[ltp] Vote on the design of future ThinkPad

[Richard Neill]

> Aye.  I don't care too much about how the outside looks.  I want
> 
> * a TrackPoint, and 3 mouse buttons

Seconded. Actually, I'd like to revert to the earlier layout of 2+1 
buttons where the "middle" button is located below the other 2, and 
there's no touchpad.

> * a decent keyboard

Without Windows keys! Or maybe we could have some changeable keycaps 
which press on over the Win and menu keys to make Ctrl/Alt bigger again.
this would make everyone happy.  Also, could the down-arrow key be 
physically moved down a little, or given a different texture, to make it 
easier to not hit the left-arrow by mistake?



Also, can we have:

* The double separate lid-catch back - these were designed to allow 
single-handed lid opening, and were implemented as a neat 
"accessibility" feature.

* 2 thinklights instead of one, for greater brightness.

* A return to the older-style "soft-touch" coating. Admittedly, this 
wasn't so robust in earlier incarnations - eg my watch chipped it off a 
770 over time, but the later versions (eg X22) proved tougher.

* Ship with some spare trackpoint caps! (about 10 of these would be nice 
- they are consumables, but very expensive as spares).

* Flip-out feet (as on the 770) - to allow the keyboard angle to be 
raised when using on a desk.

* All 3 of the audio ports. I know that line-in isn't often used, but I 
*really* wanted one last week! And the mic-input isn't a stereo one.

* Inbuilt firewire. Why shouldn't a T60p have everything?

* Put the network etc ports back where they belong, i.e. the back of the 
machine. Some USB ports should be on the side, for ease of plugging in 
devices, but network and video cables belong on the back, so they don't 
stick out.

* Most importantly, return to the highest possible build quality. 
Remember IBM's "Leadership design" campaign, and the time when laptops 
clearly divided into First class (Thinkpads), and second class 
(everything else). A Thinkpad ought to be rather like a Rolls Royce, and 
considering that I paid more for the T60p than my car, it could benefit 
from a little more love.


Anyone from IBM/Lenovo listening?  I like my new T60p a lot, but it 
doesn't make me go "wow" in the same way that the earlier Thinkpads did.
Does anyone know how to tell Lenovo this sort of thing?

Regards,

Richard