Lenovo shows off snap-together laptop with removable keyboard, screen, and ports

If you own a desktop computer, you're used to swapping parts and peripherals around, but most laptops are closed boxes with few ways to modify them. Lenovo's new ThinkBook Modular AI PC concept shows what happens when you can remove a screen, a keyboard, and even blocks of ports from a mobile PC. The computer maker is showing …

[chuckufarley]

But wait...

...Where are the cup holders?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: But wait...

I used to always swap out the retractable cup holder for a hard drive!

[Sampler]

Those swappable ports

look very frameworkesque...

[NATTtrash]

Re: Those swappable ports

Yeah, true. Had the same idea reading this. No doubt, the marketing bros ordered one, threw it on the table with PD and told them "Death! Doom! We have to do something! Otherwise I can't make any money!™" PS - Did anyone ask them how long "the support period" is going to be..? You know, like parts availability and all that triviality..?

[Roland6]

Re: Those swappable ports

Also look very proprietary and liable to change for each model… just like laptop desk docks…

It does seem time the PCMCIA concept is refreshed: Standard sized slot and connector, Standard bus interface, slot within the laptop frame so that added gizmo/port adaptor fits within the dimensions of the laptop, removing the need to carry an external multi-port that has to be reconnected every time it’s needed and also requires a power supply…

The video also struck me as odd for a “concept”.

1. The add-on screen is attached via a cable, not Bluetooth.

2. The add-on screen was only demonstrated in landscape, it would be really good for it to both support portrait and support auto rotate - a feature that has been standard on tablets since the first iPad in 2010.

3. That back-to-back screen is going to be a real security/privacy issue if it’s normal mode is screen mirroring.

[Martin an gof]

Re: Those swappable ports

The add-on screen is attached via a cable, not Bluetooth.

I'm pretty sure Bluetooth has nowhere near the bandwidth to support an external screen. Most "wireless" screen mirroring uses WiFi of some description, and in my experience even that is prone to things like lag. I have trialled an expensive, proprietary (from a big Japanese manufacturer), WiFi-based screen cast/share system. Stand-alone transmitter(s) and receiver, 5GHz WiFi, sets up its own network after scanning for existing ones. The lag is several seconds and the data rate struggles with video in a window and cannot handle full-screen high definition video without dropping frames, the lag also means that audio (if the laptop is plugged directly into the room PA) is completely out of sync with the video. And this in a small room with maybe 5m between transmitter and receiver and a projector which is only 1280x800.

I mean, it works ok from the kids' phones to the living room TV (still some lag though), but it's not ideal. Good for sharing photographs (so long as they weren't taken in portrait mode!) A wire is much better and can also carry power :-)

I've met some non-WiFi solutions that work ok, but then you are probably looking at proprietary use of one of the licence-free frequencies, which quite possibly interferes with WiFi too.

M.

[Roland6]

Re: Those swappable ports

Totally agree with the problemsif using the wireless to stream video and games, but for more typical office desktop usage… However, remember this was a “concept” demonstrator laptop and the tethered screen clearly is intended to be used within 1.5M of the system unit.

I suspect in real terms this is simply a lightly modified Lenovo Legend with a Lenovo Mobile Monitor (minus the battery pack stand and independent power supply - hence need for peg leg and cable connection). So more of a “cheap” to manufacture variant that might be manufactured if there is sufficient interest and developed further if there are sufficient sales..

[elsergiovolador]

Horse

It's like beating a dead horse.

What's the point doing these laptops if they likely will have problem editing real life Word document and blast fans so loud neighbours will think you are remodelling a kitchen.

Basically cool looking e-Waste.

[elsergiovolador]

Re: Horse

Why downvotes? Have you actually used Intel Ultra laptop? It's a garbage tier hardware. Browser, Teams, Word and it's a slide show. If you forget to plug it in, the experience becomes like using a Netbook decade or so ago.

[druck]

Re: Horse

But just like a Netbook decade ago, I'm running Linux on it. and it's great.

[Yorick Hunt]

You can remove...

... the screen, a keyboard, and even blocks of ports...

But can you remove the effing eh-aye?

[Bebu sa Ware]

Re: You can remove...

the effing eh-aye?

My immediate thought too.

A properly modular system you should have the option of choosing modules without AI support.

Or even choice of CPU and GPU architectures. In Wonderland the interfaces between modules would be an open spec. to which specialised third party modules might be developed.

[theOtherJT]

Re: You can remove...

Yes. You wipe the disk and install an OS other than Windows on it.

...I mean, I assume you do. I suppose it's possible that it's so bizarrely proprietary in there that nothing else will boot.

[Not Yb]

Some time around 1993, I saw a laptop the likes of which are unlikely to show up again.

The display LCD was removable from the backlight, and could be placed on an overhead projector to show graphs and other such things on a larger screen.

I was told it cost around $10,000 at the time. These days it's easier and cheaper to buy a good projector to run with your laptop instead.

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Re: Some time around 1993, I saw a laptop the likes of which are unlikely to show up again.

That would have been a 755CV.

List price in the UK came to about £6000 in 1995, with maxed out RAM. 486DX4 100.

Had one from work.

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Re: Some time around 1993, I saw a laptop the likes of which are unlikely to show up again.

correction: Whilst the ThinkPad 755CV could indeed be placed on an OHP, the display itself could not be detached from the main/keyboard unit. The whole thing was a bit of a Heath Robinson affair, with the use of the supplied staps to secure the laptop onto the OHP.

755CDV on a OHP (CDV - with CD-ROM drive) https://thinkwiki.de/Datei:755cdv-overhead.jpg

IIRC, Siemens had a laptop around the same time/a bit earlier which had a completely detachable display unit, which was then connected to the main unit via a cable (supplied) - that is probably a better fit for what the OP mentioned.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Some time around 1993, I saw a laptop the likes of which are unlikely to show up again.

You'll confuse the youngsters with the concept of an overhead projector.

No kids, we don't mean a projector attached to the ceiling.

[Roland6]

Re: Some time around 1993, I saw a laptop the likes of which are unlikely to show up again.

Confuse them further - my mathematical analysis lecturer (lat 1970s) used the continuous scroll feature these had when loaded with a roll of acetate to do his demonstration proofs: you had to keep up with your note taking, otherwise the line you wanted will have been scrolled off the screen.

[Martin an gof]

Re: Some time around 1993, I saw a laptop the likes of which are unlikely to show up again.

otherwise the line you wanted will have been scrolled off the screen

But at least it would have been preserved on the roll so you could potentially ask to review it after the lecture. I had several teachers at school who took pride in writing right around the rolling blackboards and of course, wiping the early work in order to make space for later jottings. Maths in particular but on one memorable occasion, history. The teacher was very cross with us for some reason and wrote over four panels of blackboard in the course of a 40 minute lesson - the blackboard had three panels.

M.

[Neil Barnes]

Cosmic blue?

Perhaps, but to these old eyes it looks remarkably gray...

[Adair]

Re: Cosmic blue?

Of course they're not really black. They're just very, very, very, very, very, very, very dark blue.

Apologies to 'Father Ted'.

[Ken Shabby]

Re: Cosmic blue?

Just like your new passport

[Ken G]

Re: Cosmic blue?

They'll shaft you every time!

[Fr. Ted Crilly]

Re: Cosmic blue?

Mine are...

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Re: Cosmic blue?

The blackness of my belt is like the inside of a coffin on a moonless night.

Haru: Beverly Hills Ninja

[blu3b3rry]

Sort of impressed

The modular Thinkbook is a fun idea, although as commented above my first thought on seeing swappable I/O was "That looks like a Framework design"

One very good thing to note on the ThinkPads is that Lenovo still have a separate power button, rather than stuffing it onto the keyboard like everyone else bloody does. At least they haven't fallen down that dumb rabbit-hole on these models. (my work-issued 2021 Dell Latitude has a keyboard mounted power button and it's intensely irritating, given it replaced the delete key location....!)

Going by the photos, repairability looks about the same as the 14" HP Elitebook G2 I'm typing this on, which weighs about the same and has similar dimensions. However the ThinkPad looks to need more tools than this HP to do something basic like swapping RAM or the battery.

Curious to note that the only Intel CPU offering is the Ultra 3, with no performant Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 options. Wonder if they had issues keeping the higher clocked chips cool...

Presumably you spec the AMD CPU if more grunt is required.

[blu3b3rry]

Re: Sort of impressed

.....also, is it just me or does the AI Workmate resemble that eyeball shaped guard robot in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, that lives in the door to Jabba's Palace?

[The Oncoming Scorn]

Re: Sort of impressed

Icon - Thank you I was thinking it reminded me of something, but couldn't place it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Sort of impressed

What I’d really like in a laptop is a power button that can be operated without opening the lid. I usually use laptops exclusively with external screens and monitors, and no I can’t just buy a desktop because I also need it be portable for when I’m not sat at a desk at home.

[Anomalous Cowturd]

Re: Sort of impressed

If it's a Thinkpad, get a dock.

External power button, and as many ports as you can shake a stick at.

[Martin an gof]

Re: Sort of impressed

I usually use laptops exclusively with external screens

Or one of these?

M.

(how can you "usually" use something "exclusively"?)

[mIVQU#~(p,]

The repairability & upgradability on the new T series line is quite refreshing.

[Roland6]

Yes it is a step forward, however, from the text and the picture, I suspect the 2006 T60 is still ahead in the repairability league…

[Peter Gathercole]

T60?

I've literally just taken a T60 apart last weekend (needed to replace a failing WiFi card).

You can replace the hard disk, and optical disk without opening the system up, and the memory, and network cards once you take the wrist rest and keyboard off, but CPU/GPU are not so easy, although I believe they are still socketed on the T60. Also, all the I/O and power ports are all on the base planar. And replacing the screen is quite challenging.

But the biggest problem with the T60? Well, it's the chipset, that only allows you to use 3GB of memory, no matter how much is installed (I have two, each with 2x2GB SODIMMs. They only see 3GB of the memory, and reserve some of that for the display). Fortunately, this one is just being used for basic Internet access, and runs Linux.

It's really a bit of a shame, as to my knowledge, they were the last T series Thinkpads to have a 4x3 (or was it 5x4) screen. That is why I'm still managing one, as my wife just cannot get on with 16x9 or 16x10 screens. I tried to get her to use a 2012 Macbook Pro (running Ubuntu), but she didn't like the keyboard and the lack of a trackpoint. It's strange, she can use the trackpoint, but struggles with a touchpad.

It was really quite refreshing to use a screen that filled the lid of the laptop. I'd forgotten what it was like. I then switched back to my T420 (the last Thinkpad that had a 'proper' non-island key keyboard, although I understand you can put a T420 keyboard on a T430), and the pain of not having enough vertical space when the font was readable just flooded back.

[Uncle Slacky]

Re: T60?

You can access a little more RAM (about 3.5 Gb) on the T60 if you Libreboot it.

[Peter Gathercole]

Re: T60?

Huh. Ain't that a shock.

The T60 I'm looking at has a Core Duo T2400. That's a 32 bit processor! No wonder it tops out at no more that 3GB. I always thought it was a 64 bit system. Must check the one my wife is using.

I wonder whether the MoBo is capable of taking a Socket 479 Core 2 Duo. Or even whether it is worth doing it (although it does have the 1400x1050 screen, so that may be a reason).

[Roland6]

Re: T60?

The T60 was definitely limited to 32-bit processors and 3 GB of RAM due to the Intel chipset.

There was a few years back there was a FrankenPad which put the newer T61 motherboard in the (higher quality) T60 chassis. I’ve not had cause to look in recent years, but many key parts/assemblies were still available from Lenovo, need to search carefully as you probably don’t want the part number of the part installed in your system, but the newer revised part which will have a totally different part number.

The 1400x1050 screen in the T60 14-inch definitely was something worth having, still miss it. The T60 fitted airplane and train seat back trays, fully using the available space. Okay not good for films etc. but really good for document production.

[Uncle Slacky]

Re: T60?

They *can* be either 32 or 64 bit (up to T7600 C2D), but they're physically limited to 4Gb RAM regardless:

https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2_Duo_(Merom)

[Uncle Slacky]

Re: T60?

T60 *can* be 64-bit, it can take up to a T7600 C2D (though T7400 are more commonly available). Mine came with a T5600:

https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2_Duo_(Merom)

[Kurgan]

Lenovo, please let me have computers that I still can repair or upgrade in the future and keep your AI bullshit for yourself.

[Anonymous Coward]

If only they could find a way to make a Thinkpad L series that doesn't suffer from motherboard failure as soon as the warranty runs out.

Lovely laptops, hopelessly unreliable.

[Roland6]

Depends on what you mean by “motherboard failure”. My main gripe with these is the USB ports are on the motherboard, so a failure of the USB charging port, requires a motherboard replacement. I’ve not had any other motherboard failures.

[Kurgan]

I have the same issue with the usb ports. Having a swappable (not necessarily hot-swappable, I can also remove the cover and some screws) USB port would solve this issue.

[Like a badger]

My experience of Lenovo gear leaves me with the impression that they CAN make really good kit, but often choose to produce crap. I did wonder whether this is down to Lenovo outsourcing production to second and third tier assemblers in China, such that the only Lenovo content was the name on the box, but I can't offer any solid evidence for that. Either way, I steer clear of their products now.

[Roland6]

I’ve only used the Thinkpad and ThinkStation branded kit. Can’t comment on the own brand consumer kit.

[nematoad]

Old fashioned.

"2.45 to 2.66 pounds while being only 0.7 inches thick. "

"a few tenths of a pound heavier and about 0.1 inch thicker."

"3.62 pounds and it's almost an inch thick."

All very informative, I am sure, but what about those of us who have moved on from imperial weights and measures?

A quick conversion in kilos and centimetres would not have come amiss.

[Martin an gof]

Re: Old fashioned.

I also like the way that the modular laptop is a "chunky 0.94 inches" while the "sleek" T14s is "only 0.7 inches". Granted, that's 6mm or so, but I do find it interesting how this kind of language is used, especially when the "chunky" laptop seems to be 0.16 pounds lighter (or in more understandable terms, about 2½oz = 70g) than the "sleekest" model, and both have 14" screens.

Saw a bit of an old episode of Midsomer Murders last night. Someone stole a laptop. It was an inch and a half thick at least and they had to unplug two chunky plugs from the back; one was a D25 parallel to a printer, the other looked like a D9 serial. No sign of a power lead :-)

M.

[Brad Ackerman]

Re: Old fashioned.

Or they could have just not converted from standard units. The measurements in the article are certainly not the ones from the trade show.

[JulieM]

Re: Old fashioned.

Pounds are subdivided into ounces, not tenths and hundreths. Someone has obviously converted those measurements, probably with a four-function calculator, from the original kg. and mm., and not even bothered to do it properly. 0.45 of a pound is 7.2oz., and 0.66lb. is 10.56oz. A few tenths of a pound is a bigger few ounces, and 0.62lb. is 9.92oz.

Anyway, going through your examples in order, we get: 1100-1200g. while being only 18mm. thick, a few hundred grams heavier and about 2.5mm. thicker, 1.64kg. and a good couple of dozen mm. thick.

[Fursty Ferret]

Pounds? Inches?

What are they? At least give measurements in SI units as well.

[paluster]

Re: Pounds? Inches?

Its how things were measured before we let a bunch of late 18th century French regicides hi-jack weights and measures.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Pounds? Inches?

All part of the big beautiful USAnification of El. Reg.

[abend0c4]

"With the price of memory these days"

Usually with these conceptual prototypes it's the innovative features that largely get lost in production to keep costs under control. We seem to be entering an era in which it's the basic functionality that's unaffordable.

[breakfast]

So which bit do I unsnap...

It sounds good so far, but if they really want to win over users they'll need to give us the ability to unsnap the AI part and turn it into a regular PC. Then they'd have a real winner of a product.

[An_Old_Dog]

Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

This thing is like those cool-looking/cool-featured concept cars, featured at auto shows, but which never are put into mass production.

The #1 feature this laptop is missing: externally-swapable battery packs. It used to be that EVERY laptop had this feature. Now, NO, AFAIK, laptops have this feature.

[Peter Gathercole]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

I understand what you mean, but you have to put this in some kind of context. Many older laptops had replaceable battery packs because one would only provide around three hours of life when they were new, and having replacable packs allowed you to keep a spare with you to keep working on the go.

I recently did a test with 'my' newest laptop, a Thinkpad T470s (I have newer work provided laptops than anything I own) and I got over 6 hours out of the internal battery packs for a laptop that must be 8 years old now. This is mainly because the processor technology has moved on, as Intel finally worked out how to get proper power management working in their processors.

And opening this up (I wanted to put a larger SSD in), I could see that the two battery packs were relatively easy to access (unlike the T470, the T470s has internal battery packs) if I ever needed to change them. I just couldn't do it without opening the system up.

[An_Old_Dog]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

The limits of your needs are not universal. YOU may only need a 6-hour runtime, on whatever YOUR workload is.

Others' needs are different. Requiring someone to open a computer to change the battery is needless user friction.

[Peter Gathercole]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

I'm not disputing that there will always be use cases where people need more time than the standard battery in a laptop can provide.

But I would guess that most laptops nowadays are built to meet the majority of use cases. So a laptop that is light, portable and with a battery life that lasts the best part of a working day probably meets most people's requirements. But not all of them, as there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all device. The outliers should be regarded as edge cases, and catered for separately.

I have to say that when I used to work mobile more than I do now, I never found it convenient to carry a spare battery, and keep it charged. Batteries normally had to be in the laptop to be charged. Very few of them could be charged outside of the device (I know, I'm sure you will be able to find an exception). But I was always in a situation where it was better and easier to just carry a charger. But again, I was normally always close to power.

Ignoring replacing degraded batteries, which is a very infrequent operation, and just looking at the extended use requirement, I'm sure there are people who are off the grid, for whom long periods of time without being able to plug in do exist. But these would be considered mostly niche cases, and other solutions (like high power external batteries that you could carry and connect via USB C when needed) exist and are probably no more difficult than carrying a spare battery.

[An_Old_Dog]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

Your point about external USB-C battery packs is well taken -- provided the laptop in question ACCEPTS power via USB-C.

My current laptop, bought used, does not. With today's insane prices I do mot wish to buy a new laptop. My beloved, now-deceased, EeePC not only had externally-swappable battery packs, it conveniently ran on 12VDC. When an extended power failure struck my area, I was able to continue using my Eee via a gelled-electrolyte 12 volt hobbyist battery I had.

[collinsl]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

I would suggest for your use-case that you carry & use one or more PowerBanks/Battery Chargers (whatever their name is) - you then have the advantage that you don't have to shut the machine down to change batteries, thus improving your workflow.

[Roland6]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

>” as Intel finally worked out how to get proper power management working in their processors.”

Still streets behind AMD…

[AMBxx]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

I used to have a Gateway laptop where you could replace the CD drive with a 2nd battery. Sadly, no budget for the 2nd battery.

[collinsl]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

Old ThinkPads used to have that too - their UltraBay would let you put in a second hard drive, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive, a zip drive, a floppy, or a battery, with a socket on the side of the machine for an external UltraBay slot which could take any of the things bar the battery so you could use two at once.

I had a 600E when I was a kid with a DVD drive and a floppy and having the convenience was great.

[Anomalous Cowturd]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

I picked up a used ThinkPad X250 for my grandson, and it had an external and an internal battery. Bonus.

[The Organ Grinder's Monkey]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

Likewise the X270, which AFAIK is the last of the line to have that feature. External battery is available in two capacities too.

I have one dual booted between W10 & MX Linux. I rarely boot the W10 but on MX it goes for ages on the internal battery + large external battery combo. Unfortunately my usage isn't for continuous use so I can't quantify how long "ages" actually is, sorry.

As far as the previous comment about only being able to charge the external battery in the laptop goes, yes, correct, but when I had 'phones with removable batteries I was always able to pick up a little charging dock for them in which to charge the spare batteries. I always thought that it would have been an obvious accessory for an enterprising Chinese indy manufacturer to make for a few models of "professional" laptop like the thinkpads, but I never saw such a thing for sale.

[collinsl]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

T480 still had it - I believe that's the last one in model number terms across the T/X/L lines.

[Roland6]

Re: Concept Cars, #1 Missing Feature

But not every laptop supported hot swapping of battery packs.

However, given Lenovo seem to like USB power supply, it does leave you free to source a battery pack suited to your needs.

One of my bugbears with modern laptops is the amount of additional gizmo’s (eg. Multiport USB hubs) needed just to access “normal” business connectivity (eg. HMDI/Displayport, RJ45 LAN, SVGA etc.plus a couple of ports spare for a couple of thumb drives and pocket HDDs.

[Thereneverwasaplot]

It's a concept

They have now proved they can do it. Congratulations

The best concepts never seem to hit production, probably due to build costs. I would like to be surprised though for once

[APro]

If Lenovo really want to impress me...

They should go back to the old keyboard of the X10, T42,T60 eras. These were decent keyboards. The attraction to the "chiclet" keyboards I have never found. My work laptop is a ThinkPad P16V - a Ryzen 9 PRO/NVIDIA A2000 workhorse - which works damned well, and can last up to 8 hours on properly managed battery, but the fly in the ointment is the keyboard. In it's stead I use a 30 year old 6312-TW, or a cherry brown when at my desk. Don't get me wrong, The P16Vs keyboard is better than many laptops, but none are in the same league as the old T42 and T60 I have at home.

[Like a badger]

Re: If Lenovo really want to impress me...

The attraction to the "chiclet" keyboards I have never found.

Cheaper and thinner than the alternatives. And since most people buy on price and thin-ness...

[Anonymous Coward]

The article doesn't mention Linux

This article doesn't mention Linux, and I see it only once in the comments section.

Precisely why I'm still on an older Mac.

If Lenovo wants to open up a big new market, they can prove these "just work" with a whole bunch of mainstream Linux flavors.

I'd really like a Linux laptop, but I have too much stuff to do at work to also fight with my own computer.

Why can't it be as simple as desktops have been for the past what, ten years?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: The article doesn't mention Linux

Weird post. Of the big manufacturers Lenovo are (quite famously) the one known for making their systems widely Linux certified/compatible.

https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/solutions/pd031426-linux-for-personal-systems

[DukeCityDweller]

Re: The article doesn't mention Linux

Thinkpads just work using Linux. My T490 runs Debian 13 w/ Linux 6.19.5 just peachy. Everything works and I never have to mess with it.

[Nifty]

Read the article and thought I'd gone to heaven.