ThinkPad X100e netbook to launch in January 2010?

Thinkpad will release the X100e netbook in time for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2009) on 5th January 2010 according to ThinkpadToday. The device has been dubbed the “entry level ultra portable, the first ThinkPad of its size” according to its sources.

Pictures floating around the web show a device with white lid, flush touchpad and chiclet keys. I hope I’m not the only one who would love to see the traditional black styling and normal keys. Specifications of the X100e remain a mystery for now, ThinkpadToday have taken a guess and believes it will come with a 12.1-inch (1280 x 800) display and 1.6GHz AMD Neo processor.

As a Thinkpad user myself, this sounds like great news, although I’m personally a bit skeptical until we hear something more official. However, back in April, the company were fishing around for consumers thoughts on whether a Thinkpad netbook was a good idea. So we know it is something they have been thinking of. Thinkpads are renowned for their bullet-proof build quality, excellent keyboards and reliability. I’d love to see a Thinkpad netbook, as long as it doesn’t compromise too much on the brands core attributes.