ThinkPads are among the only laptops we've seen in a long time to still have ports and connections on the rear edge of the system. Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacksĮthernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN The matte finish is a welcome relief from all the overly glossy displays we're exposed to on a weekly basis, and there's an antifingerprint coating that helps keep the screen looking good, even when using the touch functions. The 14.1-inch wide-screen LED display offers a 1,440x900 native resolution, which is standard for a high-end screen this size (many less-expensive 14- and 15-inch laptops have 1,280x800 displays). As a $400 add-on to the T400s, it's certainly not an impulse upgrade. The practical applications seem limited, although we could see specific users finding tasks (media playback, photo manipulation, etc.) that could take advantage of it. Lenovo says the software is currently in beta, and will continue to improve.Ī bigger issue, perhaps, is why you'd want a touch screen on a standard nontablet laptop. However, when trying to use SimpleTap from any angle other than right in front of the screen (as one might when showing off a presentation to a group), the control was much less precise, and we often accidentally closed the entire app or sent the icons flying around the screen. In practice, the SimpleTap software worked fairly well, although it wasn't as quick and responsive as the touch experience on an iPhone or iPod Touch (we have yet to find a tablet or touch-screen PC that comes close). The red button for launching SimpleTap can also be moved to any point along the outer edge of the screen by dragging it. Each of the small, square icons can also be dragged around to any location on the screen, or automatically regrouped in the center with the tap of a finger. You can also turn on the small light above the display, turn the Webcam on and off, or even put the system to sleep.īy navigating to the exe file of any program, you can add a SimpleTap button for it to your collection, choosing its icon, background color, and location on the screen. As configured, it provides access to basic system functions, such as speaker volume and screen brightness. Tapping it opens the touch interface, which overlays your desktop, and provides a series of large button-like icons. The SimpleTap interface lives as a small red button anchored to the side of the display. In this case, you can tap and drag Win 7 menus, folder, and files with your finger, as one would on a tablet PC-or there's a custom touch interface provided by Lenovo, called SimpleTap. Windows 7 is a very touch-friendly OS, making it easier for PC makers to add touch functionality. The biggest addition to this new version of the T400s is a multitouch display. But, the need for a second set of mouse buttons, above the touch pad, eats up some keyboard tray real estate. Nestled in the middle of the keyboard is a TrackPoint pointing stick-if you're a fan (or you grew up with one as your main laptop input method), it's indispensable. The large touch pad is hard to see against the matte black wrist rest, but it has a subtle texture that helps your finger know where it's going. Physical buttons for volume control, speaker mute, and mic mute are also useful. This is a traditional tapered-key design, instead of the wide, flat-topped keys nearly all consumer laptops use, and while it may not look as slick, the end result is indeed very comfortable and easy to use. For example, based on detailed analysis of user feedback, the Esc and Delete keys are much larger than normal. Lenovo spends a lot of effort constantly testing and refining its keyboards. Unlike most other laptops, the lid folds back a full 180 degrees, allowing the system to lie completely flat. ![]() ![]() Despite being fairly thin and lightweight, the T400s feels solid and sturdy, thanks to its carbon-fiber "roll cage" skeleton. The basic design will be familiar to anyone who has used a ThinkPad in the last few years, with a black, buttoned-down look and the ever-present TrackPoint.
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