not as sexy as the "Air"

i'll never understand IBMs fixation with butt-ugly colors (see logo and primary keys on keyboard)

At least they finally added the fucking windows key.

Yes butt-ugly...

sexy as hell and much lighter than air!

It's ugly. But no uglier than most PC laptops. After looking at the laptops at Microsofts booth at CES I almost gouged my eyes out. What is it with all the logos and colors and stickers and extra buttons? I just don't get it.

I for one am tired of all the talk of ultra-portable laptops. We're missing out on cool stories like the new mediacart. Maybe that's just for people who don't order in so that they can sit in front of their computer all day.

I have a feeling EVERYTHING that comes out from now on will be compared to the AIR... which is not fair at all.

If the SSD is the only option for a hard drive the price is probably gonna be high.

If 80s retro is in style again, will somebody please tell me so I can move to Canada?

Fuck you, IBM aesthetic designers.

NICE!! WIFI, WiMax, WWAN, and GPS. 3 USB ports, pci slots. Removable battery. take notes apple. oh yeah, and an optical drive!!!!!!

I like this machine.

@shiftyeyedgoat: It not even IBM, its Lenovo! Do u see IBM anywhere on that macine?

@J4SK868:
our old IBM thinkpad disagrees.

Also, their still sticking with that stupid nipple pointer? insipid.

4 hours of battery life isn't that good..... I would expect more than that....

@J4SK868: The logo (difficult to see) in the lower right-hand corner says (again, in butt-ugly colors) "IBM"...

So yes, there is IBM on there, but you are right that Levono is separate...i was going to define how but realized i really dont know much about their relationship with IBM.

If I wasn't an Apple fanboy, IBM/Levono would be the only company I would consider. They made the only Windows laptop I've owned that I didn't want to throw out a window. PLUS THE NUB! I love the IBM nub.

Any price on this?

This laptop is made for the enterprise i.e. business users. The Mac isn't an enterprise computer. I'd buy one of these before an Apple. I like the fact you can get XP installed. And it has a DVD burner, GPS! and WIMAX!, ethernet, 3xUSB, and a standard SSD HDD! The $1700 Air doesn't have any of that!

know what i love about the ibm computers, they look like they're about 15 to 20 years old. a guy walks past you (a guy who would potentially steal it) and sees you using one of these and hes probably not gonna waste his time trying to steal something from you that looks to be worth all of 10 bucks.

i recently (at least i think i) almost had my laptop stolen. its a real nice looking computer. small, sleek, has a swivel screen, and would be stolen under a minute if i ever walked away from it in public. i'm not saying you could just leave one of these thinkpads and not have to worry about it, but the pressure of it being would definately be alliviated due to its looks.

Yes, thinkpads are ugly as hell, but after a while you start to like them, they're an acquired taste.

@ NOTAMACNYC : wait till the pricing is released for this!

@ JRGHOULL : why would you ever leave your notebook unattended in public? no matter how cute or ugly your notebook is, never a smart move.

I need to know the price immediatley!! SSD is the next generation technology. Cant wait anymore!

@gizmo_dude: Agreed! It's just like Louise Vuitton, initially it's ugly, but once you get used to the sh*t color, they are actually really nice. Also, it's very professional look, when have you seen a business person carrying around a notebook looks a rainbow.

This is a Lenovo designed machine - The 60 (T60, R60, X60) series are the last IBM designed machines. Lenovo has bought out the IBM Desktop and Laptop lines with a 5 year transition (2005-20010) period during which they are allowed to used the IBM name on their products. IBM will focus on their software, server, and enterprise departments. You will see more Lenovo and IBM products in the retail sectors and Lenovo plans to focus on the personal consumer base.

The IBM laptops are tough as hell - I should know since I fix the the units onsite as a contractor for IBM/Lenovo. Once you have tried them you'll love or hate them.. They are ugly and my wife refused to let my get one for her just because of that.. ;-} Most people like them for their toughness and keyboards.. IBM laptop keyboards have won awards for their designs including the trackpoint for about a decade.

These should be priced about $2000 based on IBM pricing and the specs.. But hey, take this post with a grain of salt since I work with IBM/Lenovo.. ;-)

@rainfever: Pretty sure it says "ThinkPad" - not IBM. But your point to design stands, it's still the same essential look as when the branding was fully IBM.

Some of us prefer it over glassy glossy appley crappely. But that may be an acquired taste, too.

@rainfever: No, it says ThinkPad. The ThinkPad brand was sold to, and is owned by, Lenovo, though they're doing a good job maintaining the quality and reputation of the brand.

Also, I do believe the Air just got its ass handed to it. In liquid form.

Yes please! (although my next one will probably be from the T-series)

For people who are image-conscious (i.e., Apple fanboys) the Thinkpad might seem like a heinous-looking device. But most people who've used one (even my Mac co-workers) will agree their quality is pretty much second to none. They're extremely solid and can take a beating like few other laptops can. Plus the Thinkpad keyboard and trackpoint is far and away the best I've ever come across, especially for touch typists. I hated the clit at first, but once you get used to it you can't possibly fathom a laptop without it because it's so much more efficient than any touchpad.

I say it will start around $1700 and the options will push the price up.

All right, I've gotta step in on this one. While I LOVE my MacBook Pro, Thinkpads are amazing. I had a T40 or something in 2005, took it around the world to 18 countries, absolutely beat the crap out of the thing, and it worked great all the way through. Plus the tactile feedback on the keyboards is amazing.

As much as I love Leopard, I don't want to take my pretty MBP through a South American excursion, so I'm seriously considering one of these ultraportable Thinkpads instead.

UGLY?!

That thing is way sexier than the Air.

I like black, simple, and monolithic. You don't need to be silver and curvy to be sexy. :P

Will it have an optical drive? I'm thinking not. :(

@fuzzycuffs: Oh crap it has an optical drive?

DO WANT

For those who are complaining about it being fugly, feel free, buy a dell or apple, thinkpads are not meant to be the most beautiful laptop, its meant for durability and functionality. For me, i have a T61, i think fugly is just what i like!..i call it a tank since i drop it on the carpet in front of friends so they go nuts and think im nuts..im like..ahh..gotcha!...try that with a macbook. In my eyes the thinkpad is beautiful because its the most durable and slick black tank out there :D If this isnt too expensive ill jump on it!

Glad to see Lenovo picking up where IBM left off.

This is lame, put the effort into making the 12" x-series lighter/smaller. I dont want a massive but thin laptop, I want a tiny laptop.

10-12" display, wicked small bezel, widescreen (so you can have a real keyboard) and built like a tank.

And for those bitching about the nipple. /yourself. You get the touchpad, leave us the nipple. Im much faster with it than anyone I have met using the touchpad (even the massive apple one).

@rainfever: you are wrong. The logo on the lower right side says thinkpad. look closer. it did say IBM thinkpad from the t60's back but with the T61's on they have totally lost the IBM name. They gradually took out the IBM and now it is purely Lenovo.

5 years ago Lenovo took over the consumer desktop and laptop portion of IBM (ie Thinkcentre/ Thinkpad)

there was a 5 year deal to get rid of the IBM name all together and that 5 years is up.

Look closer next time!

So: this has the same size form factor but more connection ports and features than the Macbook Hot Air, has a higher screen resolution, is lighter (2.5 - 3.17 lbs vs 3 lbs, plus less accessories needed to carry with), has an optical drive built in, and appears to be about the same ballpark in processor power terms (not sure how the LV processors compare to the new MBA ones)?

The only advantage the Air has is the fact that its all of 0.25" thinner. I fail to see the advantage of that extra thinness unless you plan on posting the damn thing...

i've added this to my ultraportable table... includes macbook air.

[steve8.selfip.info]

I'd get it, since I don't give a rats ass about it being cute or pretty.
Laptops has to be discreet, functional and durable for me.
I also think black fits best for lappies.

But that's just me. I'd rather have this than Air. But I already have a M1330, so none of the above.

WINNER. Lenovo makes the best non-mac machines bar none. I only wish it was a 11.1" like that recent asus. *crosses his fingers for a 10" macbook or thinkpad before this current machines wear out*

This is the best Ultra light laptop I have ever seen and with high speed broadband (3G)! We have a winner folks. This is the portable laptop dream machine! I love Apple products but why could they make this one?

@gizmo_dude: I agree, its an acquired taste, I would have never taken a second look at a thinkpad before, however all employees get a thinkpad upon being hired where I work, and I like it, its the most stable/durable "pc" I have ever owned. Another ultra portable Lenovo is releasing is the U110 "Ideapad" coming out in March at an obese width(not), 2.4 pounds, 160GB 1.8" HD, or optional 32 & 64 GB SSD.

The specs on this are just way, way too good to be true. DVD drive on a laptop .25" thicker than the AIR and still .5lbs lighter? This has to be a hoax. If not, so long Asus U2 infatuation, hello Lenovo X300!

The clitoris pointing device is greatest thing ever. I can put the pointer where I want it vastly easier than with any touchpad. I remember Dell had it for a while as well. What's with you people? The nipple rules. But I do hate these laptops. Ugly, heavy, slow and stupid. But kudos on keeping the nubbin.

UUUUUUUUUUGLY

I like ThinkPads, too. If I were to buy a Windows laptop today (which I have no need to because of Intels in Macs now), I'd buy a ThinkPad.

With that said, any of you think this would even be in the same $1800-ish ballpark as the MBA is smoking some seriously toxic shit. Can I have some?

@SchruteBuck: Dell still has the nipples in the Latitudes. As does HP in their business line.

Pretty much the business lines (aka good stuff) from companies get the nipples.

The nipple is way better than any touchpad, no matter how big the touchpad is. Thinkpad keyboards are second to none. For those who are saying that this won't be as "cheap" as the MBA, you need to actually look at the price of the MBA with the 64GB SSD option. Actually, I'll save you the time and tell you that the 64GB SSD will cost you an EXTRA $999. So you're looking at $2800 for the MBA that matches up with this Thinkpad (minus the optical drive, ethernet port, extra connection ports, of course). So why would anyone buy the MBA over this? Oh, that's right, because you think it'll make you cool.

Besides their amazing keyboards and TrackPoint nav system, ThinkPads are unbelievably solid. My T61p has a titanium cage encasing it. Having previously owned an Aluminum PowerBook G4, I think the materials that Apple has chosen for its ultra-portable machine will ultimately fail it.

My PowerBook actually warped from the heat it generated, it couldn't sit flat on the table the case was so racked. The screen was awful too, just putting it a bag to and from work caused pressure points against the screen, revealing themselves as ultra bright spots when the laptop was running. And I know these problems weren't isolated to me.

A few months of toting your Air around will lead to the cover not closing correctly, or the keys rubbing against the screen when closed (that happened to me too).

From the specs and knowing first hand how durable ThinkPads are, I think this is ultimately the better machine for frequent travelers.

Not great (IMO) that the only hdd option seems to be the solid state, (because of the price), but it is a 1.8" drive. So one could probably put in one that comes with ipods (or the MBA). In fact, Lenovo already has these in some of it's notebooks. It'll probably be a later option.

@HaloZero: but you can replace the battery

@METONAE

The spec sheets actually say 2.5" HD. This is great, since 2.5" SSDs are a lot cheaper than 1.8" ones.

My own thinkpad experience: Having owned an X21, X30, X31, and X41 tablet [which i'm typing this on now], i've got to say that thinkpad laptops are second to none when it comes to productivity. This X41 tablet has been thrown into my backpack every day for the past six months, used for at least 10 hours a day [I use it as my notebook at college], and it has held up great.

Wow fugly...

But it has nice features, better than the MBA. Needless to say, there will be a battery out there that lasts longer than 4 hours.

Why is it in the same ballpark as the MBA with everything the MBA doesn't have? Lenovo doesn't have to pay The Apple Tax :P

@archercc: I had no idea. I'm so happy right now. (Queue happy SchruteBuck just found out that other laptop vendors have the nipple / clitoris pointing device happy music)

IBM/Lenovo doesn't even employ design engineers. They found a design they liked in the 90's and they're sticking to it (saves money).

Aesthetics is a matter of opinion. Personally, I love the Thinkpad look: a monolithic black machine with all straight lines and hard edges, instead of stupid, superfluous curves (think the Dell D*10 line).

That said, I'm a little disappointed with my current T60: it's given me a few too many internal hardware failures for me to be completely satisfied. Maybe it's cheap components or something, but I simply haven't gotten the kind of quality I was looking for. (Internally, at least: the case is solid as a rock.) I really, really hope this is more of an isolated instance than a general trend.

Also I absolutely love the nipple. I don't think I can ever go back to touchpads again.

I don't understand all the "ugly" comments. To me, Lenovo makes the best looking laptops out there. I bought a T61p in October, and I love it. No other laptop keyboards can compare and to me, black is the only color electronics should be. I would hate to have to look at some plain white/grey layout.

@seizure:

"So why would anyone buy the MBA over this?"

Uhh... and I'm just throwing this out there... but perhaps, maybe, just maybe, because with the MBA you have the option to buy the HDD version for $1800 and get 16GB more space? And I'm not even going to the part about how one runs a better OS than the other, because that'd be subjective, but I will say that the MBA will run an OS that the TP can't ;p

@ry_ry:

"Why is it in the same ballpark as the MBA with everything the MBA doesn't have?"

Cuz it comes with a 64GB SSD as its only option, and believe me when I say that that is one expensive piece of hardware.

Let me put it this way; IF this is priced the same as an MBA @$1800, I would jump on it the moment it comes out, forget everything I've said above ;)

I like it better than I like the Air, though of course the Air is prettier.

Two words: DVD Burner

Ftw.

I've own both a macb