I was fooled for a moment ...

[gator]

... when I thought I saw a rollcage on a recent Dell Precision series laptop. Look at the below pic:

http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/27615.jpg

I then realized that it was the perspective of the pic that fooled me ... reminding me how much I have come to expect a see a rollcage when I see a stripped down laptop. It is good to see dell using a magnesium case for the base, though ... The full article can be found here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4038

Comparing the relative ease with which you can replace a CPU on a thinkpad (even older ones), I think that other manufacturers (except maybe ASUS?) have a LONG way to go before they come close to out beloved black boxes.

[Miller88]

I've been inside a few laptops - Toshiba and Dell most recently. I have to say that the IBM is byfar the easiest.

The whole time inside the Toshiba I was cursing it because if I looked at it wrong, the keyboard would come disconnected. I'd hook up the keyboard and the power switch board would come undone

[draco2527]

I've been inside a few laptops - Toshiba and Dell most recently. I have to say that the IBM is byfar the easiest.

The whole time inside the Toshiba I was cursing it because if I looked at it wrong, the keyboard would come disconnected. I'd hook up the keyboard and the power switch board would come undone

You think Toshibas are bad TRY WORKING ON A SONY!!

[pianowizard]

The Dell Inspirons that I disassembled (600m and 4100) didn't seem any more complicated than the Thinkpads I've worked on. The instructions that Dell provides are just as good as the HMM's for Thinkpads.