ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
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ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
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Re: ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
#2> "It's very difficult to make a seven-row keyboard anymore because of the aspect ratio of the display and the whole arrangement of the pieces on the inside," he said. "It's a decision that was not made lightly, however. I still like the seven-row keyboard and, as aspect ratios change, and they continue to change, I don't know. Maybe someday somebody will be interested in it again."
The sad part is, the Framework 13 has a 3:2 display (with a stupidly large bottom bezel, too, for good reasons), but still uses a bog-standard modern laptop keyboard, including (unlike the ThinkPad) the miserable half-height arrow keys. They did bother to make a Copilot key, though. Just not a better keyboard.
Re: ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
#3There is something about the classic Thinkpad design which strikes me as more than just nostalgia. More like a Jungian archetype. Honest, virtuous and sturdy. The ultimate example of form follows function. The Stroke 8 of computers. A masculine counterpart to the femininity of Apple products (nttawwi).
Re: ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
#4The fibrous Trackpoint is still my absolute favourite.
For folks who want more in-depth backstory, going all the way back to the beginning and the origin of the "ThinkPad" name see:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/483933.ThinkPad
I really wish that there would be a true heir to the mantle, and a return to some of the original ideas, esp. the early stylus models and variants such as the TransNote --- if Lenovo would do a version of their Yogabook 9i under the ThinkPad brand and use a Wacom EMR stylus and put a Trackpoint on the keyboard it'd be an instabuy for me --- as it is, I use a Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 and only get a Trackpoint when using my docking setup w/
https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/pd026745-thinkpad...
(need to find time to buy an updated one (and a spare) w/ USB-C)
Re: ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
#5There is something about the classic Thinkpad design which strikes me as more than just nostalgia. More like a Jungian archetype. Honest, virtuous and sturdy. The ultimate example of form follows function. The Stroke 8 of computers. A masculine counterpart to the femininity of Apple products (nttawwi).
The irony is, back when Steve Jobs first came back to Apple from NeXT, the Apple press on at least one occasion complained of him using a ThinkPad, even stating it was running Windows 95, w/o considering the NeXT compatibility list, that that model was on it, and that it actually ran NeXTstep and Lighthouse Design's Concurrence.app for presentations.
Re: ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
#6All I need is the trackpoint, I would never consider buying a laptop without one.
Re: ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
#7I have never used the butterfly keyboard 700C (my first ThinkPad was the 365X) but I immediately fell in love with the trackpoint since day one. I will never go back to a mouse. Fortunately you can buy USB keyboards with trackpoints so that's what I'm using for my desktop. It's also kinda funny when other people ask me to use my computer, and then hunt around my desk for the mouse ;)
Re: ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
#8> "It's very difficult to make a seven-row keyboard anymore because of the aspect ratio of the display and the whole arrangement of the pieces on the inside," he said. "It's a decision that was not made lightly, however. I still like the seven-row keyboard and, as aspect ratios change, and they continue to change, I don't know. Maybe someday somebody will be interested in it again." The sad part is, the Framework 13…
> aspect ratio of the display
Meanwhile, Apple sold 500+ million HiDPI 4:3 displays on iPads. Do they have a supply chain lock on 4:3 screens?
Re: ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
#9All I need is the trackpoint, I would never consider buying a laptop without one.
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Re: ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models
#10Is anyone aware of a similar type of article for the ThinkPad Power 800 series?
I know the trackpoint was popular but I could never get used to it; the pressure I felt I needed to apply eventually hurt my fingertip.