ThinkPad or car: What's more of a status symbol to you?

[Radioguy]

I think that outside of this community, most may consider this a no-brainer (Car), but of us, those who love ThinkPads, I wonder if it remains true.

Of course, a new car would cost more than even a fully loaded W workstation, but I wonder if most here would choose that loaded TP and skimp more on the car options. I know you have to be a car guy (or gal) for this to be more of a weighty decision, if one at all.

As for myself, I live in New York, and (despite the non-existent budget for one) don't need a car right now, and don't have one. Had I the druthers, I suppose I might buy a Maserati Boomerang just to stare at it (beautiful car), or maybe a more realistic (and drivable) Tesla Roadster. Despite those aberrations, I have an overall practical view of cars. I see them less as a status symbol or work of art, and more as a method of transportation. So, in the end, when I do buy, it will likely be something "safe", since family is a key reason for getting a car, especially in the city.

Now, I know a ThinkPad is a computer, and not so different than a car as to function, but, as I suppose cars do for some, it has transcended that aesthetically for me. I would prize a ThinkPad more, not just because it's a more affordable luxury, but for its beauty as well as being a status symbol among laptops as well. You see, I do feel a little pride at Starbucks when I break out my ThinkPad among the Dell's and HP's around me. In fact, I still would if they were "better" models.

I guess that's what it feels like to be a car guy...

(I added on a poll, and threw in some other status items some might otherwise put ahead of a high-end laptop)

[t140568]

It's hard to say. My three big ones are car, phone, and laptop. While they are becoming less and less important to me, I voted for "phone". I'm using a T-mobile G1, which isn't the most glamorous phone, but it is fun to show off since I'm running Android 2.2 (CM6).

[dr_st]

Had to say "laptop". Not that I really see it as a status symbol, but definitely more so than any of the others listed.

I drive a small Hyundai Getz which I bought used (3 years old). I wear a simple Casio digital watch with a plastic strap, for my phones I always get the cheapest kind that functions as a phone and has a usable interface (I only use my phone for its purest functions - calls and messages - smart phones are not my thing), and I don't normally upgrade my phone as long as it still works. I wear comfortable simple clothes and rarely buy any famous brands, same with shoes, with the exception that at some point I started buying shoes that are slightly more expensive and aren't "no names", simply because I appreciate the fact that they last longer.

I could easily afford to get more expensive things in all the above categories. For a little extra, I could lease a car from my workplace, and be driving a bigger, fancier and newer one. But I just don't feel the need, so I don't spend the money. I'd rather spend it to live more comfortably in a better house, in a better place, than on status symbols.

Laptops are the only thing in which I invest more to get, what I perceive, as more. Ever since I got my first one, which was a business-grade Compaq Evo N610c, I learned to appreciate business models over consumer ones. Then I got my T42, and never looked back. I spent more money on my used T60 Flexview than many people spend on new laptops, because I knew its value and uniqueness, and I knew why I was getting it.

So, yes, when I open up my Thinkpad in a coffee shop, I do feel a bit of pride, even though it's not "I am cooler than you because I can afford it", but "I am cool because I know what I want and can appreciate the subtle extra details which most people don't even notice".

[rek]

Laptop - meh, perhaps it'll get status points in the server room...

Car - smoke and mirrors. Anyone can sign themselves up for a lease towards a prestige car nowadays. Whether or not it's financial suicide is another point altogether..

Phone - these have become a transient and ultimately disposable device. I guess you could have said that a couple of months ago, an iPhone 3GS could be a "status symbol" among some. What of now? http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apple

Watch - this is the answer, for me. There's nothing quite like a quality watch; the craftsmanship, detail and timeless (pun unintended) quality.

Clothes - this was my second choice, but I'm not much of a clothes person

Shoes - that's more a chick thing tbh

[RealBlackStuff]

A watch, no doubt.
I've got a 20 year old Swiss Tissot watch, that I wear every day. Only take it off when I go to bed.
Keep it on while swimming (also in salt water), working on a car, cutting trees with a chainsaw, chopping wood, etc.
There's not a mark or scratch on it anywhere and accuracy even after 20 years is still within a few seconds per month.
Yet it's a quite simple, understated model, not one of those flashy Rolex klotzes.

I love Thinkpads, but they stay with me only a relatively short time before I sell them again.
But then I buy another one, and another one...

[craigmontHunter]

I chose laptop because it is a lot more relevant to where I am right now. I will (hopefully) be attending university next year, and need to save my money, so I cannot splurge on what I don't need. I have always looked for practicality over fashion in everything. I have a 30$ Casio watch with a 10-year battery that tells time. I wear clothes that can take anything - I have plaid flannel sweaters that are (from previous experience) fireproof, and I wear them out in a year and get a new one. I wear steel toed boots because they are all that i can find in my size.

Laptops are more of a status symbol as a means of how practical you are - the laptops I am using now is more of a conservation piece, being an old dell, repaired with crazy glue and parts off a old Toshiba. People see it and ask about it. Since almost every laptop sold today is powerful enough, I look more at whether people are interested in looks (apple) or durability (Think pad) - to me durability takes precedence.

I don't even have a phone - that's what I think of them as a status symbol.

If I got a car, it would probably be a used half-ton, since I can use a truck, not just because it looks cool.

[j-dawg]

I am more about quality than substance. I like to have features, but I will gladly give them up for solid build, good condition, good reputation: in general, things that are indicative of a long service life. These don't always square with what people "want," i.e. features, gimmicks, etc. But on a budget, I know where to put my money.

My example: cars. For a hypothetical budget of $10k (nearly 7x what I paid for my car, but speaking hypothetically), I'd rather spend $5k on an older, well-maintained Mercedes and put the rest towards maintenance and gas. Up to the mid-'90s, Mercedes built its cars to last. Why wouldn't a person want one of those instead of a $10k stripped-down Nissan Versa? Age and mileage are predictors of longevity, not guaranteed indicators. It's not worth buying a new $10k car that constantly reminds you of how little the manufacturer cared about its operation past the warranty period. The caveat is that maintenance on older European cars is crazy expensive, and all the little things that are worth fixing but not worth junking a car over will break...repeatedly (eg fiddly electrical whatsits, incredibly complicated valvetrains, infuriating fuel injection systems, etc.). But that's what you budget your extra $5k for. After your Versa's warranty would have expired and little rattles and squeaks and broken plastics would have driven you insane, your Mercedes will be as you bought it.

My actual car isn't a Mercedes. It's a '97 Nissan Maxima. Parts are cheap and the engine is nearly unkillable. But much as I like it, I know it was built to a price, not a standard. The Maxima is actually quite durable for what it is. But I don't expect it to last until disaster takes it - at some point, it just won't be worth fixing anymore. That's the difference between a Mercedes and a Nissan, or a Thinkpad and a Gateway, or a Swiss watch and a $10 digital. You can keep any of them going forever, but the good ones will reward you for it, and the rest will feel like punishment.

To get the good ones, you sometimes have to give something up: buy a used car instead of new, buy a less powerful Thinkpad than the equivalent-price Dell, sell your house to buy a Rolex instead of skipping lunch to buy a Timex. But if you can take care of these things, they'll last. And that's worth it to me.

[Falcon63]

Months ago, I would have said car. More so since I am 19. I had a good paying job for my age (30,xxx yearly). Beside my 63 Ford (inheritance, good shape but only put 100 miles a month on it), I also had a nice Trans Am WS6 that was totaled (accident ruled out as mechanical failure). I then went out and bought a C4 Corvette for $6,000 (Never will pay over $10,000 for a car unless I made six digits). That an old lady side swiped it, then a month later I lost my job. I sold the Corvette and bought a Ford Escort for $1,350. At this point, I can care less about a car. If it gets from A to B, great! I just want a house/condo. I found a bank owned condo in downtown Orlando for $80,000. This is a luxury condo, that sold for nearly $300,000 in the glory days. This is my next goal when I nail a job. Other then that, I would love a nice Rolex and suit.

~Steven

[craigmontHunter]

accident ruled out as mechanical failure

That almost happened to me last week on the highway - the break lines on my dad's truck rusted through and coming up to a red light, id discovered that I did not have any brakes. I stopped it with the E-brake, but it is amazing how much more effective the front brakes are at stopping a car.

[Utwig]

I have three Thinkpads and no car. It takes 15 minutes to work by bike. I can take 2kg X61T anywhere and I prefer to spend car budget on travel budget. I travelled more than 10.000km on this year's trip.

[tom lightbody]

> status symbol

boat?