Lenovo coming out with a "budget" line of notebooks...eek

This "budget" frame-of-mind better not carry over to the ThinkPad line...

Via engadget.com

Lenovo to launch budget PC line in US

Posted Feb 22nd 2006 4:02PM by Marc Perton

Not content to merely be known as the company behind such successful brands as ThinkPad and ThinkCentre, Lenovo is set to launch a new line of products under its own name in the US. According to reports, the Lenovo-branded laptops and desktops will target small businesses, and sell at significantly lower prices than the company's IBM-labeled products: desktops will start at $349 and laptops will sell for $599. Of course, Lenovo may find that competing in the cost-conscious, low-margin, low end of the computer market is a lot harder than riding on a successful, popular premium brand. That is, after all, one of the reasons IBM got out of the PC business in the first place.

 

Hey, almost looks like the guitar market.

Peeps who can't afford expensive
Gibons buys epiphones,
Fender buys squier
EPS buys LDT/Grassroot

Now, let's hope the cheap line wont follow the examples of epis and squires where they downright suck (okay some epis are good if you replace all of the hardware) and instead go with LDTs where they've only used a lil' less quality painting, cheaper wood, good - but not excellent hardware. In the end a great guitar brand for those who want to stay at a semi amateur - regular level.

Anyways, I guess We'll have

Lenovo ThinkPad - Guud High quality ware
Lenovo DumbPad - Mediocre quality, down there with X brands who offer cheap laptops.

Or something...As long as they don't slam a ThinkPad logotype on it, i'm alright with it.

 

Yes please please don't put a ThinkPad logo on it, they should brand it with a new name.

 

Who cares if they put the thinkpad name on it as long as it is both cheap AND reliable. Just make a new series, like the B series or something. Personally I think it would be a great idea. It would increase sales, and allow more cashflow into the R&D department for better thinkpads.

Think of it as BMW and Porsche entering the SUV market. It made sales boom, and now they are having extra cash on hand for more design work on the higher end cars.

 

thats to be expected when you hire a Dell guy as your CEO.

 

We just posted this in our news a few minutes ago. The official launch is tomorrow, but since the cat is out of the bag we rolled with it early.

 

somehow I think it will be more like Cadillac putting their badge on the Cavalier - sucks and drags the name down.

 

I thought this was old news...wasn't it Lenovo's plan from the beginning to move into the US market with the Thinkpad purchase as their way in. With the distribution channels setup with the Thinkpad, China's biggest PC manufacturer now has new customers for it's own Lenovo branded line. While we might not see Lenovo budget computers in Office Depot or on CDW, I wouldn't be shocked to see them on NewEgg or Buy.com.

 

I think this is great. The Thinkpad brand will offer the bells and whistles while the budget Lenovo notebook will provide the bread and butter fof the Chinese notebook market.

Watch out Dell and Acer.

 

I played with the 15.4" version of the C3000 in January, the keyboard was very ThinkPad like -- not all the way there but close (no pointing stick). They're actually going to release various sizes in the coming months, I look forward to a new agressive competitor as well! I worry about support somewhat and it's not clear to me how that's going to be handled. As Acer grows in the U.S. and worldwide is painfully apparent their support is not scaling up -- Lenovo needs to no make that mistake as well.

 

Certainly one option to distinguish the Thinkpad line from other Lenovo notebooks is to maintain or improve Thinkpad service, but offer a lower level of service of the other Lenovo lines. (I guess I am strongly suggesting Thinkpad tech support should remain in the US).

That said, I have seen computer companies claim they will distinguish themselves with their superior service, only to jettison this at the first financial bump.

The nice thing about a quality product is that you own it. But quality service is just a promise until it is actually delivered.

 

Every announcement that Lenovo makes seems to be met with a bunch of doomsayers.

There's definitely nothing to worry about here - this is what Lenovo does! They didn't just spring into existence with the Thinkpad/Thinkcentre purchase; they've been making their own laptops and PCs for a while. The difference now is that they're selling some of those in North America.

 

I wonder if this will be like Dell with the Inspiron line and the Latitude line.

Personally if they prove good quality and reliable I am all for it. It looks like it could be the perfect notebook for my parts who would use it for word, excel and email. They see no point in spending a lot but still want decent quality. Right now a refurbished T40 looks like the best option.

 

btw, saw these machines today, the C100, N100 (widescreen 14.1" and 15.0") and V100 (12.1" ultraportable w/ optical drive built-in)

Here's the full take and some grainy pics (sorry)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=1269762

 

They are on the website now.

Product list: http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/s...756&storeId=10000001&catalogId=-840&langId=-1

Features page: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/notebooks/3000/c-series/index.html

They are the lenovo "3000" family notebooks. Looks like the "C's" are the first in the L3K line.

No trackpoint
Integrated graphics only (so far)
Dual layer DVD on some models
All wireless
Great prices!

 

Its a really good thing that Lenovo gets more popular and respectable since they own the ThinkPads now. I do believe Lenovo understands that its ThinkPad owners have spend the premium it costs and return dutifully to buy another one for a very good reason and as long as they continue the innovations, un-disputed quality, reliablity and attention to detail IBM had put into it, they should be fine.

Though I pretty sure that they don't have the dedication as IBM, when I see that they striped off the RED & BLUE strips off the UltraNav making it plain and ugly now, when I see the Windows Keys shoved in between (IBM chose not to include it for a REASON.. that reason arises from dedication to make the best), when I see curved surfaces (IBM chose block like rectangular design over rounded edges because it makes the Laptop look smaller), when I see the New ThinkVantage button and the updated tools.. I have a feeling Lenovo actually does not care any more than numbers out of their calculator... nevertheless, lets hope they see the Light ;-).

 

they look like good budget machines, but Lenovo can't have the kind of delays they have shown with the new thinkpads. The thinkpads have few direct competitors, and buyers who want them are more willing to wait for it. But if they are competing directly with Dell, taking a few weeks to a few months to ship a computer when dell can do the same in 5 days won't fly.

 

very good point there