Lenovo's rumored ThinkPad X200e gets two more spy spots, another shot of believability
By Darren Murph 
posted Nov 3rd 2009 10:56AM
posted Nov 3rd 2009 10:56AM
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
White border tarnishes the TP name.
Agreed.
We can only pray that there is a black model. Nothing wrong with white, but that's just not how thinkpads are made.
FUGLY
Not at all, I've always used white TP.
It's not really the fact that it being white makes it ugly. It's the fact that the new design is contrasted by the old black color scheme. If it was all white, it might have a chance. Anyways, what I do like to see is how they've decided to incorporate a touchpad into the X series - something that's always been missing. Otherwise, I don't really see a difference between the e vs. s or the regular x200.
@adokimus: ahah, i see what you did there. i've always used green and white striped TP
I've always liked the X series because (among other things) it /didn't/ have that annoying touchpad. If you're using a ThinkPad, you should be using a ThinkNipple. Don't try to argue this opinion, it's objective.
This actually made me think again why we still use the QWERTY keyboard designed for typewriters. We need to move or loose the caps lock and get rid of insert and scroll lock! I would like to see a dedicated copy/paste buttons and a set of 5 reprogrammable buttons on the left side.
PLEASE someone get on this.
"we're finding it difficult to contain our excitement"
I'm finding it difficult to contain my stomach's contents.
And I've never even owned a thinkpad.
I think they actually have a guy there to "ugly it up a little"... I mean, even a medieval guy who traveled through time will thik it looks old and ugly.
It still looks terrible. Who thought it was a good idea to put the ThinkPad design with a white case?
This one comes about 33 years too late. The last red, white & blue piece of electronics i can remember was a Commodore Bicentennial calculator!
This one comes about 33 years too late. The last red, white & blue piece of electronics i can remember was a Commodore Bicentennial calculator!
Maybe the same designer who got fired because of the Honda Crosstard.
The x200 series is smaller than that, and it doesn't have a track-pad.
and you can compare size on that photo alone...?
Nobody ever said Lenovo knew how to design a ThinkPad...
it's just likely this is their screwup with the direction for the X series as it is the wrong model number being rumored.
If you compare a real x200 and that, you would know that the track-pad would not be as large as it is shown in the photo.
If this is real, then watch sales of the Dell Latitude and its ilk skyrocket as Lenovo pisses its reputation away.
dear god what have they done to thinkpads?
A shame it's not fake. Does not look appealing at all.
I really didn't think it was possible for Lenovo to make its Thinkpad series more ugly. I can't believe it's still rockin' the blue enter key and the red accents on the trackpad and nubbin. Also, what on earth were they thinking with the white?
They make solidly performing products, but they are dedicated to ideology of ugliness.
Bleh. looks like a cross between an Ideapad and a thinkpad. That's bad in every way possible.
Lenovo, stop ruining thinkpads. Go back to making awesome ones, like the T400s.
What, like the SL series? (Which is basically a low-end IdeaPad with a TrackPoint...)
However, if it is yet another rebadged IdeaPad, it does have one major advantage - the TrackPoint. That alone is worth it to me.
Uh if its a new netbook or whatever why does it have XP? Maybe its just a prototype....
my S10 had XP on it.
I am assuming this is just a prototype, I can't really believe that lenovo would release a white thinkpad like that... that thing is hideous.
OMG.. what have they gone and done?!?!?!??!?!
it was so much better with its original look. One reason I liked the thinkpads cause they stayed true to their original design..
this really makes it look Gawdy!
Urk could it be any uglier.
You know white wouldnt look that bad..but dont half ass it. Keep the red accents and make the rest ALL white. Then it would be sexy.
Please drop the white!
They should tweak the design, but it better have the high quality, high durability that my current thinkpad has.
The ugly lip around the sides of my screen should go. The high quality feel, indicator lights, weep holes, etc should stay.
It looks like a Nintendo control pad. I would take the all black, dull, corporate looking laptop they have always had (which I have now). If anything it's their brand and they shouldn't step away from it. By NOT looking like everything else it helps them to remain an individual. Bad move Lenovo....bad move.
It's all about the keyboard... how dare they mess with the best laptop keyboard!
They already messed with the keyboards. The ones on the new models may *look* like old ThinkPad keyboards, but they changed suppliers several years ago. Those who say they still have the best keyboards are one of two things:
1. Lucky enough to get one of the few batches of NMB keyboards that Lenovo still sources occasionally
or
2. Using their first ThinkPad and have nothing to compare it to.
I've seen people even rave about the SL series keyboards, which I'm typing on right now and it's crap. It's got a woody, hollow feel, it's not even flat, and the keys are too big. My old IBM ThinkPad had a completely different feel to it.
I guess I haven't used any of the newer ones on the T-, X- and SL series... I did use a newer Idea Pad keyboard though. Your description seems to fit those too, I was not impressed. The new MacBook Pros have better keyboards than the Idea Pad (only slightly).
On the up-side, they are still way better than the Dell and Sony keyboards I have had to endure. I still use my 6 year old T-40 and love it.
@Jeff
To be fair, IBM changed the keyboard design before Lenovo came along. Just look at the keyboards from the T4x generation. Some of those are worse than the ALPS keyboard in my x200. The new MNB and Chiclet keyboards feel superb, similar to the keyboard on my 600x.
Why is it running XP?
by the looks of it, it's a netbook. Low end netbooks will probably still sell with Windows XP and Win7 is an option.
either thats a HUGE netbook, or some tiny seats.
haha. Tiny seats probaby :)
I'm guessing it's a 12 inch model. Not too out of the ordinary in the netbook world.
I might like the keyboard layout, all keys inline and only one top row of keys. I probably won't like it otherwise.
Trackpad on an ultraportable Thinkpad...white PLASTIC case...redesigned keyboard...
Either these changes work super well and people like them, or they have just ruined the Thinkpad design.
This should really be more of an SL-series, sort of a mini-SL netbook.
As long as it keeps the nipple they can design it however they want.
when spy shots of new cars emerge, the cars are always plastered with stuff to hide their curves and body shape... pretty sure the white is the same thing here. chill out guys.
I completely agree that the white is a casing. I wouldn't be surprised if this laptop is extremely thin and that's what's being hidden behind the white plastic.
Nope, its not a cover. Take a close where the white border connects with the touch pad buttons.
I think it's true, cause it would be really strange, a laptop without ANY ports at all at the right side.
Windows XP is starting to look like Windows 95 compared to Win 7.
All I want is a thinkpad t400 with all the bells and whistles it has now along with the look and feel, with a 4+ hour battery life and a battery that doesn't stick out. It should be that hard. I can't beleive that if I want more than 1.5 hours that I need a battery that sticks out. Ridiculous. I have to lay down...
Well, if true then first netbook (other than the Sony P-series) that has a trackpoint. That's a plus for those of us that like them.
Keyboard looks okay but like others the all black inside with the white outside looks stupid. All black please. Do a texture or something if you must, though that's not really what Thinkpads are supposed to look like. A matte rubbery black would be just fine.
Hopefully Lenovo realizes they are risking a lot here and have put quality components into this thing. Its okay if its a LITTLE more expensive than a typical netbook. Hard drive should have shock detection and roll cage (rubber gaskets). Or if there's an SSD it should be a good SSD. Multitouch trackpad. Solid construction. Etc.