T61 Poor Build Quality

I purchased a T61 at the beginning of Summer. It arrived while I was on vacation and I've only had a chance to begin using it in the last 3 days. The system has a 2.2 Ghz processor, 2gigs of RAM, and is pretty top of the line.

I've had nothing but problems with the computer. The DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive is jammed in the machine and won't eject, making my ultrabay battery useless. The hard drive is also defective, failing the SMART Short self test on PC-Doctor. The system runs way slower than my T42 It is running vista and not XP, but the new computer is WAY slower. This computer is essentiall a 4 lb, $2000 piece of garbage that is unusable. Being someone who was very happy with my T42 which I purchased from IBM, this computer makes me think that Lenovo is screwing up the Thinkpad line. My next computer likely won't be a thinkpad because this one sucks. Maybe you'll get a good system, but it is pretty much a craps shoot. I can't recommend to anyone buying a T61.

 

And when you called support to have them address your issues, what happened? Maybe you just got a lemon. Even ThinkPads aren't immune to faulty or shoddy equipment issues. If you haven't already, just have them fix everything that's wrong with it till it works as it should. And if its really bad, have them build you a new one.

The company I work for deploys T60ps and T61s for all it's Employees, and the ones with T61's love their ThinkPads. When we do come across problems, we just make Lenovo fix it. Remember: it's their problem, not yours. Call them up. Let us know how it goes.

 

check to see if your optical drive is secured in with a security screw. second of all, how much ram does your machine have? Anything lower than 2gb and it will choke, especially with all the thinkvantage tools.

I would suggest looking at the clean install threads.

 

Translation: you had one ThinkPad fault (ultrabay), one component failure out of EVERYONE's hands (hard drive), and are complaining because Vista is slow? Honestly my wife's out of box X61 Tablet with 1GB RAM & 5400rpm drive was perfectly usable, even if it did take a while to boot.

I bet we don't hear from this guy again...

 

I can't say that I like my T61, the palmrest is so cheap. That thing makes noises like crazy. One can't focus on his work.

 

Well I might be biased because my T61 was a lemon not only that but a rotting lemon, and Lenovo warranty/customer service seems to enjoy pissing on me, but I'm inclined to agree that the T61 is the crapper of the whole line.

I've been told by many thinkpad enthusiasts that they're very sorry, because past models have been great. I realize this isn't really evidence, but that seems to be the general consensus I come across.

I'm curious to see how many lemons there are. Maybe it's because those of us with lemons are more vocal but it does seem to be a large percentage of people who are unhappy with their T61s.

 

Out of the millions of orders placed on ThinkPads, you're relying on the concensus of this board?

You have to realize that this forum is pretty much a haven for defective issues and problems. Most people don't come here to express gratitude for their ThinkPad, but rather come here for solutions. It's like a car depot, you don't see people driving their brand new cars there, only problematic ones do.

I'm sorry to hear you had such a problem with your T61. If it is really bad, you should call Lenovo and explain to them the issues that you are having.

 

Oh no definitely NOT this board. This is from talking with people in the real world: some of them are diehard thinkpad fans (so pro thinkpad), some people who work in the computing industry, and others who are just general computer users.

And as I said I am biased, and I acknowledged that my perception of the general consensus is not really evidence. I also acknowledged that those who do have issues are more vocal. That's why I said I was curious to see what the real proportion of lemons to normal products there are.

Actually my machine is currently being serviced by Lenovo. I have tried contacting Lenovo repeatedly to express my concerns but they have pointedly ignored me, so I am reduced to sitting here and complaining about it to this poor innocent forum.

 

If you're going to out of your way to search for "lemons" then of course you're going to think that the model is bad.

 

Not to be rude but do you understand how percentages work?

And just to clarify I wouldn't even begin to know how to find the actual percentage. I'm guessing that Lenovo keeps that tightly under wraps.

 

I see you edited your post. I didn't notice you contacted Lenovo.

And yes, I know how percentages work.

 

Ark Knows Everything!

He's the world's smartest froggie!!!!!

 

I think you paid for t61/61p cheap, so the quality is just right on the money ? Or you get what you paid for! hehehe... Yeah, I saved almost $800-$900 on my T61p.
one thing is bothering me is the LCD viewing angle. it is so narrow, I always see the right side of the LCD darker than any where else. Well, seller wont make mistake, the consumer is the one.

 

Before my t61p I have an N3000 which had a narrow viewing angle. Comparatively my t61p is cinemascope. I didn't save any money on mine at all and the machine is wonderful. I would be hard put to find anything negative to say about it.

 

Frankly the build quality is not as good as in the past. Let's be frank. Some have rec'd machines with creaky or loose parts. Some have had motherboards replaced, etc. Simply it's not one would expect. If you got a new MBZ and it had problems would it be normal? Frankly too, customer service socks. Unresponded emails, unreturned calls, etc.

 

and the last American working at the company should just take the flag home with him or her. The ThinkPad line went down the crapper into some cheaply made, ill fitting, peice of overpriced junk. Change the black casing to silver and put plastic on it and you have a $600 Dell or Toshiba Satellite made in the same factory. We have all been bamboozled.

 

Yes I did edit my post, to include my clarification. You didn't seem to be reading my posts very clearly before.

Heh just heard from IBM employees that they too hate the T61's and most of the employees that have been issued them have been having big problems.

 

I think the Thinkpad built qulity is good, however, the plastic housing is somewhat flexible and it does make audible sounds when you purposly apply preassure. Mine does not squeek when I type or use mouse pad but if I press firmly near the edges or center the plastic flexes and it cracks audibly.

I don't really notice it when I work on the laptop, I carry it a lot and I like it that it's light, I also use external mouse which I highly recommend. The important thing for me is that the performance is good, it's reliable and it gets the job done nicely. It's a good laptop and I wouldn't get any other.