While nice in and of itself (and I wish every vendor would follow suit), the Signature Edition tactic is probably a necessity to get me to consider Lenovo again after Superfish-gate.
I agree and Linux for the rescue! Lenovo needed to do something to fix the lost trust, but they didn't. Investing in Coreboot could be an option for them but no, that just could have been too good for a company. Although I wonder what would be the Optain's support in Linux?
Linux is great and all for geeks, but these are kind of the "business standard". The problem with Linux is you cant take it to work and get anything done.
What kind of ignorant statement is this? Just because you can't get anything done in Linux doesn't mean the rest of us geeks can't. My job requires Linux, and shockingly, I get work done.
Key words "business standard". If your job requires Linux, you dont need a "business standard" laptop. If you think you can take Linux or any Linux dist. into most normal companies and get anything done you are mistaken. In some companies with certain needs yes, but just like Mac, it is never going to take off in the enterprise sector.
Seriously? I've worked in large enterprise companies for 20 years, and all of them use Linux as the standard OS in their datacenters. Windows is just a way to run Outlook. At my current company the first thing they asked me two days before I started, was "would you like Mac or Windows on your laptop?". And on Windows we run Linux inside Vagrant, and connect to the datacenters that way.
At my previous company, many of the developers put Linux on their laptops, and when they needed to get to Windows (to run Outlook) they would just RDP to a Windows machine.
So in short, I could have Linux on my laptop and get work done just fine, as could most people at enterprise tech companies.
LOL, yes seriously. What part of "business standard" notebooks are you not getting? It is not for Datacenters, it is for normal non tech office workers. Accountants, AR, AP, admins, VP's etc etc. They need Windows and windows compatible apps.
"Normal non-tech office workers" need whatever it is they've been trained on, which is whatever the company decides to train them on. Yes, that is currently Windows.
That's not at all a technical requirement though. It's just because they lack the technical skills to use something else. So saying they "couldn't use Linux and get any work done" is just another way of saying "they lack the technical skills to use Linux and get any work done".
I have a different perspective than you do, because I have generally worked at companies (or at least campuses) where there were hundreds of engineers, whereas Accountants, AR, AP, and VPs were a little alcove off in a corner of building two somewhere.
Not quite... It's not about what they are trained on, it is about what exists that has the software that businesses run on. It's pretty much Windows and only Windows. It's not that Mac or Linux aren't "capable" they certainly are, it's that the software doesn't exist. MS has owned enterprise for 20+ years and nearly everything revolves around it. If Mac or Linux (or anything else for that matter) wants a piece of that pie they could do it, but to get to that goal, they would need to start and so far, no-one is even attempting it. It's a virtual stranglehold.
The thing that will eventually break the stranglehold is not so much Linux or Mac, but truly portable software. The trends in software development these days are Microservices, REST APIs, browser based programs, and other things that make software run on ANY operating system. That's so the same code can be ported to a PC, a tablet, a phone, and a game console.
Microsoft of course still does things to intentionally lock people in to Windows, but I think even they see the writing on the wall, so they're trying to get into other income streams and give Windows away basically free so people don't have a financial incentive to switch.
When software is so portable that it doesn't matter what device or OS you have, then the stranglehold will start to break.
I use Linux Mint as my primary OS and I'm a proponent of it as a valid alternative to other operating systems. However, the goat has it right. The vast majority of people will put Windows to use in a business environment to perform the mundane tasks we expect from our workplace computers. That's not to say Linux has no place in a business enterprise, but it isn't the default OS for office chores.
You didn't miss any Optane reviews. We still haven't gotten our hands on any Optane devices to test, and Intel hasn't officially launched any Optane products.
Seriously, the 16:9 ratio looks terrible on these computers because the move the screen up so high it creates a massive chin. Add the black Taskbar to the black bezel and it makes the chin even bigger. There's plenty of room for 16:10 there. I'm tired of 16:9. It's terrible for real work.
I know, I really wish 16x9 would die already. That slight difference in vertical real estate makes a huge difference. IF only the standard low end res was 1920x1200 instead of 1920x1080 it would be huge. Sick of it. Way past sick of it.
Sadly, chances are these will have locked-down WiFi, so only specific Lenovo-branded WiFi cards will work in them. Sadly, because that will prevent users from upgrading to newer WiFi standards, or even easily replacing faulty cards.
No, Apple-worthy would be to eliminate every single port except for USB-C. Not only does the ThinkPad include legacy USB, and HDMI/DP/SD Card/Ethernet/etc they also unveiled docks, which is a staple for their business community.
Business laptops have historically shipped with relatively low-end GPUs if they even include them at all. I do question the GeForce over the Quadro, but not from the perspective of graphics performance. In a lot of cases, the dGPU's biggest chore will be redrawing a spreadsheet as it's dragged from one external monitor to the other to make room for a browser window. Of course an iGPU would have been a more cost-effective choice, but corporate acquisitions don't always take that into account.
Any tips for a Thinkpad newbie like me? Most of those models look similar and have similar starting prices. I'm looking for a small Ultrabook with long battery life, like the Lenovo version of a Macbook Air 13".
Hi, about locked-down WiFi (cards) at Lenovo, is this true on all range or only specific to Lenovo P series? This idea to be attached to an old wifi standard till last days of machine doesn't seems a good idea... .
NV and AMD haven't released a notebook GPU in the 940's class that uses 14/16nm lithography just yet. Anyway, the 940MX isn't an AMD product. It's a refresh of the GeForce 940M.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
47 Comments
Back to Article
jsntech - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
While nice in and of itself (and I wish every vendor would follow suit), the Signature Edition tactic is probably a necessity to get me to consider Lenovo again after Superfish-gate.mmrezaie - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
I agree and Linux for the rescue! Lenovo needed to do something to fix the lost trust, but they didn't. Investing in Coreboot could be an option for them but no, that just could have been too good for a company. Although I wonder what would be the Optain's support in Linux?Murloc - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
they did, signature edition is a guarantee it won't happen again.goatfajitas - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Linux is great and all for geeks, but these are kind of the "business standard". The problem with Linux is you cant take it to work and get anything done.corn13read - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
What kind of ignorant statement is this? Just because you can't get anything done in Linux doesn't mean the rest of us geeks can't. My job requires Linux, and shockingly, I get work done.goatfajitas - Thursday, December 29, 2016 - link
Key words "business standard". If your job requires Linux, you dont need a "business standard" laptop. If you think you can take Linux or any Linux dist. into most normal companies and get anything done you are mistaken. In some companies with certain needs yes, but just like Mac, it is never going to take off in the enterprise sector.barleyguy - Thursday, December 29, 2016 - link
Seriously? I've worked in large enterprise companies for 20 years, and all of them use Linux as the standard OS in their datacenters. Windows is just a way to run Outlook. At my current company the first thing they asked me two days before I started, was "would you like Mac or Windows on your laptop?". And on Windows we run Linux inside Vagrant, and connect to the datacenters that way.At my previous company, many of the developers put Linux on their laptops, and when they needed to get to Windows (to run Outlook) they would just RDP to a Windows machine.
So in short, I could have Linux on my laptop and get work done just fine, as could most people at enterprise tech companies.
goatfajitas - Friday, December 30, 2016 - link
LOL, yes seriously. What part of "business standard" notebooks are you not getting? It is not for Datacenters, it is for normal non tech office workers. Accountants, AR, AP, admins, VP's etc etc. They need Windows and windows compatible apps.barleyguy - Friday, December 30, 2016 - link
"Normal non-tech office workers" need whatever it is they've been trained on, which is whatever the company decides to train them on. Yes, that is currently Windows.That's not at all a technical requirement though. It's just because they lack the technical skills to use something else. So saying they "couldn't use Linux and get any work done" is just another way of saying "they lack the technical skills to use Linux and get any work done".
I have a different perspective than you do, because I have generally worked at companies (or at least campuses) where there were hundreds of engineers, whereas Accountants, AR, AP, and VPs were a little alcove off in a corner of building two somewhere.
goatfajitas - Friday, December 30, 2016 - link
Not quite... It's not about what they are trained on, it is about what exists that has the software that businesses run on. It's pretty much Windows and only Windows. It's not that Mac or Linux aren't "capable" they certainly are, it's that the software doesn't exist. MS has owned enterprise for 20+ years and nearly everything revolves around it. If Mac or Linux (or anything else for that matter) wants a piece of that pie they could do it, but to get to that goal, they would need to start and so far, no-one is even attempting it. It's a virtual stranglehold.barleyguy - Friday, December 30, 2016 - link
The thing that will eventually break the stranglehold is not so much Linux or Mac, but truly portable software. The trends in software development these days are Microservices, REST APIs, browser based programs, and other things that make software run on ANY operating system. That's so the same code can be ported to a PC, a tablet, a phone, and a game console.Microsoft of course still does things to intentionally lock people in to Windows, but I think even they see the writing on the wall, so they're trying to get into other income streams and give Windows away basically free so people don't have a financial incentive to switch.
When software is so portable that it doesn't matter what device or OS you have, then the stranglehold will start to break.
goatfajitas - Saturday, December 31, 2016 - link
Agreed, eventually it will, but its really not happening now for the most part.BrokenCrayons - Thursday, December 29, 2016 - link
I use Linux Mint as my primary OS and I'm a proponent of it as a valid alternative to other operating systems. However, the goat has it right. The vast majority of people will put Windows to use in a business environment to perform the mundane tasks we expect from our workplace computers. That's not to say Linux has no place in a business enterprise, but it isn't the default OS for office chores.edzieba - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
That crud never made its way into the Thinkpad line in the first place, it was only present in the consumer models.WinterCharm - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Still doesn't make it okay.goatfajitas - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
No, its not OK, but it's not related to the products above. Different line entirely.yuhong - Thursday, December 29, 2016 - link
I wonder whether this consumer vs business distinction even makes sense.MrEcho - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Hey look at that, real 'pro' notebooks / laptops.Give me a ticker case any day for a 'pro' computer.
darwinosx - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Nothing pro about it.zodiacfml - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Did I miss Optane reviews? Interesting that these laptops will ship with it.Billy Tallis - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
You didn't miss any Optane reviews. We still haven't gotten our hands on any Optane devices to test, and Intel hasn't officially launched any Optane products.Jakeananda - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
All would be fantastic laptops if the screen was 16:10 not 16:9aylak - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Agree. Looks like Lenovo is targeting professionals who watch YouTube in the office all day thoughEj24 - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Seriously, the 16:9 ratio looks terrible on these computers because the move the screen up so high it creates a massive chin. Add the black Taskbar to the black bezel and it makes the chin even bigger. There's plenty of room for 16:10 there. I'm tired of 16:9. It's terrible for real work.goatfajitas - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
I know, I really wish 16x9 would die already. That slight difference in vertical real estate makes a huge difference. IF only the standard low end res was 1920x1200 instead of 1920x1080 it would be huge. Sick of it. Way past sick of it.gobaers - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
All I want at this point is the old keyboard layout on a tall IPS screen. I'm so ready to move on from the T420s.StormyParis - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Agreed.CSguySuper - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Lenovo P-SERIES with Nvidia Quadro Pascal discrete GPUs, where are you?nerp - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
The P series will be unveiled in February.speculatrix - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Sadly, chances are these will have locked-down WiFi, so only specific Lenovo-branded WiFi cards will work in them. Sadly, because that will prevent users from upgrading to newer WiFi standards, or even easily replacing faulty cards.kspirit - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
No update for Thinkpad X1 Carbon?! WHAT?! WHY!?goatfajitas - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Of course they will.... Just not part of what was announced today.nerp - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
February.Shadowmaster625 - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
What is the point in offering USB-C if the port has to be gobbled up by the AC adapter? This is an Apple-worthy move.nerp - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
No, Apple-worthy would be to eliminate every single port except for USB-C. Not only does the ThinkPad include legacy USB, and HDMI/DP/SD Card/Ethernet/etc they also unveiled docks, which is a staple for their business community.corn13read - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
+1Lenovo is making options for users not removing them like apple is.
Ro_Ja - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
GeForce 940MX? They have to be kidding me!corn13read - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Since when is Lenovo known for putting latest or best in class graphics in any non-gaming laptop?MrSpadge - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Yeah, I'd rather not have this 940MX and stay with the IGP. I expect this to be an option, though.BrokenCrayons - Thursday, December 29, 2016 - link
Business laptops have historically shipped with relatively low-end GPUs if they even include them at all. I do question the GeForce over the Quadro, but not from the perspective of graphics performance. In a lot of cases, the dGPU's biggest chore will be redrawing a spreadsheet as it's dragged from one external monitor to the other to make room for a browser window. Of course an iGPU would have been a more cost-effective choice, but corporate acquisitions don't always take that into account.serendip - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Any tips for a Thinkpad newbie like me? Most of those models look similar and have similar starting prices. I'm looking for a small Ultrabook with long battery life, like the Lenovo version of a Macbook Air 13".Ming-Kang - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Take a look at the T470s or the T470 if you don't need an extremely light laptop.MatthiasP - Thursday, December 29, 2016 - link
The x270 is what you are looking for.Ruimanalmeida - Thursday, December 29, 2016 - link
Hi, about locked-down WiFi (cards) at Lenovo, is this true on all range or only specific to Lenovo P series? This idea to be attached to an old wifi standard till last days of machine doesn't seems a good idea... .TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, December 29, 2016 - link
what is with all these old GPUs? The 940MX, an AMD chip that is most likely a GCN 1.0 or 1.1 relabeled part, according to notebookcheck.Where are the polaris and pascal notebook chips.
BrokenCrayons - Thursday, December 29, 2016 - link
NV and AMD haven't released a notebook GPU in the 940's class that uses 14/16nm lithography just yet. Anyway, the 940MX isn't an AMD product. It's a refresh of the GeForce 940M.javishd - Saturday, December 31, 2016 - link
The Yoga 370, T470, T570 and the T470s all have Thunderbold 3WhyTF doesn't the X270 get TB3??
To me, a smaller machine is moved around more often, and has more to gain from being able to dock with TB3.
I would specifically like to use an X270 with an eGPU. I wonder if Lenovo is trying to dodge eGPU users.