I'll have my paws on them today.... 🙂 Lenovo is here at a tradeshow I'm at and they will have them on display today.
They are part of the product plan that was aquired by Lenovo - So they were primarily planned by IBM, and tweaked by Lenovo....
More later.
Link to ThinkPad Z-series
EDIT:
Ok... I've pawed them both up fairly well.
I definately like the 14" widescreen over the 15.4. The 14" is essentially as lite as a 14" T - call it 4.5 pounds.
So here are some impressions:
In general:
Silver lids: I'm a ThinkPad purist.... but the silver lids on these widescreens are cool and growing on me. You can still get them both in Black.
Performance: Both are available with celeron or Pentium M, but all SKU's have 5400RPM drives. The lowest cost Celeron is slated to be in the 15.4" priced @$799 - That model isn't on the web yet.... Give it a few weeks, and more sku's will crop up online, or call the 800 number to see the sku's that aren't yet posted.
ThinkPad features: both have all the same TP features we love, and both have the new "roll cage" as they are calling it. It's an internal alloy structural member that is part of the overall footprint of each Z-series. It essentially adds durability and rigidness.... In other words, other widescreens flex like diving boards when held by the corners, and the new ThinkPads do not.
It looks like the preloads come with diskkeeper "lite. I have to go back and ask about that.
Verizon WAN built in : Both offer the WAN capability, and it looks like to keep things simple, Verizon was their choice for partner at launch. They made it seem that there would be more choice in the future for wireless carriers, and that the next model to get WAN would be the T at the turn of the year.
New Power Bricks/connectors : Mixed emotions on this, but I'm sure it needed to happen. The new Widescreens have new bricks, with new connectors. - your existing power bricks won't work with the new thinkpads. Logic being that the new adapters are higher voltage and I think the new connector, which is bigger and sturdier looking- can conduct/handle more current. I was told as more ThinkPads get refreshed, they will also incorporate the new adapters.
Docks: New docks ONLY for the widescreens will be out.
Buttons: The volume buttons and blue button, as well the Trackpoint, and ultra Nav buttons have changed in form and color. The blue button isn't access IBM anymore, It's labelled "Thinkvantage", and it launches a new tool called "Productivity Center" which is uber cool guys and girls... I have to play with it again, but I'm under the impression that you can run info center on existing thinkpads. The volume buttons are now a bit different and silver. The trackpoint and ultranav buttons are just black.... no more red and blue trim.
Biometrics: optional on both.
HD's : 5400RPM - no 7200 options at this time, and up to 100gig.
Batteries - 4 cel and 7 cel. 3 hours each on 4 cel... up to 5 to 5.5 on extended 7 cel.
Flash Memory readers on both, the 15.4 reads more formats... gotta look at them again.
Keyboards: WINDOWS KEY!!!!!!
14" oberservations:
Only has Intel integrated graphics.
Only one PCMCIA- no express card.
Very nice - my favorite of the two... very light. Can fit in standard bag that will take 15" 4:3 screened lappies.
15" observations:
Only 6.3 pounds... supposed to be lightest 15" widescreen on market.
Kinda big and clunky looking though.
More flash memory card slots
Offers x300@64meg and x600 @ 128 meg.
more later.....
They are part of the product plan that was aquired by Lenovo - So they were primarily planned by IBM, and tweaked by Lenovo....
More later.
Link to ThinkPad Z-series
EDIT:
Ok... I've pawed them both up fairly well.
I definately like the 14" widescreen over the 15.4. The 14" is essentially as lite as a 14" T - call it 4.5 pounds.
So here are some impressions:
In general:
Silver lids: I'm a ThinkPad purist.... but the silver lids on these widescreens are cool and growing on me. You can still get them both in Black.
Performance: Both are available with celeron or Pentium M, but all SKU's have 5400RPM drives. The lowest cost Celeron is slated to be in the 15.4" priced @$799 - That model isn't on the web yet.... Give it a few weeks, and more sku's will crop up online, or call the 800 number to see the sku's that aren't yet posted.
ThinkPad features: both have all the same TP features we love, and both have the new "roll cage" as they are calling it. It's an internal alloy structural member that is part of the overall footprint of each Z-series. It essentially adds durability and rigidness.... In other words, other widescreens flex like diving boards when held by the corners, and the new ThinkPads do not.
It looks like the preloads come with diskkeeper "lite. I have to go back and ask about that.
Verizon WAN built in : Both offer the WAN capability, and it looks like to keep things simple, Verizon was their choice for partner at launch. They made it seem that there would be more choice in the future for wireless carriers, and that the next model to get WAN would be the T at the turn of the year.
New Power Bricks/connectors : Mixed emotions on this, but I'm sure it needed to happen. The new Widescreens have new bricks, with new connectors. - your existing power bricks won't work with the new thinkpads. Logic being that the new adapters are higher voltage and I think the new connector, which is bigger and sturdier looking- can conduct/handle more current. I was told as more ThinkPads get refreshed, they will also incorporate the new adapters.
Docks: New docks ONLY for the widescreens will be out.
Buttons: The volume buttons and blue button, as well the Trackpoint, and ultra Nav buttons have changed in form and color. The blue button isn't access IBM anymore, It's labelled "Thinkvantage", and it launches a new tool called "Productivity Center" which is uber cool guys and girls... I have to play with it again, but I'm under the impression that you can run info center on existing thinkpads. The volume buttons are now a bit different and silver. The trackpoint and ultranav buttons are just black.... no more red and blue trim.
Biometrics: optional on both.
HD's : 5400RPM - no 7200 options at this time, and up to 100gig.
Batteries - 4 cel and 7 cel. 3 hours each on 4 cel... up to 5 to 5.5 on extended 7 cel.
Flash Memory readers on both, the 15.4 reads more formats... gotta look at them again.
Keyboards: WINDOWS KEY!!!!!!
14" oberservations:
Only has Intel integrated graphics.
Only one PCMCIA- no express card.
Very nice - my favorite of the two... very light. Can fit in standard bag that will take 15" 4:3 screened lappies.
15" observations:
Only 6.3 pounds... supposed to be lightest 15" widescreen on market.
Kinda big and clunky looking though.
More flash memory card slots
Offers x300@64meg and x600 @ 128 meg.
more later.....
