Lenovo T410s leaks out, features not one but two ThinkLights
By Nilay Patel 
posted November 16th 2009 6:26PM
posted November 16th 2009 6:26PM
[Thanks, Adam]
posted November 16th 2009 6:26PM
Lenovo ThinkPad T410
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I don't know if this is real, but the MS Paint markups are wicked annoying ;)
also according to the link, it has 2 more USB ports, making it 5 USB ports with 1 being USB/eSATA. I doubt Lenovo is going to do that, but we'll see.
Keyboard backlighting is a much better idea. It should be standard these days. The Thinklight does not work nearly as well. Try using it in a darkened airplane with varying degrees of illumination or anywhere else with less than ideal conditions. My work issued laptop is a T400, I would really like this larger trackpad. It will also be interesting to see if the T400s has gone back to IBM Thinkpad level build quality. I have seen these laptops get progressively cheaper looking and poorly fitting under Lenovo. Of course the cost has dropped dramatically too so I guess something has to give if they want to pitch it a a low priced laptop. The MacBook Pro backlight keyboard and trackpad will spoil you for anything else btw and its taking the PC manufacturers awhile to come out with larger trackpads that actually work.
Good job cutting and pasting Nilay.
I use it all the time in the dark and it seems fine to me.
Same here. After using a MacBook Pro I just can't go back to the old track pad design, feels like trying to play a modern FPS using one of those old Atari paddle controllers :P
Really disappointing really. If you think about 2 solutions for a problem, I'd want the more elegant one. You can't see your keyboard -- a) put a big spot light or two up top b) back light the keyboard. Option b) seems more elegant to me...
I can't image that no one mentions this. Thinkpad keyboards are designed to be spill-proof (to some extend), and that's the main reason why they cannot put lights into the keyboard. See my reply to Daniel's above.
I have to admit I totally forgot about this
hello there ms. paint
"Longer is good"
Damn, those asians really know what they're talking 'bout.
THERE ARE FOUR THINKLIGHTS
All you have to do is tell me there that there are five ThinkLights, and I'll give you a T410s.
Came here for this, leaving happy now.
It's fun to show coworkers who borrowed a Thinkpad & don't know about the light. Hit the key & watch them light up(and the screen too).
Never fond a use for it, but it would look cool if you are hacking in the dark.
Not only are they spill proof, but Thinkpad keyboards are designed to be easily user replaceable. Just a few screws and they pop out. I've replaced quite a few because I've bought foreign Thinkpads before.
Not as easy with a backlight, though I admit the backlight is more elegant.
Ouch..you must've gotten the first batch of t400's with the ultra flexy keyboard and a bunch of other problems. I got the second batch and the thinklight has a bigger shroud so it points the light downards.
http://benyouhuifile.it168.com/attachments/day_091014/20091014_14a87c710fbe464e73cd9gHFR0flhS0g.jpg absolutely made my day.
I much prefer having the ThinkLight over a backlit keyboard for one reason: When I get an instant message, the ThinkLight flashes! So awesome!
That could be programmed into the backlit keyboard, too.
These are not Thinklights. They're the dual microphones used to improve Skype performance. I'm looking at them right now on my T400s. The Thinklight is between them, but hidden under a shroud so the light doesn't shine in your face as you type. On that picture it will be hidden.
I stand corrected by Carson. Cool.
Why don't they print the letters on the keyboard with glow-in-the-dark paint and put an infrared led in the ThinkLight insteat of a white or yellow one?
"longer is good"
A GPU other than Intel integrated crap is a must for me! At least nvidia 9400m class.
I was going to ask what the hell a thinklight is, but after reading the comments it seems to be a tiny light which focuses on the keyboard so you can see to type? Wow. haha. Sorry, but I much prefer my macbook pro approach and the backlighting. Which contrary to blind belief (as noted above on some anti-mac bash) is not limited to just the light around the keys, but the character on the key as well lights up. It's very easy to see in complete darkness and doesn't impair your eyes ability to adjust to any other lights other than the screen.
Don't get too excited. This image is fake; it's actually from a Chinese website: http://www.benyouhui.com/thread-1010082-1-1.html
They are exactly the same press release photos that came with the T400s. The guy who photoshopped it just added a USB port, increased the size of the Thinklight and removed the Lenovo emblem.
I just hope they manage to stuff a GPU in there, otherwise i will have to upgrade my thinkpad T43 with something else......Asus UL30VT maybe?