PCs
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – September 15, 2009: Lenovo today is bringing business users a new way to work with multitouch screen technology1 on the versatile and portable ThinkPad X200 Tablet PC and slim and powerful ThinkPad T400s laptop. Lenovo is also introducing SimpleTap, an application that brings simplicity to the multitouch screen experience.
"We see now as the right time for multitouch screens on PCs," said Sam Dusi, vice president, worldwide ThinkPad product marketing, Lenovo. "With touch screens increasingly becoming part of more devices we use routinely and continued improvement of the technology including the integration of touch in the upcoming Windows 7 operating system, the environment for making touch part of our Tablet PC and ThinkPad T400s laptop experience couldn't be better. We've also extended the touch experience with SimpleTap to make frequent hardware-based functions touch-enabled and simple."
Lenovo also today announced a new defense against the sun for outdoor workers with a new super bright optional screen on the ThinkPad X200 Tablet.
Personalizing Productivity on the PC with Touch
Users can now interact with their ThinkPad PC in a more personal way with multitouch screen technology. Designed for highly mobile users, the optional multitouch screen ThinkPad X200 Tablet caters to individuals in fields such as sales, health care and education. Already supporting one finger touch, these users can now use two-finger touch to perform a variety of gestures, including pinching, zooming, tapping and flicking through documents, web pages and photos instead of using a mouse.
The high performance ThinkPad T400s laptop serves professionals in engineering and design. Now these users can manipulate four fingers on the ThinkPad T400s laptop's optional multitouch screen to not only replace the mouse but transform the way they work. They can now use four fingers to manipulate objects, move images with two hands and even have another person touch the screen to collaborate simultaneously. As new multitouch applications are introduced, there will be new possibilities for using multitouch screen laptops.
Using advanced capacitive touch, the screens are sensitive and responsive to even the slightest touch of the finger. Lenovo also optimized the firmware to help compensate for slightly imprecise taps on the screen, such as when closing a window or navigating the Start menu, helping make navigation easier for Tablet users. To combat fingerprints, an anti-fingerprint coating helps keep smudges at bay and the screen clean. The multi-touch screens also allow users to enjoy ultra long battery life with up to nine hours on the ThinkPad X200 Tablet.2
With upcoming ThinkPad X200 Tablet models supporting the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, these mobile users can also take advantage of improved predictive text over previous operating systems, improved handwriting recognition in more languages and formula input features for math and scientific equations.
Adding a "Touch" of Simplicity to Touch Screens
Touch screens are designed to make interaction with a PC natural and intuitive, however, often users must switch between touch screen gestures and pressing hardware buttons. Lenovo designed SimpleTap, a ThinkVantage Technology, to enable uninterrupted use of people's touch screens by giving them access to hardware-based functions that may be more easily accessed via touch input. For Tablet users, that means staying in tablet mode longer while on-the-go, saving time and being more productive.
To use SimpleTap, simply double tap anywhere on the screen to launch the application. A clean and efficient gridof colorful and transparent square tiles, inspired by the classic 15 Puzzle, opens on top of the work beneath and allows users to choose several hardware-based functions including: turning on or off the wireless radio, ThinkLight and microphone, previewing the camera, enabling mute, adjusting the volume or screen brightness, locking the screen or putting the PC to sleep. To exit SimpleTap, just tap once anywhere on the screen to close the grid and continue working. As a quick access interface, SimpleTap allows users to get in, perform a function and get out quickly.
Designed to be highly customizable, individuals can create their own tiles to enhance their personal productivity. For example, a sales professional could create a tile that launches a sales presentation with just the tap of a finger. A health professional could similarly create a tile that pulls up a patient's medical information instantaneously. Or a consumer could quickly access his or her favorite website. Users can arrange the tiles however they choose by dragging and grouping them together, and designed to be fun to use, the tiles can even be flicked around the screen.
Click here to see a video demonstration of SimpleTap and here to read more about the design and inspiration behind the application.
Brightening Tablet PC for Outdoor Light
To further extend tablet computing outdoors, users can now choose a super bright outdoor screen that displays images even in direct sunlight. For field engineers, sales professionals, students and others who work outside, outdoor viewability is critical. The new optional outdoor screen on the ThinkPad X200 Tablet offers excellent viewability with a bright 400 nit screen, low 1.2 percent reflectivity and wide viewing angle. Coated with a thin anti-reflective layer, the screen provides crisp and bright images that can easily be seen indoors or outdoors. Mobile workers can also stay productive with the Tablet's all day battery life.
Pricing and Availability3
The ThinkPad T400s with the multitouch screen and the ThinkPad X200 Tablet with the multitouch screen and the outdoor screen will be available starting immediately through business partners and www.lenovo.com. Pricing starts at approximately $1,999 for the ThinkPad T400s with the multitouch screen and $1,654 and $1,704, respectively, for the ThinkPad X200 Tablet with the multitouch screen and outdoor screen. SimpleTap will be available for download after October 22.
About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo's business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.
1Multitouch does not support all applications.
2With an 8 cell battery. Battery life varies dependent upon user settings.
3Prices do not include tax or shipping and are subject to change without notice and is tied to specific terms and conditions. Reseller prices may vary. Price does not include all advertised features. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice
Why must all tablets cost so much?
Seriously? Let's see, an iPod Touch cost 300, and it only has a 3.5 inch screen, do the math.
Yeah, but that's because apple makes it.
well this is because lenovo makes it
which is much better then apple
your actually paying for quality materials, and construction, not pretty colors and rounded edges.
These thinkpad x200's are amazing machines, they are the kinda laptop you just toss on your bed from 10 ft away, or throw into a backpack without paying any attention.... cuz..... you can, and there is nothing to worry about.
I did and the math has taken a personal toll on my wallet in the form of a $3000 Fujitsu tablet. Thank you Virginia Tech College of Engineering... -_-
the iPod touch is 200. have you been living under a rock?
Lenovo's tend to be quite affordable.
@ brotha
You seem to be unaware of the difference between unibody aluminium and plastic.
@NITE
magnetism + rubbery plastic vs aluminum
@NITE
You seem to underestimate the quality of thinkpads. Yes they are plastic on the outside for aesthetic purposes but underneath Titanium and magnesium wrap the motherboard.
@NITE
Can we we please quit it with this "Unibody Alumunium" bullshit. Its a piece of aluminum. Its been around for 100 years or so now, and the "Unibody" bullshit that you guys slather over more than Job's c**k just referrs to the fact that its milled out of one piece. Which, by the way, does not make it green, it makes it anti-green, because you could make it out of pieces with half the aluminum and half the machining = less consumption.
Now magnesium and rubbery plastic construction, with titanium strengthening, theres something thats actually a little new.
Or you could get the HP touchsmart tx-2 convertible tablet right now for $800 (fully loaded, because of $250 coupon codes). 4-finger multi-touch + perfect stylus recognition. Most thoroughly tested Windows 7 multitouch hardware to date along with the Dell Latitude XT 2.
Terrible grammar!
"which is much better then apple"
"which is much better *THAN* apple" FTFY
"your actually paying for ..."
"you're actually paying for ..." FTFY
"Lenovo's tend to ..."
"Lenovos tend to ..." FTFY
lol video not available
It's working now, I guess they were still uploading the video when the posted the article.
I dont think this could do what i would want it to do for 2000 bucks
Oh Engadget I like this ability to hide the PR text... tastytasty
Now can you fix commenting system please :)
Apple is gonna have a hard time getting into a tablet pc market with things like this around unless they price it cheap.
I hope they make a version of the app for their older tablets. Even with out multi-touch capabilities I would like that app on my x61t
I don't like how he is portraying this technology. "We had a lot of fun developing this... I think our customers will have a lot of fun using it". Thinkpads aren't really meant to be fun... not to say that they can't be, but my impression is that thinkpad consumers are people looking for a high quality laptop that can take a beating and do anything they need it to do for work/school/whatever. It just seems that choice of words isn't really aimed at the right demographic. I know this isn't a marketing campaign and this could be a useful feature but it doesn't really seem like it will increase productivity that much.
I think that is why they put the pain-knob on there. You're not actually supposed to use the touchscreen, just pay for it. I'm all with you.
That's frickin' cool.
I wonder how the capacitive touchscreen would work with the stylus on the X200t. I thought all tablets up until now used a resistive touchscreen.
No, they mostly use a Wacom sensor.
I would've bought it instantly if I had a job...
Stupid economy
Hasn't the X200 Tablet been available with a MultiTouch option since...it came out?
Common misconception. Lenovo has had "multi-touch" tablets since the x60t days, but that's a branding gimmick, it's actually just dual digitizer (Wacom/Resistive). Real multi-touch as in multiple-fingers-at-the-same-time didn't come to laptops until Dell introduced the XT.
I just bought X200 Tablet three months ago and it was advertised as Multi-touch. To my surprise there was no multi-touch function at all. Lenovo misrepresented itself and false advertised the product. Don't believe everything they said.
@HKJ: If anything Wacom misrepresented themselves because they make the touch panels.
f
Sorry errored.
I have an "old" x200 tablet, it was advertised as "multi-touch" but it didnt deliver :P i should sue for false advertisement. I payed $2200 for it dangg.
However, lenovo is a VERY good company with a good product, i still enjoy it. I hope they include nvidia ion on these too, i really hate the intel graphics crap.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that a big-ass catch right sitting where you would
- grab it while writing if right-handed
- lay down your hand while writing when left-handed
?
Now while I would not group a Thinkpad in the "fun" sector in the first place (not that I don't like em, but they are serious, serious PCs), that actually looks quite painful.
We are going to be demoing the t400s soon, that machine is ROCK solid, it's world class above even the other t-series machines.
Love my x200t, but might have to sell it now and go with the multitouch. Would be more convenient for just browsing the web in tablet mode. Can't take notes without a pen though, so if the writing isn't as good feeling as with the normal, probably just keep the one I have. After a brief stint with an MPB, I am back at lenovo for good now. Best computers made, and good linux community with them (well, could be better with the tablet admittedly).
Even though this might open a can of worms, but how is a tablet going to benefit from capacitive and multitouch?
Maybe i got the fundamental uses of those things wrong, but isnt it to be used with a stylus, for stuff like writing or drawing?
Shure that app pictured has nice big colorfull buttons, and even some kind of "swipe" it seems, but what is it for? Adjusting volume and whatnot? So this means now i can buy a thinkpad and play around with it all day, pretending to be an über cool DJ, swiping the volume up and down ...
And then i go to word, or excel, and realize that my fingers are not well suited for that.
so its back to playing DJ. *wipe* *wipe* *wipe*
You can do a lot of the things with touch that you can with a stylus. Some of the tablet-functions in Windows will swill give you an on-screen keyboard so that you can type with that, which isn't great for something like essay writing but if you're just browsing the web it can be fine. I've spent more than a few hours navigating Wikipedia using the touch on my HP TX2500. On top of that basic games like chess are easily controlled using touchscreens, and if you're ever bored you can always use it for fingerpainting!
It's not as useful as the stylus in my opinion, but if speed and accuracy aren't critical then pretty much anything that can be done with the stylus can be done with the touchscreen, and it just feels a bit more natural. The only downside is getting fingerprints all over your screen.
SimpleTap is totally useless on the T400, where the screen doesn't swivel to cover the keyboard. The function keys are much quicker while requiring less hand movement and giving wrist support.
I wouldn't say completely useless. When you are sitting with the thinkpad on your lap rather than on a desk, some of the functions could be just as easily controlled onscreen, and others may not have function keys to control them. I find myself occasionally wishing i had touchscreen on my T60.
Why is it necessary to have an account to leave comments on a blog? It's extremely annoying and doesn't offer benefit to the users.
I am deleting the email with my password and never commenting here again. Unless, of course, I don't need an account next time.
It offers the benefits of helping to prevent simple spambots stuffing the place full of posts about Viagra and get rich quick schemes. It also means excessive trolls or spambots that slip through the net can have their email address/account banned, leaving the comment section (relatively) on-topic.
It's a minor pain, and it's not perfect, but the benefits are great.
Stay away from Lenovo! I have an X61 tablet and the build quality is horrendous. The bezel peeled away from the screen, the fan broke, the screen flickers horribly due to a poorly designed connector... seriously, the quality of the Thinkpads has really dropped in recent years. They are now little more than overpriced Chinese junk.
I own X61 laptop and am pretty happy with that :) Build pretty well, survived 4 month backpackers' trip through China. I use it for electronic music as well (with PCMCIA Indigo I/O card) and for home studio RME FireWire 400 card. The battery still lasts 5 hours. The only thing is that rarely I need to reset the laptop by detaching the battery, huh :(
I've had an x60t since 2008 and use it daily, and the screen has needed replacement, the battery failed, the fan failed, the closing latch failed, the integrated graphics failed and the hinge became loose and extremely squeaky. I bought the 3-year warranty on it, however, and the support has been excellent. I still love the computer, however, especially its SXGA+ screen and Wacom digitizer.
Actually, since 2007.
From the Video I have to say its realy shitty. Whats that for a bad delay when dragging something around? The Icon belongs under the finger while I'm drag... 20Hz FTW?
So I just bought a t400s last week. The only hesitation I had was I was hoping for multi touch, but though those models wouldn't arrive till mid next year. I shouldn't have underestimated the Windows 7 buzz. I may try to exchange it.
I have been using a tablet for the last 3 years, my first one was HPTC1100 and now I'm on the x61t from Lenovo.
It is sure not for everyone, though I don't think I will ever want to buy another non tablet laptop/netbook/notebook etc.
A lot of people gave up on the tablet ideas as you would expect your fingers to work the screen and for it to be sort of like on a portable GPS clicking buttons on the screen... just to no avial.
Using a pen on the Tablet takes time an practice and you kind of have to know what you are doing and accept the limitations.
Multitouch and Windows 7 are finally (hopefully) going to bridge this gap where the tablet is actually going to do what you think it should be doing. Sayng this though the interface will really have to change as everything on the market today has been designed with a mouse in mind and even the smallest of fingers are bigger then the tip of a pen or mouse cursor. If any of the Apple rumors are true we should be able to see the first kicks at the implementation of a usable interface where your fingers (not a mouse or a pen) that drive the screen.