Lenovo Open-source Embeddings in ThinkPad T Series Laptops: A Technicolor Inspiration for Visual Artists

All Intel-configured ThinkPads hit stores starting April 2024, with pricing expected to start at $1,199. (The ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 AMD configuration will be available in May 2024, starting at $949.) The ThinkBook and USB-C dock arrive in March 2024, starting at $1,169 and $89.99, respectively. The portable monitor will arrive in July of 2024.

More so than its rollable laptop with its simple pitch of “more screen with the flip of a switch,” Lenovo’s transparent laptop concept feels like a collection of cool technologies in search of a killer app. Sketching something placed behind the laptop screen is interesting but feels like a niche use case even among digital artists — you can always just snap a photo and trace that — and Lenovo’s AI demo feels like something you’d see a museum use to make an exhibit more visually interesting.

That includes three refreshed ThinkPad T-series laptops: the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5, ThinkPad T14s The T14 Gen 5 and the T16 Gen 3 have Intel Core Ultra processor options, as do the Gen 5 and T16 Gen 3. The communication bar, which extends a small portion of the top device to house a camera and microphone, gives the laptops slimmer tops and taller display ratios. Lenovo previously added this feature to other ThinkPad laptops, like the X1 Carbon and X1 Nano.

The T-series keyboards also now have the same tactile markings, (homing bars) on the Fn, Insert, Enter, and volume keys as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 9 laptops to make typing more accessible to those who are visually impaired. Most laptop and keyboard manufacturers put the Fn key on the outer edge, so it’s not a surprise that Lenovo swapped it out for a more functional version of the key. There’s a physical Microsoft Copilot key between right Alt and Ctrl, too, but Lenovo left the Windows key alone. (Phew!)

iFixit collaborated with the chinese company to make it easier to replace certain hardware on the T16 Gen 3 and T14 Gen 5. There is a move to fully equipped DIMM slots instead of soldered ones, user-replaceable cable-free batteries with fewer screws, and accessible SSDs and wireless accessory slots.

For users who are super new to laptop repairs, the SSD and RAM slots are clearly marked, and Lenovo now includes QR codes inside the laptop body near each repairable component with instructional videos about the process. There are also indicators that point to the specific screws to remove if you’re looking to just replace the keyboard and trackpad.

There is one more ThinkPad laptop up Lenovo’s sleeve: the ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2. We liked the first-gen model a lot when it was released in April 2021; this upcoming version will have an Intel Core Ultra U processor, 32GB LPDDR5x soldered RAM, a 5MP front-facing webcam that supports Windows Hello, an 8MP outward-facing cam, and support for a 4G LTE wireless adapter.

Leaping behind the laptop to learn how to look at a screen-less monitor, or what to do when you don’t sketch

The weakness of the prototype device is that it requires a flat surface for a touch sensitive keyboard, which is the downside of not sketching. I made a lot of typos while attempting to write a simple test sentence and this mechanical keyboard Fan didn’t enjoy using his fingers at an image of a keyboard.

This being 2024, there was also an AI element to Lenovo’s demonstration. The company had set up a small camera on the rear side of the laptop’s chassis to perform object recognition on devices placed behind it. The results of this could then be shown on-screen while it was still in full view. Put sunflowers behind the laptop, and it’d identify them as such. A butterfly flying around and some information to give. A small model of coral is enough to see a fish. It was quite the proof of concept.

Until Lenovo finds its killer use case, we’re left with an exceptionally cool-looking device that’s capable of some fun novelties. Halfway through my interview, I pulled my (decidedly nontransparent) MacBook’s screen forward to double-check my phone behind it, and Butler leaped on it immediately.

The keyboard that you can see on the laptop is actually a projection, which disappears when you bring a stylus close to the drawing surface or even when you step away from the laptop entirely. Then you’re left with a flat surface to sketch on, similar to what you’d find in a screen-less Wacom tablet.

It is obvious that transparent screens are attractive in sci-fi films and TV shows, but it is hard to tell their practical uses in real life. Can you tell me how frequently you would like to see the desk behind your laptop? It would be beneficial to see your colleague, but it would be a distraction.

The key draw is its bezel-less 17.3-inch MicroLED display, which offers up to 55 percent transparency when its pixels are set to black and turned off. You are looking at a transparent white surface with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits as the display becomes less and less see-through.