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IBM Thinkpads now in Titanium

Darksoftnet writes "Lenovo (who now owns IBM's PC business), has introduced a new shade to the Thinkpad range with the launch of a Z-Series laptop that comes both in a "classic black" case or a "special-edition" brushed titanium cover."

265 comments

  1. yay!!! wait... by jigjigga · · Score: 5, Funny

    Whoopty doo?

    1. Re:yay!!! wait... by utnow · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And they all wanna be Apple.

    2. Re:yay!!! wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And my next Thinkpad (I have 3) is going to be a Powerbook.

    3. Re:yay!!! wait... by mankey+wanker · · Score: 1, Informative

      Another bleeding commercial...

    4. Re:yay!!! wait... by pyite · · Score: 1

      Remind me again, who else sells OS X computers? If using OS X is a "lifestyle," then so be it.

      --

      "Nature doesn't care how smart you are. You can still be wrong." - Richard Feynman

    5. Re:yay!!! wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      If using OS X is a "lifestyle," then so be it

      So is fuckin' in the ass...but I'm not going to do it.
    6. Re:yay!!! wait... by Overly+Critical+Guy · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Standard hardware? Let me know when your PCs using 1982-designed BIOSes can do sleep mode as reliably, all have built-in Firewire, have built-in hard-drive shock detection, power LED meters on the bottom of the battery so you can check it before you turn the laptop on, have the small size and silent operation of a Mac mini, have an entire computer built into the LCD screen sitting on a stand, run what is widely considered the best desktop operating system, and on and on and on...

      --
      "Sufferin' succotash."
    7. Re:yay!!! wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      ... the launch of a Z-Series laptop ...

      So, it comes with Z/90 OS making it a micro-mainframe?

  2. In Related News: by Artie_Effim · · Score: 5, Funny

    The on keypad volume now goes to 11 !!

    1. Re:In Related News: by bhtooefr · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually, it goes to 14 on both my four-year-old X21 (which I'm typing this post on) and a brand new (shipped 2005-09-09) R50e that I was setting up for a friend.

    2. Re:In Related News: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Way to kill a joke.

    3. Re:In Related News: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's ok, Spinal Tap pretty much beat that to death to begin with...

    4. Re:In Related News: by lullabud · · Score: 4, Funny

      But... this one goes to eleven.

  3. Picture? by jgbishop · · Score: 1

    Is there a picture of it anywhere? I didn't see one in the article (although I did only glance at it).

    --
    Go, and never darken my towels again! -- Rufus
    1. Re:Picture? by Willeh · · Score: 4, Funny
      Yeah, here you go: http://www.apple.com/powerbook . This should spawn a whole new version of those commercials where they drop someone's laptop computer on the ground. They might have to drop Steve Jobs' Laptop, and then the dude would say "That's not my notebook". Oh, the hilarity!

      You might cringe, but at least it beats the free Opera dupe story that was originally here.

      --
      Will wank off Linus Torvalds for fame.
    2. Re:Picture? by ploss · · Score: 3, Informative

      There's some here. http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/

      --
      What are the odds that some idiot will name his mutex ether-rot-mutex!
    3. Re:Picture? by dsginter · · Score: 1

      and then the dude would say "That's not my notebook". Oh, the hilarity!

      IBM made a special video for "internal use only" that had that commercial with a couple more seconds of footage. They'd hired the Dell Guy after he was busted for marajuana.

      Basically, the footage was that the two guys from the "that's not my thinkpad" commercial were sitting at the hotel bar later on and the Dell Guy walks up to them and says, "Dude, where's my notebook?"

      Pretty funny stuff but it would've been much funnier if they would have "crossed that line" and made it part of the public commercial.

      --
      More
    4. Re:Picture? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not a big deal, ppl at FT have nothing to write about, obviously...
      http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000527058629/

    5. Re:Picture? by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Prove it. I can't find any references to IBM hiring him.

  4. 9th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    what is with these titainum slashdot filters

  5. TiPad by LittleGuernica · · Score: 5, Funny

    If there is a big Lenovo sticker on the lid right in the middle, that looks like it's covering something up, something fruitlike, then don't buy them....they could be a few years old..

    1. Re:TiPad by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I wouldn't mind having one of these, though. I have an iBook myself, my girlfriend has had an iBook and now has a ThinkPad, and a friend used to have a TiBook and now has a ThinkPad. All of us actually prefer the Apple hardware, which is queiter, lighter, runs longer on a battery, and has a proper CPU architecture, and (used to?) look better.

      Of course, it depends on what's most important to you. A ThinkPad can run Windows, is generally faster (depending on the application), costs less on initial purchase, and has an internal wireless network adapter that is supported by Linux (I use a supported USB one with my iBook).

      --
      Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
    2. Re:TiPad by Chas · · Score: 1
      and has a proper CPU architecture

      Considering the impending changeover, would you like a chance to modify this statement?

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    3. Re:TiPad by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 1

      I'll comment on that after I see what the new machines are like, but most likely I'll stand by my statement.

      PowerPC is a much better design than x86. Intel has come up with some neat hacks so they can incorporate optimizations from RISC CPUs and still be compatible with their old CPUs, but that's just another layer of cruft on the rotten x86 core. I don't know if that's why G4s use so much less power as P4s with the same performance, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were a major factor.

      The reason I'm so bitter about this is not that x86 can't be made to work, it's more that it has taken that architecture so long to catch up with the others that I am sure we would be much further now if all that effort had gone in improving an architecture that was better to begin with.

      On a side note, it's interesting how Apple can pull of 2 (and now probably 3) major platform changes (68K to PowerPC, Mac OS to Mac OS X, and now PowerPC to ???) in a few years, whereas the PC world has only painfully managed to pull off one major platform change (DOS to win32), and all attempts to replace x86 have failed.

      --
      Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
    4. Re:TiPad by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 2, Insightful

      One of the stated reasons for the x86 changeover is because of power consumption, and it's not because of the P4 architecture but because of PM and what will replace P4. While it is good compute-wise, the G4 is hobbled by a slow bus (167MHz vs 400MHz and higher) and smaller cache 512k vs. (1MB and 2MB), and really can't compete well.

      I'm not really buying the battery life claims as people report longer battery life with Centrino laptops. Apple laptops aren't nearly the performance leaders they should be either, because it is held back.

    5. Re:TiPad by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 1

      ``I'm not really buying the battery life claims as people report longer battery life with Centrino laptops. Apple laptops aren't nearly the performance leaders they should be either, because it is held back.''

      I can only speak for myself and the people I know, but everybody I know who has Apple notebooks gets about 5 hours of battery life, whereas Centrino notebooks often don't get further than 2 to 3 hours. There are Centrino notebooks that last a lot longer, but last time I checked these were all more expensive than iBooks. Performance is "good enough" for us; GNOME 2.10 runs snappy on all these systems, and it's not exactly light. So, if you need the battery life, Apple seems a good deal.

      --
      Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
    6. Re:TiPad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "One of the stated reasons for the x86 changeover is because of power consumption, and it's not because of the P4 architecture but because of PM and what will replace P4."

      Another is the "roadmap" layed out by Intel, which is oriented towards digital restrictions management. It would be a shame if Apple, too, went down that road.

    7. Re:TiPad by jdowland · · Score: 1

      madness. I have an ibook and a thinkpad, the thinkpad is lighter, quiter, less-warm on the knees, and has a better battery life.

    8. Re:TiPad by AigariusDebian · · Score: 1

      x86 is now tring for several years to make a transition to 64bit architecture. How do you think what is holding it back?
      Windows and all other commercial software that must be recompiled to gain the benefits. (Oh and OpenOffice.org too :P)

    9. Re:TiPad by coopex · · Score: 1

      >PowerPC is a much better design than x86.

      3 2260 Pentium M 1839 1812 HTML
      14 2200 PowerPC 970 1040 986 HTML

      The PowerPC is an inferior processor to the PM, both raw speed and speed/watt. Futhermore, both the PM and PowerPC are RISC, only the PM has a translation unit to internal micro-ops that is becoming more negligable as die real estate is used for cache and more functional units or dual core. As for some "aesthetic" appeal of RISC vs CISC assembly, asm is asm, and since you can use SSEs on Pentiums in C, whereas Altivec *requires* you to use asm, it would seem that even the ISA is of a poor design.

      Intel has made a processor that is both faster, better designed, and more work/watt, as well as being able to supply them in quantity reliably. Go take a graduate course in Computer Architecture or at the least read and understand H & P before you spout some kneejerk emotional reaction to your beloved Apple using the same processor as us unwashed masses.

      --
      The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
    10. Re:TiPad by steeviant · · Score: 1

      Don't get me wrong, I love my PowerBook and can get up to about 5 hours of battery life out of it as you say, but I have friends with Centrino laptops that routinely get 6-7 hours of use out of them. Granted they aren't exactly the latest, fastest CPUs I'm talking about, but generally Centrino based laptops get far better battery life than Apple's portables.

  6. Lenovo by nudeatom · · Score: 0

    I am still waiting for something exicting to happen here. When the sale went through I thought that Lenovo would try to break away from the wintel model and do something cool with PPC and linux. The wait continues.

    --
    Yeah right, Like Im gonna write a sig.
    1. Re:Lenovo by sspurrier · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why in the world would you assume that? Lenovo didn't purchase the power pc line or even any machines that use it. They bought the line to get the thinkpad which is a damn good corporate laptop and thats about it. What about the purchase made you think that PPC or linux was Lenovos focus? Lenovo is just another Wintel Vendor, albeit one with a good laptop product.

    2. Re:Lenovo by Mr.+Underbridge · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I am still waiting for something exicting to happen here. When the sale went through I thought that Lenovo would try to break away from the wintel model and do something cool with PPC and linux. The wait continues.

      And what in God's name made you think that? They bought a division that makes laptops, running windows on intel chips. They're currently making laptops that run windows on intel chips. This should not be surprising They're in the business to make money, and linux/PPC isn't it.

      Not to mention they didn't buy IBM's linux and PPC businesses.

      They are doing things IBM would never have done with the Thinkpad line, but it's still a business - and I have to imagine customer demand for linux/PPC laptops is, outside of the /. market, quite low.

    3. Re:Lenovo by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why?! ThinkPads are perfectly good machines as they are; possibly the only PC laptops that don't plain suck in one way or another. Ever since IBM sold the line, I've been afraid the new owner would screw it up somehow.

      --
      Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
    4. Re:Lenovo by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 2, Interesting

      As for doing ``something cool with Linux and PPC'', here are a few things to chew on:

        - Linux runs like a charm on both ThinkPads and Apple notebooks. ThinkPads actually do a bit better, as they use supported wireless cards, whereas Apples have the cursed Broadcom chipset.

        - The main difference between the x86 and PPC CPUs is that x86s go faster, whereas PPCs are more energy efficient.

        - Of course, the CPU also affects what proprietary operating systems you can run. PPC allows you to run Mac OS X, whereas x86 allows you to run Windows.

        - However, you probably don't _really_ want either operating system. Windows is junk, and OS X is great in theory, but is unbearably slow compared to Linux. Just my experience, of course.

      --
      Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
    5. Re:Lenovo by drsmithy · · Score: 1
      I am still waiting for something exicting to happen here. When the sale went through I thought that Lenovo would try to break away from the wintel model and do something cool with PPC and linux.

      I'd guess they're more interested in making things people are likely to buy.

    6. Re:Lenovo by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      - The main difference between the x86 and PPC CPUs is that x86s go faster, whereas PPCs are more energy efficient.

      If a processor uses a third of the power, but takes three times as long to process, the more power consuming chip will get more work done. Efficiency is work divided by power, correct? (Note: not a troll against PPC, just saying that a faster, more power-hungry processor might get more work done than a slower, lower power consumption processor.)

      - Of course, the CPU also affects what proprietary operating systems you can run. PPC allows you to run Mac OS X, whereas x86 allows you to run Windows.

      - However, you probably don't _really_ want either operating system. Windows is junk, and OS X is great in theory, but is unbearably slow compared to Linux. Just my experience, of course.


      Score a point for the ThinkPad, then - precompiled software is more abundant for Linux/i386 than Linux/PPC.

      Also, some ThinkPads (T, Z, and some R series, not X series, and nobody wants a G series) give you the option of using either a touchpad or a pointing stick, whereas Apple only gives you a touchpad.

    7. Re:Lenovo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They are doing things IBM would never have done with the Thinkpad line
      Such as?

      (honest question)

    8. Re:Lenovo by nudeatom · · Score: 1

      You have obviously never worked in sales. People will buy anything if the salesman is any good.

      --
      Yeah right, Like Im gonna write a sig.
    9. Re:Lenovo by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      "and I have to imagine customer demand for linux/PPC laptops is, outside of the /. market, quite low."

      Maybe not in china. But IBM kept the PPC line. I was hoping that IBM would start pushing the PPC in notebooks. Now I just don't see that happening.
      Kind of sad to see IBM no longer in the PC business. The only old companies that are still in the PC business are HP and Apple.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    10. Re:Lenovo by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 1

      ``If a processor uses a third of the power, but takes three times as long to process, the more power consuming chip will get more work done. Efficiency is work divided by power, correct?''

      That's correct. Last I checked, the G4s used in the iBooks and PowerBooks scored better at it than Intel's offerings. I wonder how VIA's C7-M scores, but I haven't seen any reviews yet (lots of specs about the power consumption, but no actual measurements of efficiency). The first machines with C7-Ms should be appearing RSN, so I'm waiting anxiously.

      --
      Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
    11. Re:Lenovo by Mr.+Underbridge · · Score: 1
      Such as?

      Well, outside of a very limited edition that was once released, they never would have made a non-black THinkpad, if the article is to be believed. Their focus on small business is also a shift from IBM

    12. Re:Lenovo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IBM Thinkpads have been made in China for quite a while now, long before the underperforming division was offloaded to Lenovo (who now, for some reason that escapes me, are making it profitable for the first time ever :-).

  7. Re:Coral cache by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey buddy, if you're gonna advertise in your sig, can you at least make it a real sig so I can turn it off?

  8. Way to look like a powerbook, thinkpad by luminea · · Score: 2, Informative

    http://www.ibmuser.idv.tw/viewtopic.php?t=19990 I'll always think the real deal is sexier. I [heart] my Thinkpad.

    1. Re:Way to look like a powerbook, thinkpad by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      FWIW, I've heard rumors that the R60 and T60 will be the same way, with curves and all. (NOOOO!) Also, there's a Windows key.

      Rumor has it that the Z series was going to be released by IBM, but Lenovo bought the company out.

      The Z60t is a 4.5lb, 14" widescreen model with integrated graphics, meant for business.

      The Z60m is a 6.5lb, 15.4" widescreen with integrated or ATI discrete graphics, meant for home.

      The titanium COVER (yes, it's a faceplate) is .25lbs, on top of the base weight.

    2. Re:Way to look like a powerbook, thinkpad by BWJones · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yeah, so Lenovo has a titanium top cover on their laptop, while the Powerbook had a complete casing made of titanium. (The chassis was magnesium). Of course Titanium was expensive, and had problems with holding paint and could not be effectively anodized, leading to the new aluminum Powerbooks, but hey....They were sooo cool, and even though they have not been around for a couple of years, still look better than most of the current laptop offerings from other companies.

      --
      Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
    3. Re:Way to look like a powerbook, thinkpad by CaptnMArk · · Score: 1

      how about some carbon fibre

      aka

      Acer Ferrari 4000

    4. Re:Way to look like a powerbook, thinkpad by a.d.trick · · Score: 1

      I agree,

      As far as I can tell, this is just another 'gold-plating' feature - it looks cool on the outside, but really doesn't do much for anything in real life. The titanium cover *might* protect the lcd screen if it fell in such-and-such a manner but it's really only there because the word 'Titanium' sounds cool.

      I'm not familiar with Macs so I don't know how well they're protected, but I have a Twinhead computer that has aluminum casing and several other nice features that really help maintain longevity when your are very mobile and use your computer 12+ hours a day.

    5. Re:Way to look like a powerbook, thinkpad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ThinkPads (at least the T series) are all made of titanium under the black plastic outer shell. I've dropped mine on occassion and all you have to do is pop the plastic cover back togeter and you're good to go. Unlike the previous generation Powerbooks where the screen hinges broke if you looked at it sideways.

    6. Re:Way to look like a powerbook, thinkpad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It appears to have a Windows key! Oh no! I'll be holding on to my precious thinkpad actually made by IBM...

      Although, I suppose it's just one more key to bind to something cool with xmodmap. I'll just have to scratch the paint off of that awful logo.

    7. Re:Way to look like a powerbook, thinkpad by RAruler · · Score: 1

      Worthless branding because no one in their right fucking mind would pay a premium for Acer's brand. They look terrible in person as well.

      --

      --
      Insert Witty Sig Here
  9. Big businesses reaction? by Pichu0102 · · Score: 0

    Hmm, could this hurt sales to big businesses? I mean, it is targeted towards small and medium sized businesses. Most likely big businesses will be annoyed it's no longer targeted to them.

  10. Special punishment by PincheGab · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There should be a special punishment for people who post stories abut how something looks, and then the link has no pics of it...

    1. Re:Special punishment by MythMoth · · Score: 4, Informative

      Quite. Here's the best picture I could find:
      http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/

      That's probably a fairly ephemeral link; this might hang around longer, but it's only a thumbnail:
      http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/thinkpad/images/rt_titani umback_78.jpg

      From this page:
      http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/thinkpad/zseries/index.ht ml

      I'm sure someone can do better than that.

      --
      --- These are not words: wierd, genious, rediculous
    2. Re:Special punishment by Threni · · Score: 0, Troll

      > There should be a special punishment for people who post stories abut how
      > something looks,

      You could have ended the sentence there! It's just another dull, overpriced IBM laptop.

    3. Re:Special punishment by tpgp · · Score: 4, Informative

      Here's a nice big pic
      Taken from Notebook reviews

      Looks quite nice

      --
      My pics.
    4. Re:Special punishment by Roofus · · Score: 0

      I agree. Was this assclown in such a rush to get his story posted to Slashdot that he couldn't take the time to find a few links?

    5. Re:Special punishment by MythMoth · · Score: 1

      Uh oh. Now I want one.

      --
      --- These are not words: wierd, genious, rediculous
    6. Re:Special punishment by Sepodati · · Score: 1

      Anyone know what that is attached to the side of the lid/screen that's sticking out? I just bought an IBM laptop and I don't see anything like that on mine. Is that maybe an antenna for 802.11? :/

      ---John Holmes...

    7. Re:Special punishment by Poingggg · · Score: 1

      I was wondering myself also when I first saw it. According to the article (2nd link in parent) it's a WWAN antenna (Wireless Wide Area Network). Another mystery solved!

      --
      What person will donate an airborne act of love?
    8. Re:Special punishment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

      It has a Windows Key! Even Thinkpads have finally caved in to the madness.

  11. IBM or the Company that bought the computer part by varmittang · · Score: 1

    So, is this IBM doing this or the computer company in China that bought IBM's PC division? I can never know who I'm buying from yet when dealing with IBM PCs right now.

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  12. beats my Panasonic Toughbook--Not! by archermadness · · Score: 1

    Wow! What news! IBM has a laptop with a titanium top. That's going to put Panasonic to shame, especially since they've only had laptops with titanium tops (and bottoms and sides in some cases) for umpteen years.

  13. Stylin'! by parasonic · · Score: 0

    Titanium--The LCD may still not be drop-proof, but it's sure as heck Michelan-proof.

  14. Why is this news? by UnderAttack · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So there is a different color thinkpad, and this is newsworthy? Not even a picture of the thing in the article. Nothing a can of spray paint wouldn't be able to do.

    --
    ---- join dshield.org Distributed Intrusion Detec
    1. Re:Why is this news? by parasonic · · Score: 0

      Titanium spraypaint?! I could make myself BULLETPROOF.

    2. Re:Why is this news? by DaveFromChicago · · Score: 2, Informative

      Hmmm... can't say I've ever purchased a notebook based on its color. However, I rather liked IBM's idea of keeping them all basic black while concetrating on other, more important features.

    3. Re:Why is this news? by d1v1d3byz3r0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's news because it's historic. Thinkpads have long been regarded as the finest x86 notebooks around. And, since their inception, they've always been black (IIRC). This is the first time they've deviated from that classic black color scheme, and some geeks appreciate that kind of information.

    4. Re:Why is this news? by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Several people have reported seeing i series laptops with faceplates much like the titanium plate for this model.

      However, the i series doesn't count, because it was made by Acer, with a TrackPoint and an IBM sticker put on. It was a Japanese schoolgirl laptop, and the Acer build quality showed.

      (Posted from my trusty X21...)

    5. Re:Why is this news? by dcam · · Score: 1

      Nipick: The current thinkpads have a rubberised coating. The spray paint might not hold too well.

      --
      meh
  15. Poor Richard Sapper... by onpaws · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For more design history of the thinkpad, check out the "Thinkpad Genesis Series" on:

    http://www.thinkpads.com/Genesis3.htm
    http://www.thinkpads.com/Genesis%204.htm

    Richard Sapper is the German designer who designed the famous Artemide Tizio lamp (which also shares the Thinkpad's red controls and silver hinges).:

    http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/11/euwcm/ho_1988. 236.10.htm

  16. Whoa!!! What a great idea!!! by bossesjoe · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wish Apple had thought of this

    --
    There is no replacement for displacement.
  17. do those ppl know... by C0vardeAn0nim0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    that titanium is flamable ???

    ok, it takes in excess of 4000C to ignite it, but with the heat those things are putting out i believe they'll soon have to recall the notebooks and replace the titanium by asbestos or ceramic compounds...

    --
    What ? Me, worry ?
    1. Re:do those ppl know... by justforaday · · Score: 2, Funny

      Mmmm...AsbestosPad...

      --
      I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
    2. Re:do those ppl know... by aidoneus · · Score: 1

      I think you're thinking of magnesium, like the NeXT cube, not titanium. Titanium doesn't appear to ignite under standard pressures, even in excess of 4000C.

    3. Re:do those ppl know... by dbIII · · Score: 1

      It all depends. Someone I know was considered a very bad boy a few years ago when he shipped titanium metal powder by air - despite the fact the stuff was packed inside a second container filled with an inert gas airlines realy don't like stuff that can explode being shipped on their planes. Just about anything divided into a fine enough powder will burn very well and very rapidly. A solid lump of metal with a high melting point is a different story - steel at below half the melting point of Ti requires a lot of oxygen to get it to burn (oxy-acetylene cutting burns steel - it oxidises the iron).

    4. Re:do those ppl know... by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Well... then it's more than the Z60s with the faceplates on them that we have to worry about.

      Every high-end model, from the original T20 and X20, all the way up to the Z60, has a magnesium base. Don't believe me? Crack open an X2x, and pop off the heatsink. "MgCAST" right there under the heatsink.

    5. Re:do those ppl know... by Mspangler · · Score: 1

      "titanium is flamable ??? ok, it takes in excess of 4000C to ignite it,"

      If you have a jet of pure oxygen, you can light off titanium at 400 F.

      At a former job we put three people in the hospital finding this out. "The book" of titanium flammability was wrong in that it did not consider gas jets.

      Trivia for the day :-)

  18. Those who refuse to learn from history... by UpLateDrinkingCoffee · · Score: 4, Funny
    From the article (about how Thinkpads that are anything but black will be rejected by consumers):

    IBM in 1999 offered individual buyers "optional coloured covers" for laptops in Mars Red Metallic, Andromeda Green or Polaris Blue for an extra US$30. The idea did not take off.

    Uh, maybe because the charged $30 extra? Also, the color names sound like they are marketed to 8 year olds. Considering who buys these things, they would have been better off with "Merger Magenta" or "Big-bonus Blue". Seriously, titanium is not that extreme.

    1. Re:Those who refuse to learn from history... by fossa · · Score: 1

      Didn't Nokia's cell phones trounce Motorola's for offering colors and changeable faceplates when Motorola insisted on the "black with red LED" signature Motorola design? At least, that's what I was told on a tour at some Motorola museum.

      So yeah, probably the increased cost had something to do with it. Or maybe they still marketed to business. As a lawyer do you really want to walk into a courtroom with an Andromeda Green laptop cover? Or wearing jeans and a bright T-shirt? Didn't think so. Also, I imagine the laptop buyer is often not the laptop user in a business setting; the user gets what she is given, not what she wants.

      Whatever the reason for the failure, that one line comment at the article's end was inane.

    2. Re:Those who refuse to learn from history... by mydigitalself · · Score: 2, Funny

      in 1999 it was only 8 year olds who knew how to use laptops....

      *sigh*

    3. Re:Those who refuse to learn from history... by Rude+Turnip · · Score: 2, Funny

      They should have offered additional "flavors" instead of plain old "colors"...would have sold 'em like hotcakes!

  19. Ti + WiFi by c4seyj0nes · · Score: 4, Informative

    Didn't Apple move to aluminum because the titanium interfered with WiFi reception?

    --
    "In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." --Old German Proverb
    1. Re:Ti + WiFi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      A fairly incoherent response from one of the image sites linked below that if correct answers your question (also, what does aluminum do that titanium doesn't? "costs less" is all I can think of):

      Posted Sep 13, 2005, 2:25 PM ET by Jonathan Moore

      "1) The Apple Titanium PowerBook had the weakest 802 reception because of the titanium case"

      Actuly that was not the issue. The antenna was on the side of the body wich was carbon fiber. There is more of a sotry that has to do with the indstrual designers where to make the reseption good thay had to put some conductive paint on the out side of the carbon fiber but you could see it, if just barley, and the ID peopel did not like that so they had it removed. The reception was still in spec with no paint but is sucked.

    2. Re:Ti + WiFi by imsabbel · · Score: 1

      _Every_ metal will stop WiFi...
      But titanium is more expensive (as material, to shape, ect)

      --
      HI O WISE PRINCE. WHT TOOK U SO DAM LONG?
    3. Re:Ti + WiFi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I see El Reg credits Thomas Faraday with the discovery of the Faraday cage. I thought it was his brother, Michael, but I'm just an Electronic Engineer....

    4. Re:Ti + WiFi by dr.badass · · Score: 4, Informative

      Didn't Apple move to aluminum because the titanium interfered with WiFi reception?

      That might have been one of the minor reasons. Some others include: Titanium is more expensive, the titanium shell didn't really make it more durable, they had to paint it to make it look like people expected titanium to look, the paint often started bubbling and chipping off after a few months, the aluminum designs could be produced with fewer parts, and the new anodization process looked pretty fucking hot.

      --
      Don't become a regular here -- you will become retarded.
    5. Re:Ti + WiFi by RevRigel · · Score: 4, Informative

      Additionally, they were using commercially pure (CP) titanium; that is to say, unalloyed. This made it possible to form it into the shapes required, but it's extraordinarily weak, normally only used for decoration or for applications that need a corrosion resistant material (racks for aluminum anodization are made of CP titanium). Alloyed aluminum of pretty much any type is going to be cheaper, easier to form/machine, and much stronger. And with a decent anodization, it will be far more scratch resistant.

    6. Re:Ti + WiFi by Vitriol+Angst · · Score: 1

      Yeah. That experiment only lasted for one model. Apple is really good at fabrication technology. They have a few patents of extensive research just to get paint to stick. Titanium does interrupt radio signals so they needed to have a wire (I think under the screen) that wasn't under titanium to get a signal through.

      With Ti, you can get really strong and light. But I seemed to keep a bit more heat in than aluminum. The paint scratched easily, so you need to have anodized aluminum with the color infused in the metal. Anyway, it seemed to be a lot of trouble for little benefit.

      --
      >>"ad space available -- low rates!!!"
    7. Re:Ti + WiFi by The+Tessellator · · Score: 1

      What, what what... CP is exceptionally weak compared to what? The yield strength of CP titanium (even annealed) is above all but exotic steel alloys (and has better fatigue strength). It is also exceptionally lightweight, corrosion resistant and exceptionally tough and flexible. I was sad to see the titanium cases go away on the powerbooks You can actually do some fairly cool film effects (rainbow) on titanium by anodizing (no dyes, all thin film diffraction). The effects are not consistent and not very controllable but the effects can be spectacular. http://www.titaniumarts.com/images/bikeart/ano/spl atter.jpg http://www.titaniumarts.com/images/bikeart/ano/azt ec.jpg http://www.titaniumarts.com/images/bikeart/ano/pla nets.jpg It would be waaay cool to strip the paint off an old powerbook and get some of that work done eh?

  20. Picture by LaTechTech · · Score: 1

    The only picture I could find...Do not go blind looking at it. http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/thinkpad/zseries/index.ht ml#titanium

    --
    I want my! I want my! I want my Eee PC!
  21. Pictures! by Viceice · · Score: 5, Informative

    Pictures in stories here and here. Enjoy!

    --
    Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
    1. Re:Pictures! by mikrorechner · · Score: 1

      Meh, if I'm not mistaken, only the display part of the notebook is titanium. I was thinking more along the lines of a full-metal casing.

      Oh well, back to waiting for Powerbooks with Intels inside...

      --
      "Oh, a lesson in not changing history from Mr I'm-my-own-Grandpa." - Dr Hubert Farnsworth
  22. Pictures by taskforce · · Score: 1
    Here's a link to the IBM/Lenovo page with pictures which everyone's been asking for:

    IBM

    --
    My 3D Texturing Skinning work (under construction)
  23. I prefer a PB that looks like a ThinkPad by BancBoy · · Score: 1
    --
    [UID-HeinzIntel]
  24. Stinkpads should be black. Period. by Flashpot · · Score: 1

    No fancy designs, no fancy colors. All business. The tri-color IBM (or lenovo) logo and the red stickpin against the black bacground are the trademarks of the beast. Leave it alone!

    --
    That which does not kill her only prolongs my agony.
  25. This is serious news... by tyroneking · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... because it heralds the first noticeable change in the Thinkpad line since it was sold. Thinkpads have a reputation the workplace for reliability, performance and build quality; the corporate standard (usually HP) pales in comparison. Unlike the HP line, Thinkpads don't 'squeak' when you lean your hands on them, don't get too hot, don't make loud fan noises, don't crash mysteriously, and don't have their case colour rub off over time. A new titanium casing could be a disaster if it starts to rub off like it does on other makes of laptop because that will turn high-end corporate customers off in droves because it will be taken as emblematic of what will happen to the inside of the IBM laptop.

    I know, sounds like a little thing, but the solid case is a mark of quality that Lenovo can't afford to lose.

    PS I love my Thinkpad ;)

    1. Re:This is serious news... by kj_in_ottawa · · Score: 1

      I guess YMMV . I've run a dell, with its earie I'm openin squeak, for as long as my last 3 brickpads run time combined. In all fairnesss, this one hasn't yet been hit by a moped.... like the 2nd brickpad was.

      I do miss the hard battery reboots and random shocks from the earphone jacks though.

      Kenny

    2. Re:This is serious news... by CAIMLAS · · Score: 1

      I too love my thinkpad - an X30. It's at least several years old now.

      It's got a Ti case "lid" on the flip-up part of the LCD. It's black. I've not had any "wear" problems for hte last two years that I've had it, and it looks brand new still.

      --
      ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
    3. Re:This is serious news... by loyukfai · · Score: 1

      My perception is that the ThinkPad brand worths 70% of the IBM PC business, the other 30% (maybe less) is corporate support.

      That leave 0% for its desktop products.

      ThinkPad Legends

    4. Re:This is serious news... by LowellPorter · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Thinkpads have a reputation the workplace for reliability, performance and build quality; the corporate standard (usually HP) pales in comparison

      Not anymore. Since Levono has taken over, the quality has gone downhill. The company I work for has had a 20% failure rate with the laptops since Lenovo took over. On top of that, it now takes 6 - 8 weeks to get one because they're shipped directly from China. The same goes with their desktops. The company I work for orders around 2,000 computers a year, and this is unacceptable.

    5. Re:This is serious news... by tyroneking · · Score: 1

      How depressing - it's started already. What other manufacturers have you considered?

      Apple laptops are supposed to be great but essential Windows apps. are lacking; Sony are good looking but heavy and of doubtful build quality; HP are pretty bad.

    6. Re:This is serious news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IBM sold off the Thinkpad line last year, sorry.

    7. Re:This is serious news... by kisielk · · Score: 3, Informative

      At the company I worked for, we were already getting a large (probably 10-15% iirc) failure rate with the T41's and X31's we were buying some time before the Lenovo take over.. mostly problems with the display going to garbage after several weeks..

    8. Re:This is serious news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I recommend taking a look at MPC (formerly known as Micron PC). Last time I checked, they still haven't outsourced their support (all support in the United States).

    9. Re:This is serious news... by voxel · · Score: 1

      The company I work for, we order a few hundred thinkpads a year minimum, we started seeing up to 30% failure rate + DOA rate of T42's after Lenovo took over, we had to switch to DELL because we were running out of machines for new-hires to use because they simply didn't work.

      --
      Modesty is one of life's greatest attributes
    10. Re:This is serious news... by LowellPorter · · Score: 1

      The company I work for, we order a few hundred thinkpads a year minimum, we started seeing up to 30% failure rate + DOA rate of T42's after Lenovo took over, we had to switch to DELL because we were running out of machines for new-hires to use because they simply didn't work. We'll be switching back to Dell as well. My boss sent a letter with a list of all the problems we had to our IBM customer service's rep's boss. It said something along the lines of "If Lenovo doesn't straighten out the problems, IBM's name is going down the toilet for their PC unit". We found out that his email has been passed on to some execs at IBM. I hope they do something about it because IBM made some great laptops.

    11. Re:This is serious news... by dswt · · Score: 1

      Our R30 is a dog. You can't put it on any flat surface because it heats up and cuts out. We have to use it with an inch airgap (it sits on a tower). Yes, the fan whirrs. Incredibly noisily too. Horrible experience. Anyone else seen this?

      But otherwise, I've had good experience with a 600X (apart from the batteries), T32 and T42. And heart-in-hands, have just ordered an R52...

    12. Re:This is serious news... by nzhavok · · Score: 1

      Thinkpads don't ... don't crash mysteriously...

      Actually my thinkpad T41p mysteriously crashes (to the point of needing a powerdown) every time I load up Wolfenstein:ET :-(

      This is with the default drivers/install (all updated but it's been happening since I got it 6 months ago). I haven't had any other games crash, and since I use linux on it 90% of the time (I don't use windows for anything but games) it doesn't really bother me. They are still fantastic machines.

      --

      He who defends everything, defends nothing. -- Fredrick The Great
    13. Re:This is serious news... by tyroneking · · Score: 1

      You know I had the same problem with mine - RTB service replaced the display unit and now it works fine but it's still a concern.

    14. Re:This is serious news... by kisielk · · Score: 1

      Yeah, if there's one thing good that came out of it is that the service we got from IBM was exceptional. Every defective unit was repaired within the week, no questions ask. We kept a few extras on hand and would just swap the user's HD in to a spare unit while awaiting for theirs to be repaired.

  26. Titanium composite by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In case you didn't know, T-series thinkpad shells have been a titanium/plastic composite up until now.

  27. Forgive my stupidity by ChrisF79 · · Score: 1

    I was always under the impression that Apple originally went with Titanium because it was lighter. So of course in my infinity stupidity, I drew the conclusion that it was solid titanium. Was it just brushed? Is the IBM titanium purely for aesthetics or does it serve some sort of purpose?

    --
    Finance tutorials and more! Understandfinance
    1. Re:Forgive my stupidity by WillerZ · · Score: 1

      "Brushed titanium" means that the titanium has been finished by brushing it. This gives a noticeable grain-like effect to the surface. It doesn't mean that it's a something else with titanium brushed over the top of it.

      In this case, the titanium element is a removable fascia and not a structural element of the laptop - it's purely cosmetic.

      --
      I guess today is a passable day to die.
    2. Re:Forgive my stupidity by ChrisF79 · · Score: 1

      I see, thank you for the clarification. Any chance you know how much more titanium is than aluminum for example?

      --
      Finance tutorials and more! Understandfinance
    3. Re:Forgive my stupidity by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      IBM's case lids on their high-end laptops (X and T series) have been titanium composite for a while now, but it wasn't visibly different from the plastic of other models.

      Now, THIS is a FACEPLATE. You can take it off, and get the basic black that IBM is known for.

    4. Re:Forgive my stupidity by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      The most popular
      "6Al-4V" titanium alloy (90% titanium- 6%aluminum & 4% vanadium) goes for $10-15 a pound, whereas aluminum about a dollar a pound. The density of Al is 2.7g /cc while titanium alloy is about 4.4 g/ cc though, so for a given size of part scale the price accordingly!

  28. Been there, done that by CastrTroy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When are they going to come up with ideas that truly make your laptop better. Sure titanium is stronger than plastic, but I bet it costs a lot more. If it doesn't you're getting gipped on the plastic version. I want a laptop with better battery life. They have made advancements in batteries, but these have been trumped by making chips and drives that require more power. Where's my 10 hour laptop? and I mean 10 hours while actually doing real work on the laptop.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    1. Re:Been there, done that by skiflyer · · Score: 1

      Just as a side note they're not replacing plastic with titanium, they're replacing a magnesium composite with titanium... functionally this is a lateral move, it's all about design.

      To me the bigger news here is the widescreen, bigger speakers, "consumer" style laptop... Lenovo is taking a traditionally business line and going after a student/home user market with the design changes, and quite frankly, I don't see them both maintaining quality and competing well there...

      You've always paid more for thinkpads and gotten more, mostly in terms of reliability, in the home world, people aren't as savy about reliability, don't tend to keep their machines as long, and really don't care that they do smart things like reuse the same bay architecture for 7+ years so all your components stay useable.

  29. Wireless? by otter42 · · Score: 0

    So, vis-a-vis wireless connections, is this as bad a decision as Apple's to make the PowerBook out of Al? Because, honestly, I've never seen worse wireless capabilities in my life. The Airport Extreme in my 2005 PowerBook sucks beyond all possible belief. My old Orinoco PCMCIA card gets much better reception. And my friend's new Acer gets around 15dB better reception than my Orinoco!

    (Although I don't know if I believe NetStumbler. 15dB sounds like too good to be true. Perhaps it's a small bug with the NDIS driver interface. In any case, his Acer *does* get a million times better reception than my PowerBook.)

    So, all style, no substance?

    --
    www.eissq.com/BandP.html Ball and Plate System. Amuse your friends. Crush your enemies.
    1. Re:Wireless? by otter42 · · Score: 1

      You clearly have different feelings about this. I bought my first mac (this PB) in March. I'm disappointed with the hardware. There are what I feel are many poor design considerations, such as including a CD burner (I haven't used CDs since 2001); a non-remapable eject button right ontop of the delete key (whenever I type documents, I'm always hitting it); a case that is, in the 2005 model, *totally* impossible to take apart; speed is unbelieveably turn-of-the-century; etc.

      But that doesn't mean it's not an improvement on Windows. My only regret in buying a mac is the physical mac I have in my grubby little hands. The OS is not "simply incredible", but Tiger is definitely a tremendous improvement over Windows.

      In my experience, it's hardly all style. What's disappointing is that some of the more important style decisions have catastrophically bad impacts elsewhere, such as wireless.

      I can't wait for OSX86 to get further along. I will happily buy my copy of OSX86 and then promptly slap it on a decent laptop that has all the features I want.

      --
      www.eissq.com/BandP.html Ball and Plate System. Amuse your friends. Crush your enemies.
  30. What next? by CrazyTalk · · Score: 3, Funny

    What next, a black iPod? Oh wait...

    1. Re:What next? by tugfoigel · · Score: 1

      How about a spiffy shiny titanium one? Or even an armor-plated iPod?

  31. ibook vs thinkpad by brlewis · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You may not have noticed this using a USB wireless network adapter, but the built-in ibook wireless doesn't get signal very well. I have an IBM thinkpad 600E with a Belkin PCMCIA wireless card. I get 80-90% signal in places where my wife's ibook get's none. I think Apple wants to sell lots of airport stations. (This is with a linksys B router).

    1. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Seriously... check the antenna is plugged in correctly on her WiFi card. The iBooks have truly great wifi reception normally, so I'm guessing something is wrong with your wife's model.

    2. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by justforaday · · Score: 1

      Agreed. I get much better reception with my 2001 iBook's Airport card than I do from either a D-Link USB adapter or a Linksys PCI adapter.

      --
      I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
    3. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by funkyjunkman · · Score: 4, Informative

      Check out this link on Apple's support site. I work with dozens of PowerBooks and iBooks and have never experienced the problem you describe unless there was a problem with the antenna.

    4. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have had incredible luck with the Apple Airport cards in laptops. With a Linksys 802.11b router I was able to walk to the back of our 40,000 square foot warehouse and I still had about 40-60% signal (fairly usable). The D-Link card in our WinBook (regret buying that pile) only works two walls away, and it cuts in and out. Of course, that's D-Link. A guy here has a PowerBook and it works even better. I am not even an Apple fanboy, but I must say, their wireless reception is exceptional. Make sure the little antenna wire is not kinked, I have seen that before on a lampshade iMac. Straightened it out and it works as well as those others now.

    5. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      make sure the antenna is plugged in to the card.

    6. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by JK1150 · · Score: 1

      that's because IBMs have a wifi antenna that goes up the side of the monitor. iBooks are supposed to also, but remember the iBook screen is only 12" and the IBM's are usually 14". Gives a bit more space to work with.

    7. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by vegasmacguy · · Score: 1

      I absolutely agree. My iBook Gets great reception where my friend's Dell gets none. Something's wrong with your wife's machine.

    8. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by Moofie · · Score: 1

      Uh huh, because when you're talking RF antenna design, longer is always better.

      Right.

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    9. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by brlewis · · Score: 1

      I don't know for sure that somewhere inside there's a bad connection between the built-in antenna and the built-in card, but I would think Apple would know how to connect them. I suspect the problem with my wife's model is that it's a 2005.

    10. Re:ibook vs thinkpad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This has got to be the dumbest thing I've seen. People here are telling you what is likely the problem with your laptop and you are covering your ears and shouting "Durrrr I dont know it must be because it was made in 2005" (whatever the fuck that means)

  32. About time for some style by shanen · · Score: 1, Troll
    Well, I've often felt like this boring black box fixation was not the most sensitive design strategy from the customers' perspectives. IBM's engineering has always been solid enough inside the box--but that's not what the customers see first. I think the black-box approach also made customers doubt IBM's attentiveness to the customers' other interests. I'm hoping that means we'll be seeing a range of more interesting ThinkPads now. They've also recently announced a widescreen model.

    (Disclaimer: I'm in the IBM food chain, and most of my machines are IBM's, either NetVista or ThinkPad.)

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  33. Re:When will people learn... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It took me over a minute to load it - means to me the server is suffering.

    Also, what's up with "It's been 5 minutes since you last successfully posted a comment"? I thought the delay was 2 minutes?

  34. Re:IBM or the Company that bought the computer par by bhtooefr · · Score: 2, Informative

    IBM designed most of this.

    Lenovo, that Chinese computer company, is selling this.

    Here's how it works:

    When you order an IBM PC (read: ThinkPad or ThinkCentre) or an accessory, you're dealing with Lenovo. All models except for the Z series were completely designed by IBM, and the Z series was mostly designed by IBM.

    When you get support for an IBM PC, (as far as I understand), you're calling IBM, not Lenovo.

    When you order a server from IBM, you're dealing with IBM, and Lenovo has nothing to do with it.

  35. Re:When will people learn... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    5 minutes? Luxury! I've had 18 mins between comments.

  36. Re:And ... by morgajel · · Score: 1

    [offtopic]
    I've heard people making this exact same comment for YEARS. I was lurking on slashdot long before i made an account. I'd place it around mid 2001.

    If you don't like it, go away. there's kuro5hin and arstechnica, even fark or somethingawful. Whiny posts aren't improving the quality of discourse around here.

    [/offtopic]

    to steer back on topic, I have a t42 for work and love it. I'd like to see what the differences really would be. lighter? heavier? more durable? what about the internals?

    if it's just a fashion thing, no thanks, I prefer the black.

    --
    Looking for Book Reviews? Check out Literary Escapism.
  37. So where's the Turion version? by Brian+Stretch · · Score: 1

    Lenovo and AMD get along pretty well. When will Lenovo make an AMD Turion version of the Thinkpad? THAT would get my attention. Same old 32-bit-only notebook in a new shiny case, not so much.

  38. Is this really slashdot material... by WiFireWire · · Score: 1

    ...c'mon. Honestly, when I want to know my color options when buying a thinkpad I will consult the IBM website.

    1. Re:Is this really slashdot material... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You speak as if "Slashdot material" is consistently high-brow, sophisticated, highly pertinent and accurate information.

      Yes, this article does damage to the prestige of Slashdot!

    2. Re:Is this really slashdot material... by Darksoftnet · · Score: 1

      I submitted the article myself, and I thought it was relevent as IBM Thinkpads have been black forever. I would say only people who have been in the industry long enough would find it interesting, and those people are viewing news on Slashdot. If you don't find it interesting, just move on to another article that you do find interesting. Slashdot serves over 1/3 of a million people daily! They can't possibly please every single viewer with every single article.

    3. Re:Is this really slashdot material... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wasn't serious when I said your article was bad. I was mocking the guy who was complaining about it. It was sarcasm

      Your article is fine. I'm typing this on a Thinkpad. I like Thinkpads. I was glad to see this article.

      My point was: The original poster was calling it "Not Slashdot worthy." In my view, Slashdot worthy is not setting the bar very high. And I say this, not having anything to do with your article.

  39. IBM did this before. by Deathlizard · · Score: 1

    Looking at this picture this is nothing new.

    We have a lot of Foreign exchange students here, and one of them has an IBM/LG branded laptop with the exact same color scheme, only it's a Pentium III laptop and the titanium color is just the color of the plastic instead of a true titanium cover.

    I don't remember the Model number on the laptop, so I don't know which series it was, but I do know it was at least two to three years old.

    1. Re:IBM did this before. by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      It was probably an i series. The i series was made by Acer, and used ALi and VIA chipsets.

      Basically, it was the ultra-budget model.

  40. Re:And ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    I've heard people making this exact same comment for YEARS. I was lurking on slashdot long before i made an account. I'd place it around mid 2001.


    Ditto and N00B!

    I'd place it at around 1998. It was always like this and will always be like this. BTW back then K5 sucked and had no users as did the other alternitives.

    although I miss geekazoid. AKA GIZ

  41. zseries laptop? by joib · · Score: 1, Funny

    I have to say, I find it hard to imagine a market for a mainframe laptop. ;-)

    1. Re:zseries laptop? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah. In the IBM world, zSeries is the big-mutha range of machines (the S/390 lineage). xSeries is the low end (Intel/AMD/etc).

      Pax.

      Ha ha I really AM a script but I'm smart enough to defeat your script-detection techniques :-).

    2. Re:zseries laptop? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny your comment is, hmm?

      However, if you could cram IBMs new z9 beastie (or even the z800) into a laptop form factor, I'm sure I could find quite a large market for that, given that mainframes are still a big money-spinner for Big Blue :-).

    3. Re:zseries laptop? by shanen · · Score: 1
      Not sure what you mean by that. Today's notebook computers pack much more power than the largest mainframes of some years ago. What percentage of the cycles are you actually using? My guestimate is that 95%+ of my cycles are going to the World Community Grid for protein-folding research.

      Having said that, Microsoft can still find ways to make the machines grind to lengthy halts at irregular and unpredictable intervals.

      --
      Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  42. An "Apple-edition" brushed titanium cover? by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    Now both your hardware and software can have the Apple "look and feel".

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  43. bad move. by bezgin · · Score: 0

    Windows keys. Metallic cover. Curves. What will come next, a thinkpad without trackpoint? The Thinkpad brand was powerful because you could not buy it in a supermarkt, it was designed to be stable and trustable. Place it in consumer electronics and it will suck like the rest.

    --
    exit();
  44. lets all remeber IBM biggest SHAME UK by buddha01 · · Score: 0

    I personally have worked for an IBM dealer ship in the UK for ten years.

    Every time a broken laptop screen is repaired at a dealership or business partner the faulty screen which has either been smashed dropped or what ever, well thats just thrown in the standard bin or worse.

    LCD screens contain mercury the most deadly poison known to man, and what has IBM's action been to insure its business partners dispose of their industrial waste, ZERO.

    NO incentive to deal with toxic IBM parts = Mercury thrown any were but were it should be.

    IBM SHOULD be like HP , if you have an old toner unit you can get it sent back or at least there is a process to get them dealt with properly.

    IBM uk still has lots to learn, I have personally out side of work in my own time disposed of countless smashed lcd screens, ive done it about 14 times.

    I still have my commincation in my hotmail account when I drummed up the balls to email IBM and get some sort of answer on this.

    The result name your self. Yeah and lose my job..

    Peace and you can check this facts out.

    IBM YOU SUCK AND YOUR LAPTOPS ARE SHIT ONLY ONE ABOVE TOSHIBA AND I HATE TOSHIBA.

    Also why dont you tell your customers that they have 30 days after buying there darn laptop that they must claim there free recovery cd's, just another nail in IBM coffin if you ask me.

    IBM= DOWN HILL.

    1. Re:lets all remeber IBM biggest SHAME UK by toddestan · · Score: 1

      Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the screen itself pretty much just a harmless hunk of plastic, and the only place mercury is going to be found is in the backlight? I don't see why it would be a problem to toss a LCD in the trash after carefully removing the backlight, and perhaps seperating the other attached electronics from it to be recycled too.

    2. Re:lets all remeber IBM biggest SHAME UK by buddha01 · · Score: 0

      right and how about that process or some thing better being IBM company standard for the uk, currently there is zero procedure for the disposing of toxic and it is toxic , zero process, and as important, there is zero incentive for copmanys pendling ibm kit to do any such process. nice to read your comment but in the real world it means nothing.

  45. Lenovo Impact on the Brand by b3x · · Score: 1, Interesting

    It would be interesting to hear from others who work at companies which are "IBM" houses (Thinkpads and Thinkcentres etc ...). Is there talk of dropping Think* brands now that Lenovo is making them?

    My company switched to Dell within a month of the sale. As one co-worker put it: It's like giving up your BMW for a Civic

    1. Re:Lenovo Impact on the Brand by Bushcat · · Score: 1

      It's not as though the factory making the computers has changed, or am I wrong? Some Thinkpads have been coming out of Legend/Lenovo factories since 2003. IBM started working with Legend on other stuff in 2001.

    2. Re:Lenovo Impact on the Brand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No switch here (yet). Fortune 100 company.

    3. Re:Lenovo Impact on the Brand by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Don't know on the Z or G series...

      R and X series have been produced at Winstron for as long as those series have been around.

      The T series was produced at Great Wall Computer, one of Lenovo's direct competitors, until Lenovo bought the PC division.

  46. This is just on the R-series by Noksagt · · Score: 1

    The R-series is their budget, entry-level line. Perhaps threats of rub-off are one reason it isn't being used on the higher lines like the T-series.

    (PS I also love my Thinkpad)

    1. Re:This is just on the R-series by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Taking your reply to yourself into account...

      The R series actually IS their entry level line.

      The Z series is an interesting beast. In some ways, it's clearly a widescreen R (compare the Z60m pricing and feature sets to the R50e/R51/R52). However, with options, both it and the Z60t target some of the T series market, and it's got T-class build quality. (Actually, Lenovo says that it's 30% more durable than the T series...)

  47. And by R by Noksagt · · Score: 1

    I meant Z. ug.

  48. Re:And ... by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

    The Z60t (for "thin") is a 14" widescreen, weighs 4.5lbs and has integrated graphics.

    The Z60m (for "multimedia") is a 15.4" widescreen, weighs 6.5lbs, and can have an ATI Mobility Radeon instead of integrated graphics.

    Both are supposed to be "30%" more durable than a T series.

    There's some other minor differences, as well.

    Both weights are for basic black - with the titanium faceplate installed (basically, from what I've heard, it snaps on on top of the (black) LCD, so if you get a titanium model, but want black, you can just take it off, and it'll be good), add .25lbs.

  49. No by milimetric · · Score: 5, Insightful

    whereas that's a nice color and everything, what's inside is what matters. I've always really respected IBM because contrary to what everyone else did, they always stuck with quality of design. They never had the fastest processors. They kept the insides simple, only what you need and no more. Now Lenovo is adding all sorts of connectors, buttons, shortcuts, changing the keyboards, basically fucking everything up. I just hope I can raise enough money to get an IBM T42p before they're not made by IBM any more. The T series is the best laptop that has and will ever be made. The very fact that IBM saw it as unprofitable is indicative of its supreme quality.

    No Lenovo, bad move. Instead of distancing yourself from IBM you should spend the 5 years you have been granted in worship of the IBM design, understanding every little piece and reasoning that went into every corner and design. Only when you fully understand their genius, then can you try to duplicate and move the products in a worthy direction. Otherwise, you're going to drive the whole thing into the ground. Dell and HP already have you beat on the "do-it-all" laptops. You're never going to win there. The only thing you have is quality. Once you ruin that, you're fucked. And from your new buttons and architecture changes, it looks like you like getting fucked.

    1. Re:No by dobedobedew · · Score: 1

      I have to agree. The IT in our company is going to be screwed if/when they discontinue that line.
      We have a few hundred T41's and T42's, and the only ones we've had trouble with are the ones that have been abused by the end user.

      If the new ThinkPads suck as much as everything else out there, we're going to have users fighting over the T series machines because even they know how badly everything else sucks. (We used to have Gateways).

    2. Re:No by Halo- · · Score: 2, Informative
      I'm not sure that it means, but the T42p is current the standard laptop issued to developers in my division of IBM. I just got mine about a week ago, and so far, so good.

      One thing to note is that even though it's easier to run Linux on that other computers there are still some warts. For example the built-in 802.11a/b/g card needs the MadWifi drivers, and to really make the display perform well you need the proprietary ATI drivers. Both of these taint the kernel.

      On the plus side, a lot of stuff "just worked" for me out of the box or with little hassle. Most notably was ACPI suspend to RAM (S3). I can't tell you how much I've missed being able to just shut the lid and throw my laptop in mt briefcase for a day or two. (I should note you do have to add a line to the kernel boot options, and the lid-shut needs a script, but echo 3 > /proc/acpi/sleep works)

      I'm really psyched that there is an actual ibm-acpi module in the standard kernel now...

    3. Re:No by milimetric · · Score: 1

      The T42p is the professional version of the T42 and it features the unbelievable 128MB FireGL graphics card along with a 9 cell battery and a few extra security features.

      Are you able to use the hard drive park feature from Linux? Are you able to take advantage of IBM's rapid restore functionality?

    4. Re:No by Halo- · · Score: 1
      The video is very nice, and I'm told the DVI and S-Video out even work under Linux. (Haven't tried it yet) I've got the smaller screened version (1400 x 1040) instead of 1600x1200, but it still feels huge. This is the first time in a while I've found myself making fonts *bigger* to improve their readability.

      I don't have the model with the fingerprint scanner, but that's used at a BIOS (or lower) level I beleive and I think it doesn't care what OS it is running.

      I've also not tried the hard-drive parking yet, but there is preliminary support for it being developed which looks like it might even been in the -mm kernels soon. (HDAPS Project)

      To be honest, I don't even know what "Rapid Restore" is, so I don't know if I'm benefiting from it. I've only had the laptop a week, and unfortunately work and home commitments have prevented me from playing with it as much as I would like.

      The 9 cell battery seems to run a really long time, but I haven't pushed it hard.

    5. Re:No by milimetric · · Score: 1

      Man, you are one lucky dude. Where do you work that you get both a ThinkPad and to install Linux on it. I've got the shit end of this stick cause I'm stuck with a Dell in a microsoft shop, lol. Are you guys hiring?

    6. Re:No by Halo- · · Score: 1

      I work for IBM. :)

    7. Re:No by milimetric · · Score: 1

      hahaha, that's so awesome, I'll be aplying to IBM soon so I'll use this story in my interview if appropriate.

      God I envy you : )
      Cheers,

      Dan

    8. Re:No by Halo- · · Score: 1
      Best of luck. When I applied back in 99, I told my interviewers part of why I wanted to work for IBM was because I had had the oppertunity to take apart an RS/6000 machine once and was amazed at how clean and well laid-out everything was inside. I doubt that had anything to do with their hiring me, but it's funny that we think alike.

      Oh, and it used to be (and may still be) that they made potential hires take this written test called the PAT. (Programming Aptitude Test). It's basically a bunch of thinly disguised logic puzzles and a couple of sections of "how fast can you do basic math".

      I remember thinking I bombed it because I didn't seem to have enough time. I've asked around and everyone seems to have had that impression when they took it. My manager later told me I did really well on it, but I get the feeling it was more of a hold-over from when they were drafting coders off the assembly lines or something. (And yes, that happens. The guy in the next office over has been here for like 30+ years, and he started out assembling the carriages for typewriters and got drafted to try programming) Anyway, don't let the test rattle ya, cuz I suspect it's meaningless.

      IBM is a cool place to work, and is actually pretty casual. The blue-suit days are gone. Good luck!

    9. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed. Except for one thing. Graphics cards should now be considered a strong selling point, especially for presentations and demos. My next Thinkpad should be capable of pushing pixels and polygons (I know, I know, even for Powerpoint presentations) in widescreen.

    10. Re:No by milimetric · · Score: 1

      hehe, well if you follow the T42p ThinkPad you would see that they had just that in mind. It has a FireGL2 128 MB graphics card in there. If there's a laptop out there with a better card, I have yet to see it.

  50. This story's about not building their brand well by ianscot · · Score: 1
    Also, the color names sound like they are marketed to 8 year olds.

    Which maybe tells us how lost IBM has been about how to broaden their "market space."

    We all "get" that the look and feel is part of that whole brand thing that companies kill for, and that IBM offering two color choices maybe, maybe rates a news item based on their brand being associated with black cases. But those earlier color names go to the problem here, which is that IBM doesn't know how to get past the limited market they have now.

    As a strategy for broadening the brand, their approach seems both extremely conservative and reactive. When did the G3 iMacs have their many-fruity-colors phase? "Mars Red Metallic" was trying to hop on that little trend probably. This titanium thing would be how far after that breaking wave? And to even do it, the decision has to be out of IBM's hands.

    Pretty lukewarm for daring new design choices. Pretty IBM-as-dinosaur-ish, really.

    --
    "Fundamentalism" isn't about divine morality. It's about human authority.
  51. How are Levono laptops these days? by g2racer · · Score: 1

    I worked at a company that only used IBM Thinkpads way back when and went through a bunch of different models (the last 2 were a 760XL and 600). I really liked them back then. I then worked at a startup where we bought Toshiba Tecra 8100s which I also considered really nice. Now working for a company that uses Dells and what an absolute POS my corporate Latitude D600 is. Sure it's fast (with a 2Ghz Dothan and 2GB of RAM), but ergonomically it sucks (the keyboard is by far the worst laptop keyboard I've ever used, the pointer/touchpad are near unusable). Luckily I have a docking station at work and use a full size keyboard and mouse...

    That being said, I'm in the market for a new personal laptop... I'm gonna avoid Dell from my recent experience. How are the new Levono Thinkpads?

    1. Re:How are Levono laptops these days? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have a T41 and an old R32.
      I can only recommend IBM Laptops. I don`t think there has anything changed with the sale to Leveno.

  52. Titanium is sooo... by alispguru · · Score: 1

    ... 2002.

    --

    To a Lisp hacker, XML is S-expressions in drag.
    1. Re:Titanium is sooo... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well... I think you meant to say 2001 and January 2001 at that...

    2. Re:Titanium is sooo... by fafaforza · · Score: 1

      You mean titanium covered with paint that would chip off after a few months. At least the thinkpads don't have anything to chip off and drop the resale value by %20.

  53. Info-tising by NineNine · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Slashdot is pioneering a new type of advertising that actually is disguised to appear as if it's actually useful information or "news". I like to call it "info-tising"! It's been used on our TV news broadcasts in smaller, more subtle ways for years, but Slashdot takes it to a new level, whereas they just barely try to conceal the advertisement.

  54. isn't zSeries a mainframe? by egburr · · Score: 1

    When I see zSeries, I think mainframe (such as zOS and VTAM), not laptop. I know it's technically not IBM anymore, but couldn't they try to be a little less confusing?

    --

    Edward Burr
    Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
    1. Re:isn't zSeries a mainframe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So it's a laptop with a mainframe CPU, not an Itanium? And the User Interface is JCL?

  55. Hackers by ShentarZ31 · · Score: 1

    I'm still waiting to get one of those clear laptops like in Hackers.

  56. finally a windows key? by edmicman · · Score: 1

    Will they finally at least put a windows key on the things??! I love my T42, but its *so* annoying not having the windows key, and why can't you use the Fn key instead??

    1. Re:finally a windows key? by toddestan · · Score: 1

      And here I thought the lack of Windows keys was a feature?

      I actually like what a Toshiba did on a laptop of mine - they put the Windows key in the top right of the keyboard. Its out of the way and I never hit it accidently (unlike the standard location between CTRL and ALT which I despise), but it's still there as the Windows key does have some uses.

  57. For data presentation? Only with caution by macklin01 · · Score: 1

    From the article:

    The Z-series is intended to win such customers with features such as a specially wide screen suited both to making data presentations and watching DVDs, as well as built-in wireless data access in the US.

    This is interesting (and potentially bad). I was at a Ph.D. candidacy talk last week where using a widescreen laptop to design a PowerPoint talk was bad. The projector she was connected to could only do a 4:3 aspect ratio, so when she kept her laptop in its native resolution, the text was horizontally compressed on its projection, and when she changed her laptop resolution to match the projector's resolution, some of the presentation text ended up being cropped on the projection. This seemed to be a case in point, that it's best to not plan a presentation for the 4:3 world on a widescreen laptop. Great for DVD's, not so hot for data presentation if you don't allow for differing aspect ratios! -- Paul

    --
    OpenSource.MathCancer.org: open source comp bio
    1. Re:For data presentation? Only with caution by kencurry · · Score: 1

      answer - dual monitor mode. For presenters, PP will give you useful info on the laptop screen (your eyes only) and of course the "second monitor" syncs to the projector resolution.

      Also, as a powerbook titanium owner, I have to say it's the best looking laptop I've ever owned. However, wireless range isn't great. Possible due to titanium case?

      --
      sigs are for losers (except to point out that sigs are for losers)
    2. Re:For data presentation? Only with caution by FRiC · · Score: 1

      Actually, PowerPoint works really well with a widescreen display. During designing, the extra area of the widescreen display can be used to show the small slides/outline, without eating into your main view. When actually running the presentation, PowerPoint has an option (set up show) to automatically change the display resolution.

  58. I will... by bikerguy99 · · Score: 1

    hold back on buying Titanium ... Will wait until Aluminum comes out in couple of years...

  59. Oh, Titanium! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought that it said Itanium. I was trying to figure out why someone would want a laptop with an Itanium processor for a few minutes.

  60. Infernal Windows keys! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can't believe they're putting a Windows key on a Thinkpad. That's even more wrong than it being available in a color other than black!

    One of the nice little extras the Thinkpad offers is the lack of a Windows key. It means that ctrl, alt and space are normal size, and there's not an extra key between them to hit accidentally. For those of us who don't use Windows, having an extra button with minimal use is a liability.

    It's time for somebody else to step up and become the hacker's laptop of choice (no, not Apple - the pointing device sucks). Thinkpads have been going downhill ever since the discontinuation of the 600X.

  61. Titanium in Thinkpads... by onpaws · · Score: 1

    By the way, appearance aside, IBM Thinkpads in the last few years have used titanium alloys for lids (but painted the appropriate IBM deep black).

    Recent models include the T and X series, such as the T42p, T30, and the X30.

    http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,544117,00.asp
    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/17/review_ibm _thinkpad_t42p/

    So titanium is not really a "new," verbatim. But certainly the color is.

  62. Huh..we recycle them properly in the USA. by FatSean · · Score: 0, Troll

    Guess your local employees in the UK are a bit stupid or lazy. Well, that was one of the reasons for the mass lay-offs in Europe. Just not enough work for the euro I hear.

    --
    Blar.
  63. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  64. Titanium is only part of the the story... by mschaef · · Score: 2, Informative

    IMO, Titanium is only part of the story. The (IMO, much bigger deal) is the new Widescreen display (finally). The lack of a widescreen is a big part of the reason I did not buy a Thinkpad - Visual Studio runs better with the wider aspect ratio. I don't know if they offer resolutions past WXGA (1280x800), but we should all welcome IBM to at least 2002.

  65. Check the serial number by chiph · · Score: 1

    As explained to me when I ordered my T43p, if the serial number starts with an L, it's a Lenovo product.

    I love the black magnesium cover of my Thinkpad, and it's interesting to see a change. My only concern is that they'll change things too often -- when they make a change to the design, they need to commit to it for at least 5 years. Or come up with another brand for their consumer and SOHO laptops, so that they don't dilute the Thinkpad brand.

    Thinkpads are not trendy "Japanese schoolgirl" computers. They represent solid, reliable machines for doing business.

    Chip H.

    1. Re:Check the serial number by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Well, Lenovo's plan is to have a line of trendy Japanese schoolgirl computers in the US, but NOT under the ThinkPad name.

      FWIW, your T43p's cover is titanium composite. Not magnesium. That's the base.

    2. Re:Check the serial number by chiph · · Score: 1

      The Lenovo site says the cover is magnesium composite. I took that to mean the, uhh, cover.

      I'll have to send in some suggestions for their Japanese schoolgirl line of laptops. Maybe:
      "Super R Mobile Tech Center"

      Chip H.

    3. Re:Check the serial number by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Magnesium composite in the top cover, titanium-reinforced CFRP in bottom cover

      OK, you win...

      However, I was right that there IS titanium in there...

      I guess the titanium composite top covers have left... even the X series is all magnesium now...

  66. Re:what a load of crap by tehsoul · · Score: 1

    visual studio runs fine on my t43p, with uxga (1600x1200) resolution. widescreen serves no purpose other then "looking cool".

    --
    me and my thinkpad, sittin' in a tree, c-o-d-i-n-g...
  67. Heh by Necron69 · · Score: 1

    Am I the only one that read that as "Itanium" and got really confused for a second?

    Just think, a laptop that doubles as a waffle iron! :)

    - Necron69

    1. Re:Heh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, you are not the only one: I also first thought of Itanium.

  68. are they trying to penetrate the home user market? by tehsoul · · Score: 1

    i can't really see any advantage for widescreen thinkpads... a widescreen laptop is utterly useless imo... the p models (mobile workstations) have 15" 1600x1200 screens. anything above that is a complete waste (on a MOBILE computer) or yeah, like dell, introduce a 17" laptop with 1920x1200 resolution. might as well carry your 23" apple cinema display and mac mini around. 'the advantage of widescreen laptops' exists solely in everyone's head. the marketing machine has won (again)

    --
    me and my thinkpad, sittin' in a tree, c-o-d-i-n-g...
  69. fascinating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    Interesting. No wait, the other thing: tedious.

  70. Metal by ShoobieRat · · Score: 1

    I always said they should make laptops out of metal instead of so much plastic. A nice solid titanium or aluminium laptop would be awsome.

  71. Titanium is nice an all ... by jopet · · Score: 1

    but I would prefer to hear that they finally come up with a Laptop that *fully* and *flawlessly* works with Linux, and a pre-installed Linux distro that fully and flawlessly supports all the hardware (ACPM, drivers for operating the WLAN with WEP encryption, all the function keys work as intended, legal and working software for playing DVDs and music, etc). *That* would be news that would really wake me up.

  72. WiFi Range? by ChePibe · · Score: 2, Informative

    My old 12" PowerBook was a great machine, and I appreciated its durability and looks, but the metal case seriously cut into it's WiFi range. My wife's 12" iBook was always much better than mine. To be honest, this is one of the things that's keeping me from buying a PowerBook again and just getting an iBook until the new Intel books come out to see if Apple fixes this.

    At least the Ti cover is removable - so you can keep it for the looks/protection, then take it off when you need to get in touch with a distant hot spot.

  73. Z's keyboard sucks by Wiktor+Kochanowski · · Score: 1

    Now they made it sucky just like in all the other countless laptops on the market: microscopic Ctrl and Alt keys, useless Windows keys.

    The fact that IBM laptops did not give in to Microsoft and always, so far, had normal sized Ctrl and Alt keys was a MAJOR reason why I was buying them.

    Also, for all the talk about design, they did not do the one thing that should be really obvious: increase the keyboard width to full-size now that it is possible with the wide-screen format!

    I regard this new Z line the first visible mark of predicted decline of the Thinkpad line. The Chinese obviously are going to do what everybody was afraid of: expand into home and consumer markets, milk the brand for all it's worth, quality be damned.

    Sad, really. My relationship to my Thinkpads was always quite emotional. Not any longer.

  74. runs longer on a battery? by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 1

    My brand new 15in Powerbook can only last 2 hours without needing a recharge. "runs longer on a battery" my ass ;).

    --
    "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
    1. Re:runs longer on a battery? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      moron. what are you watching movies and playing video games? of course it'll only last that long if you force it to only last that long

    2. Re:runs longer on a battery? by kscd · · Score: 1

      I agree. My 15" powerbook gets about 2.5 hours on a charge. No DVDs playing, but with wireless turned on. My previous computer, which weighed the same, received about 5 hours with wireless on. Unfortunately, it only ran windows.

    3. Re:runs longer on a battery? by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 1

      Anonymous ass. Powerbooks are notorious for their 2 hour batteries.

      And for the record... I'm usually working in photoshop or illustrator. However, my battery doesn't last much longer if I'm only typing emails and browsing the web.

      --
      "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
  75. Titanium is nice and all... by Arpie · · Score: 1

    ...but the real question is does it still have the little nipple/clitoris mouse?

    Seriously, do people actually like and use that?

    --
    /* TAANSTAFL */
    1. Re:Titanium is nice and all... by Bassman59 · · Score: 1
      re the thinkpad eraser-tip mouse.

      I love it. I wish I could find a decent keyboard with it.

    2. Re:Titanium is nice and all... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep, its 100 times better then that stupid touch pad(I have both on my T40).

      Everyone I know has hated the nipple till they got use to it, now no one wants to go back.

    3. Re:Titanium is nice and all... by Arpie · · Score: 1

      I've used occasionally, but haven't used it intensively.

      I guess it could be good practice. Wife/ girlfriend might be thankful. ;-)

      --
      /* TAANSTAFL */
    4. Re:Titanium is nice and all... by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      It's no TrackPoint IV, only an ancient TrackPoint II, but Unicomp sells the On The Stick 101 and the Endura/Pro 104, which have built-in TrackPoints.

      TrackPoint I: Never released
      TrackPoint II: Used on IBM's Model M13 (the first thing with a TrackPoint. Ever.), Unicomp On The Stick 101, On The Ball Plus 101, Endura/Pro 104, and first ThinkPads
      TrackPoint III: Adds cursor acceleration, negative inertia (which can be nice, but it can also be annoying)
      TrackPoint IV: Adds the "Internet Scroll Bar" (read: a middle button, that when held, makes the thing emulate a mouse with tilt wheel, or have a magnifying glass).

  76. Is that a mainframe in your backpack? by obispo · · Score: 1

    I understand that Lenovo wants to distance itself from IBM by making this kind of decisions, but it sure is an confusing name choice for the new series of Thinkpads. IBM has been using the zSeries name for its (thriving) line of s390 mainframes for years

  77. This is great news! by Legion303 · · Score: 1

    The titanium cover really speeds up that processor. I'm going to slap an R-Type sticker on it too for that little extra boost of power.

  78. Re:are they trying to penetrate the home user mark by cerelib · · Score: 1

    Take a look at the size and weight numbers. The 14 inch widescreen Z comes in at 4.1-4.6 pounds and the 15 inch over 6 pounds. A 14 inch widescreen, full featured notebook, at that weight is pretty good. I agree that some notebooks have become huge. I was at best buy and saw a notebook with the numerical keypad on the keyboard. It was huge.

  79. Ok - I was gonna dog this "news" item too, until - by King_TJ · · Score: 1

    - I read the article all the way through, and I actually do get why this isn't just "barely disguised advertising B.S. on Slashdot once again".

    Normally, yeah, who cares? A laptop now offers a new top plate? But here's the thing: It's the long-standing IBM Thinkpad doing it. Unlike practically every other laptop on the market, the Thinkpad, under IBM's guidance, remained much more about usability and practicality in a business enviornment than about catering to style-conscious consumers. Leaving a laptop in all black plastic (and no polished or mirror finishes either!) makes a lot of sense for a device you assume is going to be taking some physical abuse and will be in daily service for a long time. Small scratches don't show up much on it, nor do fingerprints. If it gets a little dirty, it won't immediately look terrible like a white laptop will. And at least in theory, you're not stuck paying a premium for "looks". (It should have cost less to make everything in plain old black than to maintain multiple product lines with various colors.)

    Lenovo's interest in changing this signifies much more than "Woo - the Thinkpad gets a style makeover!" It means they're trying to re-orient the whole product line to compete in the consumer and so-ho/small business sector. (And this is strictly personal opinion, but I also think it's a strong sign that there's no longer a point in demanding Thinkpads for your corporation, if you're part of a comnpany that used to standardize on them. Generally, notebooks of Japanese manufacture are coming off the assembly line with better quality control than Chinese ones like Lenovo products. But furthermore, this shift in strategy means you're going to start paying more for "flash" than "substance" as time goes on with Thinkpads.)

  80. Even Henry Ford gave up on just black... by fantomas · · Score: 1

    Colour matters, as does design style. I completely agree with you that what's inside is most important, but as laptops move from office machines to home / lifestyle appliances, the external design styling of your boxes will differentiate and add sales. Just ask Apple. I'm willing to bet that a sizeable percentage of Apple sales happen because their computers look cool. You might laugh but to be honest I think computer functionality is topping out for most people, laptops are much of a muchness powerwise, and once you've hit reliability, well you choose the one you like the look of. Even Henry Ford gave up on telling people they could have any colour so long as it was black....

    1. Re:Even Henry Ford gave up on just black... by milimetric · · Score: 1

      I totally respect Apple's approach as well. I own an iPod (nano kicks ASS) and love the simplicity and power of the click wheel. I love the way it looks as well and I can see why people buy them.

      Apple produces high quality products. However, many of the things they did with their laptops are copied from IBM. The magnesium frame, hard drive drop protection, and the cooling architecture. I think apple notebooks look better than ThinkPads, because frankly ThinkPads are gross. But ThinkPads are gross for a reason and that transcends grossness to make them beautiful. Kinda like why an Acura Legend is beautiful even though it's kind of ugly. That car is "as depedable as the sunrise" and if it was up to me, I'd be sailing off into the sunset on an 1995 Acura Legend with an IBM T42p laptop in the backseat and my baby riding shotgun : )

  81. So it begins. by Gates82 · · Score: 1
    I agree with the parent. Thinkpads should be black. They have always been business machines, are great at it. My 2.5 year old A31 still bests my new dell desktop here at work.

    Lenovo is going to milk the Thinkpad name with an inferior product geared towards the average consumer. If I wanted a laptop for the average jo I would by a dell, sadly with this transition there are no real laptop vendors available.

    --
    So who is hotter? Ali or Ali's Sister?

    1. Re:So it begins. by Flashpot · · Score: 1

      which chould push demand for PPC-linux notebooks...from IBM of course!

      --
      That which does not kill her only prolongs my agony.
  82. It's been said before by wurp · · Score: 1

    But I just can't resist....

    Who the fuck cares?

  83. i'm sure the question on EVERYONE's mind is by iggymanz · · Score: 2, Funny

    if I become disgruntled and use my super-geek skills to commandeer a secret government earthquake producing satellite while on board a train, and ex-Navy seal turned chef shoots me in the laptop I hold in front of my heart, WILL IT STOP THE BULLET??!!

  84. ThinkPad Different. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    [eom]

  85. Or would that be by lullabud · · Score: 1

    PadTi? Mmm... now I'm hungry.

  86. Re:Stinkpads should be black. Period. by usrusr · · Score: 1

    i always thought that the thinkpads were the only laptop computers that did not look cheap. some of those mac things aren't too bad either but there is so much fake metal finish around on the supermarket shelves that the real deal reminds me more and more of the cheap stuff, not the other way like the cheap makers intended. thinkpads otoh were immune to that effect.

    --
    [i have an opinion and i am not afraid to use it]
  87. Never mind the colour, does it have a Windows key? by scottme · · Score: 2, Interesting

    IBM ThinkPads have traditionally omitted this small homage to Redmond, but it looks like this model may see them conforming at last.

    Oh well, my next laptop will be a Powerbook anyway.

  88. Take my money please by lucm · · Score: 1

    This titanium thinkpad is good news for crooks, it makes it easier for them to spot people eager to waste money.

    --
    lucm, indeed.
  89. To think... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Of all the useful articles I've submitted over the years that the /. editors rejected out of hand, while they publish meaningless dribble like this...

  90. Re:what a load of crap by mschaef · · Score: 1

    "visual studio runs fine on my t43p, with uxga (1600x1200) resolution. widescreen serves no purpose other then "looking cool". "

    Having run it both on 4:3 (at various resolutions up to 1600x1200) and now a 1900x1200 Widescreen Dell, I can safely say it runs better on Widescreen. This is particularly true of the debugger: widescreen makes it possible to have a stack trace/watch window on one side, the solution browser on the other, and a reasonable editor in the middle. 4:3 makes that a lot more cumbersome: I usually end up putting the stack trace, watch window, and solution browser all on the same side, which tends to be a little cramped. (Of course, lately I've spent a lot of time debugging an interpreter with very deep stack traces, so maybe I'm biased).

    Dual Screens is nicer still, but less portable.

  91. Re:are they trying to penetrate the home user mark by mschaef · · Score: 1

    "dell, introduce a 17" laptop with 1920x1200 resolution."

    Dell offers 1920x1600 in 15.4" on the I6000 and D810. Nice high DPI goodness + a wider screen.

    "'the advantage of widescreen laptops' exists solely in everyone's head."

    I find it to be a real advantage. I don't have quantitative proof, but I suspect that you don't either.

  92. Don't you get it? by commodoresloat · · Score: 1
    This is big news! IBM hardware design is finally catching up with the innovation at Apple!

    circa January 2001, that is...

  93. No it's not by commodoresloat · · Score: 1

    According to what I've read, titanium cases like this are actually inflammable, so there should be no problem.

    1. Re:No it's not by Gondola · · Score: 1

      Heh. Poster is +Funny.

    2. Re:No it's not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Heh. Does anyone else think of "Clarissa Explains it All" when people talk about the difference between inflammable and flammable? Stupid Ferguson not getting over his "pi vs. pie" question cost them the game.

      Did that series really start in 1991? Yikes.

  94. color or material by phriedom · · Score: 1

    What I want to know is: is it titanium colored? Or is it titanium? Frankly, I wish truth-in-advertising laws would crack down companies who attatch the "titanium" name to something that has no actual titanium in it. But I fear it will be come as diluted as "gold" and "silver."

    --
    Don't moderate flamebait as Troll. Know the difference or you will be Meta-moderated.
  95. Windows Key?! by UTPinky · · Score: 1

    If you look closely at some of the pictures, it looks like they finally added a windows key to the keyboard. How could they get rid of another one of IBMs greatest selling points - No Windows key?!

    --
    I'm only paranoid because everyone is against me...
  96. I'm disappointed by extra model subtypes by gelfling · · Score: 1

    Why? Because a typically IBM problem with the TPs and every other line was model-subtype explosion. IBM was constantly changing the model types and features which lead to basic QA and compatibility problems. It also meant that lots of models were test beds that were quickly abandoned. By the time the People's Republic of Lenovo bought IBM's PCD there were probably more than 100 different TP model subtypes in production more than 300 being supported. We were looking for Lenovo to apply somc commonsense to that and reduce the model diversity. This would lead to better focus and support and fewer evolutionary dead ends. If they're going to make pretty colors and all sorts of neato gewgaws then that's going to be a problem.

  97. Yawn. by andreyw · · Score: 1

    Get a PowerBook. It's still manufactured in China, but at least it's designed in Cupertino, not Beijing. /runs OS X too.

  98. Is the IBM logo still relevant? by sk999 · · Score: 1

    Shouldn't the logo that Slashdot uses for the article now be a "Lenovo" logo (whatever the heck that looks like) now that IBM has sold the business?

  99. Slashdot loves IBM (unhealthily) by turgid · · Score: 1

    IBM releases a laptop with a new tin. It gets a slashdot story. Sun releases new 64-bit processors. Not a peep.