The TrackPoint may leave ThinkPad one day, but it isn’t today.
The Background
For those of you following CES and Lenovo’s product lineup, the ThinkPad X9 got people talking. In a previous article, I covered how journalists compared it to Apple’s design language.
Over the last few days, thanks to media credentials, I’ve been bombarded with CES 2025 information. Unfortunately, given when the media dates fell, I couldn’t attend in person. Perhaps next year. Lenovo presented an interesting showing this year in the sense that there weren’t many groundbreaking show-stoppers. That being said, here are a few highlights […]
The big question was, of course, where was the TrackPoint? A leak before CES sparked much speculation about this machine, which was branded a ThinkPad but was missing one of its most iconic features. Again, I covered this story in a previous article.
The Situation So let’s get this out of the way. Leaked images are floating ahead of CES 2025 showcasing a device called the Lenovo ThinkPad X9. This ThinkPad does not have a TrackPoint. ThinkPad X9 14/15 pic.twitter.com/2WXGyxJl9h — WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) December 24, 2024 Several news outlets have picked up the story, including Notebook Check, one […]
There have been ThinkPad devices in the past that have deviated from the core design philosophy, even so much to not have the TrackPoint. Some of the original machines didn’t have it either such as the tablet computers like the ThinkPad 710T and 730T. Other models like the ThinkPad 220 featured a trackball of sorts and the ThinkPad 300 also did not have a TrackPoint. Several other tablets like the ThinkPad Helix 2 and Tablet 10 featured keyboards in their lineup that did not have a TrackPoint.
All that to say, what the ThinkPad X9 has done is not the first time we have seen a ThinkPad without a TrackPoint, but it has been a while and it was a surprise all the same. I am a huge TrackPoint user and it is one of the essential components of why I use a ThinkPad.
New Information
Here is where things get interesting and special thanks to Saoto on X/Twitter for posting this article, thus bringing it to my attention. Long-time viewers of the channel will recognize the name as the person who makes custom 3D-printed TrackPoint caps.
In an article published by PC Watch Japan on January 14, 2025, Tsukamoto Yasumichi, Executive Vice President and Head of Development at Lenovo Japan was interviewed about the ThinkPad X9. There was some significant messaging in this interview that I am surprised was not communicated during CES regarding their goals for the X9.
The author, Kazuki Kasahara, who should be praised for their direct journalism, asks outright about the TrackPoint:
“The ThinkPad X9 is a product primarily targeted at customers who have not been ThinkPad customers until now. For example, it is a product that was planned and designed in the hope that customers who are familiar with other companies’ products will recognize the basic value of ThinkPad, such as high productivity and robustness, and consider it as an option when they switch to ThinkPad. In that case, we thought that it would be better for customers to have a larger click pad than the TrackPoint, so we decided to remove the TrackPoint.”
The naming conventions are also cleared up and I think the explanation that Tsukamoto provides is an excellent one.
“The ThinkPad X9 brand name was chosen to indicate that it is the polar opposite of the ThinkPad X1. If the ThinkPad X1 was the flagship product for existing ThinkPad customers, then the ThinkPad X9 is the flagship product for new customers,”
I think many fans of ThinkPad and its traditional design would agree with Tsukamoto’s assessment that the X9 is indeed the polar opposite of the X1. While many will still not agree with it being called a ThinkPad given how far it strays from expectations, if the X9 helps more people and companies get introduced to what many have come to appreciate about the iconic brand, then maybe it will pay off.
Tsukamoto seems to be aware of the stir that the X9 caused and Kasahara asked an important question about the TrackPoint’s future:
“Traditional ThinkPad models, such as the X1 series, P series, T series, X series, and L series, which are aimed at existing customers, will continue to be equipped with TrackPoint.”
If you want to hear more about the development of the ThinkPad X9, consider watching Kevin Beck’s sit down with Tsukamoto which was published on YouTube a few days ago.
Over the last few days, thanks to media credentials, I’ve been bombarded with CES 2025 information. Unfortunately, given when the media dates fell, I couldn’t attend in person. Perhaps next year.
Lenovo presented an interesting showing this year in the sense that there weren’t many groundbreaking show-stoppers. That being said, here are a few highlights that did catch my attention.
Some Firsts: Rolling Screens and CUDs
This rollable screen concept appears to be releasing as the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6. While the idea of a rolling or expanding screen intrigues me, I am unsure what problem this solution solves. It may very well be one of those things that you need to see and use to understand the application. Unlike the Yoga Slim and Yoga Book 9i below, this ThinkBook does not have a product page or pricing information but many outlets report a spring launch at a hefty $3,500 price tag.
The Yoga Slim 9i has indeed some slim display bezels (98% screen-to-body ratio) but what I found catching my attention was the CUD (Camera Under Display). You still have the bump at the top to hold the higher resolution camera that people now demand in a post-pandemic world, which I’m not opposed to given the function it provides. The top cover being made from glass has me worried that it might be challenging to keep looking new. These will start at $1,759.99 USD in February 2025.
Yoga Book 9i Continues
It is good to see that this dual-screen device did well enough to earn it another generation. I saw one of these in person when I went to Lenovo TechWorld 23 and seeing it in the flesh and speaking to the person using it helped me understand why they enjoyed the device. Pricing for this new generation starts at $1,999 USD being available in May 2025. I wonder if this means one day we might see a ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 2; that would be something I’d like to see as it was a lot of fun to test one of the prototypes.
The Folding Machine Folding devices, even years after being introduced are somewhat of an oddity. I have been the first person I know to own or handle any and I cannot recall seeing one in public at the end of 2022 and the owners I met in 2023 I could count on one hand. I […]
The ThinkPad X9
For many of you who follow me, this is the elephant in the room. ThinkPads, generally speaking, follow a certain design language. They are generally dark colours, more specifically available in black and have traditionally featured a TrackPoint. To get technical, there were devices branded ThinkPad way back like the 710T and 730T ( If you want to see a wonderful restoration of one of these devices or other cool things, you should check out polymatt’s channel on YouTube) that were tablet computers that had no keyboard and, therefore no TrackPoint. Other machines like foldable tablets and Z series have also strayed from these cornerstones over the years.
Back to the main event. The ThinkPad X9 was leaked ahead of CES 2025 and I covered some thoughts on this in an earlier article:
The Situation So let’s get this out of the way. Leaked images are floating ahead of CES 2025 showcasing a device called the Lenovo ThinkPad X9. This ThinkPad does not have a TrackPoint. ThinkPad X9 14/15 pic.twitter.com/2WXGyxJl9h — WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) December 24, 2024 Several news outlets have picked up the story, including Notebook Check, one […]
There is some neat technology in the ThinkPad X9 including its cooling system, the haptic TrackPad and more. The big question many people is why is this called a ThinkPad. Given what people have come to expect from the brand, I think this is a fair question. Several news outlets that are at CES 2025 and have spent time physically with the device mention very specifically it is two things “It is a ThinkPad” in one breath and then mention “Apple” at some point in the article. Historically, these comparisons have been made before but not so directly. It could also be a trend in technology journalism to compare everything to Apple. If you want some excellent coverage of CES 2025, I recommend Andrew Marc David’s channel.
“This ultraportable from Lenovo is indeed a ThinkPad, but it appears to bridge the gap between professional and consumer laptops—prosumer, if you will—dropping the TrackPoint device in the keyboard as a telltale sign.”
“Lenovo has unveiled two new ThinkPads: the X9 14 and X9 15, both Aura Editions equipped with Intel Core Ultra processors and slim designs. But what they don’t offer might be the most interesting thing about them: namely, Lenovo’s signature red TrackPoint. Instead, they use a haptic trackpad without the ThinkPad’s usual discrete button for a distinctly MacBook vibe.
No doubt, it’s a ThinkPad, through and through. It’s tested to MIL-SPEC 810H durability standards. It offers a Thunderbolt 4 port on each side of the machine, making it easier to arrange docks and displays to your liking. And the design allows access to the SSD and battery to facilitate repairs and replacements.”
It is a bit of a wonder to wrap one’s head around the possible decision-making process involved in branding this machine a ThinkPad rather than a ThinkBook, which design-wise, seems to share more in common. Part of me wonders if this is an attempt to avoid what Dell has recently done with renaming all of their PC products. For example, if Lenovo wanted to produce a premium laptop product, that would limit their established product lines. While IdeaPad, Yoga and ThinkBook are good units at their price point, ThinkPad is considered by many to be the most premium business machine Lenovo offers.
So what happens when Lenovo wants to make a laptop of equal quality to a ThinkPad, geared towards business customers and wants to do something different? Do they create a completely new premium line of business laptops or do they use one of their existing brands and establish a new series? Both have pros and cons.
This device in terms of specs, target audience and quality is too premium for the ThinkBook or IdeaPad range.
Creating a brand new product line entirely is likely more difficult to market to business customers and may make it more difficult to sell.
Using the ThinkPad brand, which is very well established, has risks as those expecting a specific design may be alienated by this design.
So do you create a new machine class, the X9 and put it under your premium laptop line or do you try and create a brand new product line?
The keyboard keys have a very subtle touch of what would be considered the modern ThinkPad keyboard.
I suspect this is why it is called the X9 and not part of an established ThinkPad line that features more historically recognizable features like a sleek black chassis and red TrackPoint. I believe this hypothesis is further supported by the fact they are releasing a series of X9 accessories rather than exclusively relying on the existing ThinkPad catalogue of accessories. The X9 branding is also present on the camera bump. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine that if the X9 does well, it could be its own product line separate from ThinkPad but of equal quality.
I do not believe that the X9 will set the trend for future ThinkPad design and I look at it like I would look at the Z13; a testbed that diverts from traditional ThinkPad design but has some of the DNA that makes them amazing machines.
Given the choice between what Dell has recently done with their brands, I’d rather have a ThinkPad without a TrackPoint than the brand-new Lenovo Pro Max Premium Carbon G13…
Dell has made a surprising and potentially controversial decision: to abandon its long-standing and iconic PC brand names. Gone are the days of the XPS, Latitude, Inspiron, Precision, OptiPlex, and G-series. All these familiar names will be replaced by a new, tiered system, leaving only Alienware standing as a distinct brand. Odd decision to go […]
The ThinkPad X9 will be available in February 2025 and starts at $1,399 for the 14-inch variant.
Several news outlets have picked up the story, including Notebook Check, one of my favourites. You can read their article here.
The bottom line is, we do not know a lot about this device, where it will be released or if it will be released. Concept devices are common at tradeshows like CES and TechWorld and many do not make it to production. The bendable phone I saw at TechWorld 23 is a good example.
I was able to attend Lenovo Tech World 2023 thanks to my participation in the Lenovo INsiders program. My travel and accommodations were covered and there was no cost to me to go to Austin, Texas. As part of my efforts to ensure 100% transparency, I am disclosing this information at the top of this […]
Another thing to consider is the odd nomenclature; X9. This does not fit within any existing product line-up which is encouraging that this might not be a mass rollout or an idea that would even stick. The TrackPoint is also part of the accessibility feature package that they advertise on the ThinkPad lineup.
Why does it matter?
There are many possible explanations for this but the reason this move is seen as strange to so many ThinkPad users and fans is, that this is one of a few features that make ThinkPad iconic and not just another brand. You can take the badge away and still know a ThinkPad is a ThinkPad based on the sleek black colour and the red TrackPoint present on the keyboard.
I do not believe this is the end of the TrackPoint, I will make that clear. That would be the equivalent in my mind of prying the Jaguar off the hood of the car (An expression I picked up from David Hill, Former Chief Design Officer & Vice President of Experience Design at Lenovo). That example might not be a good one to make any more with Jaguar’s recent advertisement that famously featured no actual car or Jaguar.
Jerry Paradise who retired from Lenovo in March 2024, said this quote during ThinkPad’s 30th anniversary celebrations as reported by PCWatch.
Q: Will the TrackPoint continue to be implemented in ThinkPads?
Paradise : That’s right. We believe that the TrackPoint will be implemented forever as long as ThinkPad exists. It is our promise to our customers, and we believe that it is an iconic part of the ThinkPad brand and part of the design.
As an aside, Jerry Paradise is on my wishlist of individuals to interview as his history with ThinkPad runs very deep. I imagine he has a lot of amazing stories he could tell. Perhaps one day.
What is the history?
The TrackPoint, an isometric pointing device embedded in the keyboard of ThinkPad laptops, was invented by Dr. Ted Selker while working at IBM Research in the early 1980s. He drew inspiration from research on mouse-pointing devices and hypothesized that a finger-operated pointing device integrated into the keyboard would be faster and more efficient than a mouse. Selker collaborated with colleague Joe Rutledge to develop the TrackPoint. They conducted research and experiments, discovering that a non-linear transfer function improved selection speed by preventing cursor loss. This approach challenged conventional thinking at the time and led to disagreements with other researchers in the field.
Several factors contributed to the significance of the TrackPoint:
Improved efficiency: The TrackPoint offered a significant speed advantage over trackballs and mice. Users no longer had to take their hands off the keyboard, saving valuable time and maintaining focus.
Space saving: The compact size of the TrackPoint made it ideal for use in confined spaces like bank teller stations, airplanes and other places where space is limited.
Accessibility: Users with shaky hands found the TrackPoint’s overshoot prevention algorithms particularly beneficial and only required one point of contact to manipulate the mouse cursor.
Brand identity: The TrackPoint became a signature feature of ThinkPad laptops, contributing to their brand identity and attracting a loyal following.
I’m very fortunate to have the history of the TrackPoint from the sources that were there when it all happened. I had the chance to speak to both Dr. Ted Selker and Tom Hardy and both had stories to tell about this iconic device that has been on essentially every machine to carry the ThinkPad name.
Why remove it?
I can think of a lot of reasons why people would want to remove it and I suspect that most of it revolves around cost. It is no secret that making room for the TrackPoint comes at a cost both financially and spatially.
Changing user preferences: As touchpads have become larger, more responsive, and feature-rich, many users have come to prefer them over the TrackPoint. The wider adoption of touchpads has led to some manufacturers prioritizing them over the TrackPoint to cater to evolving user demands.
Cost considerations: Including both a TrackPoint and a touchpad increases manufacturing costs. To reduce expenses and potentially lower the price of their laptops, a manufacturer might choose to eliminate the less popular pointing device.
Design trends: The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops has put pressure on manufacturers to maximize internal space. Removing the TrackPoint and its associated hardware can free up space for other components, such as larger batteries or improved cooling systems.
Competitive pressure: If competitors are successfully selling laptops without TrackPoints, a manufacturer may feel pressured to follow suit to remain competitive. This is particularly true if the manufacturer wants to appeal to a wider customer base who may not be familiar with or prefer the TrackPoint.
So while the reasons to remove it are many, we are still talking about one of the most visibly iconic features of any laptop brand in the history of laptops. That would be like taking one of the most well-known social media brands in history and renaming it. Alright, I promise to stop with the not-so-good examples.
Folding devices, even years after being introduced are somewhat of an oddity. I have been the first person I know to own or handle any and I cannot recall seeing one in public at the end of 2022 and the owners I met in 2023 I could count on one hand. I believe the general population is still trying to figure out where the folding device fits in their world and I completely understand the sentiment. For phones, it seems like an extra step to unfold your device to access it when we have grown accustomed to just pulling it out of our pocket and instantly having our technology ready for us. Thankfully Motorola sorted that out with newer editions of the Razr with a full screen on the exterior. The wearable concept they showed off at Lenovo TechWorld 2023 is also another example of this form factory gaining some legitimacy.
The portable computer of course has tablets that run operating systems that allow for differing levels of productivity but there are often compromises. Applications are centred around consumption, not production. Accessories are not designed with creation or productivity at the centre or if they are, the processing power for serious applications can leave many power users wanting more. There is also the issue of screen size and portability as many tablets prefer to keep a lower profile, perhaps to avoid comparison against their laptop counterparts. But what if a device invited that competition and tried to solve all these problems?
The Beginning
Enter the first-generation Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold. Announced at CES 2019 as the world’s first folding PC, the X1 Fold was a thought experiment that got the entire technology community talking. Understandably there were a lot of questions about how viable this brand-new form factor would be and I will admit to being one of those people who looked at it with curiosity, but also some skepticism especially the CPU configurations the original X1 Fold shipped with being so underpowered. The device was well built as a ThinkPad should be but there were worries about the size and power that the device was equipped with when it launched. The form factor also meant that the keyboard (not to mention the absence of the TrackPoint) that you could get with it was smaller than average which was noted by many reviewers at the time. It was clear that this was a challenging device to build and not many companies had the resources and innovation on hand to make it happen. For additional insights into some of the challenges, you might enjoy this short clip that Lenovo released in January 2020.
In many ways, it reminded me of the Lenovo ThinkPad X300. The X300 was Lenovo showing what it could do to push the laptop forward. It was, for the time, a bleeding-edge device in terms of specifications, design and size. If you want to learn about the importance of the device and what it set out to do, I strongly encourage you to watch my older mini-series, Project Kodachi. It will provide some insight into the conditions under which these devices are made and what the objective of their creation is on a grand scale. If you look at the machines after the X300, many trace their lineage back to that product. It made the Lenovo X1 Carbon line possible, one of the flagship models for the company and the brand. It was a halo product that would help launch many others and I think that is what we saw here with the X1 Fold Gen 1.
The Hype
While I might have been skeptical of the X1 Fold Gen 1, when rumblings of the X1 Fold Gen 2 were growing, I found myself very curious about what improvements were to be made. It was clear that Lenovo hadn’t given up on the form factor with this announcement but what had they improved? Was it just going to be a specs refresh or were they going to push the boundaries even further? When the teaser trailer dropped, I found myself going through the trailer with a fine-toothed comb along with anything else I could learn about it. If you want to see my efforts, consider viewing the article below.
Lenovo has been promoting this short trailer over the last few days and many believe it points to the teasing of a new X1 Fold. After taking a look at the trailer a few times and snooping around, here are some possible reasons to look forward to the new X1 Fold and some of the […]
The X1 Fold Realized
Through my participation with the Lenovo INsiders program, I was sent an early sample model of the ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 and I have to say that in all honesty, it met expectations and after using it for a few days, exceeded them in several areas. The packaging is unassuming and 100% recyclable. Once inside you are immediately greeted by the huge tablet, laying flat. It at first might be too big, but after folding it a few times, you realize the size is very important to its usability. 16″ (2560×2024, OLED Anti-smudge 600nit) unfolded in a 4:3 format means you can do anything you want on it with screen real-estate to spare. Once you fold it, you have a 12″ compact 16:9 format for everything else you need. The included full-sized keyboard with TrackPoint, stand and pen is also a welcome addition to the kit I was sent. There is a base model that is just the tablet and because of the size, you can get away with just using the on-screen keyboard if needed.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 G1 fully deployed in landscape mode.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 G1 in laptop mode.
Calling the X1 Fold 16 a laptop or a tablet isn’t accurate, it’s a system. That’s how you know this experiment has been successful because it has achieved a device that is everything those devices are at any time it’s required but without any real compromise to the user experience. I cannot say the same for other tablet-style machines that also have a keyboard accessory. The internals in the model I was provided were top shelf with a 12th Gen Intel i7 CPU, 32GB of RAM (LPDDR5) and 1TB of storage; everything you would want in a high-end ultrabook. Two Thunderbolt 4 and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports let you connect whatever you want with the correct adapter, dongle or hub. The two batteries (48 Whr plus an optional 16 Whr based on configuration) give you all day (10-11hrs) battery life for light and moderate tasks. Of course, you will want to keep the charger nearby for heavy lifting as that will tax the battery.
The hardware is impressive, no question. Hardware can be let down by clunky software if it isn’t up to the task. Thankfully, the experience with Windows 11 feels seamless. Logging in with the Windows Hello camera next to a 1080p web camera is the fastest I’ve ever experienced. The optional keyboard has a built-in fingerprint reader just to the right of the spacebar. Rotating the screen, adding the keyboard on top of the bottom half and having the magnets attach are also trivial and do not interrupt the productivity of the user.
Speaking of that keyboard, the TrackPad features a haptic technology where you can adjust the force feedback you get during its use. Good job from the team over at Sensel for producing this TrackPad while respecting the TrackPoint user experience. The TrackPoint buttons were not enabled by default but can be turned on with a quick click and you can adjust the feedback of the TrackPoint button area and TrackPad area independently to be two different experiences making it easy to tell where you are clicking from feel alone. Rounding out the experience is the introduction of the TrackPoint to the X1 Fold family and it comes with the same double-tap menu on the reintroduced Z series where double tapping the top of this iconic red cap gets you a radial menu you can customize.
While the device was delayed to make the improvements above, collecting and responding to that feedback was essential for a product that was going to wear the ThinkPad badge. A compromise here would be fatal for the form factor. As you can see from the images below, some of the testing I did seems to be visible in the report linked above. I would like to think in some small, very tiny way, that I was able to help make this device better. Regrettably, I have not had the pleasure of seeing any newer versions of the device so I cannot weigh into all of the changes and improvements that were made.
The Experience
So the software plays nice with the hardware and the hardware is functional; excellent. What is it like to use?
Coming from my daily driver, my Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano, the X1 Fold 16 is heavy and thicker but I’m completely okay with all of that. It looks and feels like a high-end journal that you might buy as a gift for somebody who is constantly writing notes in little books that go with them everywhere. The fabric-like textured surface that covers most of the X1 Fold 16 is excellent and wears nicely; no fingerprints to be seen. The rubberized Lenovo and ThinkPad X1 logos stick up and feel right at home. It doesn’t feel like any other device or even case for a device I’ve ever used and it gives a sense of quality and durability. The keyboard and stand are covered with an Alcantara-like soft touch fabric as well that you know will be kind to all surfaces it rests against.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 G1
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 G1
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 G1
While opening and closing the X1 Fold 16 takes a bit of getting used to, mainly due to the size and strength of the magnets, I wouldn’t want it any other way. It might have annoyed me at the start but I think that stemmed right from it looking so much like a notebook or journal I wanted it to open up just as easily. You quickly adapt and find different ways to open it when you do not have a surface to put it on first. All of your accessories: stand, keyboard, and pen all attach with magnets to the exterior of the device. The keyboard no longer lives inside so if you want to use it, it is an extra step to detach it and then place it on top of the bottom half of the screen.
The main modes that the X1 Fold 16 is designed to be used are with the tablet on the stand; either portrait or landscape or folded with the keyboard resting on the bottom half. You of course can also use the main device as a book or traditional tablet and leave the accessories packed away. I’ve also learned to enjoy opening the X1 Fold 16 and just using the onscreen keyboard or touch display for quick or casual use, or sometimes I will leave the device folded and use the Bluetooth keyboard beside it while it is folded and leave the stand attached to the keyboard. My eyes don’t seem to mind the crease and in some instances using the stand isn’t ideal.
The User
All this being said, who is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 for? Is it for tablet users? Early adopters of folding technology? Artists, architects and digital pen enthusiasts? Lovers of ultrabooks?
The answer is all of the above but on different days of the week. If some days you need a laptop but other days you want a tablet and others want something in between, the X1 Fold 16 does exactly what you need it to do when you need to. Earlier I called it a “system” because it didn’t work in those other categories and I stand by that. Other form factors have flirted with the concept and even the original X1 Fold tried to achieve that but to me, this is the first real successful attempt. For many this device will be strange and not fit into their workflow naturally, especially if a standard laptop does everything you need. For those that have a more dynamic work environment that has constantly changing demands on their devices and changes to their workflow might be attracted to what the X1 Fold 16 has to offer. The key is each of these form factors has to be useful to the user or the ability for it to transform into that shape and serve that function will not be seen as value-added and will deter you from the steep entry price of ownership of the device.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 G1
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 G1
When I travelled to TechWorld 2023, one of my fellow INsiders had his own Yoga Book 9i there and while that device impressed me in person, it was clear that they were adding features post-launch to get it up to speed with expectations, which is not an uncommon occurrence. The hardware was ready, but the software is still being rolled out. I felt the experience with the X1 Fold 16 was considerably more complete in comparison even if some of the hardware was dated. In short, both products have their fans and their niches and I do not believe one is a clear winner over the other in terms of functionality and their intended audience.
The Future?
Everything it sets out to do, it does. Due to the high-end internals and cutting-edge technology, design and engineering of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 G1, it will command a premium price point and that will mean that it isn’t the device for everyone, yet. Once the technology gets more affordable, I wouldn’t be surprised if this form factor catches on. I would daily drive this form factor, but the version I tested ships currently for approximately $5,000 Canadian without a sale and that keeps it out of my hands for now.
I do hope for price drops in the future and a G2 version with a newer CPU that is perhaps equipped with some AI tools to make this device sing.
2023 has been an interesting year for the channel. Quite a few things got accomplished and nearly just as many have been left in a state of completion that I was hoping were further along than where they are now. It reminds me of the quote: “Life is what happens when you are busy making plans.” I want to start by thanking all viewers and supporters of the channel this year and in years past. The comments, likes, conversations, DMs, Discord messages and more mean so very much to me. Special thanks to those of you who keep me in supply of material through borrows, donations and more. Knowing that this information is valuable to people lights a fire like you cannot imagine and I want you to know that I appreciate each and every single one of you. The events of this year and previous years would not be possible without you.
Regardless, there are a few things I wanted to highlight that happened throughout the year.
Laptopretrospective.com visitor and viewer stats as of December 17, 2023.
The first is just the overall steady growth of this website which serves as a hub for all things channel-related. It also is a repository for the articles I write in place of videos. The other purpose is to report updates or addendums to existing videos where it makes more sense to write it all down versus producing another video that may or may not be adequately discovered. Thanks to everyone who found this site through various avenues and shared the content. I hope it was and continues to be helpful to those who discover it.
#MyYearOnYouTube2023 stats from January to November 30, 2023.
YouTube numbers remained steady this year. Subscriber rates have been consistent throughout the year as have other metrics. Generally speaking, the channel experienced a 10% lull in most statistics compared to previous years. I suspect that is primarily due to a few busy months where I was unable to produce the content I wanted to when I wanted to. There were also a few things that shoved around my release schedule. Another interesting point for my channel is videos on average do much better about 6+ months after they release. That is to say, the videos get more views as they age, except for Shorts of course. Whether that is due to the algorithm or other factors, I’m not sure. I’m not concerned about the current process or content having an impact on this statistic as I’ve historically seen the videos pick up as the topic trends after the creation of the video; sometimes months, even years.
YouTube Studio statistics show that the majority of views are coming from older content.
I’d love to expand a few things with the channel but I’m also aware there are barriers. Time is one of them. The channel is a wonderful hobby that I enjoy but it isn’t a source of income, nor do I seek it out to be one or I’d be doing things very differently. My film space needs work and I have a few ideas but I also know there is a great deal I don’t know so that slows down the process. Editing and thumbnails is also a time sink. All that being said, I have dreams and goals but right now, as a team of one, that is challenging to achieve. The other worth mentioning is the budget. YouTube ad revenue brings in a few hundred a month which goes right back into the channel, often to acquire machines to film and the occasional gear for filming but I’m conscious about how I spend that money. Sponsorships that involve money do not fit the current model or goals I have for the channel and that of course introduces challenges but I’m okay with that. All that being said, the channel marches forward and I hope that you enjoy the content I can produce given my current limitations.
Please enjoy some of the highlights from 2023 I’ve outlined below and here is to an amazing 2024.
January
IBM ThinkPad 350C. This video currently is the oldest ThinkPad that functions in my collection and that I’ve featured on the channel. It was fun to acquire and get it ready to film. It also came with a carrying case and an adapter to let you plug it into a 12V car port.
February
February was quieter as I was deep into testing the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16. Lots of testing and filming happened this month which meant that resources were focused there and not on other areas.
March
Interviewing Dr. Ted Selker. Being able to connect with this genius was a pleasure. Learning about the development of the TrackPoint and his other efforts was amazing and I’m grateful for the time he spent speaking with me.
April
This month I was working on something that is still under wraps for now along with a few other videos. We shall see what the future holds for that project.
May
The Lenovo ThinkPad T430 line is probably one of the most diverse product lines ever fielded under a single-name designation. The article below discusses all the different experiments that occurred. It wasn’t going to be a video as the likelihood of having all those machines under the safe roof again is not high.
Few ThinkPads have such a strange line-up as what made up the T430 family. It contained several machines that prior to it and after that were unique. Out of all of the modern T400 series, there are more unique models in this era than any other. It seems like a lot of experimentation was happening […]
June
Keyboard Talk. I’ve written a lot of ThinkPad keyboards over the years and this article ended up being a summary of many thoughts I had on the subject. The bottom line is, there isn’t a bad ThinkPad keyboard. People will certainly have their preferences but I’ve learned to enjoy them all for different reasons.
A quick way to start a debate One thing that will get long-term ThinkPad users talking is the differences between all of the ThinkPad keyboards and which version is best. This can be a hotly debated topic with a lot of feelings, nostalgia, personal preference and use cases but there are some things I’d like […]
July
Project Monarch. I’d been wanting to talk about the IBM ThinkPad 701c for years. The challenge was twofold: getting a unit operational that I could film and collecting the information on the device. Both were difficult. Finding a working machine within the budget for the channel was tricky and ultimately happened due to collaboration with a viewer like you. Collecting information was something I was finding significant success with and that became its own barrier in a way. I kept learning more and more which meant I knew the full story was not in my grasp so I wasn’t ready to produce the video I wanted to make. Eventually, after years, I got to the point where I could produce the first video and be happy with it.
The goal is to produce more videos in this series as time moves on.
August
There is not much going on in August due to travel and school work. How dull right?
September
Revisiting the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 was something I knew I needed to do. The original Project Kodachi series was a critical turning point for the channel and I cherish that series and what it started with Think Design Stories and interviews in general. Over the years since Project Kodachi, I learned ever more about the X300 and knew supplemental material would be needed. That led to the creation of this article.
When IBM sold their PC division to Lenovo, not all was well with the iconic ThinkPad brand. IBM was losing money and wanted to get rid of the PC arm of the business for several years. ThinkPad was one of the many components that made the purchase of IBM’s PC Division desirable. Towards the end […]
October
Going to Lenovo Tech World was the highlight of October. This was my first in-person technology conference and a wonderful experience. I got to meet a lot of great people and see some awesome excellent technology. The article below contains all the details.
I was able to attend Lenovo Tech World 2023 thanks to my participation in the Lenovo INsiders program. My travel and accommodations were covered and there was no cost to me to go to Austin, Texas. As part of my efforts to ensure 100% transparency, I am disclosing this information at the top of this […]
November
The release of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 G1. I was testing this for several months and had the chance to test two physical devices. It certainly had a longer development cycle than some machines but it was necessary to make sure it was a successful product launch. It did mean I was “sitting” on these videos for quite some time after they were filmed but I was thrilled to be part of this process and I hope it will happen again in the future.
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 Day 120: Being First, Being the Best
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 Day 1: Unboxing Innovation
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December
This busy month of real life kept me well away from my film space. It wasn’t exactly how I wanted to end the year but that’s the reality sometime. At the very least I wanted to write this article before the year’s end. I was trying to track down a rare ThinkPad to feature on the channel, one that I have been looking for since the first part of this year, the 755CV or 755CDV. I thought I had one and when it arrived, it became clear the whole top case had been replaced with a stock 755 lid meaning the most unique part wasn’t even present. Back to the drawing board.
One thing that will get long-term ThinkPad users talking is the differences between all of the ThinkPad keyboards and which version is best. This can be a hotly debated topic with a lot of feelings, nostalgia, personal preference and use cases but there are some things I’d like to start with and that is, you are allowed to like them both for different reasons and both have their strengths. When I say “both” what I mean is what most people will talk about and that is the difference between the six-row and seven-row keyboards. There are many that will state that the “classic” or seven-row keyboard remains superior to the six-row or “island” style modernized version. Specific groups will target different models of the seven-row keyboard all the way back to the buckling sleeve M6 and M6-1 variants and if you are getting lost already, you may want to visit Sharktastica’s excellent website on keyboards. This article isn’t designed to make you change your opinion one way or the other, but to provide some information that I have found is often left out of the conversation. Hopefully, you will learn at least one new thing reading this information to either bolster or steel your existing argument or perhaps make you ask some questions.
The “classic” seven-row keyboard is a much-loved keyboard for several reasons, some of which are:
The number of rows of keys,
The dedicated keys that are removed or repurposed,
The switch type,
The key shape,
The key travel.
The “classic” seven-row ThinkPad keyboard as seen on the ThinkPad T420s. Note the square-shaped keys, additional row and blue-coloured enter button.
Some of the above are objective preferences and others will be more subjective in nature but before we dive far into the weeds, I’ll mention this isn’t even the first time I’ve written about ThinkPad keyboards. I strongly suggest you read my first article which looks at a scientific study on key travel that is related to this conversation as it helps shed some light on why we favour certain keyboards over others using ThinkPad keyboards as a test case.
This article was made possible by the excellent and very interesting study linked below. Coppola, Sarah M., Philippe C. Dixon, Boyi Hu, Michael Y.C. Lin, and Jack T. Dennerlein. 2019. “Going Short: The Effects of Short-Travel Key Switches on Typing Performance, Typing Force, Forearm Muscle Activity, and User Experience.” Journal of Applied Biomechanics 35 (2): 149–56. https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jab/35/2/article-p149.xml […]
IBM did it before Lenovo
While working on this article, Admiral Shark of Sharkastica, the excellent keyboard website I mentioned at the start of the article, pointed out that IBM was releasing several ThinkPads with six-row keyboard designs before the modern version was even released on the X1. ThinkPads like the IBM ThinkPad 500 and 300C keyboards for example featured six rows. In that regard, the six-row configuration has been around since the beginning. It was certainly not as common as the seven-row design that was found on the flagship models, but there is an undeniable history of six rows present essentially from the beginning.
Christopher Ross Hind, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Reception and Development of the Modern Six-Row
The more modern six-row ThinkPad keyboard as shipped on the T430s. Note the removal of the ‘IBM’ blue and ThinkVantage text. The island-style keys have spaces between them, but the key shape on the top remains largely unchanged. More modern versions see the removal of the physical buttons above the keyboard with the exception of the power button.
When the new island-style keyboard launched on the ThinkPad X1 in May 2011, it caused quite a stir, so much so that it was addressed in a blog post in July of 2012 trying to explain all of the hard work that went into the design and function of the keyboard. One particular Question and Answer stands out for the level of testing that went into developing the new keyboard:
“We often conduct different evaluations and user tests to maintain or improve the ThinkPad keyboard. However, to determine if and how we would make the changes to our keyboard in 2012, we embarked on one of the most in-depth keyboard studies ever conducted for ThinkPad. We did 350 hours of user testing with people in four countries. With each participant, we conducted 90- to 120-minute one-on-one interviews with hands-on use of different keyboard conditions to understand the latest about keyboard use and design preferences.”
Change Is Hard: Why You Should Give In to the New ThinkPad Keyboard by Gavin O’Hara
As an aside, the X1 is the spiritual successor to the X301/X300 line of ultrabooks and would evolve into the extremely popular X1 Carbon lineup. In 2019, I got to take a look at an X1 in the video below.
Thanks to Marasu Kamikura, we have some insights as to why the change was made to the six-row keyboard. It turns out that the dedicated keys were being used less and less so they wanted to consolidate the spaces to reduce the overall footprint of the keyboard to make room for other components. Other details about how the laptop closed, TrackPoint height, screen bezels and other design decisions are detailed in the images below. You can click on each image to see a Google Translate version of the text from this briefing on the X1 and the new keyboard. If any readers can provide a better translation, please reach out. I’ve also included a quote from the article above that mentioned the movement of these keys to their new home and how long it takes on average to adjust. All this to say; as users evolved and software changed, so too must the devices we use.
6 row keyboard
We reconsidered the functions required on the key top.
Even in the business scene, the frequency of using legacy functions (PrtSc, ScrLk, Pause,
SysReq. NumLk, Break, etc.) is decreasing year by year. We believe that 7 columns will not be essential for
business mobile PCs in the future.
We thought it was time to reconsider the weighting of each element in a space-limited product
like a mobile PC.
A 6-row keyboard reduces the footprint and weight, and expands the possibility of creating more mobile-specific
value, such as contributing to thinness and lightness. We are aiming to increase the appeal of this product as a comprehensive product.
Recently, the use of pads has spread. It has come to be able to recognize multiple fingers. We adopted a click pad that achieves both a wide pad area and a comfortable click, as well as a simple appearance.
Pleasant key feeling
■ Quiet and comfortable key sound
1. Reduce rattling between pantographs and keycaps, pantographs and
aluminum base plates, and suppress wobble of keycaps.
2. The plastic decorative frame is thermally welded to the aluminum base plate and integrated to increase
the rigidity of the aluminum plate and suppress vibration.
3. Provide a hook on the side of the keyboard to hold down the float on the side.
4. 2 and 3 increase the rigidity of the KBD, and it sticks tightly to the housing,
reducing floating.
ThinkPad X1 Keyboard LED backlight
■ Mounting the LED in the center contributes to slimming down by
consolidating protruding parts.
Coexistence of thinness and robustness
■Wide rubber is placed all around
■LCD is fixed only to Gorilla Glass
Features of Gorilla Glass
■Reduce damage to LCD/glass by maintaining space with palm rest
■ The LCD is reinforced by integrating the deformation of the LCD and
Gorilla Glass.
■ Pinpoint stress from the palm rest and track point.
Diffuses air and reduces damage to LCD
Achieves thinness while maintaining robustness
Improved keyboard feel
■ The keyboard is firmly fixed to the base
it’s important
■ Fixed machine inside the isolation type add structure
“We have seen end-users comfortably adjust to these changes in less than an hour. Depending on personal use of these functions, other users may require a bit more time for the change to feel natural. However, this reset has occurred for every end-user in our extensive testing, typically with an ultimate preference for the new layout over the old. Legacy functions like Pause, Break and Scroll Lock are no longer overtly labelled on key tops, but remain accessible via key combinations using the Fn key (e.g., Fn+P = Pause).”
Change Is Hard: Why You Should Give In to the New ThinkPad Keyboard by Gavin O’Hara
A further connection to ThinkPad heritage
A promotional photo of the Lenovo Skylight showing off the keyboard.
But there exists a connection to the origins of the ThinkPad brand and this newer design that most fans are not aware of and for that, we need to talk about Skylight. Skylight deserves its own deeper dive so I won’t summarize it all here but for the purposes of this article, one should know that device was where this new keyboard was first tested and it makes perfect sense. Both the original ThinkPad and Skylight were designed by Richard Sapper.
Skylight at CES 2010 Photo by Masaru Kamikura. Note the “D” shaped keys on the keyboard.
The keyboard present on the Skylight prototypes and demo models was close to the original wooden prototype ThinkPad that was constructed by Richard Sapper in the early 90s. He referred to these as “D” shaped keys. David Hill discussed this in his blog back in October 2013 which can be found on the Wayback Machine, pictures included.
What I would like to call attention to in this blog is something embodied in Sapper’s work that never quite made it to market on the original ThinkPad 700c. Richard imagined a new key shape that would have a unique contour and profile. He described it as a “D” shape. The intent was to cradle the finger and create a human-oriented soft form that would contrast the strict rectilinear geometry of ThinkPad.
—
The latest ThinkPad keyboard we introduced on products such as the X1 Carbon actually has a key shape reminiscent of this 20+-year-old concept. I made a push to simplify and purify the visual expression of ThinkPad, and I thought the time was right to finally dust off the “D”-shaped key. It took months of hard work, experimentation and analysis to develop and tune the final key shape and relevant force curves. I feel confident that we finally harnessed Sapper’s original intent for our latest ThinkPad designs.
While Skylight would not make it to market, being cancelled six months later its announcement at CES, the keyboard lives on and was introduced on the ThinkPad X1. Taken all together, the six-row modern keyboard has just as much right to be called a ThinkPad keyboard as the seven-row, possibly even more given the connections to its past.
Playing favourites and Retro resurrection
So getting back to the heart of our discussion around ThinkPad keyboards, there is history in every keyboard that has graced the ThinkPad design and they all have good pedigree and merit to their design. As for which is ultimately superior will always be a question riddled with subjectivity right down to the manufacturer of each iteration. Yes, one model or version of a keyboard is often made by several different companies and sometimes small variances end up existing enough though they are supposed to be all built to the same specifications. Some users will even report a different feeling of key presses between backlit and non-backlit variants.
The classic seven-row keyboard did have one last triumph that should be mentioned and that of course is the ThinkPad T25.
The retro-style keyboard that was included on the ThinkPad T25 anniversary model. This keyboard can also be retrofitted to a T480 with modifications.
When David Hill was working on designing the T25, the 25th anniversary ThinkPad, a poll was conducted on the type of keyboard that people wanted to see in that model and unsurprisingly, a retro keyboard was preferred for a retro-styled machine. Considering this machine was being built to harken back to the past, it was appropriate that this specialized keyboard was commissioned for the T25. One should be careful though not to read the data below as an overall preference between the two designs as this device was targeted at a specific group of people and not a wide-scale product. That data would look very different. Needless to say, it is well-loved by many people. As time moves on, fewer and fewer will make this comparison as the older keyboard becomes rarer.
One thing is certain in my mind and that is ThinkPads have the best keyboards when compared to any other laptop brand on the market and that is not a surprise to me. When you have spent over 30 years making laptop keyboards, you are going to know a lot about how to do it correctly. That isn’t even counting the years of research IBM did on typewriters and how that research would have bled over to the typing experience in the early days of notebooks. So whether you prefer six or seven rows, backlight or not, picking a ThinkPad keyboard is always a winning move. As for me, I enjoy both keyboards and use them frequently. While this article will likely not change anyone’s mind on such a longstanding and polarizing issue, I hope that it might help inform the conversation better and potentially change some of the language used in those conversations.
The TrackPoint is a polarizing way to interact with your computer. You either love it or hate it. Several journalists and technology writers have said that it seems out of place on a modern computer with TrackPads now being the norm. However, the TrackPad is not always as useful as the TrackPoint, especially in certain circumstances. As you might know from a previous article on this website, I like TrackPoints.
If you are looking for a greater, in-depth article, please consider checking out this fantastic summary of several of the keyboards below here. PS/2 Era or Earlier IBM Model M13 A classic with Buckling springs. Very rare with no active listings on eBay. For more information on this beauty, check out LGR’s episode where he […]
So as I was doing some digging around for patent drawings and such, I found some really cool documents and photos. These were found on a Microsoft Research website archive called the Buxton Collection and I am uploading them below just in case the page is ever removed. This article will also serve as a companion piece to a video that I am currently editing that is related to this subject, but wouldn’t really focus on some of these neat little details.
The following images below come from an issue of Interactions, September-October 1997 “A Conversation with Ted Selker” and give some insight to ideas they had for TrackPoint’s future.
For more information on the TrackPoint Mouse, check out the following links to the G1, G2 and G3 variants. I’m not sure if any of these three examples exist in the wild, but ScrollPoint technology was developed and released to the general public which is similar but not identical. The ScrollPoint II and onward series has the most in common with the G3 type which featured a different cap/interface. The ScrollPoint I more closely resembles the G1 and G2.
As an added bonus, here is a launch video for the TrackPoint. This promotional video by IBM features Ted Selker introducing the TrackPoint in its early stages before it would make its most memorable appearance on the ThinkPad 700C.
I’ve also recently found this video that was submitted as part of a Issues 55-56 of ACM SIGGRAPH Video Review.
In-Keyboard Analog Pointing Device – A Case for the Pointing Stick Joe Rutledge, Ted Selker, IBM
CHI ’90 Technical Video Program
Session: New Techniques
Abstract A pointing device which can be operated from typing position avoids time loss and distraction. We have built and investigated force-sensitive devices for this purpose. The critical link is the force-to-motion mapping. We have found principals which enable a force joystick to match the function and approach the performance of a mouse in pure pointing tasks, and to best it in mixed tasks, such as editing. Examples take into account task, user strategy and perceptual- motor limitations.
If you follow me on Twitter, consider posting your favourite TrackPoint photo on this thread:
I'm not saying I'm up to something, but what is your favourite #ThinkPad TrackPoint photo? 😉
If you are looking for a greater, in-depth article, please consider checking out this fantastic summary of several of the keyboards below here.
PS/2 Era or Earlier
IBM
Model M13
A classic with Buckling springs. Very rare with no active listings on eBay. For more information on this beauty, check out LGR’s episode where he covers it in detail. An even rarer version of this keyboard was made for the IBM PS/55E computer in Japan called the IBM 5576-C01.
KPD8923
Often found in black, but also can be acquired in white, these IBM-bred keyboards feature a full Number pad as well as the classic TrackPoint. On eBay listings will range around the $150-200USD mark for one in good condition.
IBM KPD8923 in White. (Photo by speedonlineau)
SpaceSaver II (RT3200)
This PS/2 based keyboard is pretty rare with no current eBay listings. Users have modified them to have a USB-C connection and even built custom boards based on this layout. The red accents on the left and right-click buttons are very desirable. Claimed as the “World’s Best Computer Keyboard” in this article. There was a USB variant with a similar setup called the KPH0035, which is equally rare with no active listings.
IBM SpaceSaver II (Photo by engadget)
IBM Trackpoint 84 Key AKA “SpaceSaver I” or “M4-1” (84H8503)
Another uncommon PS/2 beast. No known listings but some surplus sites price it at $100 USD. It also came in black.
IBM TrackPoiont 84 Key (Photo by Memory4less.com)
IBM ThinkPad USB Keyboard (SK-8840)
PS/2 variant of the SK-8845 listed below. Somewhat rare and fetch prices of $150USD and up.
USB Era
Lenovo
ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II (4Y40X49493)
Bluetooth, USB-C and wireless, oh my. A modern keyboard for the modern world. $120 CDN if you get it on sale. If you are looking to get one of these, consider checking out my Affiliate page and placing an order through that link.
ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II (Photo by Lenovo)
ThinkPad Wired USB Keyboard with TrackPoint (0B47190)
Sporting the newer key layout, this keyboard can be had directly from Lenovo with many sales for as little as $75 CDN. If you are looking to get one of these, consider checking out my Affiliate page and placing an order through that link.
ThinkPad Wired USB Keyboard with TrackPoint (Photo by Lenovo)
ThinkPad USB Keyboard (SK-8855)
This unit does not feature the combined UltraNav setup of the original IBM variant listed below. These can be found on eBay for around $90USD. For a comprehensive comparison between the IBM and Lenovo variants, check out this great article.
Lenovo ThinkPad USB Keyboard (Photo by notebookreview.com)
IBM
IBM ThinkPad USB Keyboard (SK-8845 and SK-8845CR)
Often what people find when they search eBay is this gem. An IBM Branded USB-based keyboard. A PS/2 variant of this keyboard is also available (SK8840). The CR variant omits the TrackPad. In good shape, they can be found for about $100USD.
IBM ThinkPad USB Keyboard SK-8845 (Photo by notebookreview.com)The SK-8845CR model (Photo by Tasurinchi)
IBM SK-8835
Not as common as the other IBM branded keyboards, this sports the UltraNav configuration of the TrackPoint and a full Numpad. Prices for these on eBay are usually around $200USD.
IBM SK-8835 (Photo by next.day.automation)
Unicomp
Unicomp which has a history in making excellent Buckling Spring keyboards has the EnduraPro that features a TrackPoint. Modestly priced as $129USD.
These are third-party, high-quality keyboards that include the TrackPoint. Their Yoda II version looks very similar to a keyboard that was a Japanese exclusive anniversary keyboard. They are in the premium price bracket ranging from $185 USD up to $399 USD. A Shinobi DIY kit starts at $109 USD. Stock on these units fluctuates so check back often.
There is some speculation that Tex was behind the Anniversary Edition Mechanical Keyboard that Lenovo produced, but the images below found on Twitter do not match up with the branding of the one found here. The boxes are different as well as the logo colouring in the bottom right-hand corner.
Disguised at one point as the “ThinkPad 25th Anniversary Edition” keyboard, this appears to have been made by ZGGA and out of circulation. It looks very similar to the Yoda II as stated earlier. The company appeared to sell this keyboard for a limited time on AliExpress.
