Y series build quality...according to Lenovo rep!

Hi everyone

I'm back at NBR for my latest laptop needs, which are outlined here . Getting great help as always.

I am narrowing down my search. I have an opportunity to pick up a pre-owned Y550 from a trusted seller at my local buy/sell site. Now... I own a T61 and I put a family member in a T400. I spoke to Lenovo today for quotes on new rigs, just to compare. For me, the #1 thing about Lenovo has always been build quality. I carry my T61 around by the edge of the screen, and have done for 2 years.

The rep today told me that the Y series units are 'meant more for at home use'. This was a big surprise, considering it's a notebook. He said that the the build quality isn't as good and that if you want a notebook to carry around every day, the Y series may not be optimal. I need a comment or two about this. Is this just an upsell based on the fact that I told him it was for a teenage kid to carry around with her? Is the Y series really that flimsy that you wouldn't want to carry it to school and haul it in and out of a laptop backpack every day?

I usually search then post, but I'm getting this up here, hoping for a few quick responses on this. The rig I have in mind is up for grabs to anyone who pays the guy. Will search for other similar threads right now. Thanks as always.

 

Well, the thinkpads have titanium hinges, metal structure and typically a metal casing.

The ideapads have generic 'metal' hinges covered with a shiny metallic plastic, a plastic inner structure and a plastic casing.

I own an ideapad, and don't think it's going to be an issue (I had a fully plastic Dell inspiron for four years without issue.) But if you plan on chucking it, dropping it, taking 10 flights per month with it, and generally manhandling it like a road warrior, then you may wear it out sooner.

I'm perfectly fine with the build quality of my ideapad, and I've owned a Thinkpad 600E, R32, R50, T42p, T60p, and worked on countless others.

 

You could say it's an upsell strategy to get consumers interested in the Thinkpad line, but there's definitely truth in the rep's statements. The Y-series should be durable enough for general use (several of my friends have them for school), but if you're really on the road a lot and your notebook may be subjected to a lot of wear and tear, a Thinkpad may put up with it better. The Y-series is no less durable than HP, Dell, Asus, Toshiba, etc consumer equivalents.

 

Thanks guys, sort of confirms what I suspected. I'm on the phone discussing this with them right now.

 

I just bought another Thinkpad because I don't want to put my y460 in harms way when going to class. My biggest concern is the screen. It is very thin and doesn't even have a closing mechanism. (No magnet or latch on it.)

 

I have a Y530.....switched to a T500 (end of model year clearance)......handed the Y down to kids. No comparison....the T is that much better.

drake

 

Hmmm... that part about no latch is a bit strange. I presume there's some resistance built into the hinges such that the lid/screen doesn't flop around all over the place.

Or should I say that I'm hoping there is, since we bought her one.

 

Well mine does.... Granted, it doesn't just pop open all the way, but as you can see it's enough room for something small to fall in between the screen and keyboard potentially scratching the screen or damaging it.

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Weird -- mine doesn't have that issue at all. It stays completely closed.

Might be worth having Lenovo fix it?

 

Well good to hear it's not like that on all y460's. I refuse to send it out for something so small since it rarely leaves the house now that I have a dedicated Thinkpad for college.

 

ideapad is for consumer and multimedia use, it is not a business laptop. So i guess the rep is right it is more suited for home use, it wouldn't fair that well if you don't treat it right.

 

Yes, I guess that a student falls somewhere in between, in the sense that a 16 year old non-gamer girl wants a heavy multimedia component in her rig, and does not need certain things that business users might need, but does need the portability. I'm old enough that it's weird to think that what I used to call a laptop wouldn't by definition be designed to be carted around, but then I personally have one that almost never leaves the house. Why is it a T61, I wonder? : )

Well, it's a done deal at $700 , so we'll see what happens.

 

laptop nowadays are no longer something you would use on a lap, hence the notebook moniker.

I am not sure what you mean by T61.

 

Just a joke, since the T61's are so tough. These notebooks are ready to be used in the field but it generally stays at home, whereas I'm sure many consumer/low end retail notebooks are thrashed by students every day.

 

Thinkpad T series are definitely a tough bunch... and they are also easily serviced by the users unlike many other competitor's business laptops.