Last true IBM branded T model?

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ThinkPad · #1 Post by **ThinkPad** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:20 pm

What was the last true IBM T series model made? From what I remember I think it was the T42 model that was the last one before Lenovo took over

Did IBM continue through to the T60, or is that line strictly Lenovo branded?

pianowizard · #2 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:22 pm

The T43 was the last from the IBM era.

ulrich.von.lich · #3 Post by **ulrich.von.lich** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:26 pm

The T43 is the last T series that has the tricolor IBM logo at startup. My T60p has an IBM sticker on the bottom but it's probably the dual branding thing. It says ThinkPad, a product of Lenovo at startup. However, I think the T60 is designed by the same team that did T4x. IBM sold not only its PC division but also some of its staff too, if I remember right.

#4 Post by **KristianJ** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:49 pm

pianowizard wrote:The T43 was the last from the IBM era.

To add to this, there are some later examples of the T43 from Lenovo that have the Lenovo logo to the left of the T43 "logo" next to the right hinge, plus other info relating to Lenovo on the base. There was one such example here at my workplace last week, but it's been taken off site so I can't take pics of it to show.

ulrich.von.lich · #5 Post by **ulrich.von.lich** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:02 pm

KristianJ wrote:
pianowizard wrote:The T43 was the last from the IBM era.
To add to this, there are some later examples of the T43 from Lenovo that have the Lenovo logo to the left of the T43 "logo" next to the right hinge, plus other info relating to Lenovo on the base. There was one such example here at my workplace last week, but it's been taken off site so I can't take pics of it to show.

Yes that's true. However, if you don't like the clear plate, you can order the one without Lenovo tag and change it yourself. The FRU number is 26R8409. (It can no longer be ordered from IBM France.)

Some T42s also have the Lenovo label on the bottom. My T43 has the IBM label on the bottom but says "manufactured for Lenovo" and so does my T60p. But all T4x have IBM logo at startup, which distinguishes them from T6 series, I think.

mattster · #6 Post by **mattster** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:21 pm

As someone who was part of the sale from IBM to Lenovo and if memory serves me correctly, the T43 was the last "true" IBM ThinkPad (designed by IBM Engineers). It was about 1/2 way through the design cycle when the sale went through. So, you could call it a hybrid of sorts (for all of you purists out there hehehehe).....

The T6x series was the first product line that was Lenovo designed.

sugo · #7 Post by **sugo** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:53 pm

mattster wrote:It was about 1/2 way through the design cycle when the sale went through. So, you could call it a hybrid of sorts (for all of you purists out there hehehehe)....

Perhaps T42 was the last pure IBM T after all?

#8 Post by **ryengineer** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:17 pm

Lenovo was still manufacturing products for IBM in 2003 but only took over the part of designing role years later when the deal was about to be closed so a pure IBM PC product (built and designed) would be only the ones released in the prior years to 2003.

Thinkpad Z60 (series) was the first lenovo designed thinkpad PC/line.

mattster wrote:snip....The T6x series was the first product line that was Lenovo designed.....snip

ricerocket · #9 Post by **ricerocket** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:20 am

sugo wrote:
mattster wrote:It was about 1/2 way through the design cycle when the sale went through. So, you could call it a hybrid of sorts (for all of you purists out there hehehehe)....
Perhaps T42 was the last pure IBM T after all?

I guess you could say that, but the T43 really isn't that different from the T42 and lower. The chassis is the same, as is all the peripherals. Only difference is the motherboard and it's components.

CZOLG · #10 Post by **CZOLG** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:30 am

ulrich.von.lich wrote: To add to this, there are some later examples of the T43 from Lenovo that have the Lenovo logo to the left of the T43 "logo" next to the right hinge, plus other info relating to Lenovo on the base. There was one such example here at my workplace last week, but it's been taken off site so I can't take pics of it to show.

I do have such a machine, but exactly a year ago. All the logos, including the one at startup are IBM, the stickers at the bottom however say clearly Lenovo. There also is the Lenovo name you mentioned. It looks terrible to be honets, simply does not fit there.

gunston · #11 Post by **gunston** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:32 am

should be the legendary classical IBM of T42 and model below...

SteveS · #12 Post by **SteveS** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:43 pm

ulrich.von.lich wrote:

IBM sold not only its PC division but also some of its staff too, if I remember right.

Correct
I don’t think you can say a certain model was the last one designed by “IBM engineers”. They may work for Lenovo now, but to my knowledge, it is the same engineering team who actually design the ThinkPads in the USA. They are customers of products from my company (test instrumention), and several have told me they have worked on ThinkPad designs for many years, just as an IBM employee before.
I don’t think that Lenovo actually “builds” ThinkPads. Virtually all laptop production is done by third party contract manufactures in China.

Last true IBM branded T model?

Last true IBM branded T model?

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