IBM may be losing its grip

[jdhurst]

About a year ago I got a couple of T41's for a client. The price was good at the time, and they were "Wireless Upgradeable" but no card installed. I recall asking the Vendor: "Can I install the IBM 11 a/b/g card?" Yes, sayeth she.

Today I try to order the mini-PCI card, and the vendor says no, we must use a PCMCIA card. In order to achieve some clarity and evidence, I took my machine apart (2373-1HU) and the client's machine apart (2373-4SU), called the vendor and said: "Same slots, parts and wires inside both machines and I have the IBM card installed and running - Please call IBM again."

IBM had to go to a different cross reference (not publicly or vendor-available) and work from the card forward to determine it would go in the 2373-4SU. The regular databases are broken (IBM's words to the vendor) and do not yield the correct upgrade results.

Everywhere I said IBM above, it is really Lenovo, and it is Lenovo saying (until the vendor puts a gun to their head) that we cannot do what we are doing.

When I add up all the comments in here about Lenovo and divide by 9, it appears that intelligent business customers will be thrown by the wayside as they drop their quality, people, experience and vision to the lowest common denominator to get whatever sales they can by whatever means.

My experience with HP and Dell in the business world is not great. My experience with ThinkPad has been excellent. I think we are in for a bruising.

... JD Hurst

[DavidNZ]

To echo this (somewhat):

I purchased an extra 72W adapter for my X40 through a NZ-based re-seller (who sources from Tech Pacific, the distributor of IBM ware here in NZ).

The P/N I wanted was 40Y7685, which according to the NZ IBM site is the correct one that will work with my machine.

I received one the next day, but the manual said it would only work with the A and T series. On the brick itself (IBM branded) it had a p/n of 93P5017 and another one marked O8K8202, neither of which I could trace to determine whether it would be fine with the X40. The box in which it came had 40Y7685 on the label, and it was 'sealed by IBM', so I thought this was at least a good sign. Importantly, however, the output of the 72W delivered was 4.5A, decidedly different from the 3.5A output on my 56W that came with the computer. Not being a sparkie or having any training in electronics, I wasn't entirely sure whether this was meaningful or not.

As a last resort, I called IBM/Lenova (Australia) to get clarification. 93P5017 is, apparently, an older part number (even though the 72W was manufactured in July of this year) and that 08K8202 isn't used anymore either. The fellow said that, indeed, it should work with the X series as they only make one kind of 72W adapter, despite what two p/n said on the brick itself. With him on the phone, I tried it. It worked fine, but I admit to being a bit concerned about the complexity in part numbers and future upgrades.

[mattfromomaha]

I admit to being a bit concerned about the complexity in part numbers and future upgrades.

That's been the case for years, though. I know IBM outsources the manufacture of power bricks, and I think that each mfr or batch or something gets its own part number. I have about 5 72W adapters floating around my world between my T42's main and spare adapters and all those here at work. I think maybe two of them share the same part number, but they are all identical in the specs.

[BillMorrow]

DavidNZ:
the X40 uses, or should use, a 56watt adapter..
the 72 watt will also work, but is bigger than needed..

and they DO change the P/N's more frequently than most people change socks..

some AC adapters have 3 wire AC cords and some have 2 wire AC cords and thus different part numbers..
and all these things must conform to worldwide specs.. 132 different countries with different rules..

then there are the FRU numbers..
or FRU P/N's..

all very confusing..

relax, as long as the voltage is the same and the amperage (wattage) is sufficient and it plugs into your "mains", it'll work..

[DavidNZ]

and they DO change the P/N's more frequently than most people change socks..

Heh - nice. Yeah, it seems to be working fine. I went with the 72W because it will (in theory) work with almost any machine I get in the future. If I went with another 56W, might not be suitable for a T series if that's my next machine. Just thinking 'future proof'

Cheers, Bill -

David

[BillMorrow]

I went with the 72W because it will (in theory) work with almost any machine I get in the future. If I went with another 56W, might not be suitable for a T series if that's my next machine. Just thinking 'future proof'

Cheers, Bill -

David

OH..
smart thinking..

one more thought..
IBM lost its grip on reality a long time ago..

why do i say this..?
because the "rules" seem to be fixed and unchangeable..
there seems to be no sense behind these rules..