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Lenovo's New ThinkPad Has 2 LCD Screens, Weighs 11 Pounds
ericatcw writes "With many users now used to having multiple monitors at home or work, you had to figure someone would try to offer a 'desktop replacement' laptop that offered the same. Lenovo is the first. Its new W700ds laptop will offer a 10.6 inch LCD screen in addition to the 17-inch primary display. The W700ds also sports a quad-core Intel Core 2 CPU, up to almost 1 TB of storage, and an Nvidia Quadro mobile chip with up to 128 cores. A Lenovo exec called this souped-up version of the normally buttoned-down-for-business ThinkPads the 'nitro-burning drag racer of ThinkPads.' There is even a Wacom digitizer pad and pen for graphic artists, who are expected to be the target market, along with photographers and other creative types who are willing to trade shoulder-aching bulk (11 pounds) and price (minimum of $3,600) for productivity enhancements."
At the other end of the laptop size spectrum, Dell recently announced plans to launch a rival to the MacBook Air. Called "Adamo," it is supposedly "thinner than the MacBook Air," though further details will have to wait for the Computer Electronics Show in early January.
On a more serious note, I don't think I want to carry around an 11 pound laptop just to have an extra monitor.
I guess I'm missing the point of this. At work I plug my laptop into my docking stataion, with a 26" monitor attached (with the same setup at home - the two monitors cost far less than this silly laptop!). I *don't* want to lug the monitor around with me! If I have a desk where I work frequently, I can provide it a much bigger monitor. If I'm just walking around, I want my laptop to be as light as possible.
Really, the more I think about it, the more I'm really just carrying my disk drive around. Maybe in a year or two I can just switch to carrying a poket-sized SSD around, and have desktops at home and work that boot off that.
Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
Sorry, that laptop in the article just looks lop-sided and ugly with the sidecar-screen pulled out. Once somebody does a triptych version, let me know.
"I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
I'm a huge fan of dead laptop batteries, burning hot pants, and scoliosis.
This has to be the perfect laptop for me!
Well, back to rejecting software patent applications.
The secondary display pulled out at the side just looks so fragile to me. Especially when considering the cost of such a computer.
On the other story, does the Dell "Adamo" has anything to do with Battlestar Galactica?
Colorless green Cthulhu waits dreaming furiously.
"Lenovo's New ThinkPad Has 2 LCD Screens, Weighs 11 Pounds "
Maybe a car battery wasn't the best choice?
I do find it interesting that dell has ditched the overly conservitive look... but maybe they are just figuring out that looks do sell. Then again this might be what you get when you Put a designer from Nike and a 25 year veteran from wireless industry in the room to build a computer (Ed Boyd and John Thode).
If you don't like it, don't buy it. Its like no one is forcing you to buy it, or lug it around. I am sure *somebody* will like it, and buy it. Man, its like saying that Chocolate Icecream tastes like shit. I suggest, then, you buy vanilla or strawberry.
1920x1200 main screen, and 720x1280 side screen... did it not occur to them to have 1200 vertically on both? Also, I'm kinda thinking that for this kind of money, I should be able to buy 2 laptops providing a total resolution in excess of 2640x1280, and whatever software I need to share the screen of one as a second display on the other... and have 'em weigh less, together, than this monstrosity. ;)
Village idiot in some extremely smart villages.
Am I the only one that has found this? I purchased a new Thinkpad ~6 months ago and it's terrible for a variety of reasons...
I had great experiences with my previous two (IBM manufactured) Thinkpads.
If you can read this... 01110101 01110010 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100111 01100101 01100101 01101011
Why? I see this word a lot in laptop threads. It's in the luggable monster threads like this one and its often in the netbook one too. I would have thought the answer was obvious, really. What I have trouble understanding is how people can fail to understand that not everyone has the same computing needs.
If you still don't understand, use the following guide:
Need as much power as you can get in a portable bos? Get one of these.
Need great portability but not much CPU? Get an eee or whatever.
Need something in between? Get a laptop.
Need a laptop which can be run over bay a tank while under water? Get a toughbook, etc...
And so on. If you're on /. and still can't see how other people still have different computing needs, then hand in your geek card on your way out.
SJW n. One who posts facts.
Okay, a dual-head laptop is just an insane idea. But then again, the Thinkpad has a long history of crazy features in the product line. Good to see Lenovo is keeping up the tradition.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go do some hacking on my T60.
I think we should make a system of rating computing power that's applicable to a CPU or GPU and is measured in Internet Penis Inches. Then you can settle graphics card debates by saying "This one is rated at 6.3Epeens and this one is 7.2Epeens" and be done with it.
A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
The metallic-black "Adamo" laptop will reportedly be thinner than the MacBook Air, although it's unclear whether it will be as light.
Sure, it depends on whether or not they loaded Vista onto it.
(kidding)
even given your scenario, to put the same amount of effort into a more-portable external monitor! If it's reasonably thin and light (the whole point), then it can go in the bag with your laptop.
I know of NO good reason that it should actually be built-in. That adds unnecessary weight and complication, and reduces flexibility.
I'd be real nervous about someone bumping into that extra display.
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
It's funny and amazingly bone-headed Dell should mention the MacBook Air. *All it does is shift the focus to Apple's offerings!* It's not hard to build a thinner laptop than the MBA, several manufacturers have already done that (Sharp, Sony, LG). The challenge is to build something *better* than the MBA, with an operating system and application software package that equals it. Dell can probably build a super-thin Alamo, but if it ships with Windows Vista, it's still useless.
Beauty is in the beholder of the eye.
I thought they were normally called 3dmarks, but I guess Epeens would work.
I'm sure they will be as successful as multi-turreted tanks.
I thought it was against slashdot's policy to make porn posts.
As other commenters have mentioned, it's about the trade off.
I guess I'd fit into the target market, as I'm a graphic designer and video editor, so more screen and more power are always nice. But I can't see me ever going larger than the 15.4" screen laptop I have now.
Why? Because, as nice as a bigger screen/more screens would be, it would guarantee that I couldn't do anything until I reached my destination unless I carried a smaller laptop as well. The laptop I have (Dell D820) is awkward on planes unless travelling business class or above, as it's slightly too big to fit on a tray table comfortably. Ditto for train travel (in the UK) -- even at a "table" seat (2 pairs of seats facing, separated by a small table) it's necessary to have the laptop uncomfortably close to the edge of the table so as not to use all of the table space belonging to the person opposite.
It seems to me that the extending display tech would be more suited to a smaller laptop -- if it can be made to work -- so you can have portability but still have a sizable working desktop when you have the space.
=== Ask yourself if it's really necessary...
Okay, link us to the prettier example of the dual screen notebook with all the same features.
A Thinkpad is a Thinkpad, so they are designed to look like Thinkpads. I've just bought one that has the same timeless design. Never mind, the laptop (an SL300) is great, save the 13.3 inch screen, which is rather worthless. I hope for Lenovo's sake the screens of this new thing fare better.
The more I think about it the more it looks like A Microsoft version of the virtual desktop.
Then again, why not just use Expose and Spaces, or something similar implemented in Windows or Linux?
Beauty is in the beholder of the eye.
I've had two Thinkpads, a T22 and an X31, from the time when they were built by IBM and not the Chinese company Lenovo. I had to use Windows at the time, so IBM seemed the way to go. They were well built but the total antithesis of good design. I wouldn't call black, square and plasticky "timeless". I call it "butt ugly". But for people who don't care about how things look and feel, or aesthetics, or user-friendliness, then fine, go for it.
Beauty is in the beholder of the eye.
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Desktops-and-Notebooks/First-Look-Lenovo-ThinkPad-W700ds-Mobile-Workstation-Laptop/ I want one. I admit it. That thing is sick, as the kids say.
Firstly, Windows just doesn't have anything to compete with Mac or Linux in that vein. I've tried a good ten or so different virtual desktop managers on Windows, and every single one had some sort of problem that kept me from using it. Dual monitors are effective when you're trying to work with several apps *at once*, not just categorize all the stuff you're running. You can, say, work on photoshop while observing IM/MIRC, or you can have several difference office apps open and move data back and forth seamlessly. It sounds like you're an Apple user - OSX is better geared towards one window not taking up the whole screen than Windows, but nothing can quite approach the real deal implemented in hardware. Not to mention the joy of running two screens with elegant window management software =)
I used to own an older Inspiron from Dell which was huge. You will hate it the first time you have to take it thru an airport screening.
It was an ok machine, but way too large to really be considered a "lap"-top.
I'll save everyone else having to look it up.
Yeah, but for me personally, a laptop should be reasonably small and portable. 11 pounds (5 kg) is just not portable. I would put my money on a good external display, but to each his own.
Beauty is in the beholder of the eye.
On the other story, does the Dell "Adamo" has anything to do with Battlestar Galactica?
Noooo!
Its named after the first man Our Lord God created. Not some imaginary character on some space-robots TV show.
You insensitive heathen clod.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
In another story, a new company designed a notebook call the "airgo". They claim that the $67,000US "airgo" is as thin as 2 pieces of notebook paper and weighs even less than 2 sheets of tissue paper. Unfortunately, their only demonstration model blew away during the unveiling when unfolded in 40MPH winds. It was never recovered. Even worse, company officials say that their design plans were stored on the device.
-- Wondering how long until the internet becomes fully corporatist, like television.
u-s-e-l-e-s-s
slashwhat?
"Excuse me while I whip this out."
So they make soup for you too? I think you meant "suped up", as in, supered.
I wouldn't call Thinkpad design "butt ugly" but utilitarian. That's what I like about the design. I hate all the rounded corners and extra plastic that most laptops come with now. I couldn't care less about some stupid inlaid design on the lid with a glossy finish. Some HP's actually come with a shammy cloth so you can get rid of fingerprints. That's just stupid. The thing is meant to be handled. Who wants to spend time "waxing" their laptop.
Time makes more converts than reason
There's a Sysinternals utility called Desktops that is quite an excellent tool for that.
Even on Linux or OS X, I don't use the multiple desktops features much at all, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt if you like.
Boot Windows, Linux, and ESX over the network for free.
Indeed! The "128 cores" (in reality the shader ALUs that Nvidia calls "Stream Processors") caught my attention too. And this from Computer World. *sigh*
More weirdity in there: "Why two screens? Most people are using two monitors at their desktop. [...]," said Wes Williams, worldwide product marketing manager for ThinkPads.
Uh, I'd think this Lenovo manager has very small values for "most people".
From the FA: "Dell is refusing to confirm official details of the laptop, which will reportedly be unveiled at next month's Consumer Electronics Show."
Mind you, the SL300 has a "piano" finish. I could have done without *that*. Especially the combination with a fingerprint reader is rather stupid :)
Laptops should be built out of metal, not plastic. The plastic near the right hinge of my old Thinkpad T22 broke after a year or so, the X31 developed cracks around the edges (OK, it was possibly impact damage) and many plastic MacBooks - the old model, not the unibody aluminum one - have cracks (the top case is replaced by Apple under extended warranty.) OTOH the metal MacBook Pros will take hard use. I saw one that hade been run over by a car and still worked, though the screen was cracked! So, metal it is.
Beauty is in the beholder of the eye.
dan@sober: ~ /proc/cpuinfo|grep '^cpu MHz'|awk '{print $4"/30 +";}';free|grep '^Mem'|awk '{print $3"/1024/3+"}'; df -P -k | grep -v '(1k|1024)-blocks' | awk '{if ($1 ~ "/dev/(scsi|sd)"){ s+= $2} s+= $2;} END {print s/1024/50"/15+70";}'`|bc|sed 's/\(.$\)/.\1cm/'
$ cat bin/vpenis.sh
#!/bin/sh
export LC_ALL=C
echo `uptime|grep days|sed 's/.*up \([0-9]*\) day.*/\1\/10+/'; cat
I wish I was a neutron bomb, for once I could go off...
Today people don't buy multi-screen setups because they are multi-screen. They buy them in order to get more pixels. There used to be times when you had a high resolution monochrome display and a low resolution colour one, but those times are over.
So if you want to make something usefull, make the rims as thin as possible. And _please_ make it symmetrical. At that price I would expect a little piece of mechanics which automatically extends the sidescreens when you open the laptop.
I have a really sweet desktop machine with 2x24" monitors, and my desk has wheels, making it roughly as portable as an 11lb laptop.
Preface: I've taken computer & monitor with me to LAN parties and such, and it's quite a pain. This laptop isn't competing with other laptops - it's competing with carrying a 17" laptop *and* a monitor with you. When you think about all the pain that entails, it can add up.. This could mean being able to continue working in a hotel room, and with reasonable productivity, too.
What I *would* like to see is a dual monitor handheld. Something like the Nokia N810, but with a second monitor (and much better specs, at least in the RAM department). Then I can carry around a very usable "laptop" in my pocket :)
Luke-Jr
than the Compaq Evo
10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
The Lenovo W700ds has got to be the stupidest concept ever. Who would buy a lumbering beast like that, with a styling that might have been moderately cool back in 1993? I don't get it. This is proof the PC industry is dying. *Even uglier* than the 17" HP Pavilions.
No, this is why the PC industry will continue to thrive. You can buy giant, lumbering beasts like this. You can buy small, inexpensive netbooks. You can buy cheap desktop replacements. You can buy a laptop with a 20" screen, or even built in RAID. You can buy high end ultra-portables. You can buy high powered gaming laptops with quad core processors and the latest GPUs. You can buy a water proof, hardened laptop that is designed to take tons of abuse and keep working. You're not limited to a handful models with certain feature sets at carefully picked price points like with Apple. You have a choice, and you can buy the laptop that best suites your needs and price range with the features you want. It's obvious that this Thinkpad is positioned to be a low volume niche product, so just because you don't want one doesn't mean someone else doesn't.
Also, I do realize that styling is subjective, but I consider the Thinkpads with their no nonsense, utilitarian styling to be some of the best looking laptops out there.
Instead of getting a panel manufacturer to make AFFS/S-IPS displays, we get this?
$3600 might actually be worth it here, but there is nothing one can do to TN to make it any better.
Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
I disagree. Strictly metal cases transfer heat to your lap much more effectively than other materials. They are also prone to electrical problems like arcing. Newer thinkpads utilize carbon fiber and magnesium alloy.
Time makes more converts than reason
Put it down where the keyboard is, make it touch-sensitive (replacing the keyboard at need by displaying a customized keyboard image which matches the current task / application set) and w/ an option to rotate the whole thing 90 degrees and use it as a full-colour ebook reader and I'm interested (so long as the whole thing is as small, thin and light as the X61T).
Optionally provide a way to slip a keyboard on / off and engineer the hinge to so that it can be closed w/ the keyboard in place --- but even though I purchased a wireless keyboard for my Fujitsu Stylistic, I never use it.
William
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.