Laptop build questions

Hi! First time poster here...

For starters, I am and have always been a desktop person. Consequently, I have limited knowledge on laptop specifics. Anyway, I was sent this laptop by my aunt from halfway across the globe. It's a LENOVO G410.

Specs:
Pentium Dual Core T-2390 (1.8 ghz)
Intel GM 965 chipset
Intel X3100
2gb ddr2
160gb SATA
14.1" WXGA
no webcam
Win XP

Performance-wise, it has been ok for the past 4 days. And that would be decent based on what I use it for (nothing more complicated than photo-editing and hi-res video viewing). I don't plan on using it for gaming so I can live with the integrated video card. Actually my aunt gave it to me so that I wouldn't have to wait until I get home to upload my U/W shots and vids.

I wish to know more about this G410 series as the only Lenovos I'm familiar with are Y-series, Ideapads, and Thinkpads. Is this a local, country-specific model or is it a revamp of another series (C, etc)? Actually, to be more blunt, I want to know if these are IBM-quality parts or local parts adopted by and carrying the IBM name. And do they still maintain the build standard used by thinkpads and ideapads (i.e. sturdy)? I am wary to test this unit for flex until I am more acquainted with it. Was hoping if any of you could tell me more or at least point me in the right direction.

Second part will be on the drivers ... I noticed that on Lenovo's support site, they don't have a BIOS update for this model and most of the drivers are a year old. Any place where I can get more updated drivers?

Finally, as a trivial question... My aunt said the choice was a toss-up between this and an Asus A8 series. The ASUS was a couple of dollars cheaper but had more ports and an integrated webcam (but with the same specs ... T2390,etc). Prudence would dictate her to get the ASUS but the store manager suggested the Lenovo. Now this leads me to wonder if the store ripped her off. Any ideas?

Gracias

 

Where was is purchased from? A google search shows that it appears to be a 3000 series laptop.

Support: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-68891.html

 

It was purchased in Hong Kong.

That's odd, the only 3000's that I've seen circulating on the net are Y's, N's, and V's (and the Y's are partly Ideapads now).

Is this an exclusive HK model then?

 

Maybe exclusive China/HK or something...I remember a few threads about G series Lenovos.

 

Thanks! Though I still hope I could glean more info apart from the homepage itself.

Moving along the lines of the replies, do you think, that while exclusive, it follows IBM standards/uses IBM parts or they just slapped the IBM/Lenovo name on an already existing earlier product?

 

Well I'd expect it to be standard 3000 series affair - relatively good build quality on a budget. I wouldn't say they use the same high-quality parts as in the ThinkPad line, though. IIRC, the casing was all plastic but feel free to correct me on that. I suggest reading some of the other 3000 series reviews to get a good idea of it.