(Warning: annoyingly detailed nit-picking ahead)
When a number of us at silverorange purchased IBM Thinkpad laptops last year, we all instinctively complained about the functionality of the audio controls built into the keyboard. At the top of the keyboard on the ThinkPad T30 laptops there are three handy buttons for increasing, decreasing, and muting the volume (plus the utterly useless ThinkPad button). The up and down controls work just like you'd expect. However, the mute button does indeed mute the volume, but when you push it again it does not restore your volume. Instead, you have the hit the increase or decrease volume buttons to hear sounds again.
At first glance, I thought that this was a flaw in the planning. Why doesn't the volume go on and off in sequence like you might expect? After a year's worth of use, I think the IBM designers got it right. When you're in a public place and you're booting your computer, it's great that you can just hit the mute button and know that Windows will open silently. Even when you're not sure if the system has loaded enough to understand you've hit the button, you can hit the button multiple times and be assured it will be muted. Nice work ThinkPad design team.
Comments
Steven Garrity - January 9, 2004 11:50 am
Volume is always best controlled with a knob. If you need tactile assurance that the volume is off while the machine isn't responsive, a knob that clicks off, or has a 'floor' when turned all the way to the left would serve this same purpose.
I've always hated buttons for volume. Volume deserves a knob.
Daniel Burka - January 9, 2004 12:23 pm
Steven brings up a good point. Can someone enlighten me as to why computer engineers frequently choose software controls like these buttons as opposed to hardware controls like knobs? I know there are probably tons of advantages, but I used to really like the on/off switch on old laptops. You were always sure what was going on.
Dan James - January 9, 2004 12:26 pm
While I agree that with current button design as it is they got it right, but I think they should have put in a button that has tactile feedback. When mute is on the button is locked down, when mute is off the button springs back up a little. Maybe this bias is from my experience with soundbards. The other option would have been to indicate with a small light (potentially in the button itselt) that indicated when mute was on or off. Much like Caps & Num Lock.
All that said, I agree with Steve in the end. Knobs are king.
Stephen DesRoches - January 9, 2004 12:42 pm
My useless ThinkPad button launches Windows Explorer. I use it daily.
Al O'Neill - January 9, 2004 8:00 pm
I much prefer the volume knob on my Toshiba Satellite. As I'm turning it on and I know I shouldn't disturb anyone, I can be quickly moving the volume button down before I even turn the machine on. It's also much faster for adjusting the volume, and you don't need to do the look at a software-generated sound level thing to get a feel for how loud you've set it.
Alan - January 10, 2004 9:00 am
I remember the first pal to have a serious stereo amp got a Pioneer which not only had knobs but ones with flywheels hidden back there somewhere and a greater than 1:1 turning ratio. You got real selectivity as well as a sense of heft. Can that be added to an iPod?
jupiter - January 12, 2004 12:20 pm
Stephen, how do you make the ThinkPad button launch Explorer?
MICHAEL - March 1, 2004 12:58 am
Speaking of volume...I have NONE on my new (used) ThinkPad A21e.
I see nothing on the taskbar (no little speaker)...nothing listed on any device list...but there ARE speakers on the 'dashboard'. What do you suppose my problem is? I've tried playing sample cuts on WMP...nothing. My wife sends me a yahoo message...nothing; I do all kinds of whacky keyboard entries....nothing. What gives? What is the ultimate test to find out what's missing? (short of taking the case off, please!) Thanks.
MICHAEL - March 1, 2004 12:59 am
test