Oh how the mighty have fallen...

Here's an excerpt from the X41 review several years back on this site, lauding IBM/ Lenovo for their ability to coordinate product releases with test units, etc...
Too bad that didn't happen for the T4/510 launches!

"I actually do not own this ThinkPad X41, it's property of IBM. Or I suppose that would be to say Lenovo now. Either way, IBM/Lenovo is organized enough to do a good job of coordinating review unit laptops and getting the word out about their products. Believe me, it's eye opening to see which major manufacturers don't have a clue and can't coordinate putting you in touch with the right person when there's a question or request for information on a product. IBM is not one of those. Dell is coordinated and good with product info too. I won't start throwing mud at the organizations that aren't this way (as much as I would like to). My point here is, I like buying products from companies that are coordinated and where the left hand cooperates with the right, so even though IBM is big, their PC division does a good job (relative to other PC manufacturers) of keeping their folks on the same page."

Interesting...

 

I agree Lenovo is comically bad at executing any kind of coherent marketing effort. And they are severly lacking when it comes to communicating specs, call centers with people that know the product, website's without typos, etc. But the fact is Thinkpads are significantly less expensive than they were were in 2005 when the X41 was sold. As long as Lenovo is able to engineer class leading products at competitive prices and maintain good warranty service I will continue to consider their products.

 

Very true. I'm holding my tongue about the T410...hopefully the reviews I'll eventually be able to read will lead to a purchase on my part! I've held off ordering the various other units I've been considering, because I have high hopes for this generation of the T series...

 

at this point i'm doubting there will be any reviews
i mean, customers have already had their T410's for weeks
yet no review units sent out
i think that pretty much says it

 

@wilse

Yeah, I'm puzzled by the complete lack of official reviews. Very, very strange. There's no reason to assume the T410s model would be inferior to the T400s in any way, but I'm leery about ordering before getting confirmation. Not that I'm actually even able to order the T410s at this point in time...

 

Strangely, I think they did get the SL series out for reviews, didnt they?

 

Of course, what we forget to mention is a major part of why IBM sold the PC division to Lenovo is that IBM wasn't making money selling PC's.

 

That's why I'll maybe get a 8440w/8540w instead of a T410s/T510/W510...

 

Remember too that most of lenovo's customers are large accounts that have reps that show off units. The reviews are more for the small business owner and enthusiasts here.

Account reps have likely shown off machines to their regular accounts early on to make purchasing decisions.

 

My point was regardless of who comprises IBM/Lenovo's primary client base, they've done a much better job in the past of providing information to the general public about their laptop releases. Coupled with the fact that their website is littered with errors and questionable information these days, it's frustrating.

/RANT

 

Yes it is frustrating. However I am just offering a potential reason why Lenovo might not focus enough on such obvious areas to improve in.

 

>> But the fact is Thinkpads are significantly less expensive than they were were in 2005 when the X41 was sold.

I would refine that statement. I would rather say "the fact is Thinkpads now also include low-cost 'value' models whereas these were not available in 2005 when the X41 was sold."

For example, here in Israel, there are a number of online dealers that are always yelling at you "Look! Look! A brand new T400 for just $1000!" (cheap here). But the question is, which T400? Nowadays Lenovo supplies all sorts of configurations, the lower end ones being considered, maybe, as "stripped-down". Years back in the days of the T30 and T4x, the new T-series ThinkPad would always cost 11,000 Israeli Shekels and up, which at the current exchange rate is about $3000, including a VAT of about 15-16%. So a souped-up T400, or indeed any T400s or T410s, will still cost exactly that here. So nothing has really changed, IMO; all that has changed is that you can get lower powered T-series models for lower prices.

- avi

 

I found that interesting as well. A focus on market expansion through diversification as opposed to bringing in repeat business from current top flight Thinkpad owners.

 

>> A focus on market expansion through diversification as opposed to bringing in repeat business from current top flight Thinkpad owners.

Well, I hope that's the reason, and not that it's simply coz the T410(s) don't work very well ...

 

I've been sitting in front of a T410 for the better part of today and I have to say that I am quite impressed so far. It's not mine, a co-workers but it's been a pleasure to use. I'll come back on at some point down the line and give his thoughts on it.

 

Come to think of it they also had the Edge out for reviews right at launch too... who knows what they were thinking with the new T/W series. I would think it would have been a pretty great boon for sales to get the T/W series out there for reviews since the HP and Dell alternatives aren't available yet.