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    are thinkpads really different?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by vk60402, Oct 12, 2007.

  1. vk60402

    vk60402 Notebook Guru

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    A guy at works told me that as far as he knows (and he buys a ton of used laptops, desktops, etc...) there are basically just a few manufacturers that make notebooks for all the magor players.

    So, it's possible that a thinkpad by Lenovo may also be the same as a laptop with another name brand, except for the casing.

    Is this true?
     
    vk60402, Oct 12, 2007
    #1
  2. zadillo

    zadillo Notebook Virtuoso

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    I think the guy at work might be a bit confused.

    Many of the major laptops around the world are manufactured by a handful of companies.

    But that does not mean they are all necessarily the same thing but with just a different brand name or something.

    The ThinkPads in particular are original designs, and have a variety of unique features (internal rollcages, etc.).

    Although a handful of companies build machines, they do not always design them. Companies like Sony, Apple, Lenovo, etc. design their own machines, but then will have them built to their specifications.

    So no, it's not possible that a ThinkPad by Lenovo would be the same as another laptop with another name brand.

    -Zadillo
     
    zadillo, Oct 12, 2007
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  3. stallen

    stallen Thinkpad Woody

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    Yeah, what zadillo said... I mean an Intel processor is an Intel processor no matter what laptop you buy. This goes for a lot of the "guts" of a computer. But as Zadillo said, the design and overall build quality is totally different from any other laptop.
     
    stallen, Oct 12, 2007
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  4. RasBastard

    RasBastard Notebook Consultant

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    The thinkpads are one of the few laptop chassis designs that are not shared with any other brand. Its one of things that definitely set them apart and one of the main reasons i own one today. I still remember turning on a 700c after it had been closed for years and watching it come alive and work perfectly. I love my thinkpad...
     
    RasBastard, Oct 13, 2007
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  5. lifebytes

    lifebytes Notebook Geek

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    In summary: no, ThinkPads are not re-branded ODM boxes.

    At least in the past, a lot of Dell machines were simply ODM designs (designed built by Compal, Wistron, or whoever) and slapped with a Dell logo. ThinkPads have always been in-house designs, even when they were outsourced to external manufacturers years back.

    [/thread]
     
    lifebytes, Oct 13, 2007
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  6. RasBastard

    RasBastard Notebook Consultant

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    Funny thing is that the outsourced OEM company that IBM used was Lenovo.
     
    RasBastard, Oct 13, 2007
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