I can't say "all laptops are the same" anymore.
"Gadget makers welcome!" is becoming a Gizmodo specialty. In addition to promoting our company's products, it is a project that will make the event even more exciting, as we will be talking about other companies' products. But the good thing is that it doesn't feel brutal.
So far, we have had camera makers and completely wireless earphone makers come together and have a friendly talk, but for the third time, we would like to speak to a ``notebook PC'' maker. I was.
Usually, notebook PCs are very useful for business and personal use, but honestly, I think there are some people who feel that they are all the same no matter which one they use. But that's not true. Each manufacturer is developing a notebook PC with their own commitment.
Let's talk as much as you want!
Everyone from Lenovo, Microsoft, Dell, and VAIO gathered together
The following four companies participated this time.
Lenovo
A PC maker with a high global market share. It owns multiple strong brands, such as the ThinkPad series, which has maintained a consistent design since the early 1990s, and the thin and light 2-in-1 notebook PC Yoga series.
Microsoft
In addition to being a software maker that develops and sells the "Windows" operating system, it is also a hardware maker that has focused on PCs and game consoles. Famous for the Surface series, including the Surface Pro, the pioneer in the 2-in-1 category that combines both a notebook and a tablet.
Dell
A global PC manufacturer headquartered in the United States. It has a wide lineup of products for personal use, corporate use, and gaming, and is famous for the notebook PC XPS series, which was one of the first to incorporate narrow bezels, and the high-end gaming brand ALIENWARE.
VAIO
A Japanese personal computer maker. The VAIO series has been a mobile notebook PC with unique design and functionality since its inception, and continues to have a strong presence in the genre of stylish lightweight notebook PCs.
This time, as in the past, we are only asking you to bring your recommended products and appeal to the editor-in-chief. What can you bring? And what kind of presentation are you waiting for? I'm excited.
To ensure fairness, the order of presentations is determined by ancient rock-paper-scissors. As a result, the top batter was Mr. Motojima from Lenovo, followed by Mr. Mizuta from Microsoft, Mr. Goda from Dell, and Mr. Kurosaki from VAIO.
Here We Go!
Lenovo "ThinkPad X1 Series": Pursuing a balance between texture, size and productivity
First, we asked Mr. Motojima from Lenovo to lead the presentation.
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): I brought the ThinkPad X1 series today. ThinkPad X1 Carbon and ThinkPad X1 Yoga. Both are 14-inch, but the ThinkPad X1 Yoga is a 2-in-1 laptop made of aluminum that can also be used as a tablet.
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): Recently, more and more people are working away from the office, and I think more and more people are carrying their laptops around in their private lives. Until now, 13-inch class notebook PCs have been the mainstream for mobile use, but from now on, I would like to strongly promote the slightly larger 14-inch class. However, a 14-inch screen can be stressful to carry around, so the ThinkPad X1 Carbon in particular has achieved a thickness of 15mm.
Giz: I'd like to give you a big push, but are 14-inch laptops all the rage these days?
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): It may have been about the last two years that we've actually been getting excited. Lenovo believes that the 14-inch screen, which can comfortably display two windows on one screen, is the sweet spot for mobile applications.
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): The most important thing is the keyboard. The key pitch secures 19mm. Since a personal computer is a tool for creating something, we have not compromised on the basic keyboard. We also paid attention to things such as the feeling of hitting the keys properly when you type, the bounce being soft, and not being too light. If you look at the spec sheet, it ends with a "Japanese keyboard", but what's behind that might be what makes a ThinkPad a ThinkPad.
Giz: When we think of ThinkPads, we still think of the red TrackPoint on the keyboard.
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): If you have a trackpoint, you can move the mouse cursor and scroll while typing with the keys. It is attached from the viewpoint that work efficiency will change with such a small accumulation. I think it's a synonym for something that you can't get rid of once you use it.
Giz: How did you feel when you touched the ThinkPad X1 series?
Mr. Goda (Dell): I think the ThinkPad X1 Carbon satisfies the sense of ownership. It's nice to use carbon for the whole thing. Just the right amount of lightness while feeling the unique texture of carbon.
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): For me, it's the TrackPoint. As Mr. Motojima said, there is definitely a feeling that once you use it, you won't be able to leave it. I even bought a ThinkPad keyboard for my desktop at home.
You mentioned earlier about the 14-inch trend, but 14-inch laptops have long been mainstream in the American business scene, and that's because America is a car society. If you are traveling by car, there is no problem even if it is a little heavy at 14 inches. On the other hand, in Japan, where trains are the main transportation, there may have been resistance to carrying a 14-inch. However, 14-inch screens have become lighter and easier to carry around, so I think we're in an era where we can choose whether we want a larger screen or a lighter one, depending on personal preference.
If you have this, you don't need anything else. That's the Microsoft "Surface Series"
Giz: So, second place, Microsoft, please.
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): I brought a "Surface Pro 6". Until Surface Pro 5, it was only available in platinum color, but since October last year, black has also been added to the lineup.
Giz: You talked about the black Surface coming out.
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): The reason why I brought this Surface Pro 6 is because I usually use it. This is comfortable.
When I concentrate on my work, I want to use a dual screen, full size keyboard and mouse with an external monitor. So, I open the kickstand of Surface Pro 6 and let it stand on its own, and put it in front of the external monitor on the desktop. You can connect to the monitor by inserting the Surface Dock, and the keyboard and mouse are automatically connected via Bluetooth. You'll be ready to work in no time.
When it's time for a meeting, I attach Surface Pro 6, a type cover, and a pen to the main unit. Surface's type cover is very easy to use as a keyboard in a mobility environment. Also, the notes taken during the meeting are shared with everyone using a software called Teams. It's easy to discuss without a whiteboard. I can also write ideas, so I often use it when writing sketches for product planning. It's better to draw a picture and explain it than to explain it with your mouth.
I think the key to working efficiently is display size, input device, and performance. In that sense, my principle is to avoid looking at work emails on my smartphone or tablet as much as possible, but the reason I use the Surface Pro 6 is that they are all arranged in an optimized form. The Surface Pro 6 is the one that you can say, "If you have this, you don't need anything else."
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): Surface Pro 6 can choose CPU. The bottom is Core M, the next is Core i5, and the top is Core i7. In terms of the development concept of a normal personal computer, there are many cases where the CPU is simply replaced and the other specifications are the same, but the Surface Pro 6 is a completely different product depending on the CPU installed.
Giz: Huh? I learned that for the first time.
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): Core M is Intel's low power consumption type, so-called Y CPU. On the other hand, Core i5 and Core i7 are types called U CPU.
Since the Y CPU and U CPU are not compatible, the Core M model Surface Pro 6 is different from the printed circuit board. The Core i5 model is fanless, while the Core i7 model has a fan. It's something else entirely. It's not good for manufacturing efficiency, but I want you to experience the optimized usability of each Surface Pro 6.
Giz: What do you think of the Surface Pro 6 and Surface series from the perspective of each company?
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): I think it was from Surface Pro 4, but the keyboard of the Surface Pro type cover has improved a lot. I've been told for a long time that "a detachable keyboard is a bit...", but it's amazing that you overturned that image.
If you go with the type cover, there are a lot of color variations, including the color of the main unit.
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): As you say, the pitch and feel have improved considerably. In addition to the basic ones, we also offer type covers made of a luxurious material called Alcantara. By the way, the Type Cover is properly linked to the main body, and when you close it, it goes to sleep mode, and when you turn it around to turn it into a tablet state, it will not respond to any key presses.
Mr. Goda (Dell): Before I joined Dell, I used Surface Pro 3 for work. At first, I was worried about the small size of the screen because it was also used as a tablet, but I was able to do my job well and use it vigorously. There are colors such as wine red and green that Japanese people can't think of, and while it has a fashionable sense, it has a high cost performance, and I personally think it's a really good product. I am thinking.
Dell's Premium Notebook "XPS 13 2-in-1": Exquisite Size with Narrow Frame
Giz: Next, Mr. Dell.
Mr. Goda (Dell): What I brought today is the new product "XPS 13 2-in-1". The XPS series has been developed under the theme of "Designed to be the best", and is positioned as a premium notebook, so we place great importance on the feeling of ownership.
Mr. Goda (Dell): The XPS 13 2-in-1 uses machined aluminum material on the entire surface, and the first point is that it is extremely robust. The palm rest uses different materials. It comes in two colors, black and white, and uses different materials, such as carbon material for black and glass fiber material for white. Coding is also applied to prevent dirt and yellowing.
Mr. Goda (Dell): The second important point is the bottom. It is basic for notebook PCs to place the exhaust and intake holes on the bottom, but 2-in-1 PCs often show the bottom, so the exhaust port is hidden in the hinge part. However, it has a design that does not cause any problems with air flow.
Mr. Goda (Dell): I also think that the adoption of a 16:10 liquid crystal display is also connected to the personality of the XPS 13 2-in1. Since notebook PCs are often used for vertical scrolling such as web searches and document editing, the display ratio is extended by about 7% in the vertical direction. In addition, due to the adoption of a narrow frame, the ratio of the liquid crystal to the body is about 85%. "The liquid crystal" design is a major feature of the XPS 13 2-in-1.
Giz: Personally, I have an image that Dell adopted narrow bezels early on.
Mr. Goda (Dell): I think Dell was one of the first manufacturers to adopt narrow bezels. The position of the camera came to be taken care of because the bezel was narrowed early. In the past, I had no choice but to put it on the bottom, but if there was a camera underneath, it would be tilted and not good for video calls. The XPS 13 2-in-1 now has a 2.25mm camera on top of the display.
Giz: And this is a 13 inch, right? looks pretty small.
Mr. Goda (Dell): Yes, it's 13 inches, but it's almost like putting a 13-inch display in an 11-inch case. We've heard from customers that it fits perfectly on the desk of the back seat of a Shinkansen, along with a drink.
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): The keyboard is full pitch from this time.
Mr. Goda (Dell): Yes. Thanks to the maglev keyboard that uses magnetism, we were able to make it about 24% thinner.
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): I think the size of this screen is the most important point, but you didn't compromise on productivity either. So is the keyboard, so is the camera. ThinkPad also has a camera on the top even if the frame is narrower, and Dell is also developing products from the same perspective, so I feel like I've made friends.
Actually, I thought I wanted it when it was announced, but it was postponed due to the Ministry of Finance at home (laughs).
Giz: I'm a big fan (laughs).
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): After all, the narrow frame is amazing. Almost screen. A screen ratio of 16:10 is rare these days.
Mr. Goda (Dell): Yes. 16:9 is becoming mainstream, but narrow frames have become the standard, so if you set it to 16:9, the keyboard part will feel a little tight, which is a bit difficult from a usability perspective. is. So I adopted 16:10.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): The XPS 13 2-in-1 is packed with amazing technology. If you place the keyboard all the way to the edge of the housing, the power button and the terminals on the side will overlap, making it difficult to make it thinner. The top right button on the XPS 13 2-in-1 is not a key, but a power button.
Mr. Goda (Dell): Yes, that's right.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): If you use a power button with a small depth, you can insert a terminal underneath. The VAIO also used a full-pitch keyboard and had many expansion terminals on the side, so I overcame the same problem, so I can understand it very well (laughs).
Hot topics in the laptop world are ``gaming PCs'' and ``LTE connectivity''
Giz: So far, I feel like there's been a lot of talk about improving work efficiency. It may feel hot right now. Looking at the notebook PC world as a whole, what other genres do you feel are currently booming?
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): There are people who buy gaming machines even though they don't play games because the performance is so good. Dell's gaming machine is a good example.
Mr. Goda (Dell): In Japan, the console game market is strong, and PC games have not taken off.
On the other hand, it is true that some people use gaming PCs as video editing machines. I think that there are many mass retailers who are selling it as "convenient to use as a video editing machine".
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): Recently, I feel that notebook PCs with SIM slots have become popular. Lenovo recently released the Lenovo Yoga C630 with Snapdragon. Even if you look only at ThinkPads, probably more than 20% are LTE models.
Giz: A colleague who bought an LTE model laptop thought tethering was too much of a hassle and wanted it to stay connected. So LTE seems to be an absolute requirement for the next purchase.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): Everyone who has used it once will tell you that. VAIO is also aiming to install LTE in all models. Already about 30% are models with LTE.
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): VAIO sells SIM together. That is amazing.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): You make original SIMs for notebook PCs. Laptops don't use the same line every month. There are months when I use it a lot for business trips and other months when I don't, so it's a bit different from a smartphone. The billing system is suitable for that, so you can prepay for one year, and you can choose any month.
It's compact but has everything. VAIO SX12, the New Standard for Mobile Notebook PCs
Giz: The conversation just happened to move to VAIO. Lastly, Mr. VAIO, please.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): Today I brought you a model called "VAIO SX12" that was announced last month. I think the most important point is that although it is compact, it has everything in it and can be used as a main machine. I also brought the previous model for comparison.
Giz: You can tell the difference.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): VAIO has always produced 13-inch laptops, but the times have become more mobile-oriented. We wanted to make something even tighter, so we decided on a size of 12.5 inches wide. It is positioned as a descendant of the VAIO 505 that was once made.
However, there are parts where the hurdles become higher when it comes to sizes below 13 inches. One is a keyboard. Another factor is the screen size. With the VAIO SX12, we wanted to improve on these issues, so we adopted a 19mm full-pitch keyboard and 12.5-inch display. It's a tradition of VAIO to have many expansion terminals.
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): There is no such idea.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): The number of expansion terminals is unique to a Japanese manufacturer. Worldwide, people say they don't really need extension terminals, but people who use them in the business scene in Japan say they do. Same goes for LAN ports.
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): It's a difficult balance. If you insert a LAN port, the thickness will inevitably appear.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): That's right. Moreover, this time it was a big deal because the LAN port was overlapped with the keyboard. If you look at it from that corner, you will have a strange feeling of how it fits.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): In terms of performance, it uses a quad-core U processor and is equipped with a tuning technology called "VAIO TruePerformance", so it's comparable to a slightly larger notebook PC. In terms of size, it's almost the same as the previous Subnotes, smaller than A4 size, and weighs less than 900g.
Giz: What material are you using for the housing?
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): The main material is carbon. In addition, resin containing aluminum and glass fiber is also used.
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): It's lighter than it looks.
Giz: I thought so too.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): There is a big difference between the "feeling weight" and the "real weight" of a computer. The weight you imagine from the appearance and the weight when you actually have it. I feel "lightness" from this error.
Mr. Goda (Dell): It looks like metal, but when you pick it up, it's surprisingly light. The rest is this condensed feeling. Fully equipped with terminals. I think that it is finished in such a way that the flaws do not come to mind at once.
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): The "lightness" when you first hold it is amazing. It seems that human beings imagine the weight when water is added to the volume when viewed with the naked eye, but it must be lighter than that.
Also, after all, the connector is generously installed. In a sense, this is the opposite philosophy of our company. Microsoft emphasizes design and balance and cuts and cuts.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): I think that is the correct answer when doing business globally.
Giz: Is it still a market problem?
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): Yes, it's a market problem. However, in the Windows ecosystem, the fact that there are products with different philosophies leads to users being able to make various choices, so I welcome this kind of approach.
Giz: What kind of discussion did you have about terminals?
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): VAIO is also sold to corporations, and I have many opportunities to come into contact with people who use it in business. When asked about the environment at the site, VGA connectors and wired LANs are still in use. I think it's difficult to cut it off as a real problem at once.
Also, even if your company has equipment, there are times when you don't have a conversion adapter, forget it, or lose it when you give a presentation at the other company. There was also a discussion about how to properly respond to such situations.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): Of course, there are those who say that we should go all out and make it smaller and lighter, but VAIO's number one policy is comfort. I think that there is no conversion adapter, the connector does not fit, and "there is no such discomfort".
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): The rest is ingenuity. The keyboard tilts up when the display is opened. This actually makes sense. It's designed to be just as thick as a VGA connector, but the male side of the VGA connector is actually a little larger, so it can't be connected when placed directly. That's why we've devised ways to make the main unit float by tilting it up so that the VGA connector can be inserted even if it's as thin as possible.
The Japanese laptop market is Galapagos?
Giz: While VAIO is conscious of being a Japanese manufacturer, it also attracts global manufacturers. What do you think is the biggest difference between Japan and the rest of the world?
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): I think VAIO's number of terminals is the most symbolic. Only in Japan is the technology transition unusually slow. Especially for companies, legacy terminals inevitably remain.
Mr. Goda (Dell): There are some things that are quite Galapagos-like. A 15-inch notebook PC or an optical drive such as a DVD or Blu-ray is installed. Or maybe it has a TV tuner. Not another country. Japan is completely different.
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): I think it's unique to Japan that it's more light than thin.
Mr. Goda (Dell): The Japanese market is the only market that sells products that are less than 1kg. Why are you so particular about 1kg (laughs).
Giz: Foreigners tend to have larger bodies, and 1kg may be felt differently. It seems that the difference in lifestyles, which Mr. Mizuta mentioned earlier, also has something to do with it.
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): Overseas, when people think of durability, they think of things like drop tests and vibration resistance, but in Japan, things like load-bearing performance that doesn't get crushed by trains are sold. Well, in reality, I almost get crushed by the train (laughs).
How to be loved and how to be loved by each of the four companies
Giz: There are core users who buy laptops from the same manufacturer again if they break. I think. What do you think core users like and why they choose their products?
Mr. Motojima (Lenovo): When I talk to heavy users, they seem to choose keyboards and trackpoints. Maybe that's why it's still being used by generations. This is also something that we are particular about. For example, if you are using a model from five years ago and want to replace it with a new one, we design it so that you can use it without discomfort from that day. I think there are parts that will change and parts that won't change, but the keyboard and trackpoint are the parts that don't change, and I think that's what people appreciate.
Mr. Mizuta (Microsoft): I think it's part of the user experience. Because the basic philosophy is the same for all products. It's a 3:2 screen ratio, and everything has a touch panel. It costs a lot, though. Along with that, there is a philosophy that all products can use, such as being able to use a pen, and I think that they like it and use it.
Mr. Goda (Dell): On the contrary, I think we have a rich lineup. I haven't made anything very similar.
There is also a BTO model called "Dell.com" that can be customized according to the customer's request. Compared to domestic brands, the pre-installed apps are very simple and almost nothing is included, so I think there is a strong image that it is easy to customize yourself from the beginning.
Giz: I think VAIO is a manufacturer with many nomination purchases. What do you think?
Mr. Kurosaki (VAIO): Actually, there are many nomination purchases. Online shops have more than 50% repeat customers. According to a survey, many customers are looking for coolness, performance, and performance.
Surprisingly, there are quite a few customers who mention reliability. There are some customers who think that reliability is the exact opposite of coolness and that VAIO is not very reliable, but the customers who have nominated us trust us. I don't know.
As a brand with many repeat customers, I think ThinkPad is the same.
Giz: Thank you everyone. If you have another chance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Notebook PCs are products that are packed with the thoughts of each manufacturer
Basically, I thought that notebook PCs should be good as long as they are cool and perform well, to be honest. Recently, I think it would be nice if there was lightness and thinness there.
However, when I listened to what each manufacturer had to say, I realized that each of them had a great commitment. On the other hand, I also thought, ``I don't have to worry about which one to buy now that I know the particulars and characteristics of each.''
Every time I do this project, I think that people who make and sell products in the same genre are rivals, but somehow I feel like a comrade. Each of them has its own policy, but the big vector is the same.
Well, next time I wonder what kind of genre maker I should ask. I'm sure everyone would like to hear the voices of people in this industry, so please let us know your opinions and requests. We will attack with all our might!!
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