Why Do You Love Your ThinkPad?

I thought a good positivity thread was in order so everyone post what you love about your ThinkPad!

 

Business oriented design.

 

I second this.

 

Modular design and replacement parts availability, detailed technical documentation, very well organized and competent user base, sturdy construction, good keyboards, Ultrabay, and last not least non-glossy displays. All this provides me the possibility to repair and recombine Thinkpads on my own.

I am typing this on a T61 with a T9500 CPU and 8GB RAM, contained in a T60 chassis with a perfect BOE Hydis UXGA Flexview display. Lenovo never built, nor will ever build, such a gem of a Thinkpad.

If you can't repair it, you don't own it: Thinkpads can be easily repaired.

 

Third.

The design is simple and yet attractive. Matte displays, easy accessibility for repairs (RAM, HDD, etc), nice keyboard, option to swap out optical drive for 2nd HDD (on my T410), trackpoint.

 

totally agreed.

 

Totally agree, this is the reason I like it more than a Mac, otherwise I would have jump on the Apple a long time ago.

Also I tend to abuse my laptop so being able to repair it myself is a must, for the same reason I also like the fact that it is very tough.

 

Thinkpad keyboard, traditional design, matte screen, and it is a Thinkpad, built solid. Oh, and the trackpoint, way better than the Dell attempt, imo.

 

They're reliable, they're modular, they're minimalist in design. They have nice keyboards. What's not to like?

 

It is discrete, modular and very moddable.... i can pull the battery from a T60 and use it in my T500. I can take the ultrabay drive from my R500 and put it in a W520. I can take my HDD out from the T60 and use it in a T520 within 1 minutes (provided the OS is okay with it).

 

The thinklight!

Function over form.

Discreet, chic exterior (call it 80's, I love it). Not flashy.

MATTE SCREEN!!!!!!!

Excellent keyboard

Easy to service (I broke down the laptop to it's screws EASILY with the HMM when I needed to replace the bottom cover)

Great thinkvantage tools

Built like a slab of marble.. weighs less though.

Parts availability (IBM parts will stock your parts for quite some time!)

Modular ultrabay.

the TRACKPOINT!!

Nobody knows what it is when I bust it out.. and if you do recognize it I know you're a fellow thinkpadder.

Those hinges? I could mount a car door on them..

 

Agree with the above.

Also love how the keyboard is easy and comfortable to type on (I absolutely HATE island-style keyboards as they are the exact opposite). I like the ThinkVantage Power tool and the fingerprint reader is actually reliable enough to use as a login to Windows all the time.

Together with an SSD, I feel comfortable throwing this thing in my backpack, taking my bike and riding hard around campus, even jumping curbs often. At the end of the day, my W520 just works. It's for those who do

 

Ease of use, functionality, lack of glossy plastics/screens and on my older T60, the 4:3 screen.

My T60 has USB 2.0, dual core processor and SATA HDD connector so I can get any drive I want for it

Edit: Just thought of one other thing, Linux support is almost native ^^,

 

That's an Intel thing more than it is a Lenovo thing. Intel supports the open source community and regularly provides driver updates. Also it was suggested in another forum that more linux developers use thinkpads than any other brand.

 

"Because it is there."
QUOTE Sir Edmond Hillary KG, ONZ, KBE.


Regards,
-30-

 

It's both. Intel provides decent Linux support, but Lenovo also does a good job at keeping their systems close to Intel's reference designs. (Ok, actually that's more the doing of Wistron/Compal/etc. but it's at Lenovo's direction so I'll give them the credit...)

 

Business Oriented, Reliable, durable, great user base and educated community. I also love how using a thinkpad really makes you become one with the machine.....this is where the easy to replace parts comes into the picture. For the Longest time I used my T40 and just couldnt get rid of it. Finally I saw a great deal on an Ideapad y470 and couldnt pass it up.
If I diddnt use a 410s Thinkpad for for 40-50 hours a week that would have been my personal machine as well.

 

My first laptop was the Thinkpad T61--and it worked. To be repetitive, it is durable, great keyboard, silent fan, and powerful. I guess two compelling reasons for me are: 1) Keyboard. First laptop keyboard I ever used and got hooked. I hate using other laptop keyboards, especially island. I don't mind it, but I found the thinkpad one suitable for me. 2) Options. Whenever I customize my thinkpad (the w520), there is a wide array of options I can choose from (compared to many mainstream laptops). For a laptop in general, the thinkpad rarely locks you in for one single configuration (720p screen, core i3, etc). Other computers are usually locked in or more expensive.

I have a third reason (I lied!). Personally, I like the stealthy black matte back--it isn't flashy and has its own appeal.

 

This thread is getting me really psyched for my first Thinkpad (W520), which shipped today. Also makes me appreciate my MacBook Pro, the last 15-inch MBP to offer a matte display and pre-chicklet keyboard.

 

• It's not a flimsy POS like my old Toshiba Satellite
• The keyboard + TrackPoint are top notch
• I could custom order it from Lenovo just how I like it
• ThinkLight is useful
• Battery life is good
• Runs cool and quiet
• Matte display does a great job of cutting down on glare
• It makes me feel professional

 

^^^I actually liked my Satellite L505. I understood it was no Thinkpad, but compared to its competition it was a fair laptop. I'd take a Satellite over an Insprion or a Pavilion any day of the week.

 

Satellite L505? I let you in a little thing i learnt fiddling with these laptops, they are probably made by the same people whom makes the IdeaPad.

 

I don't buy consumer grade laptops, so it leaves HP, Dell and Lenovo. All that has happened in our tech shop with HP, no thanks unless it's a fully loaded mobile workstation Elitebook.

Why do I love my ThinkPad(s)? Cause they are reliable and durable. Why buy a laptop that doesn't fit those criteria? Time and time again at my workplace, I see people cheap out and buy consumer notebooks for business use, and the results are most of the time bad for the customer (back ordered parts, must RMA to XX manufacturer taking 4-6 weeks).

 

I use Thinkpads because I (used) to work for IBM and I know how well the Thinkpad line is built. That and I have been issued Thinkpads for my subsequent job and they are so consistently solid, they have won me over for personal use. I witnessed employees literally trashing their machines, only for them to power up and work just fine afterwards.

Example: I bought a used X200 locally last month. The display had dead pixels. I noticed it had 66 days left on the 3-yr warranty. Called up Lenovo, filed a case, 48 hrs later I had a tech in my home to replace the LCD. He didn't even power up the machine - he simply replaced the LCD. A complex dissasembly and 12 LCD screws later, I had a like-new machine. The tech talked about how tank-like the machine was.

In my view, there is no other manufacturer who puts their soul into hardware like Lenovo. I recall when IBM sold off it's business to Lenovo...made me nervous. Luckily, Lenovo continued the legendary build quality and engineering that IBM pioneered.

They have a customer for life...that is, unless they do away with the trackpoint

There is no comparable machine IMO. And I've owned many Macbook Pros. Not even close to a Thinkpad.

 

I like ThinkPads for their ergonomic keyboards, the superb Trackpoint and modular design making it easy to service and maintain.

 

Aren't most laptops made by ODMs anyway?

 

Yep.

Including ThinkPads.

Wistron, Compal, Clevo, etc. are all happy to produce notebooks with whatever level of durability, reliability, and build quality you pay them for. The issue is that most non-business vendors seem to be un-willing to pay for more than "opens up and turns on".

Most consumer notebooks are spec'd, designed, and assembled by the ODMs. Most business notebooks are spec'd and (mostly) designed by the vendors (such as Lenovo), with assembly being done by an ODM with vendor oversight.

 

Yeap, but using off the shelf designs from ODM for consumer laptops are two different things.

 

the keyboard and trackpoint. No other manufacturer can even come close. I use the trackpoint all of the time and have the trackpad disabled. I will never buy another laptop that doesn't have a trackpoint.

Waiting for a thinkpad ultrabook

 

I had a Satellite A100. Looked like this:



It was really flexy. Those plastic grille pieces by the fan exhaust all started to crack and fall off. Also, the plastic above that expansion slot on the left side also cracked, leaving the front left corner of the laptop very weak. Additionally, the lid / screen was quite flexy, so in my backpack the glossy screen would get pushed into the keyboard keys, and they would wear / scratch the glossy finish.

I have no problem picking up my T520 by a corner without fear of it breaking.

 

This had been mentioned before, nevertheless....I like the muted and minimalistic design of the ThinkPad...its robustness...and the keyboard...oh yes...and the matte screen

 

I love their looks and the fact that these things are not toys and serious people use them world wide to do some work, real workhorse
You know, TP in space, TP in labs etc
I just saw an old T40 today in local cell phone providers customer center, damn it looked hot !

 

Let me make a quick list of things my ThinkPad's gone through:
1. Dropped while off
2. Dropped while on and running
3. Dropped off a table
4. Stepped on during lecture while stowed (inevitable when you're in an aisle seat in a lecture hall!)
5. Used as a platform for preparing sandwiches (hey I used a tissue to keep the peanut butter and nutella off...)
6. Cranking out papers at full speed and so that I could turn in that English paper with exactly 1 minute to spare.

I've seen quite a few laptops on campus with cracked bezels, bleeding LCD screens, and are otherwise crawling on their last legs, forcing my friends to buy new ones. I'm one getting a new one as it's simply unable to handle CAD and because my mother needs a laptop. It's running almost as well as it did the day I unboxed it (OK, confession - I've got insufficient space in the stock 160GB HDD to keep it running as smoothly as it should.)

There are also other reasons too - in a sea of silver Apples and flimsy Dells, the ThinkPad stands out wherever you go; part of the credit for this extends to the red TrackPoint and the blue enter key. Most importantly is the keyboard. It's why I won't buy another computer that's not a ThinkPad as I've had way too many bad memories typing on flimsy laptop keyboards with poor feel and response. GIVE ME TEXTURE AND RESPONSE OR GIVE ME DEATH!

You won't get these kinds of reactions at the Dell Inspirion user's group!

 

Okay, you need the thinkpad protection plan.

 

Well comparing a ThinkPad to an Insprion isn't fair game unless it's one of the old school 2" thick Inspirons, now THOSE were tanks.

I still think Latitudes are very comparable to ThinkPads. I like to think they are the fatter version of ThinkPad. What has gotten me away from Latitude though is aesthetics for the newest ones, no manual fan control that is as simple to use as tpfancontrol, Dell's battery capacity is nowhere near as good as Lenovo's, and Lenovo's software is far better than Dell's. On the upshot, Dell usually is the much better laptop for the money, mainstream Latitudes come with standard 3 year warranties, and slice/battery options are as flexible if not more flexible than Lenovo.

 

All very good points.

I was actually considering a Latitude for my next computer, but after the E6420 redesign, forget it. They went from a clean and professional look to a "generic $300 ODM" look. Ew.

 

Well, serious people can do serious work on an Acer if they so desired. It just all comes down to preference.

 

Are you serious? (Read below)
(LOL)


"No, a proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof, and when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven." -

Jean Chretien.
(A former Prime Minister of Canada)


Regards,
-30-

 

I have a 2008 Precision, the year when the Latitude and Precision were nearly the same thing. Both have been pretty sturdy, although I do prefer the thinkpad pointing stick.

This year the precision and latitude models are totally different and not digging either of them as well.

as for the Thinkpad, I had the T43 and used the T40, 41, and one of the A models (cant remember the number), at work. Really liked the build quality, the feel of the keyboard, and that matte, rubbery feel of the lid. The only thing I wished back then was a screen with better viewing angles, better brightness, a bit more ports, and a longer battery life.
All that exists in the X220, thinner, longer battery life, more ports, and an IPS screen (is it the only thinkpad model with an IPS screen?).
But I do miss the days when it was an IBM company.

 

Ah...if that came with a nVidia card I would be all over it. As such I'll have to suffer silently with my brand-new T520 that's shipping soon.

 

I love the keyboard and trackpoint combo so much that I just ordered a T420s! Crossing my fingers for a decent display.

 

trackpoint is the best thing ever. keyboard is the best thing ever. oh wait, contradiction, nevermind! Magnesium chassis and finish have premium feel. Boot time is good compared to other laptops I think.

 

And ThinkPads run cooler than the competition.

 

FTFY (10char)

 

yeap.... that is very true.

 

I love how my X220 packs so much into such a little package. And the looks.

 

I like how I can pick up my business notebooks from the screen and not be afraid of breaking something..

 

I like my R61 because it's big, black and looks like a brick.

 

Build quality, understated design and ultra nav. Its a start to many great attributes of the best work horse laptops built.

 

(computer novice w/ Z61t)
1) Keyboard - I didn't realize how special it was until motherboard probs have me using a latitude 2100 temporarily........omg. This includes the CTRL/Fn placement- the thinkpad way actually makes more sense to me.

2) Lid latch! Why doesn't everyone do this?!

3)Thinkvantage software- in shopping for a new computer and trying out other manu's systems- I now see just how great the thinkpad 'helper' software is, especially for a novice who likes to be told when something needs attention.

3) Silver Titanium lid- unique touch to set it apart from other thinkpads.

4) I can sit in bed with it and it doesn't decide to burn me or my bedding.

5) It survived 4 years of clumsy me....jungle rot aside....