Thinkpad Quality

I've heard some rumors that Thinkpad quality has seriously dropped since the Lenovo take-over. Supposedly, motherboards are of much worse quality, among other things. From what I've heard, there is even a consideration that Lenovo should be revoked the right to use the Thinkpad brand. Has anyone else heard any of this? This may be more for people outside North America, cause I've heard items for the US market are still being assembled in the US.

 

Items for the US market are not still being assembled in the US. From what I've heard the Z line is not typical Thinkpad quality (but then, what do you expect from glossy wide screen Thinkpads), the R is how it's always been (budget Thinkpad) and the T is the same as it's always been (and I've read a few people saying the T60 is more durable than their old T4x).

 

Have you ever seen the laptops you are talking about?

T6x/Z6x/X6x are all built the same way from the ground up. Each use a magnesium alloy unibody chassis design that everything holds into, all use the same stainless steel hinges (X series a tad thinner), Z and T series share the same keyboard, T/Z share the same touchpad and buttons (different palmrest though), and on top of it the Z series has never had a glossy screen. Ever.

Besides the external panels which vary from model to model being thick plastic, thin stamped alloy, thicker titanium screen covers, etc... I can't see how one thickpad model could be any better or worse than another besides the R series which is really budget grade.

And I don't know when the last time Thinkpads were made in the United States. They have always been made overseas along with every other computer. For the most part they are still being made in the same factories.

 

I dont know about the build quality of previous T series. But I know T60. I am very "very" satisfied with the build quality.

 

I'm satisfied with the quality of my T60. Can't compare it to older T's, but it's better than any other notebook I have laid my hands on.

Chris

 

I am anewbie in the Thinkpad world, i cant compare it to previous Thinkpads. For about two months untill now, Z61 clearly outpass other laptops i ever have.

And none of the Z series have glossy screen.

 

Well, the R for instance isntance isn't made from CFRP, plus it doesn't have a magnesium screen housing. I haven't handled the Z but a lot of reviews indicate it isn't quite there in terms of classic Thinkpad build.

 

I'd definitely say that my X60 is better in build quality than my T43.

These are company machines, so I dont care.

I think the T40-41 were a bit better feeling than the T43.

The T2x series "felt" more solid. But also heavier.

When I dropped my T21 on the floor, the floor broke. hahaha (old joke)

 

Heard where? I don't think it is legally possible to "revoke" the right to use the ThinkPad brand. Moreover, my ThinkPad X60, made in China, is by far the best ThinkPad I have ever owned.

 

LOL. Now that's just idiotic. From the moment people heard IBM was selling the laptop line, everyone declared it was the end of thinkpad quality. Fortunately, it just isn't true. A lot of things lenovo is often 'blamed' for has nothing to do with them.

I have actually had the opportunity to thoroughly compare my t43 and my friend's t60. I hate to say it, but the t60 is simply a better computer. It is better built, the body is stronger and has less flex, it's faster, and it runs noticeably cooler. As much as I wish my computer was better than new thinkpads, it just isn't. My friend's t42 seems pretty similar to mine, but I haven't compared them too much.

 

own a thinkpad and all your doubts and questions will disappear...

Z's are not glossy... all thinkpad lines are matte right?

 

As far as I know, all ThinkPad's are matte, for now atleast.

 

Jmmmm, what specs did your friend's T60 have? I ask because you say it was running noticeably cooler than your T43. In particular, what processor did he/she have, and video card?

 

Oh true. Hers is a 1.83 core duo, intel gma950 video card, which I'm sure has an effect (I don't think it's the whole reason, though).

 

Right. Yes, integrated graphics will keep heat to a minimum, and the processor, while powerful, isn't the most fast one available right now. That's a good combo, for minimum heat and noise, and maximum battery life.

 

My first post in this forum. Nice to be here. I had a T42 for a year and have just received a T60. In the last 3 years have had also 3 Sony vaios, 1 Acer Travelmate and a Toshiba Tecra A4, and of all the T60 is the best of the cream undoubtely!

It happens that sometimes people get used to take gossip ("I've heard...") for granted and formulate conclutions from non factical supossitions, and these false conclutions become "true" lyes for the common unaprehensive good thinking persons.

That to say that the Lenovo's acquisition of the IBM's PC division generated the speculation that the chinese would drop quality to gain market's share... well that's nonsense... the Thinkpad market is a very stable and "thinkfull" one, the majority of users are business people that need this machines to work, not to amuse or showing up mates... and I swear we know what to expect from our equipment in terms of quality, durability, performance and ease of use are a must... and we would all leave massively if those high standars would drop. So not a savy enterprise which has just adquired a 1.5 billion brand is going to spoil it. Where did you get those ideas my friends?

As a matter of fact my T60 is sturdier and best manufactured than its predecessors, a magnesium roll cage protrects all its interior components, carbon reinforced fiber and magnesium composite are the materials used in the case plus the used metallic hinges to hold steady the LCD frame. Non par keyboard (zero flex) excellent display color and brighness, noiseless and cool operation, multiple data processing in a blist ... how can you dare to say quality is dropping? Don't tell me that crap about red and blue stripes missing or round silver buttons replacing the black ones, because you are putting nimieties over the real beauty of design that is the function...

 

The Z61m which I had the opportunity to review over the summer was as solid as any ThinkPad I personally have seen. I have been using them since the 560 days.

 

Oh yes, and I forgot talking about software and support. You feel confort and peace of mind, when you know how easy is to recover from a crash, a virus attack and when your bios, and essential software is being updated constantly, I never received so much actualizations with other brands as in the year I used my T42. And hope this keep going in that way in the future no matter the product be discontinued, as I know Lenovo supports old (almost vintage) Thinpad models.

 

I agree. The quality remains, sure little minor details may be changed, but the fundamentals remain. It just has to WORK. You want flashy television/DVDs? Buy a HDTV with a DVD player and surround sound, voila. Games? Attach a PS3 to that HDTV.

For the cost of a fully functional gaming rig (lets say $3000+), you could purchase a laptop (powerful enough for almost all tasks, i'm sure) a Playstation 3 and a beutiful 32" flat screen tv. Each piece will be superior in its field.

 

Lenovo PAID for the right to use the brand for 5 years. Darn right they should use it.

The T42 is better than the T43 imho, insofar as the T42 runs cooler and uses less battery. Other than that, they're the same. Pundits claim the sonoma "upgrade" on the T43 was actually a setback.

 

The internals are set at your preference. This is something for which you have a choice, as for the casing, it seems to remain solid. Depending on your needs, you can go with Sonoma or Dothan.