ThinkPad designer David Hill on unreleased models

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Classic ThinkPad “archetype”

  • Many commenters say old ThinkPads feel like more than nostalgia: an “honest, sturdy” form-follows-function archetype, contrasted with the perceived “femininity” / slickness of Apple hardware.
  • Stories of ThinkPads surviving extreme abuse (drops on concrete, months in rainforest humidity) reinforce the “tank” reputation; several note newer Lenovo-era models feel less robust.

Keyboards, TrackPoint, and layouts

  • Strong attachment to 7‑row keyboards, full-height inverted‑T arrows, dedicated Home/End/PgUp/PgDn, and 3‑button TrackPoint; multiple people say they won’t buy laptops without TrackPoint.
  • There’s frustration that newer ThinkPads and Framework keep shrinking arrow keys and hiding navigation keys behind Fn, while adding things like Copilot keys instead.
  • Some want a ThinkPad or Framework option with swappable top panels and multiple keyboard choices (7‑row, no trackpad, backlit variants, even touch keyboards).
  • Complaints about Fn in the bottom-left corner; some models allow BIOS swap, and newer ThinkPads reverted to a more conventional layout.

Display aspect ratios and economics

  • Debate over whether 16:9 dominance was “inevitable” via TV-panel economies of scale vs primarily marketing-driven.
  • One side cites shared master-glass cutting and identical resolutions (1366×768, 1920×1080) as evidence of scale; the other doubts TV-scale benefit at laptop sizes and notes Apple kept 16:10.
  • 3:2 and 4:3 are praised for vertical space; commenters lament that machines with taller screens (e.g., Framework 13) still use cramped “modern” keyboards.
  • 4:3 iPad volumes are mentioned as possibly giving Apple leverage on non‑16:9 panels, but actual supply-chain arrangements remain unclear.

Legacy features: ThinkLight, latches, butterfly, durability

  • Strong affection for the ThinkLight, especially as ambient/field lighting; some found it too dim, others miss it more than backlit keys.
  • Discussion of butterfly keyboards clarifies they were mechanical expansion designs for small laptops, not the later “butterfly switch” mechanism.
  • One commenter notes many clever IBM-era innovations (butterfly keyboard, latches, top lights) made sense then but were later superseded; others counter that they’d still prefer latches and top lighting.

Lenovo era, thinness, and reliability

  • Views split: some say Lenovo “did right by” ThinkPad and X300 proved quality survived the IBM sale; others report frequent mainboard failures and feel modern models aren’t as tough.
  • Strong criticism of thinness-obsession: thinner machines are seen as trading away cooling, battery, ports (RJ45), keyboard quality, and easy repair.
  • Counterpoints note ergonomics and user perception: very large but light devices can feel “cheap” unless engineered to avoid a hollow feel.

External TrackPoint keyboards and scarcity

  • Several use desktop TrackPoint keyboards; one recounts a beloved model being discontinued, leading to scalping and used units costing more than new.
  • Advice: once you find a TrackPoint keyboard you like, buy spares—future availability and design direction from Lenovo are considered uncertain.

ThinkPads vs MacBooks and other modern options

  • A vocal minority finds ThinkPads overrated: clunky, plastic, loud, poor screens and battery vs MacBooks’ superior screens, thermals, and fit/finish.
  • Others argue they serve different priorities: ThinkPads offer Linux-friendliness, upgradability (RAM, NVMe, WWAN), and repairability; MacBooks offer integrated performance and polish but are closed and non-upgradable.
  • One user still prefers a 15‑year‑old ThinkPad to a modern MacBook Air for serious typing and mouse-driven work, citing the ThinkPad keyboard, physical buttons, and expandability.
  • Some see Framework as a potential spiritual successor if it can pair repairability with truly great keyboards and thermals; others criticize current Framework models as mediocre in cooling, battery, speakers, and firmware.

Niche desires: small, thick, and weird

  • Multiple people want sub‑11" laptops again, or a modernized 700C/X12‑style detachable with TrackPoint and EMR stylus.
  • Others dream of a modern ThinkPad with no trackpad at all, or a chunky, heavy machine prioritizing battery, ports, cooling, and keys over thinness.