IBM Thinkpad 11th anniversary sale

[Terry]

Weird, we don't hear too much about IBM lappies on this forum.

They are supposed to be really well built laptops.

What's the reason?

[rw96823]

Expensive (if you're buying it brand new) compared to the cheaper deals from other manufacturers.

I have an older Thinkpad (600x), which is (to me, anyway) built better than any cheap DELL.

Of course, it is a second hand unit and not the fastest, but it is thin light and well constructed.

[ATilaptops]

if IBM would include some better gfx cards in their laptops, at least the T40's/T41's then I'd love to buy one. But for thier prices not having at LEAST an M9 card seems sorta cheap.

[SkyDog]

Originally posted by Terry
Weird, we don't hear too much about IBM lappies on this forum.
They are supposed to be really well built laptops.
What's the reason?

Except for their budget models, they are really well-built laptops. But they tend to be more expensive and they're generally built with business customers in mind who don't need the latest and greatest 3D chipset.

(I'm typing this post on a ThinkPad 600E that still gets regular use after more than four years. It may not be anywhere near as fast as my newer machines, but it's probably the best-built laptop I've used. It's rare to find a laptop with zero perceptible keyboard flex.)

[Terry]

keynoard flex?

I always hear IBM keyboards are the best ones, and then Dell comes after that.

I have a Dell and the keyboard is excellent.
That must mean IBM is awesome!

[SkyDog]

Originally posted by Terry
keyboard flex?

When you press a key on most laptops (even my Dell Latitude D600 and the Inspiron 4100 I had before it), the keyboard will usually flex just a little bit. Try pressing a little bit harder than normal and look at the adjacent keys and where the keyboard meets the bezel. There's a good chance you'll see a fraction of an inch of movement.

Keyboard flex isn't really a big deal -- just a minor comfort and craftsmanship issue. The keyboard on my old ThinkPad 600E just doesn't flex, though. It's just as solid feeling as the keyboard on my desktop. And if you use a laptop a lot, those little details add up to make one model more enjoyable to use than another (which is why the old ThinkPad still gets used even though it's the slowest box in the house).

Originally posted by Terry
I always hear IBM keyboards are the best ones, and then Dell comes after that.

It's hard to make generalizations like that since IBM, Dell, and other companies outsource the design and production of their laptops, and not always to the same subcontractor. Dell for example has used at least three companies to produce their notebooks and Dell pretty much just slaps their logo on 'em. So the quality can really vary from model to model (especially over time as agreements with those contracted manufacturers expire). Which just means that you need to compare model to model, not brand to brand.

[coolqf]

Originally posted by Terry
keynoard flex?

I always hear IBM keyboards are the best ones, and then Dell comes after that.

I have a Dell and the keyboard is excellent.
That must mean IBM is awesome!

Helped a friend purchase the a latitude model (2yrs ago) The keyboard was meant for 'easy touch' or something. The keys were LOUD. Drove me crazy. I preferred quiet over 'easy touch.'