Build Quality and ThinkVantage After Lenovo Buyout

Hi all,

I know this topic was talked about before but now Lenovo has had sometime to make an impact, has the build quality on the thinkpads actually changed?

When the thinkpads were still an IBM business, I was too young to make electronic purchasing decisions in the household. Now I've bought a R61i and its build quality is just incredible compared to my old Compaq. But I don't actually have an old IBM thinkpad to compare with.

Also has ThinkVantage become any better or worse than the old Access IBM software? Do you guys use it or is it just bloatware?

Cheers
Jeremy

 

Well, all I know was, long before thinkpad become Lenovo, they were oemed by Lenovo anyway, so the quality should be the same.

 

I've been using Thinkpads for about 10 years now, using a new T61 for work right now. I can see no difference in the build quality. They keyboard even feels better than my old T42. They're still solid black bricks.

Thinkvantage seems about the same, but the gui has improved a little. It's also still chock full of unnecessary stuff that I never use. The power manager is better though. I dual-boot Ubuntu and XP, and in XP I get about 20% more battery life, I assume because of the Thinkvantage power manager.

Greg.

 

I personaly feel that the quality is better

 

Lenovo did cut out some inputs & outputs, though. My 5-year-old A31 has an audio line in, and an s-video output. The new T61p has neither.

 

Quality worse.
Customer service much worse.
Price to quality much better.

 

I have used a T43 & a Toshiba Tecra M3 for several years now (both Corporate owned for my job).

The quality of the T60 vs the T43 is somewhat Lacking. Don't get me wrong, I believe the T60/T61 are the best Notebooks available from Speed, reliability & over-all Performance (Still Looks great to me, also). Yet it's not made as good as the former T43 is!

I purchase a Toshiba Tecra M3 this year also (like New). It's comparable to the T43, quality wise!

As they say, "They Just Don't Make Them Like They Use TOO"!!

However, the ThinkPads T60/T61 are all IBM to me!!

Sircas

 

well for those who say worse, how much worse is it? And is this because Lenovo changed ODMs?

 

i think the quality is at 90% compared to the older thinkpads. This is now because we have a roll cage and plastic to cover, which may flex in the palm rest area..other than that it is fine. the lcd plastic is as solid as i remember to be on my old t40; i just have complaints with the palm rest...they shouldn't have made it removable when sticking in extra ram; my old t40's ram could be upgraded underneith so we didn't have to remove too many parts

 

Did Lenovo (formally known as Legend Holdings) really OEM ThinkPads for IBM? I'm not doubting you, but just curious because I hear this often and really don't know. Also, I was following a thread a few days ago where someone stated that IBM outsourced to the contract manufacturer Sanmina SCI until being aquired by Lenovo. The COMPANY HISTORY on the Lenovo website does only seem to show parallel timelines until 2005, when Lenovo acquires IBM PCD. There is not a stated or implied relationship between the two companies except for the acquisition.

I've tried to search who manufactured IBM before 2005 but couldn't find any definitive information or references.

 

before IBM designed the laptop and lenovo built it for them; in fact the current thinkpads are being built in the same exact warehouses the original thinkpads were being built in

 

But how do people know this for fact and why wouldn't that relationship be shown in their company history? I've only heard people say this here, but never seen any source for this information.

Not trying to be argumentative.

 

also all the engineers that worked on thinkpads under IBM are the same and they moved to Lenovo

This is fact because I read some press releases when the switch was first made. i have been following thinkpads for a long while now. Im at work, but try googling press releases from both ibm and lenovo around 2004 when the switch was made

 

After a bit more focused searching, I can't find references to Lenovo manufacturing ThinkPads in the years before the acquisition. I've found articles that mention that Sanmina SCI will handle custom configured ThinkPads, this one is from CNET in 2003:


"Despite outsourcing desktops and some servers, IBM plans to keep its ThinkPad notebook line in-house. But the company will also streamline manufacturing there. The company said most of its ThinkPad manufacturing has been consolidated in a single facility in Shenzhen, China. Sanmina-SCI will begin handling some assembly of certain custom-configured ThinkPad models, however."


The Shenzhen facility mentioned above is referenced in several articles that say the main manufacturer for ThinkPads had been Great Wall Technology Ltd. This reference is from some website in 2004, but it's an AP business writer.


"IBM headed for the factory exits, too. While it designs all its PCs, even its best-known products, such as the ThinkPad, are made by outside vendors, such as a Chinese company called Great Wall Technology Ltd.

IBM also has deals with equipment makers Solectron, Sanmina, Wistron and Quanta Computer."


Not trying to start an augment, but I can't find mention of Lenovo, Legend Holding, or Legend PC making computers for IBM before 2004/2005. I'm not saying it's not true either because manufacturing is normally hidden or obfuscated for good reason. Plus plenty of companies are all over the place in their relationships. But I'm curious where bold statements (lots) that Lenovo made ThinkPads for several years prior come from. Where is this information?

 

I beleive that the same Techs (Used-to-Be Manufacturing Contractors) for IBM ThinkPads are the Same!

A great majority of Durable/Hard Goods (Autos, Machinery & Computers) are not made as well as they were several, 10 or 15 years ago.

This is a combination of weaker/cheaper Materals (Softer, more synthetic) & workmenship. The processes & engineering is Better, more advanced. But that it!!

Everything now-a-days are Faster, Lighter & usually cheaper! But want last as long & Stand-up to the same usage/abuse!

As they say, "They Just Don't Make Them Like They Use TOO"!!

 

And the thinkpads now are still designed in the same lab as it was in Japan..
Also, From what I know Quanta did assemble some of the IBM computers...

 

Well if IBM couldnt make money from the Thinkpad range it must not be competitive, they have to cut corners (or improve efficiency so says the business strategy gurus ). How are they doing it?

 

well..streamlining the process has gone up...parts prices have gone down. plus they are now marketing to consumers rather than just business.

Prices are literally half of what they were under ibm...but the value/$ ratio is much higher now

 

It’s fact because you say so? I have searched and have not turned up one bit of evidence that Lenovo or Legend had anything to do with IBM before the acquisition. They made their name as a domestic presence and grew into a global company with the acquisition of IBM.

If you have any information that demonstrates Lenovo or Legend ever made ThinkPads for IBM, please share. At best, it’s misleading to say that ‘Lenovo made ThinkPads for IBM well before they were bought’ because it’s not completely true. Several contract manufacturers had a hand in ThinkPads at that time.

I really wonder why so many people speak so authoritatively that ThinkPads were made by Lenovo for such a long time. I don’t see it. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

 

Take a look at the video in the sticky; it is mentioned in there as well, i think it was at least. I will do some searching over the weekend and reply back otherwise

 

It’s not mentioned there either. Maybe the general confusion is that Lenovo took over a facility in Shenzhen, China that made ThinkPads under the name of Great Wall Technology Ltd. The facility was a joint venture between IBM and Great Wall and was known as International Information Products Co. Maybe some people confuse this facility with Lenovo (Legend) even though they were actually competitors.

In any case, Lenovo didn’t make ThinkPads for IBM in the years before the acquisition – Great Wall, Sanmina, and other contract manufacturers did.

 

http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/customerqa.html

 

That definitely says nothing about Lenovo ever building Thinkpads. In fact, it looks like they go to great lengths to imply it, but if they refuse to say it.

 

Where is it even implied? I think it's pretty clear that Lenovo wasn't building ThinkPads long before the acquisition in 2005.

 

It's obvious from the QUESTIONS (i.e. 5, 6, & 7), they are trying to give the impression that nothing is changing. The answers are just BS to make you feel assured.

 

does it matter... now?