What brand laptop would you buy if Lenovo destroys Thinkpads

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t20user · #1 Post by **t20user** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:28 pm

Im not sure about this one. Dell still seems way off in quality and durability. I like a few Toshibas, Sonys, even a Sharp. But I think in the end i would go for a Panasonic Toughbook.

#2 Post by **K. Eng** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:54 pm

I don't like Toshibas much anymore. Most of them feel cheap. Sony looks nice but they are harder to upgrade and maintain than ThinkPads and Sony service & support is not well rated. Panasonic is good but $$$$.

I'd go with an HP business machine. However, it looks like Lenovo is doing a good job with the new ThinkPads.

#3 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:07 pm

That is a difficult question. I will approach it this way: I will divide the cost of my T41 by 4 (years) and spend no more than that on any non-IBM laptop. Then when it expires in a year, the cost will be no more that I incur now. ... JD Hurst

#4 Post by **JaneL** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:16 pm

K. Eng wrote:I'd go with an HP business machine. However, it looks like Lenovo is doing a good job with the new ThinkPads.

I don't like the keyboard on the HPs. See my comments in http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... ht=#120919

christopher_wolf · #5 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:48 pm

I don't like the feel of the HP keyboards either; my comments are in the same thread that Nonny linked; my friend has a Panasonic toughbook and it hasn't been any tougher than an ordinary notebook..It eventually ended up with some cracks and bad pixels. I do, however, like some Toshibas that I have seen, and the keyboard quality isnt that bad. I do think, however, that Lenovo is quite a ways away from fuddling up the Thinkpad line up that bad.

t20user · #6 Post by **t20user** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:42 pm

I agree Lenovo is doing well so far with the line, but I am scared for the distant future. I am a firm believer in American innovation, and they can only cling to the IBM designs for so long. I wonder if the designers they kept will stay on.

As for the other options, I think its Panasonic. Problem is the Toughbook line runs the gammit. The low end (not a real Toughbook) is still called a Toughbook. You have to shell out to get the goods.

#7 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 12:27 am

If somehow, ThinkPads did infact go bad and I was looking for a brand new computer, I'd definitley look at the HP Compaqs business offerings first. I can't remember any specifics on that line but I do remember seeing some pretty nice looking business notebooks from them a while back.

I'd also probably look at the (*gasp!*) Lattitude line by Dell and the Toshiba Tecra line.

#8 Post by **thePCxp** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 1:23 am

I would just keep getting ThinkPad's and I don't think that Lenovo is going to going to destroy the ThinkPad's.

pphilipko · #9 Post by **pphilipko** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 1:48 am

I'd probably go for the Asus line of notebooks. Some of them are beauties!

epbrown · #10 Post by **epbrown** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 3:13 am

I'd do what I'm doing now - try to make my current Thinkpads last as long as possible. Whatever I have needs to be able to run the same MS Office version as work. In 2005, my job moved up to Office 2000, so I've got until about 5 years after a version of Office arrives that can't be run on a 600X with an 850Mhz cpu and .5GB RAM. Then, I'll move up to the T-series models!

#11 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 3:41 am

epbrown wrote:I'd do what I'm doing now - try to make my current Thinkpads last as long as possible. Whatever I have needs to be able to run the same MS Office version as work. In 2005, my job moved up to Office 2000, so I've got until about 5 years after a version of Office arrives that can't be run on a 600X with an 850Mhz cpu and .5GB RAM. Then, I'll move up to the T-series models!

I know just what it's like to be in that alley. Today, I finally moved on up to using a Pentium II laptop, the 600E in my sig. No more Pentium I's for me, I've outgrown that!

I figure by the time I have kids, I'll have a laptop with Centino.

Website · #12 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:12 am

I think that even if Lenovo completely mucked up the Thinkpad line, I would still continue to climb the current Thinkpad ladder. In the event that I top out with the last "good" Thinkpad, I might reconsider, but...

No other Laptop maker offers the support (including this forum) like IBM.

dsvochak · #13 Post by **dsvochak** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:49 am

tfflivemb2 wrote: "I think that even if Lenovo completely mucked up the Thinkpad line, I would still continue to climb the current Thinkpad ladder." which, since that's the course I'm currently on, makes sense to me. Once past that point, I'd follow jdhurst's reasoning, with one addition: I wouldn't buy anything that I couldn't buy locally, probably at a local big box store.

If I don't expect it to last, I wouldn't want to spend time arguing long distance with the vendor about the keyboard, display, construction quality etc. Since that apparently doesn't work now, I don't expect it would work then, so why bother. A notebook would become a disposable appliance for me.

SpaRood · #14 Post by **SpaRood** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:06 pm

Lenovo won't kill the chicken with the golden egg, however, I still like Apple very much.

mlli4 · #15 Post by **mlli4** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:19 pm

It is a hard question.

I think apple's hardware design is quite good. But it is designed not to be opened by customer. If you had a powerbook and keyboard brokes, you would have to send the machine back to get keyboard replaced.

The best thing about thinkpad is it is easy to buy replacement part and the service is generally good.

As for toshiba, I had one for a week then returned it. I don't like it.
Sony looks good, but over priced and not sturdy.

HP I don't know. But I had a compaq, horrible keyboard.

I guess I will buy a fujistu s6240. But I am a little worried about the service.

#16 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:49 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote: No other Laptop maker offers the support (including this forum) like IBM.

lenovo does not offer this forum..
nor do they support me in any way..

this is my personal effort..

ibm used to give me some small VERYunofficial support by sending the occasional customer to buy something..
but no more..

Website · #17 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 12:15 am

BillMorrow wrote:
tfflivemb2 wrote: No other Laptop maker offers the support (including this forum) like IBM.
lenovo does not offer this forum..
nor do they support me in any way..

this is my personal effort..

ibm used to give me some small VERYunofficial support by sending the occasional customer to buy something..
but no more..

Sorry, I am fully aware that they do not support this forum in any way shape or form. I should have chosen my words more carefully.

I should have said something more like: No other laptop maker offers the support that IBM/Lenovo does (ie. drivers, HMMs, etc.) Furthermore, no other laptop maker has a following like IBM/Lenovo or the benefit of a forum such as this one.

I truly hope that they reconsider their stance with you (including your purchase capabilities), as this forum could be an excellent selling factor for them.

#18 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 12:27 am

Well, one thing I do notice is that even with company support aside, most other laptops don't seem to have the cult following that ThinkPads get and major support groups such as this messageboard are harder to find and/or don't last as long.

rleo25 · #19 Post by **rleo25** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:12 am

One of the seven qualities of enduring brand according to Thomas Kosnik quoted by Gerry Purdy and Deborah Dell in its book: "Thinkpad a different shade of blue" is: "A global learning network".

this forum built with the effort of Bill Morrow is a part of such network, an important one part, because the quality of its members and the care provided to keep its contents on the highest standars possible in an open forum.

Well, Lenovo's marketing officials should better take this into account and not only listen the voice of the customer (more efficently and costless than its own efforts in doing so) but supporting Bill in any way, this would help the forum to keep alive for a long time and contribute to the Thinkpad development in any way.

Justitia · #20 Post by **Justitia** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 8:57 am

I've decided to go with ASUS z70va...

I wanted a 15.4" widescreen with a high resolution, non-glare screen. I waited to see what Lenovo came out with and I was disappointed. Unless I missed something, they didn't come out with what I wanted.

The z70va is about to be dropped in favor of the new Core duo ASUS's but I do not like what they offer either.

People who have the z70va are extremely happy with it.

I will miss the IBM support and quality. I have been a ThinkPad user for 10 years. I am not at all sophisticated about computers like the people here.

#21 Post by **Kyocera** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 12:19 pm

I actually liked my toshiba satellite, while it was a bit heavier and my friends referred to it as a "tank" it was indeed the M1Abrahms of tanks.

I would have to give Sony, a shot first (I still have a reel to reel tape player that my Uncle bought in the Navy in Japan in the 60's that works, seems as though their CEO is getting a hold on maintaining the traditions of quality

) then it would be back to Toshiba.

I would also like to say that I used to frequent the IBM tech forum when it was running, and there is no comparison to thinkpads.com in any way, shape, matter, form, or fashion, this is a great source and Nonny, JD, Chris and others are a great help and keep things cool.

Thanks Bill.

wantathinkpad · #22 Post by **wantathinkpad** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 2:01 pm

I don' think Lenovo will destroy the Thinkpads. After all They are thinkpads. I think upgrades wil continue to be easy, quality still be better than most and support superb.

However in terms of cheekiness, and simplicity I heard LG laptops are climbing

rleo25 · #23 Post by **rleo25** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 3:57 pm

Hey folks don't worry!!!

I've known from a trusty source, that Lenovo intends to mantain the Thinkpad as its high end brand, while producing their other notebooks to the low cost market segments. In this task they are trying to leave some old fashioned IBM development practices, no matter if in the intent they have made mistakes, that will be enmended. Just wait a little and we will have in the stores, maybe by next autumn the new cutting edge Thinkpad generation... Rest assured that they are no dumbs... my next notebook will be a Thinkpad.

wolfman · #24 Post by **wolfman** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 5:38 pm

Well, if I could no longer buy a Thinkpad model in the future, regardless of the brand I'd go with, the biggest single hurdle would be using a touchpad.

I just can not get used to using one - and carrying a mouse kind of defeats the purpose in my mind...I know Dell and Toshiba (maybe others?) have models with track point type devices - but at least as far as my work issued Dell Lattitude D800 goes, they do not in any way compare...

anthean · #25 Post by **anthean** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 7:16 pm

Asus or Panasonic, or maybe HP.

sugo · #26 Post by **sugo** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 7:20 pm

Panasonic or Fujitsu.

lparsons · #27 Post by **lparsons** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 11:06 pm

wolfman wrote:Well, if I could no longer buy a Thinkpad model in the future, regardless of the brand I'd go with, the biggest single hurdle would be using a touchpad.

I just can not get used to using one - and carrying a mouse kind of defeats the purpose in my mind...I know Dell and Toshiba (maybe others?) have models with track point type devices - but at least as far as my work issued Dell Lattitude D800 goes, they do not in any way compare...

I was wondering if someone else would cite this. I also stick to thinkpads because of the trackpoint (ie, I cannot stand touchpads).
Does toshiba still have models with trackpoint-style devices? I haven't seen any in stores in some time - though that doesn't mean that their business class models don't have them. Their consumer level laptops used to (years ago) but no longer do.
I don't care much for dells myself. I thought I had seen an HP a while back that had both a touchpad and a pointing stick. I would also say that amongst wide-screen laptops, I felt HP made the most innovative keyboard - they added a numpad, whereas others (even apple) just left empty space! Not that I have the money for a 17" laptop...

christopher_wolf · #28 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:29 am

There are still Trackpoints on other laptops out there; the only trouble, for me at least, seems to be that they are now added as an after-thought. I *cannot* stand the recessed little..blue thing that goes for a Trackpoint on a Dell I have. Toshiba had some systems awhile back that had nice Trackpoints; I know HP has Trackpoints, but the keyboards on most modern HPs are lacking (And I can think of *much* better uses for extra space on a Widescreen laptop; well, better than a whole Numeric Keypad that's for sure

).

pianowizard · #29 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:44 am

If Lenovo stops making Thinkpads, I will try an ultraportable Panasonic Toughbook such as one of the W2 models (12.1-inch display, <3 lbs, and with internal optical drive). Portability and sturdiness are really important to me, and so far Thinkpads are the only brand I have used that's consistently satisfactory in both respects. The Toshiba Portege R100 that I bought yesterday is even lighter than the Thinkpad X40, but its display lid is almost as flexible as a piece of cardboard paper!

notebooknewbie · #30 Post by **notebooknewbie** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 5:36 pm

If there was any (safe) way you could have a dual-booting Apple laptop (Mac OS and Microsoft OS), I'd be first in line for that.

What brand laptop would you buy if Lenovo destroys Thinkpads

What brand laptop would you buy if Lenovo destroys Thinkpads

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