7 ms·

Lenovo ThinkPad Chromebook - for schools

43 points by fidotron 14y ago

RexRollman 14y ago
Sweet. Too bad it is for students only because my CR-48 is starting to show its wear.
- NegativeK 14y ago
  What was your usage pattern for you with your CR-48? I tried using it initially, but I very quickly ran into speed issues when I was trying to rapidly find information and take notes in Google Docs. The hardware simply couldn't keep up. I've recently ressurected it by connecting it to my stereo and running Rdio on it, but I have a feeling that this is a misuse.
  - RexRollman 14y ago
    Mine is mainly used for everyday web browsing while sitting in front of the TV. I agree it is a bit slow but I am generally not in a rush. Personally, if I had to fault ChromeOS for something, it would be that there is no way to create an account on the machine without having a Google account. I believe that needs to be changed.
mtgx 14y ago
They should've used a quad core Cortex A15. It would've made them cheaper, and there's no reason for x86 in these machines.
- JoshTriplett 14y ago
  Half of the Chrome Web Store uses Native Client, which doesn't work on ARM.
tga 14y ago
Unless the build quality is stellar and/or the size makes a difference, I would much rather pick a machine from their Essential series (to keep the discussion to the same manufacturer, similar options exist). It is not tied to an ever-changing online service, it has the specs to act as a stand alone work machine for myself, let alone school students, and only costs $369. http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/essential/g-series/g580/ http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/essential/g-series/... I recently picked one up for a family member and was impressed by how much computer <$400 will get you.
- jsnell 14y ago
  You're suggesting giving schoolkids a 3kg 15.6" laptop? It seems clear that it's not acceptable no matter how good the specs are. A rugged 11" laptop makes way more sense. As for ChromeOS, it seems like a perfect fit to a school environment. But the same ThinkPad model has been available for about a year with Windows.
recoiledsnake 14y ago
$430 seems to be expensive for something with no real hard drive (only 16GB solid state) and with a Celeron processor.
ConstantineXVI 14y ago
For what it's worth, this looks like a CrOS variant of the existing X131e[0] which is also an .edu-only model. Not new and shiny, but gets Lenovo in the CrOS market. I'd like to think this is a precursor to a mass-market CrOS ThinkPad. EDIT: it's available to mass-market as well[1], but the sales pitch still makes the target market fairly clear [0] https://www.lenovo.com/education/us/en/edu-series.html https://www.lenovo.com/education/us/en/edu-series.html [1] http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/thinkpad/x-series/x131e-intel/ http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/thinkpad/x-series/x...
- epochwolf 14y ago
  The X131e is available for purchase by consumers. I have the AMD model.
so898 14y ago
Chrome OS with Thinkpad? Sweets. However, if I get one of this laptop, I will install Ubuntu or other Linux system on it. Because in most time, without networking, Chrome OS is useless.
- r00fus 14y ago
  It boggles my mind how popular ChromeOS would be if it did indeed have strong offline capabilities (like say, an Android tablet). This is likely why I would recommend a Transformer+keyboard instead - around the same price, but higher utility.
  - Evbn 14y ago
    Chrome supports offline apps.
mrbill 14y ago
I had the x120e that I put a SSD into and upgraded the RAM on - a very nice, supercompact machine. I would love an affordable Chromebook with Thinkpad build quality, which is my only complaint about the $250 Chromebook. An ARM-based Thinkpad would be awesome.
riobard 14y ago
Honest question: for $430 why would anyone want this crap instead of a decent tablet?
- dublinben 14y ago
  This is a ruggedized laptop designed specifically for the education market. You're also getting a $110 discount for not using Windows. Lenovo's excellent support makes this far more compelling for schools than the existing Chromebooks. If I were considering an educational roll-out of laptops and/or Google Apps for Education, this would be the device I was waiting for.
- freehunter 14y ago
  Build quality. Support. Keyboard and mouse. Able to be locked down to limit app installs. Many reasons why a laptop, even a Chromebook, is more useful in certain situations than a tablet. This isn't meant for your home, it's meant for the classroom.
- RexRollman 14y ago
  What makes you think that a tablet is the answer to everything?
pwthornton 14y ago
As a CR-48 owner, I think this is both good for education and bad. The good parts of this is that ThinkPad's are well built machines and this particular model has been ruggedized. This form factor seems perfect to me for the educational environment: light, portable and rugged. The negative is ChromeOS itself for an educational environment. It's a fine machine for doing Internet research and light writing, but more traditional OSes allow for more experimentation and learning. You won't be messing around with video editing on these in any significant way. Web design wouldn't be easy either. Web design was one of my favorite high school classes. For library and research computers, this seems like a great option. Rugged, secure, portable. For a learning tool, wouldn't something more open, more able to run more applications be better? From an IT perspective I get it. These machines require so little maintenance and are much more hardended than your typical PC. In many ways, I feel the original ThinkPad that this is based off of would be a better educational tool. This of course comes down to whether or not school want students experimenting these days. I hope they do.
- jonknee 14y ago
  > The negative is ChromeOS itself for an educational environment. It's a fine machine for doing Internet research and light writing, but more traditional OSes allow for more experimentation and learning. You won't be messing around with video editing on these in any significant way. A video editing course would be better served by a computer lab. 99% of students aren't going to need to install Final Cut on their school computer and it would be a huge waste to make sure that was possible.
- e40 14y ago
  I have a son in 6th grade, and this year marked the start of him getting a limited google account via the school that he uses to do homework. I don't know the extent to which the teachers can see what the students do, but they do presentations, writing and web research all in the confines of their google account. My son uses the Chromebook we have at home to access his account and do homework.
- dublinben 14y ago
  I haven't been in school for a while, but they rather discouraged any tinkering with the computers while I was there. Merely launching the command prompt was enough to be written up by a teacher. Trying to 'experiment' in any way would have gotten your computer privileges revoked.
brudgers 14y ago
When it comes to Google, HN often exhibits a surprising amount of tolerance for vendor lock in.
- daeken 14y ago
  What vendor lock-in? You can install any OS you want on these devices.
- jeffk1337 14y ago
  It promotes using web apps, web apps which can also be accessed with browsers on any OS. Not happy with Chromebooks? Use Windows or Mac instead and access the same webapp. That's the exact opposite of vendor lock-in.
christopherorr 14y ago
Good to know there's now a ThinkPad flavour but it's a shame about the chiclet keyboard. Seems to be a trend at Lenovo. They might look better but that doesn't mean they are any easier to type on. The keyboard on my x220 is one of the best things about the laptop. Molded keys are so much more responsive but if I remember rightly they went chiclet-style on the x230 too. If it ain't broke...
- pwpwp 14y ago
  I've been using Thinkpads for years and find the new chiclet keyboards just as good, if not better than the older ones.
  - christopherorr 14y ago
    Fair play. Ought to admit I haven't used one on a ThinkPad yet. Never enjoyed typing on other manufacturers' chiclet keyboards so I am judging them on that skewed basis. It's my first ThinkPad so I'm still a bit spellbound about the sheer quality of the keyboard compared to every laptop I've used before. Shouldn't be all too surprised to learn Lenovo's are a cut above the rest and, in light of your comments, I won't be so dismissive of them when buying my next ThinkPad. Don't knock it and all that!
- jsnell 14y ago
  The ThinkPad chiclet keyboard is superior to the classic in almost all ways. It has an identical feel, a larger effective hit target for each key, is thinner, doesn't gather cruft under the keys, and can't have the keys accidentally popped off. Don't judge the new keyboards based on the bizarre flat keycaps that every other chiclet keyboard seems to use. The most obvious loss in the new keyboards is the switch to a 6-row layout. And I can see why people with large laptops would complain about that. But especially on a 11-incher any extra space for a touchpad is really welcome. The x120e touchpad is already hilariously small. It'd be a complete joke if you reduced the depth by a further 1-1.5cm.
- epochwolf 14y ago
  I have a x131e AMD model. The keyboard is awesome. Way better than any other laptop I've used. It may look similar to some of the new chiclet keyboards but it feels great. I wish my mac had this keyboard.
iomike 14y ago
Why is it double the price of the other chromebooks 0_o?
- epochwolf 14y ago
  Better construction and it's a bit more armored than your typical laptop.
KaoruAoiShiho 14y ago
Too heavy. Samsung ARM still the best Chromebook.

43 points by fidotron 14y ago

RexRollman 14y ago

Sweet. Too bad it is for students only because my CR-48 is starting to show its wear.

NegativeK 14y ago
What was your usage pattern for you with your CR-48? I tried using it initially, but I very quickly ran into speed issues when I was trying to rapidly find information and take notes in Google Docs. The hardware simply couldn't keep up. I've recently ressurected it by connecting it to my stereo and running Rdio on it, but I have a feeling that this is a misuse.
- RexRollman 14y ago
  Mine is mainly used for everyday web browsing while sitting in front of the TV. I agree it is a bit slow but I am generally not in a rush. Personally, if I had to fault ChromeOS for something, it would be that there is no way to create an account on the machine without having a Google account. I believe that needs to be changed.

mtgx 14y ago

They should've used a quad core Cortex A15. It would've made them cheaper, and there's no reason for x86 in these machines.

JoshTriplett 14y ago
Half of the Chrome Web Store uses Native Client, which doesn't work on ARM.

tga 14y ago

Unless the build quality is stellar and/or the size makes a difference, I would much rather pick a machine from their Essential series (to keep the discussion to the same manufacturer, similar options exist). It is not tied to an ever-changing online service, it has the specs to act as a stand alone work machine for myself, let alone school students, and only costs $369. http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/essential/g-series/g580/ http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/essential/g-series/... I recently picked one up for a family member and was impressed by how much computer <$400 will get you.

jsnell 14y ago
You're suggesting giving schoolkids a 3kg 15.6" laptop? It seems clear that it's not acceptable no matter how good the specs are. A rugged 11" laptop makes way more sense. As for ChromeOS, it seems like a perfect fit to a school environment. But the same ThinkPad model has been available for about a year with Windows.

recoiledsnake 14y ago

$430 seems to be expensive for something with no real hard drive (only 16GB solid state) and with a Celeron processor.

ConstantineXVI 14y ago

For what it's worth, this looks like a CrOS variant of the existing X131e[0] which is also an .edu-only model. Not new and shiny, but gets Lenovo in the CrOS market. I'd like to think this is a precursor to a mass-market CrOS ThinkPad. EDIT: it's available to mass-market as well[1], but the sales pitch still makes the target market fairly clear [0] https://www.lenovo.com/education/us/en/edu-series.html https://www.lenovo.com/education/us/en/edu-series.html [1] http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/thinkpad/x-series/x131e-intel/ http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/thinkpad/x-series/x...

epochwolf 14y ago
The X131e is available for purchase by consumers. I have the AMD model.

so898 14y ago

Chrome OS with Thinkpad? Sweets. However, if I get one of this laptop, I will install Ubuntu or other Linux system on it. Because in most time, without networking, Chrome OS is useless.

r00fus 14y ago
It boggles my mind how popular ChromeOS would be if it did indeed have strong offline capabilities (like say, an Android tablet). This is likely why I would recommend a Transformer+keyboard instead - around the same price, but higher utility.
- Evbn 14y ago
  Chrome supports offline apps.

mrbill 14y ago

I had the x120e that I put a SSD into and upgraded the RAM on - a very nice, supercompact machine. I would love an affordable Chromebook with Thinkpad build quality, which is my only complaint about the $250 Chromebook. An ARM-based Thinkpad would be awesome.

riobard 14y ago

Honest question: for $430 why would anyone want this crap instead of a decent tablet?

dublinben 14y ago
This is a ruggedized laptop designed specifically for the education market. You're also getting a $110 discount for not using Windows. Lenovo's excellent support makes this far more compelling for schools than the existing Chromebooks. If I were considering an educational roll-out of laptops and/or Google Apps for Education, this would be the device I was waiting for.
freehunter 14y ago
Build quality. Support. Keyboard and mouse. Able to be locked down to limit app installs. Many reasons why a laptop, even a Chromebook, is more useful in certain situations than a tablet. This isn't meant for your home, it's meant for the classroom.
RexRollman 14y ago
What makes you think that a tablet is the answer to everything?

pwthornton 14y ago

As a CR-48 owner, I think this is both good for education and bad. The good parts of this is that ThinkPad's are well built machines and this particular model has been ruggedized. This form factor seems perfect to me for the educational environment: light, portable and rugged. The negative is ChromeOS itself for an educational environment. It's a fine machine for doing Internet research and light writing, but more traditional OSes allow for more experimentation and learning. You won't be messing around with video editing on these in any significant way. Web design wouldn't be easy either. Web design was one of my favorite high school classes. For library and research computers, this seems like a great option. Rugged, secure, portable. For a learning tool, wouldn't something more open, more able to run more applications be better? From an IT perspective I get it. These machines require so little maintenance and are much more hardended than your typical PC. In many ways, I feel the original ThinkPad that this is based off of would be a better educational tool. This of course comes down to whether or not school want students experimenting these days. I hope they do.

jonknee 14y ago
> The negative is ChromeOS itself for an educational environment. It's a fine machine for doing Internet research and light writing, but more traditional OSes allow for more experimentation and learning. You won't be messing around with video editing on these in any significant way. A video editing course would be better served by a computer lab. 99% of students aren't going to need to install Final Cut on their school computer and it would be a huge waste to make sure that was possible.
e40 14y ago
I have a son in 6th grade, and this year marked the start of him getting a limited google account via the school that he uses to do homework. I don't know the extent to which the teachers can see what the students do, but they do presentations, writing and web research all in the confines of their google account. My son uses the Chromebook we have at home to access his account and do homework.
dublinben 14y ago
I haven't been in school for a while, but they rather discouraged any tinkering with the computers while I was there. Merely launching the command prompt was enough to be written up by a teacher. Trying to 'experiment' in any way would have gotten your computer privileges revoked.

brudgers 14y ago

When it comes to Google, HN often exhibits a surprising amount of tolerance for vendor lock in.

daeken 14y ago
What vendor lock-in? You can install any OS you want on these devices.
jeffk1337 14y ago
It promotes using web apps, web apps which can also be accessed with browsers on any OS. Not happy with Chromebooks? Use Windows or Mac instead and access the same webapp. That's the exact opposite of vendor lock-in.

christopherorr 14y ago

Good to know there's now a ThinkPad flavour but it's a shame about the chiclet keyboard. Seems to be a trend at Lenovo. They might look better but that doesn't mean they are any easier to type on. The keyboard on my x220 is one of the best things about the laptop. Molded keys are so much more responsive but if I remember rightly they went chiclet-style on the x230 too. If it ain't broke...

pwpwp 14y ago
I've been using Thinkpads for years and find the new chiclet keyboards just as good, if not better than the older ones.
- christopherorr 14y ago
  Fair play. Ought to admit I haven't used one on a ThinkPad yet. Never enjoyed typing on other manufacturers' chiclet keyboards so I am judging them on that skewed basis. It's my first ThinkPad so I'm still a bit spellbound about the sheer quality of the keyboard compared to every laptop I've used before. Shouldn't be all too surprised to learn Lenovo's are a cut above the rest and, in light of your comments, I won't be so dismissive of them when buying my next ThinkPad. Don't knock it and all that!
jsnell 14y ago
The ThinkPad chiclet keyboard is superior to the classic in almost all ways. It has an identical feel, a larger effective hit target for each key, is thinner, doesn't gather cruft under the keys, and can't have the keys accidentally popped off. Don't judge the new keyboards based on the bizarre flat keycaps that every other chiclet keyboard seems to use. The most obvious loss in the new keyboards is the switch to a 6-row layout. And I can see why people with large laptops would complain about that. But especially on a 11-incher any extra space for a touchpad is really welcome. The x120e touchpad is already hilariously small. It'd be a complete joke if you reduced the depth by a further 1-1.5cm.
epochwolf 14y ago
I have a x131e AMD model. The keyboard is awesome. Way better than any other laptop I've used. It may look similar to some of the new chiclet keyboards but it feels great. I wish my mac had this keyboard.

iomike 14y ago

Why is it double the price of the other chromebooks 0_o?

epochwolf 14y ago
Better construction and it's a bit more armored than your typical laptop.

KaoruAoiShiho 14y ago

Too heavy. Samsung ARM still the best Chromebook.