What is it that is so different about Thinkpads?

[ChefJohn]

OK I got an old 600 then another then a 600E.
Of the first two one is used by my wife upstairs in the house for writing. The second is now designated as my "road" unit.
The 600E now with a Pentium III was the unit I used for kicking around - on somethings it was faster than my desktop (higher processor more ram & more Hard disk).
I have experienced how well made the thinkpads were/are the 600e I ebayed had survived a swimming (after I disassembled it found the remains of the soaking - crystal deposits), had a brain transplant (pII to pIII) and so on.

OK I inherited a Compaq notebook with 3x the processor 3x the RAM.
But there doesn't seem to be the same sort of community (nothing like the forums here). It seems as if even though the Compaq is newer it has less support.
Sort of like the thinkpads being the LBSC (Little British Sports Cars) while everything else being the chevyy.

Any opinions?

[JaneL]

But there doesn't seem to be the same sort of community (nothing like the forums here).

Compaq never had a reseller like Bill Morrow who went out and built a community when they pulled out of CompuServe...

[wearetheborg]

Compaqs are not that common. I dont think I've even seen one.
Thinkpads set the standard in business laptops. All other laptops are compared to that standard. Hence the community.

But other popular brands have a similar community, eg dell.

[dsigma6]

lol nonny!

OP- You mean Ford, not Chevy!

People use other laptops like they would a pair of socks...it does the job, but it's not something worth talking about.

[syedj]

People use other laptops like they would a pair of socks...it does the job, but it's not something worth talking about.

I agree with dsigma6. Over the years I have used various other brands but never really developed any affinity stronger than "a pair socks" with them. They were nice machines, did what they were supposed to and thats about it. With running the risk of sounding too mushy, ThinkPads develop a relation a bit deeper than an appliance that just gets the job done.

[wearetheborg]

I agree with dsigma6. Over the years I have used various other brands but never really developed any affinity stronger than "a pair socks" with them. They were nice machines, did what they were supposed to and thats about it. With running the risk of sounding too mushy, ThinkPads develop a relation a bit deeper than an appliance that just gets the job done.

I'm sure there is some term for this bias. You feel that way since you're in love with thinkpads. There exist similar communities for other brands. I used a dell inspiron first for a few years - not much relationship developed, it just got the job done. Then I used a T30 - better. Then I started on my latest laptop a year ago --- a Dell precision M90, and I am in love. I find it beautiful. The keyboard rocks, and the screen - its absolutely gorgeous (17" WUXGA). At least once every week a thought pops into my head about the beauty of the screen.
It is quite heavy (8.5lbs) but built like a tank. No flex or creaks anywhere (except above the keyboard where the power buttons are). Its nice to be able to rest elbows on top of the palmrest
Often I shut the lid just to slide my hands on the smooth metal lid and admire its lines. Its the first laptop I've been passionate about.

[dsigma6]

You feel that way since you're in love with thinkpads. There exist similar communities for other brands.

You didn't honestly think I was unaware of that, did you??
(No need to reply to this)

[syedj]

I'm sure there is some term for this bias. You feel that way since you're in love with thinkpads.

...

Often I shut the lid just to slide my hands on the smooth metal lid and admire its lines. Its the first laptop I've been passionate about.

While my feelings can safely be classified as strictly platonic but this I will call lust No offense intended, of course!

Just for the record, I opted to use my own personal ThinkPads instead of the company issued Dells and Compaq (in one case).

[wearetheborg]

[While my feelings can safely be classified as strictly platonic but this I will call lust No offense intended, of course!

Just for the record, I opted to use my own personal ThinkPads instead of the company issued Dells and Compaq (in one case).

It IS lust
I think only recently has dell managed to capture that special something in some of its designs. The latitudes earlier were uninspiring. The inspirons have always been consumer class. All plasticky.
The new Latitude D620, D820/D830 look very nice, and are closer to the thinkpad design. The XPS1210 looks very hot IHMO. I've seen it a couple of times with other people and I had the strong urge to grab hold of it and run away. The XPS1330 also looks very tantalisiing in pictures. I dont like the XPS1710 (too gaudy). The ones I like have the metalic look which looks very nice to me.

[syedj]

It IS lust
I think only recently has dell managed to capture that special something in some of its designs. The latitudes earlier were uninspiring. The inspirons have always been consumer class. All plasticky.
The new Latitude D620, D820/D830 look very nice, and are closer to the thinkpad design. The XPS1210 looks very hot IHMO. I've seen it a couple of times with other people and I had the strong urge to grab hold of it and run away. The XPS1330 also looks very tantalisiing in pictures. I dont like the XPS1710 (too gaudy). The ones I like have the metalic look which looks very nice to me.

The last Dell that I used was a D600 about 3 years ago. I think it is/was classified as a corporate machine but not 100% sure. I marginally liked the form factor and build quality and hence ended up buying the same machine. It is being used by my son now - the poor laptop is missing A, F, V and F2 keys now but I was able to convince him that he really doesn't need them for using the laptop to play some online Flash games despite the fact that he can't spell his name with the A key missing. (I hope I don't burn in hell just for this - not that I don't have plenty of other reasons to.) For the last 3 years, the D600 has been weathering a lot of physical abuse very nicely, I must admit.

I haven't had any opportunity to checkout Dell's newer laptops lines but I will as soon as I get a chance - with an open mind, I promise

P.S. I wish they had a hippo jumping emoticon as well, wearetheborg would have been soo much happier

[Purcy]

You feel that way since you're in love with thinkpads.

Couldn't agree more. I fell in love with just the photo of a Thinkpad, I can't even remember the model, but it was instant love and desire. I never felt that connection with any other device (PC, phone, etc) until my T22. Now DH owns a beautiful T23 and it is the same feeling, he is so possessive of it. I personally feel it comes from a deep pleasure and respect, knowing we own such fine, prestigous equipment (that word is not quite right for a Thinkpad)

Plus...... don't forget the darling ThinkLight

[mattbiernat]

my thinkpad is ugly and beutiful. I have love/hate relationship. although i started to accept her ( ) more and more.
the build quality really set it apart from my other notebooks such as apple and toshiba. simply no comparison. this community has also helped me get my windows to work the way i want it to.

[kensplace]

There is a fairly strong community of disgruntled hp/compaq laptop owners... Lots of people with dead compaqs that wont boot up, seems they tend to die when the cmos battery dies, and it corrupts the bios.

[wearetheborg]

P.S. I wish they had a hippo jumping emoticon as well, wearetheborg would have been soo much happier

I'm that transparent huh ?

[syedj]

P.S. I wish they had a hippo jumping emoticon as well, wearetheborg would have been soo much happier

I'm that transparent huh ?

Umm, no! It was just a wild guess

[jamerslong]

you know, I got my passion for the thinkpad in the back lines. when i was in highschool i was in the A+ class and the next year in the class the school got in a huge shipment of Laptops ranging from apple to dell to toshiba. they were donated from a company that upgraded their laptops. i had gotten ahold of 2 toshibas from the school by doing simple grunt work for the teacher. but there was that one thinkpad in the corner, i could help but look at it. keep playing with it. he wouldnt let me take it home either. i think it was a thinkpad 600. i just loved the Rugged look, the square design... how the colors of the IBM logo just shouted out from the flat black finish. from then on i often thought of getting one... here i am 5 years later and ive gone through a 600, 2 600x's and a T20 within 2 months. i am looking at getting a T42P once i get done destroying this insurance company for the Accident (No interest in the newer models) i might even jump all over a Tablet as well.

I must say though... Toshibas made good stuff back in the day... to bad they suck now

and IBM's desktops from back in the day were HORRIBLE (300 series) i hated when we had to work on those, they were a pain. However though, I loved dells optiplex systems(gx100 series) they were fast and easy to work on. i had one in my Office in JROTC when i was on batallion staff it was a 350Mhz system with 128Mb and Win 2K and it smoked all of the New desktops they had just gotten in.

i dont think ive ever snapped into a fourm so quickly before. 100 posts in 3 weeks.... i think the only time ive gotten this close was on a car audio forum.

[carbon_unit]

Toshiba does still make some good laptops but they aren't cheap.

[NS]

I have used a compaq, HP, Dell, Fujitsu and of course thinkpads...!

But my relationship with all the thinkpads listed in my sig is getting stronger and stronger and i cannot live without thinkpads because of the way they work. I have abused them in so many ways and they are just rock solid and always work the way that i wanted without letting me down...

I loved my R52 & T60!!

[WarMachine]

Hello !

Woaouhhh, you described so well what I feel with my thinkpads.

These machine are more than ordinary laptops.

With a Dell, with a Tosh, with a Compaq... You get the job done. That's it.

Own a thinkpad is a way of life. A passion.

Could it be different ? I don't think so. The babies are special. Built like tanks, comfortable, beautiful (not everyone taste, but mine).

Well, beautiful... It's true that earlier models were not exactly beautiful. My 755CS is not exactly an alter ego of Cindy Crawford...

I litteraly fell in - platonic - love with TPs when I saw the one my ex had bought. It was an iSeries I1400. I agree with you, not the best TP around the world... But then, I decided to buy one. I chose the Thinkpad 600.

It was absolutely marvelous. In perfect shape (really). The 1st thing I noticed was the quality of the screen. My ex's iSeries had an HPA SVGA LCD. The 600 had a XGA TFT LCD. What a contrast !

The peach skin was a true delight.

And the keyboard, oooooooooh, wonderful ! Firm, silent, I never typed so quickly !!!

This machine had a PII 233 MMX with 144 MB RAM (I did upgrades later). It booted more quickly than the Celeron 500 with 96 MB of RAM of the iSeries.

The form factor was excellent too : XGA screen, 13.3", 2.5 kg with battery. Perfection for me...

I upgraded the HDD (3.2 GB to 20 GB !!! ), the RAM (144 to 192 MB), the CPU (233 to 333MHz)... But I had problems with the DMA controller and the keyboard controller. I had to sell it in spare parts... Today, I just have the screen left.

I bought a Dell L400 to replace it, but, even if it was a nice machine, I missed my beloved 600 terribly... So, I bought again a 600E, which works like a charm, even nowadays. And as long as it works, i won't sell it, for sure !!!



W.

[lightweight]

Maybe too much information.

I am a previous owner of a HP Pavillion series and one of the higher-end Toshiba Satellites from '02. Worked with a Vaio, '04ish Dell Inspirion, and ultra portable Toshiba. I am hard on my laptops, and the build (screen, etc) and harddrive failures of these machines only allowed them to last a couple years at best. I decided I was done buying new laptops since I have a habit of breaking them, and I thought them a luxury not quite worth the pain in the [censored].

I have a coworker with a T43 and another with a T60p. I checked out the hinges and thought, "[censored]," borrowed them, did some work, read up a little, and was impressed. I still had no intentions of breaking my no new laptop rule. I was looking for something I could do a couple hours of wireless work on a day.

Now I have an X22, and:
1) like the keyboard and trackpoint so much I use it to shell to every server and control each of my desktops. When I'm at a desktop.

(And at work I already had a fantastic 80's IBM-esque keyboard a buddy gave me. While great, the X22's is not better, but the trackpoint puts it over the top.)

2) feel confident I could hit something with it, open it up, and go back to work. You know, in case I have to.

3) enjoy taking apart a laptop, for the first time ever.

4) despite some serious boxes, my little P3 X22 may be my most productive.

5) while I do not know Lenovo, I am patiently awaiting an higher resolution X series with real-world 8+ hour battery life.

I am not quite fanboy, yet, but I have a high degree of confidence my next laptop will be a Thinkpad. They are simply fantastic machines.

[mattbiernat]

Toshiba does still make some good laptops but they aren't cheap.

after a year and a half the screen died and was very loose. i stay away from toshiba as far as a i can. $2000 went down the trash.

[NS]

The reasons why you need to love your thinkpads...

1) Thinkpads have such a wonderful build quality.
2) Even though the price does not look so appealing, the way the little workhorse works is a charm..
3) If you have encountered with any thinkpad problems, we have a wonderful thinkpad community (made up of all thinkpads professionals from all over the globe) to serve you.
4)

5)...

and it just goes down the list..

**I am not going to criticise any other laptop brands which are built so nicely but worked like crap.. and if i started to rant, i cannot stop... **

Thinkpads =>

[wearetheborg]

2) Even though the price does not look so appealing, the way the little workhorse works is a charm..

I think the price now is VERY appealing.
A T61P with SXGA+ screeen under $1000 ? Hard to beat that.

[Purcy]

2) feel confident I could hit something with it, open it up, and go back to work. You know, in case I have to.

That's pretty funny.

[Oraklini]

Since I discovered the delights of my T42, my all singing all dancing
AMD FX60 machine is quite idle. Oh well

[WarMachine]

It's me again ! :p

Just here to say that I'm dicovering my new X20 at this very moment.

I just bought it yesterday.

It seems that it's a wonderful little piece of technology. I love the fact that it mixes lightness and solidity.

But that's not all, it's also comfortable and [censored] small (but not Linux ).

The screen is really good and crisp.

Am I lucky, or is that everytime the same story ? : Indeed, every Thinkpad I bought seemed to be in better shape IRL than when I looked at the pics, before buying them !

Of course, they're not new, but it's difficult to see a difference...



W.