Lenovo future-proofs ThinkPad notebooks

TOKYO – The popular ThinkPad line of notebook computers for business, formerly by IBM, will continue to undergo technological evolutionary refinements but its brand concept will remain unchanged under Lenovo.

Research and development (R&D) experts at Lenovo’s Yamato Labs in Japan are in the thick of implementing the specifics of what they call "Clean Sheet 2" which is like a blueprint for the new sets of features and innovations that they have introduced starting from the most recently released ThinkPads and on to future models.

Under the leadership of Arimasa Naitoh, vice president for development of Lenovo’s notebook business unit, the Yamato Lab’s R&D team is focused on creating ThinkPads that will integrate technology better, simplify complexity and enable business value.

"We strive for high performance and features to create brand recognition that goes beyond the logo. We want to simplify the user’s computing experience by masking the technology and focusing on the task. The result is our new Clean Sheet 2 which is like a whiteboard where we remapped our platform to address the new requirements of our customers," Naitoh said.

Regarded as the "Father of ThinkPad," Naitoh saw the birth of the first ThinkPad in 1992, which had a 10.4-inch color Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display and a TrackPoint (red ball) pointing device. Its total looks and performance are clearly light-years away when compared to the new dual-core Lenovo 3000 N100 and Lenovo 3000 V100 notebooks introduced only last month.

The new Lenovo 3000 line not only follows some of the standards that have been outlined in the Clean Sheet 2, it also very well answers to current customer demand for better performance, security and additional mobility and communi-cation options.

Aside from the fact that they run on dual-core processors, the Lenovo 3000 notebooks also support wider options for wireless connectivity and much improved cooling capabilities and power management.

The Clean Sheet 2, according to Masaki Kobayashi, director of portable systems at the Lenovo Yamato Labs, is particular about the mobility and productivity designs of the next generation of ThinkPads. Aside from creating thin, light and easy-to-use systems, Yamato Lab researchers are also closely watching the industry trends in battery, storage and wireless connectivity to future-proof the ThinkPad.

"We are leading the industry in establishing the standards for notebook technologies. Right now we are thinking of the best structure and form factor to accommodate more wireless antennae in one notebook. Total thermal design is also important. For example, we designed the T Series as a thin but high-performance machine with great cooling capabilities," Kobayashi said.

The way technology now moves so much faster than before called for the drawing up of the Clean Sheet 2, said Naitoh, who also noted that they do it only when necessary or at least in five-year interval.

"The situation has changed and machines now need to perform more. It’s the main focus of our Clean Sheet 2 as well as backward compatibility… We are also focusing on innovative thermal design, enhanced power management, performance optimization within a specified battery life budget, and improved cover," he added.

At present, certain ThinkPad models come with a titanium-based cover that has a special chemical component that gives anti-scratch and anti-finger print qualities.

In the future, Naitoh said Lenovo will deploy ThinkPads with digital video ports, hybrid hard disks that can offer up to 90 percent power saving, next-generation optical drives, and more ThinkVantage tools.

Meanwhile, the Yamato Labs will continue to play a major role in the future of ThinkPad although Naitoh also now channels some R&D work to Lenovo’s facility in Beijing.

Naitoh said the two facilities work on separate projects but could share responsibilities on certain product lines.

"The ThinkPad has been in Yamato since 1991 and our plan is to keep and enhance the Japan Research and Development Team here and combine it with new Lenovo research teams in other countries to focus on future client needs. We’re heavily investing in people and facilities here to support worldwide business," said Naitoh.

To date, some 30 million ThinkPads have been sold worldwide with the T Series proving to be the most popular with 40 percent share of their customer base, according to Naitoh. The ThinkPad has also bagged over 1,600 industry awards from 1992 to June 2006.