Thinkpads: Are they still worth it?

ok, so we all know about Lenovo now and I keep reading how this will hurt IBM more than help, in terms of quality. Is that really the case? All the parts are made in China anyways, correct?

I was seriously considering getting a thinkpad t42 very soon because the most important aspects to me are durability and stability (eg build, metal components, etc).

Should I reconsider? Are there better models out there? (I was looking at the t42 RBU, so that's the price range).

So other than maybe service, do people really think IBM's quality will become such an issue that HP, Dell, etc will overtake them?

 

You won't see any immediate decline in quality, the manufacturer quality specifications were certainly not changed overnight when Lenovo bought the IBM PC business. Furthermore, you are correct that all of the manufacturing was done in China anyway. According to reports I've heard Lenovo is one of the most demanding on manufacturing quality to its suppliers for the parts is uses, so I think they'll at least carry on the torch for IBM for maintaining that quality. Whether customer service suffers in the long run, that remains to be seen, it's of course not in the interest of Lenovo to lose business for any reason so I'm sure they'll do everything possible to maintain the IBM reputation while somehow cutting costs still.

So I wouldn't refrain from buying a T42.

 

Hi Doleco,
When I 1st found out about the sale to Lenovo I was really bummed. However after talking to a close friend who is a mid-level manager at IBM and then reading the letter that was sent to me from IBM to all of their notebook customers, I feel much better about the deal. I really think that the quality and inovation will stay right at the top...at least for the next 3-5 years minimum. My buddy at IBM told me that Lenovo has no interest in paying big bucks for the thinkpad name and product and then ruin or cheapen it in anyway; the thinkpad is in a class all its own with its very high quality and reliability that the business world demands and that's where Lenovo will keep it.

To answer your qusetions
Should I reconsider? well, that's up to you, but I wouldn't.
Are there better models out there? That depends on what your looking for, if it's a gaming notebook, then there are probably other models better suited for gaming than the thinkpad line. For general business, school, research/engineering then there is nothing on the market that can beat the T42 or the thinkpad line in general. They are the best built, highest quality and most reliable (windows based)notebook made. Don't get me wrong there are some pretty good notebooks out there, but none that beat the thinkpad; and it will stay that way for the foreseeable future.

I am about to post to the IBM forum the text of the message that IBM sent it's customers last week concerning the buyout. Check it out, I felt much better after reading it.

Jack




"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

Thanks both of you for the responses. My friend from China told me the same thing about Lenovo, that they are probably one of the best in China. However, reading everyone's concerns started to get me concerned.

Now if only IBM Canada would let me buikd a thinkpad.

Thanks again.

 

My understanding is that IBM Canada basically has a ordering derpatment that orders these from IBM Corp. In effect they are like the middle man. I don't think they directly build or contract someone to build these.

 

I'm a junior mgr at IBM (read "nobody" [ ]) and IMHO this is a really dumb move for IBM. Reminds me of how they sold their topnotch printer business years ago, then recently decided to try to get back into printers (and not doing well at it). It's MUCH more difficult to re-build a highly reputable business than to keep one going or BUY one. Lenovo got the great deal on this agreement. Sam (ibm's ceo) did this to make a quick one-time profit, to get his 7-figure "perforomance" bonus for 2004, much to the detriment of the company's long term interests.

Expect the IBM name to be phased out in time (but not as quickly as happened with its printers). I expect that the quality will slide too, like what happened with IBM/Lexmark.

And I probabably wont get a free new thinkpad every year. Maybe an emachine instead next year? [ ] [ ]

 

I know this is a little off topic, but when IBM switches over to Lenovo, will the epp site still work, or will I have to buy something before the switch happens if I want to get the discount?

 

skibunny, that's interesting that an IBM'er views the deal as bad, you're not a nobody as long as you're part of the company, you're part of their fabric and a reflection of moral.

However, IBM is of course a microcosm of society and I'm sure you have colleagues that think the deal is good. Well, as long as the company is better financially for it I guess you should be happy either way.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by abaxter

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by kknudsen12

 

Yes of course there are differences of opinions about spinning off thinkpads. I think it's the techies (who actually know what's going on) who believe it's a dumb move to spin off. Obviously top mgmt believes otherwise... but they're the same morons who spun off the printer business, and who outsourced the operating system for the new IBM PC to a new upstart company named microsoft. Nuff said.

Generally the higher one moves up the corporate ladder, the dumber one gets. So suggests the empirical evidence. If the company succeeds it's despite the management, not because of it, LOL.

 

12 :O I got 30 % off my thinkpad t42..

 

Hey airwick, how did you get 30% off your thinkpad?

 

I do think the quality will be the same if the IBM logo is kept on it, because it's IBM.[8D] BTW, I just bought a T42 and I really love it!

 

thanks ,abaxter

as a Chinese, i am honored to see this message. so far as for IBM

company , there are a number of its notebook which are produced in

China. and then sold to many other places in the world.should by all means make its own progess.recently a report says that LENOVO will devote more of its energy in software , as IBM does .

 

actually ibm devotes more energy to services than anything, which it finds most profitable and fast-growing. AYK it was losing money on PC hardware.