New Lenovo Ultraportable Notebook

[fbrdphreak]

http://www.laptoplogic.com/news/detail.php?id=900

Also for those who missed it, the new Z61 & R60 models:
http://www.laptoplogic.com/news/detail.php?id=896

 

[ND40oz]

Mid June release date on it...if you want to add that to the article.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Good call, details details

 

[ND40oz]

I'll post more as I get it, I should have both Z61 Titaniums next month if my rep comes through for me. Expected ship date on those models is July, the X61 tablet will follow...

 

[aceO07]

It's too THICK and on the heavy side to really be called 'ultraportable'.

 

[6000SUX]

Originally posted by: aceO07
It's too THICK and on the heavy side to really be called 'ultraportable'.

Four pounds is still barely in ultraportable territory, and so is the thickness, although I still agree with you that its size and weight are regrettable. It's a shame that the screen doesn't extend further to the edges, although I like the fact that it has a larger keyboard which DOES extend nicely to the edges of the laptop.

The biggest mistake they made with this laptop was in using a fixed-bay optical drive. It's idiotic. The laptop could have probably been three pounds without it, and with a modular bay they could have added more optional battery life.

For small laptops (and luggables) I think that a wide-screen aspect ratio makes sense. It's for ones in the middle sizes that it doesn't as much.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: 6000SUX

Originally posted by: aceO07
It's too THICK and on the heavy side to really be called 'ultraportable'.

Four pounds is still in ultraportable territory, and so is the thickness, although I still agree with you. It's a shame that the screen doesn't extend further to the edges, although I like the fact that it has a larger keyboard which DOES extend nicely to the edges of the laptop.

The biggest mistake they made with this laptop was in using a fixed-bay optical drive. It's idiotic. The laptop could have probably been three pounds without it, and with a modular bay they could have added more optional battery life.

For small laptops (and luggables) I think that a wide-screen aspect ratio makes sense. It's for ones in the middle sizes that it doesn't as much.

Completely agree with both of you here. Lenovo is almost competing with 14" widescreens as well with the size of this notebook, but with a bit smaller chassis and lower price tag than ultraportables.

The battery life is also disappointing, with an estimated 4 hours.

The lack of a modular bay was necessary to keep the cost down, which I understand. Keep in mind every ultraportable I've seen doesn't have a modular optical drive; either built-in or none.

I'm not confident on the V100's success, but it'll be interesting to see.

 

[6000SUX]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
The lack of a modular bay was necessary to keep the cost down, which I understand. Keep in mind every ultraportable I've seen doesn't have a modular optical drive; either built-in or none.

You have certainly played with more laptops than me. I'm just wondering why the addition of a modular bay is so expensive, not that I doubt you. I mean, it might take slightly more R & D time but that shouldn't impact the per-unit cost that much, would it? I have been curious about this for a long time; it seems such a slam-dunk decision to include the bay on any machine with an internal optical drive.

I don't know of many ultraportables with a modular bay. The Fujitsu P7000 series comes to mind; Fujitsu's storefront is down right now so I can't check, but I found a review just now that says the optical drive fits in a modular bay. I consider the S6000 series an ultraportable because of its weight and generally small size, but that's probably pushing it.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Its not that a modular bay would be prohibitively expensive or anything, but when you're trying to keep your bottom line low you don't spend money on those sorts of things. Same reason why the notebook isn't as thin; thinner requires a more sophisticated cooling system and/or Low Voltage processor, which increases the cost of the machine.

Bottom line is the important thing here and every extra dollar they save is important; that is how they were able to get a $1,099 starting price with Core Duo chip.

Also using the same keyboard as the N100 series is important for costing saving; one keyboard means less cost versus having to source multiple keyboard types.

 

[ND40oz]

You need to remember that this is meant to compete on the consumer side of things. Against your 710m and upcoming 720m models. Dell found out it's very tough to have a dedicated ultraportable, hence the demise of the x1.

The true lenovo ultraportable is still the X series, this is just an offering to the average consumer looking for a light smaller notebook that offers good specs for the price.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: 6000SUX

Originally posted by: aceO07
It's too THICK and on the heavy side to really be called 'ultraportable'.

Four pounds is still barely in ultraportable territory, and so is the thickness, although I still agree with you that its size and weight are regrettable. It's a shame that the screen doesn't extend further to the edges, although I like the fact that it has a larger keyboard which DOES extend nicely to the edges of the laptop.

The biggest mistake they made with this laptop was in using a fixed-bay optical drive. It's idiotic. The laptop could have probably been three pounds without it, and with a modular bay they could have added more optional battery life.

For small laptops (and luggables) I think that a wide-screen aspect ratio makes sense. It's for ones in the middle sizes that it doesn't as much.

Yea I'm suprised at the size of the optical drive, WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!? What happened to IBM's slim line of optical drives???

 

[BladeVenom]

I'm guessing IBM's slim line optical drives were probably too expensive.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
I'm guessing IBM's slim line optical drives were probably too expensive.

Probably so, the 9.5mm optical drives are probably more expensive to purchase. But using that drive combined with a modulay bay probably would have added to the cost.

IIRC Dell's 700-series uses a 12.7mm drive just like this, no big deal

 

[corkyg]

According to the review of this item in PC World, the main shortcoming is that it has NO optical drive except in the docking station wthat comes with it. And weight is only 3.5 lbs. Definitely ultra portable. (leaving the docking station home when on the road.)

X60S

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: corkyg
According to the review of this item in PC World, the main shortcoming is that it has NO optical drive except in the docking station wthat comes with it. And weight is only 3.5 lbs. Definitely ultra portable. (leaving the docking station home when on the road.)

X60S

That's the Thinkpad X60s, not the Lenovo 3000 V100.........

 

[ND40oz]

The official announcement on this model will be at the end of the month. It also will have a camera, not sure if that was in the article.

 

[CanisEstInVia]

Originally posted by: ND40oz
....Expected ship date on those models is July, the X61 tablet will follow...

Do you think the x61 tablet will be shipping in July as well? Or will it be sometime in August? Thanks...I'm eagerly waiting for this machine.

 

[Trippytiger]

That's a cute little lappy. It even looks rather ThinkPad-y on the inside. If it were black on the outside too, I think it would look rather sophisticated.