Is this a next generation ThinkPad, or the cruelest Photoshop ThinkPad fans have ever witnessed?

So, before we get ourselves in a tizzy, we'll caveat that there are some seeming signs of Photoshoppery here, namely the edge around the keyboard and of course the pure insanity of putting chiclet keys and a white skin on a ThinkPad (Cloned In China thinks it might be an outright KIRF). That said, there's something about the laptop that smacks of ultraportability and simplicity which we're not entirely averse to. And for the purists there's still that nipple and the third mouse button to be smug about, which is something for them to think about while the burn down the Engadget HQ in a rage for us even suggesting this could be a good direction. Check out another shot after the break, and shots of another even odder design at the read link.

[aznofazns Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:06AM]

Nice read link... fail.

[Faceless Troll Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:07AM]

If these are real the Thinkpad is officially dead to me.

[Hydra Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:07AM]

Looks very old fashioned

[gp Posted Nov 2nd 2009 10:18AM]

You're analogically sick.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:14AM]

That laptop would look perfect in my garbage can.

[KO Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:13AM]

This could be a real mockup, (Toshiba told me years ago their mockups were made of wood) but I doubt something like this would make production as a ThinkPad. The keyboard layout and power button location are very SL-like. But they've been making a bit of noise about the SL's 'hidden' hinges, which this doesn't have. And the non-repeat of the 'titanium'-colored lid on the Z60, and the move on the SL from glossy to matte lids methinks the white isn't for production.

My guess is this was a mockup for a to-be "SL210," which didn't come to be after they decided to drop the SL300 (which I have one of).

[Ethyriel Posted Nov 2nd 2009 8:52AM]

This is looking like the best answer here, considering the news of a 10.6" machine in FCC.

[Neutral Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:16AM]

2 years ago I said I will never buy a mcbook due to pricing.
Since I see Pc laptops highend laptops only $100 difference from apple MacBook.
I'm finally ready to drop $899 for a MacBook pro. Apple. Com

[CJ Posted Nov 2nd 2009 9:39AM]

Two years ago I was content with whatever my parents gave me after I begged then for it while slacking off and refusing to learn how to spell correctly.

But now that my trust fund has been released, I'm full of disposable income. Macbooks look good, and that takes prefrence over power or price, and since I'm doing a liberal arts degree, I onlty really need a word processor and an internet connection.

[BoullionCube Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:21AM]

I can get one of these and literally hammer other laptops from HP, Apple, Dell, Acer, etc. and the Thinkpad will barely be scratched.

[pinke123 Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:30AM]

no

[laserbeams Posted Nov 3rd 2009 8:37AM]

seconded

[MrAffrox Posted Nov 2nd 2009 1:41AM]

Is it too much to ask for functionality and pretty in one package?

[rocketman lalala Posted Nov 5th 2009 7:03AM]

You, sir, are looking for an HP Elitebook. You pay for what you get, though.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2009 2:07AM]

It seems like every laptop has a MacBook-like chicklet keyboard these days.

[cesium Posted Nov 2nd 2009 2:46AM]

LOL. Apple copied the keyboard from Sony which copied it from I believe Toshiba.

[RawheaD Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:18AM]

@Cesium

You're probably right. The thing is, the reason why a lot of laptops have chicklet keyboards these days probably ain't because Sony and Toshiba had them in the past.

[RawheaD Posted Nov 2nd 2009 3:02AM]

Egad. Nipple? Have you no class?


We like to call it the ThinkPad clit.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2009 3:39AM]

There seems to be two more pictures at this link http://www.51nb.com/viewnews-53678.html showing another model. Not sure if anyone has seen these other ones yet.

[brothaa Posted Nov 2nd 2009 5:17PM]

LENOVO - IF YOU MAKE THIS and DONT LEAVE THE X SERIES AS IT IS

I WILL LOSE FAITH IN HUMANITY

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2009 4:11AM]

missing clam-shell is FAIL!
-> fake

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2009 4:51AM]

@Bogdan:
As far as my jerkish comment about being 'important', I said that to lash out at people putting down Thinkpads and maybe I'm unfairly assuming the first poster is an apple fanboy.

But I dont care.

Thinkpads are the best laptops I've ever used when it comes to durability and construction. From my experience going back to the titanium powerbooks to my current MBP , theres always a problem when it comes cracks, creaks, and such. I'm a database analyst for the Department of Education and I travel all over the place within and out of state. Assuming you are not careless with your computer, it will be fine. My macbooks, for the most part, stayed in my house.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2009 4:53AM]

@Bogdan:
As far as my jerkish comment about being 'important', I said that to lash out at people putting down Thinkpads and maybe I'm unfairly assuming the first poster is an apple fanboy.

But I dont care.

Thinkpads are the best laptops I've ever used when it comes to durability and construction. From my experience going back to the titanium powerbooks to my current MBP , theres always a problem when it comes cracks, creaks, and such. I'm a database analyst for the Department of Education and I travel all over the place within and out of state. Assuming you are not careless with your computer, it will be fine. My macbooks, for the most part, stayed in my house.

[bigcow05 Posted Nov 2nd 2009 5:48AM]

Not sure about the glossy white, but a little visual update, though not necessary for the TP fanbase, could attract new customers. As long as the quality is same or better, and the keyboard feel is still top-notch.

[CJ Posted Nov 2nd 2009 6:52AM]

I dunno, the white looks kinda cool (proud T500 owner, by the way).

The chicklet keyboard, however, can burn in hell.

[brothaa Posted Nov 2nd 2009 5:19PM]

i agree i HATE this type of keyboard. It is only good for about 1week, after which you realize - it sucks ass

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2009 8:08AM]

Horrifying, stuff of nightmares.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2009 10:07AM]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo! Half-height arrow keys?!?!?! No 3x2 insert/home/pgup/pgdn/del/insert block? Um, I think it's time to stockpile X301s before they're all gone.

Hopefully this is a KIRF, and if not, the thinkpad line is officially dead.

[Darwin Posted Nov 2nd 2009 9:18AM]

Current Thinkpads are not as well made as older ones. My work issued T400 is noticeably less solid and uses cheaper plastics than the T61 and T43 I still have. Of course my 15 inch unibody Mac Book Pro walks all over any of them in durability and quality. Thinkpads are cheap fpr their quality level though. If you buy the higher end HP business laptops they cost as much or more than a Mac Book Pro.

[enex Posted Nov 2nd 2009 10:01AM]

I don't think that screen is glossy (it better not be)

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 4th 2009 9:31AM]

gawd that's ugly

[artshark Posted Nov 2nd 2009 10:37AM]

Dear Lenovo,
Keep the old school ThinkPad design motif alive. that way I know who to make fun of.

[MagicalTrev Posted Nov 2nd 2009 3:46PM]

I'm pretty sure that says "ThinkPod"

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2009 9:14PM]

Yeah, looks like a KIRF but I can see technicians using this out in the field at construction sites. Not all Labtops have to be pretty.

[brothaa Posted Nov 2nd 2009 5:07PM]

I REALLY hope Lenovo does not make the Touch and Nipple pad on the next X series - I will be SO MAD


I also do not understand why the X200 - and X200T have different keyboards. They x200t has a much better keyboard, i have had both of them and i just .. do not understand.

I now have a sony Vaio Z series and ... after 4 months am looking to sell it and buy an thinkpad x200, but i think im gona wait till january till the new line of X series are introduced.

x200 is like the BEST computer ever, i kinda wish it was still in the 3:4 resolution but... i guess you cant get everything that you want.

I was kinda disappointed with the X200T, its just so much heavier and bulkier. My friends X41T is just soo much smaller and lighter, like the x200 and T almost feel like totally different computers.

although they were both awesome

and way more awesome then my now sony z

my biggest reason for wanting to keep the Z is that i have another Harddrive stuffed into the DVD drive .. and its pretty awesome to have an SSD, and a 640GB HDD

[jellotime91 Posted Nov 19th 2009 6:54PM]

People who buy thinkpads obviously don't give a shit about the looks of the computer. Fuck this thing is hideous.