My T61 will probably be my last. I waited about 2 months for repair to be done on plastic pieces that wouldn't latch close properly. One location was never fixed, even though I clearly labeled it.
Recently extended my warranty only to look it up the other day and see that it shows as expired.
My model doesn't show up on their support site when trying to download drivers/software, but does when I enter the serial.
Plus the aluminum cage made it thicker, heavier, and less elegant. And now that they're in the hands of Lenovo, I wouldn't be expecting any improvements.
If anything, they'll ruin the line by adding their own touches. When will purple backlighting on buttons make its appearance? The T400s is sporting lights on volume buttons and the caps lock key. The thing must look like a Christmas tree in the dark. And don't get me started on the Esc key that's TWO ROWS HIGH. Walk away, folks.
Just an FYI -ThinkPad T61 models have a magnesium cage, not an aluminum one.
I agree that Lenovo needs some work in their support department. However, I've owned a T61, and just bought a T400, which is, without a doubt, the finest laptop I've used (and I've used quite a few). Great features, built solid, and the best keyboard I could ask for on a laptop. Plus, Lenovo has tons of discount programs that brought my laptop several hundred dollars below what HP or Dell could offer.
Sure, compared to what's out there, my T61 is still miles ahead. It's just not as nice as my old T42. Between the plastics that don't fit together, the added weight and thickness, the "dead zone" on the LCD shell, and the apparent confusion in their support department, it's just slightly disappointing. Time will tell whether Lenovo let the ThinkPad people continue what they've been doing for the most part, or whether they'll "HP-ize" the line completely.
by Anonymous Coward writes:
on Thursday June 25, 2009 @02:12PM (#28470375)
They were already on their way out the moment they were purchased by a foreign company with some degree of state control.
(Yeah, even the "domestic" companies foreign-source most of their parts but at least the system design is domestically controlled.)
I work for a defense contractor, the moment the Lenovo buyout happened we stopped buying Thinkpads and went to Dell. It was pretty much mandated by the customer. (If I recall correctly, there were a lot of news articles about the government banning further Thinkpad purchases post-Lenovo across the board around that time.)
Now, Lenovo has effectively done just what the US government feared they might do - try to sneak stuff onto customers' machines for their own gain.
Who knows what else in addition to this adware is getting slipped to customers?
On the topic of thrones! You'll want to use one of Lenovo's new laptops as a cat box liner.
Stay away from Lenovo G530, they emit the loudest beep you will ever have the misfortune of hearing EVERY SINGLE TIME you plug in or unplug the AC adapter. The beep comes out the "PC Speaker" output of the onboard sound. You can turn all sound channel volumes down to 0% and mute everything, and the volume of the power beep will only be reduced to ridiculously loud.
Lenovo forums and phone calls state that this is not a
This is very annoying. On my SL500 it actually pays attention to the volume control, except for when it suspends. The PCSpkr is put through the output jack if it's used and if you are unfortunate to have your headphones in at the time, you will bleed from your ears.
I took a fish head to the movies and I didn't have to pay.
-- Fish Heads, Saturday Night Live, 1977.
Its over (Score:4, Insightful)
Thats it folks, thinkpads are officially dethroned as the king of business laptops.
Re:Its over (Score:4, Informative)
My T61 will probably be my last. I waited about 2 months for repair to be done on plastic pieces that wouldn't latch close properly. One location was never fixed, even though I clearly labeled it.
Recently extended my warranty only to look it up the other day and see that it shows as expired.
My model doesn't show up on their support site when trying to download drivers/software, but does when I enter the serial.
Plus the aluminum cage made it thicker, heavier, and less elegant. And now that they're in the hands of Lenovo, I wouldn't be expecting any improvements.
If anything, they'll ruin the line by adding their own touches. When will purple backlighting on buttons make its appearance? The T400s is sporting lights on volume buttons and the caps lock key. The thing must look like a Christmas tree in the dark. And don't get me started on the Esc key that's TWO ROWS HIGH. Walk away, folks.
Re: (Score:2)
I agree that Lenovo needs some work in their support department. However, I've owned a T61, and just bought a T400, which is, without a doubt, the finest laptop I've used (and I've used quite a few). Great features, built solid, and the best keyboard I could ask for on a laptop. Plus, Lenovo has tons of discount programs that brought my laptop several hundred dollars below what HP or Dell could offer.
I'll give Dell credit
Re: (Score:2)
Sure, compared to what's out there, my T61 is still miles ahead. It's just not as nice as my old T42. Between the plastics that don't fit together, the added weight and thickness, the "dead zone" on the LCD shell, and the apparent confusion in their support department, it's just slightly disappointing. Time will tell whether Lenovo let the ThinkPad people continue what they've been doing for the most part, or whether they'll "HP-ize" the line completely.
Re:Its over (Score:5, Interesting)
They were already on their way out the moment they were purchased by a foreign company with some degree of state control.
(Yeah, even the "domestic" companies foreign-source most of their parts but at least the system design is domestically controlled.)
I work for a defense contractor, the moment the Lenovo buyout happened we stopped buying Thinkpads and went to Dell. It was pretty much mandated by the customer. (If I recall correctly, there were a lot of news articles about the government banning further Thinkpad purchases post-Lenovo across the board around that time.)
Now, Lenovo has effectively done just what the US government feared they might do - try to sneak stuff onto customers' machines for their own gain.
Who knows what else in addition to this adware is getting slipped to customers?
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
On the topic of thrones! You'll want to use one of Lenovo's new laptops as a cat box liner.
Stay away from Lenovo G530, they emit the loudest beep you will ever have the misfortune of hearing EVERY SINGLE TIME you plug in or unplug the AC adapter. The beep comes out the "PC Speaker" output of the onboard sound. You can turn all sound channel volumes down to 0% and mute everything, and the volume of the power beep will only be reduced to ridiculously loud.
Lenovo forums and phone calls state that this is not a
Re: (Score:2)
This is very annoying. On my SL500 it actually pays attention to the volume control, except for when it suspends. The PCSpkr is put through the output jack if it's used and if you are unfortunate to have your headphones in at the time, you will bleed from your ears.