This review is an analysis of the next generation of T-series

The slim T-series machines were introduced with the T400s that began to appear in 2010 and continued with the very similar T410s the following year.  The T410s utilized the first generation of Intel’s “Core” (what Intel calls the Brand) processors and also introduced the I3, I5 and I7 distinctions (what Intel calls the Brand Modifier).  These first two slim machines were about 12mm (½ inch) thinner and about 500gm (1.1 lb.) lighter than the T400 and T410 machines.   Being thinner and lighter necessitated some compromises; there were fewer ports, shorter battery life, a soldered CPU and a strange, little 1.8” hard disk drive.  The disk drive was the biggest problem from my point of view.  I found them to be not very reliable, and they were small-capacity and expensive to replace.   In 2012, Intel introduced the 2nd generation Core processor (Sandy Bridge) and the T410 and T410s were replaced by the T420 and T420s.  Again, the slim models were thinner and lighter with soldered CPUs, but the 1.8” drives were replaced by newly introduced, single-platter 2.5” drives that were 7mm thick, rather than the more common 9.5mm, 2-platter drives.  The same pattern continued every year, with the 2nd digit of the model, the 4th digit of the year and Intel’s generation number all matching.  The generation number appears in the CPU designation after the I3, I5 or I7.  For example, I5-4200m is a generation “4” CPU, introduced in 2014.  The mainstream T-series ThinkPads that used that CPU were the T440 and T440s.  the “S” models continued to be slimmer and lighter, but by 2014, both the “normal” and slim models featured soldered CPUs and 7mm drives.  In keeping with the pattern, 2017 featured Kaby Lake, 7th generation CPUs, but later that year, it was announced that subsequent models were delayed and that 2018 would bring something called Kaby Lake Refresh.  Even though Intel’s code name was similar to the previous year, the new processors had the generation “8” in their designations and turned out to be as much as 40% faster than the 7th generation processors, the first real speed increase since the Haswell (4th generation) CPUs.  This year, Kaby Lake Refresh is being replaced by Whiskey Lake, but the designation (generation?) is still “8”.  The last digit of the designation seems to be a “5”, rather than “0” on the Whiskey Lake CPUs.  I’m not sure what to expect later this year or next year.