Y
Yousuf Khan
chrisv said:
Cool, but still no AMD laptop models yet from them. Wonder if those are
just hard to get ahold of?
Yousuf Khan
N
nobody
I will snap a Turion-based IBM-branded Thinkpad T(whatever number) as
soon as it comes out. Lenovo-branded? Remains to be seen if it has
the same build quality, look and feel as the T.
NNN
K
Keith
I just got a T42p in the last couple of months. It still says IBM on the
case. I'm looking at an 'X' series for personal use. An AMD would be
sweet.
N
nobody
That's what I mean - even though everyone knows it is built by Lenovo,
it is still IBM-branded. If I understood the article correctly, they
want to introduce their own Lenovo-branded boxes stateside, in
addition to the ones they sell under IBM brand. I am afraid the
difference will be much more than IBM logo.
Ford sells both Volvo-branded cars and Volvo-derived (Ford 500, for
one) under their own brand. I will never trade my XC70 for a Ford,
even though Ford is larger, cheaper, has bigger engine (3.8 V6 vs. 2.5
L5) and even throws in some goodies not yet available in a Volvo, like
CVT. The same logic applies to IBM/Lenovo.
Next to the Thinkpad everything else, especially Dell, looks cheap,
flimsy and just not in the same league, even though the specs are
similar or even better. Been to Best Buy today shopping for a new
microwave, looked at the laptops there - the greatest from HPQ,
despite bigger displays and Turion logo, just didn't feel right,
though noticeably higher end stuff next to cheaper HPQ Centrino models
on display there. I wish Lenovo laptops were Thinkpads without IBM
logo, but just don't expect them to be even remotely resembling their
older brothers. I wish even more that Lenovo put AMD into Thinkpads,
just don't see it happening any time soon ;-(
NNN
T
The little lost angel
I just got a Thinkpad R52 a few weeks back and it still says IBM too.
Although I'm kinda regretting it being an impulse buy and not saving
up more for a T model instead.
My almost 3yr old T30 looks seems better than the new R in everyway,
including the built and looks. I was almost shocked speechless when I
attempted to swap out the Ultrabay drive for battery and discover what
looks like the Ultrabay isn't (the release button is there, the pull
tab/swap mechanism isn't). Or that I no longer have an IRDA port for
my handphone sync (the space is there but...). Or that apparently my
old T30 have better graphic processing power...
The new R only beat my old T in battery life, processing power, USB
2.0 and the fact it will power up everytime I press the button
I'm not sure if this strip out trend is due to Lenovo since my really
old A-series had better "functionality" in these sense. Maybe the R
series have always been like that. But I'm just spoilt by the fact
I've always only used either personal or company provided A or T
series.
But if it is indeed a Lenovo direction, I think I'm probably pretty
much limited to the choice of a T-series in another two years time
with no other considerations.
Admittedly I got a great promotional offer on it so I guess I would
just live with it. :/
K
Keith
Maybe, but I don't think Lenovo would screw with its name at this point.
IIRC, they can use "Think*" and "IBM" for five years. In that time they'd
better move mindshare over to "Lenovo" or lose a golden opportunity.
OTOH, I'd never own a Volvo or a Jaguar (but currently own a Ford and a
Mercury). ;-)
I agree, with the possible exception of Macs, and I can't see Lenovo
screwing with this perception.
You're talking about quality and shop at Best Buy?! <boggle>
If Lenovo doesn't continue appealing to the THinkPad market, they've
missed a huge opportunity, IMO. As you pointed out (above) FOrd didn't
drop Volvo after buying them out. OTOH, it seems Benz has learned too
much from Chrysler. ;-)
K
Keith
They wanted to replace my A21p with an 'R' series but I held out for the
'T'. Since it wasn't my money, it was an easy descision. ;-) Stepping
back from 1600x1200 display to 1024x768 wasn't going to happen.
My almost 3yr old T30 looks seems better than the new R in everyway,
including the built and looks. I was almost shocked speechless when I
attempted to swap out the Ultrabay drive for battery and discover what
looks like the Ultrabay isn't (the release button is there, the pull
tab/swap mechanism isn't). Or that I no longer have an IRDA port for
my handphone sync (the space is there but...). Or that apparently my
old T30 have better graphic processing power...
The new R only beat my old T in battery life, processing power, USB
2.0 and the fact it will power up everytime I press the button
Longer battery life is goodness but I've rarely pushed mine. After five
years, the batteries in the A21p were getting pretty weak (one was down to
45minuts the other 1:15). That last "improvement" is rather important. ;-)
The 'R' series is the entry model. They remind me a lot of the iSeries.
:-(
I kinda like the displays on the 'X' series, but I've not seen one up
close.
Kinda gotta now.
D
Del Cecchi
Keith said:
This some other kind of iSeries or the one that used to be AS/400? If
the latter, them's fightin words.
Y
Yousuf Khan
Keith said:
I got a T42 recently too and I was surprised to see that it still showed
IBM on it. I thought it was just an old model left over or something,
but then I looked at the Microsoft Windows sticker on the bottom, and it
was registered to "Lenovo Singapore".
Yousuf Khan
N
nobody
They are good enough for plain vanilla GE over-the-range microwave
The store is organized in such a way that if you are going to
appliance section, you have to walk by either home theater section or
computers.
NNN
Y
Yousuf Khan
I think it'll be a little while before we see a Thinkpad with an AMD
processor inside. However, with the continuing good press that AMD is
getting at the expense of the bad press Intel is getting, it may not be
as long as I would've originally thought. I think currently Lenovo is
planning on introducing only consumer & SMB products with AMD inside.
The enterprise market will still get Thinkpads and Intel-only for the
time being. Highly ironic that the better processors are going into the
cheaper products.
Yousuf Khan
T
The little lost angel
I think Keith's refering to the i700(?) series of Thinkpad which I
think are designed in Taiwan and made in China or something.
T
The little lost angel
lol, well, not if you never turn it off after you switched it on
Ittakes a few tries to it on, after which, I just put it to standby if
I'm not using it or moving around.
They look kinda tiny to me and I rather not have to squint or be
forced to put the laptop close since I like my comfort while using it
at home.
G
George Macdonald
Nah, I remember those laptop iSeries - made by Acer for IBM IIRC. They
looked kinda like a Thinkpad -- IBM was still doing retail at the time --
from a distance but up close, the case plastic was umm, nasty cheap... and
flexy and the keyboard was awful. They had a short life too according to
stories.
N
nobody
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/3000/index.html?re=home_A_us
As you said, no AMD option ;-(
Externally it to some extent resembles Thinkpad, but that greyish
(or is it silvery?) plastic makes it look cheap, just like another
Dell or HPQ. Should've stayed with matte black. The pics are too few
and too small to see the details. As for the screen quality, one
needs to see the real thing to judge.
NNN
K
Keith
They are good enough for plain vanilla GE over-the-range microwave
I've never found an appliance at BBY that was even close to what I
could get the same thing for in a "local" store, all things
considered. I've replaced my whole kitchen (including over-the
range microwave) over the last five years and not one knob came
from BBY.
Aren't all the stores clones? ;-)
K
Keith
Chill, Del. I meant the ThinkPad iSeries, not the corn farmers in
fly-over country iSeries. ;-)
That's the one. An Acer in ThinkPad clothes. Crap!
fly-over country iSeries. ;-)
That's the one. An Acer in ThinkPad clothes. Crap!
K
Keith
a?n?g?e? said:lol, well, not if you never turn it off after you switched it on
takes a few tries to it on, after which, I just put it to standby if
I'm not using it or moving around.
It wouldn't hybernate? I tend to use hybernate when I pack the
ThinkPad in its case to take it home. All my windows (other than
Exceed) hang around.
Sorry, I meant the 'Z'. New models... ;-)
[/QUOTE]
N
nobody
In our area small local stores tend to charge more for the same model,
and never have any stock, so you have to wait a couple of weeks for
the delivery. Maybe local stores offer greater selection, but I just
don't need extra "features" that take hours of manual reading to
learn, and then never utilized. And having a wagon, I don't want to
pay extra $50 for the delivery. Same about e-tailers - the delivery
charge eats up all the savings on base price, and then some, and you
still have to wait. Therefore the choice is between BBY and Sears
after Circuit City went out of appliance business. PC Richard is more
expensive, at least when you shop for basic models. They run good
promotions on fancier stuff, but I don't pay $500 for a microwave, no
matter how many extra buttons it has.
They have to fit the store into existing mall config.