Do we need to fear a new future look of studless beam?

[merman]

Looking at the 2H2011 online instructions of B models and the 1H2012 instructions TLG is ommiting the slits between axle holes on Technic beams, liftarms and connectors. They are only visible near cross holes. 

Could this mean there are plans to restyle these parts? After all the untoothed 16t clutch gear also appeared in a new form in the instructions. 

It would cost TLG more in ABS and it will lead to protests I am sure because it will change the look of Technic. 

I think it was done to save ink for printed instructions and the online ones are just in line with these. 

The 2H2012 renders also lack slits but that happened before on prelim images

[DLuders]

I think that the lack of "slits" (as you call them) indicates that TLG is STRENGTHENING the Technic Liftarms. In this Eurobricks topic, lt8 (Australian AFOL Tristan Lostroh) published his "Lego Technic Strength Testing" results (in a 1.2-MB PDF report) that showed that Technic Liftarms cracked in the weakest area -- the "slits". Adding material there will allow for Technic Liftarms to be used in higher-stress applications.

The added cost of the few grams of ABS plastic is minimal.

[Erik Leppen]

I don't count on it.

I see it as a simple way to make the instructions more easily readable.

After all, the downloadable instructions are made for home-printing. So they need to be readable even with cheap printers.

Edited December 23, 2011 by Erik Leppen

[CP5670]

Yes, it's probably just a change in the instructions. It looks a bit like the minimalist style they used in the 80s. Even when they make changes to parts, the updates are often not reflected in the instructions until new sets come out.

[Blakbird]

Looking at the 2H2011 online instructions of B models and the 1H2012 instructions TLG is ommiting the slits between axle holes on Technic beams, liftarms and connectors. They are only visible near cross holes.

Could this mean there are plans to restyle these parts? After all the untoothed 16t clutch gear also appeared in a new form in the instructions.

I don't think there is any change coming, although I've noticed the same thing in the instructions. If you look back at the preliminary box art from previous years, many pictures looked the same way. I think it is a "low detail" setting in their rendering software, and they wait to do final detail until they have a final design approved. Note that the actual box art now does have the proper beams on it (it didn't earlier). I think they are just making the instructions easier to produce. Personally, I find the new instructions distracting because now they don't look like the real parts. To a new builder not familiar with all the parts, it could be confusing because you won't find any parts that look like the picture.