What goes around comes around, especially when it comes to design aesthetics. Now Lenovo design VP David Hill gas dreamed up a new concept: an old-school ThinkPad stuffed with ultra-modern guts. Would you buy one?
In a blog post on the Lenovo website, Hill explains how his idle daydream about a modern remake of the original 1992 ThinkPad have edged a little closer to reality in the form of this design concept. “Imagine a blue enter key, 7 row classic keyboard, 16:10 aspect ratio screen, multi-colour ThinkPad logo, dedicated volume controls, rubberised paint, exposed screws, lots of status LED’s, and more,” he explains. “Think of it like stepping into a time machine and landing in 1992, but armed with today’s technology.” The concept does involve some modern tweaks, though: he estimates the device would measure just 18mm thick.
Hill likens a reissue like this to a phenomenon that’s swept the car industry in recent years. “Historically inspired design only works when the original had the power to move people,” he writes. “There has to be an emotional connection that is somehow rekindled with its rebirth. This design approach has worked for Ford’s Mustang, Dodge’s Challenger, Fiat’s 500 and the Mini Cooper; why not ThinkPad?”
He’s working on the assumption, of course, that the original ThinkPad design is not just iconic but loved, cherished and revered enough that it could be carried around coffee shop and board room again with pride. If you dig the idea, you should probably head over to his blog post and say so because, while he points out that he “can’t promise anything at this point,” he also adds that “[i]f you think Lenovo should make the retro inspired ThinkPad, or have suggestions on how to make it better, please post your comments here. We’re listening.” [Lenovo]