Thinkpads Forum

Is there a "REAL" diference between the IBM ThinkPad T60 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T60 or is it the EXACT SAME thing ? I am asking this because I show both units side-by-side and to me it feels as the ThinkPad T60 is of better quality. Is this my imagination playing tricks on me ?

All Thinkpad T60 units were manufactured by Lenovo. Early units had the IBM logos, later units had the Thinkpad logos and maybe the Lenovo branding on the clearplate. But other than the stickers there is no difference between the machines.

When comparing them side by side visually, I found the one with the Lenovo sticker/emblem had a thinner plastic ! Just wondering if anyone else feels the same as I.

Believe whatever you want to believe. I told you the facts.

Just for the record, which models you were comparing? 14/15"/15.4"?

alofano wrote:When comparing them side by side visually, I found the one with the Lenovo sticker/emblem had a thinner plastic ! Just wondering if anyone else feels the same as I.

In the (4) or so years that the T60 line has been released from the manufacturer (Lenovo) you are the first person on the planet to draw the conclusion that the plastic is thinner on an IBM emblemed model. Draw your own conclusions.

Maybe the OP is basing his opinion on two different configurations which might affect the areas of flex (with/without fingerprint reader, different keyboard brand etc).

Radioguy wrote:Maybe the OP is basing his opinion on two different configurations which might affect the areas of flex (with/without fingerprint reader, different keyboard brand etc).

Maybe, but he said "When comparing them side by side visually". If that included pushing on certain areas to measure flex he'd have to provide much more detail as to the models and what options came on them, including a detailed shipping list of each to see what keyboards were shipped.

I went to a used PC store and they had many T60's for sale, I picked one with the Lenovo sticker and another one without. I did a quick visual check and found that one looked to have a better plastic than the other. If I recall correctly they were both 14.1". Maybe it was my imagination or maybe not, I don't know and that is why I am asking. From the number of posts you people have compared to mines, I think it is fair to say that you guys have a better idea and knowledge on the product thus me asking.

It is a rarity for a PC manufacturer to change basic engineering specifications on a laptop half way through it's product life. I have only seen Lenovo do it once, and that was with the keyboard support system (internal frame/brackets) for it's T400 keyboard. The reason they did it was due to massive complaints about keyboard flex in that model. I can see no reason for them to have changed the 'thickness' of the plastics used in the base or bezels on the T60 models. If you think about it, if Lenovo has many different parts out there for the same item (.e.g. a palm rest) it makes support and maintenance that much more difficult and expensive. Expense is a thing manufacturers avoid like the plague. There was never any problem with the original T60 palm rest or bezels, in fact it is arguably one of the more solid models produced by IBM or Lenovo regardless of the sticker on it.

From what I have read, it was a part of the agreement between Lenovo and IBM that Lenovo could use the IBM branding in markets where "IBM Thinkpad" was a well built up name. So in certain markets/countries, the T60s were IBM branded, in other ones they were purely Lenovo branded. That's the only difference. But I do believe that the Lenovo branding on the LED plate below the screen was present on all T60s, just to start introducing and building up the Lenovo brand in the customer's mind. Correct me if I'm wrong on that one.

Norway Pad wrote:But I do believe that the Lenovo branding on the LED plate below the screen was present on all T60s, just to start introducing and building up the Lenovo brand in the customer's mind. Correct me if I'm wrong on that one.

Some early ones didn't have it.

For sake of info., My T60 NO Lenovo branding !

dr_st wrote:

Some early ones didn't have it.[/quote]

Neither did some of the later ones -- at least in the UK. I've come across a number of "late" UK T60s that had full IBM branding (with the sole exception of the "manufactured for Lenovo" bit on the bottom.)

IIRC the branding depended on the customer, the market, and the country as well as the revision.

Harryc wrote:It is a rarity for a PC manufacturer to change basic engineering specifications on a laptop half way through it's product life. I have only seen Lenovo do it once, and that was with the keyboard support system (internal frame/brackets) for it's T400 keyboard. The reason they did it was due to massive complaints about keyboard flex in that model. I can see no reason for them to have changed the 'thickness' of the plastics used in the base or bezels on the T60 models. If you think about it, if Lenovo has many different parts out there for the same item (.e.g. a palm rest) it makes support and maintenance that much more difficult and expensive. Expense is a thing manufacturers avoid like the plague. There was never any problem with the original T60 palm rest or bezels, in fact it is arguably one of the more solid models produced by IBM or Lenovo regardless of the sticker on it.

Yes, you are right. It doesn't make sense for them to turn around a start a different production when they have so many spare parts lying around. It would take a few years before they change their quality control policies. I didn't think about that, sorry. Good point !

ThinkRob wrote:IIRC the branding depended on the customer, the market, and the country as well as the revision.

That is true. In fact, I think most of the consumer market T60s, perhaps with the exception of the very late 15.4"W models kept the IBM stickers, even though some of them had the Lenovo name on the clearplate. My 2007-QPG is exactly like that. Corporate units started the shift to the Thinkpad logo earlier in the cycle (like my 1952-F76).