PowerBook users; anyone own an IBM ThinkPad?

[moby1]

I'm looking at getting a 2nd laptop and I'm considering an IBM ThinkPad.

I'd like to hear from any PowerBook users out there who might also have one of the T or X series ThinkPads.

I'm not interested in the merits of Windows... I'll be using both W2K and Red Hat on the IBM and I'm just interested in opinions on the quality of the ThinkPad line from PowerBook (or iBook) users who have hands-on experience.

 

[krossfyter]

Moby doesnt use pcs he ONLY uses macs.

 

[moby1]

I am not Moby.

I am Moby1.

(live long and prosper)

 

[mdminnix]

thinkpads are fantastic

I have no experience with the T or X series laptops but I felt compelled to endorse the Thinkpads. I had a 380 that I bought in '98. Been a while but without a doubt it was one of the best computers I have ever owned (I have experience with about 6 brands of laptop inc. Apple). Alot of people in the Windows world don't know it but hardware is a crucial factor in determing the quality of your OS experience. IBM is the best in this regards both in terms of product quality and tech support. Mine came with 95sr2 installed but I moved up to one of the first releases of 98. The IBM web page had a list of drivers to download and a necessary BIOS update along with easy instructions on installing them. Piece of cake. Once done, that install of 98 was the most solid OS I have ever worked with (OS X isn't even nearly so). It never ever crashed. I dragged that machine all over the States and Europe, in extreme cold and heat. I accidently dropped it from a few feet once. I sometimes left it running for days. I loaded it with all kinds of apps and ran many at once, all the time. I plugged it into many networks and to friends' printers, etc. Never a problem. I kept it for years and used it as a backup until last year when I gave it to a friend in need.

I just checked out the IBM web page and from I can see both the T and X look good. IBM used to have the iSeries and those were completely different- stay far clear of those. They used a different outsourcer and design - a cheap 'consumer line'. Utter crap. I think that series might have become the A series, so beware of those.

So yeah, thumbs up with the Thinkpad; I remember even Jobs used one back when he came back to Apple. I had a picture once of him running OpenStep, preparing his presentation at an Apple news conference.

 

[edesignuk]

Well, I don't have a PowerBook (yet!) but I do have a StinkPad T21 (PIII800, 512Mb, 20Gb, DVD) and as far as wintel notebooks go it is very good.
The build quality is great and it feels very solid, performence is good and I have not had any problems.
Plus, at my work place we have hundreds of T & X series SthinkPads which appart from people misstreating them we don't have any big problems with.

 

[iGav]

What about a Sony Vaio??

I was considering buying a Vaio to help me out with cross-platform development, and they ain't half bad looking for a PC either..........

 

[Backtothemac]

Re: PowerBook users; anyone own an IBM ThinkPad?

Originally posted by moby1
I'm looking at getting a 2nd laptop and I'm considering an IBM ThinkPad.

I'd like to hear from any PowerBook users out there who might also have one of the T or X series ThinkPads.

I'm not interested in the merits of Windows... I'll be using both W2K and Red Hat on the IBM and I'm just interested in opinions on the quality of the ThinkPad line from PowerBook (or iBook) users who have hands-on experience.

Well, I can say this. We are Apple and IBM resellers. We have never had a ThinkPad come DOA and neither has any Apple. I think that if you are going to buy a PC, IBM is the way to go. They are ugly as as I was at 13, but they are rock solid.

Drop me a PM and I will get you a price on one.

B2TM

 

[teabgs]

Re: Re: PowerBook users; anyone own an IBM ThinkPad?

Originally posted by Backtothemac


Well, I can say this. We are Apple and IBM resellers. We have never had a ThinkPad come DOA and neither has any Apple. I think that if you are going to buy a PC, IBM is the way to go. They are ugly as as I was at 13, but they are rock solid.

Drop me a PM and I will get you a price on one.

B2TM

ugly as you were? You call this an improvement


Anyway, if youre gonna get a PC....which you shouldnt, but if you're going to send Backdawg a PM....he's given me a greatr price on a dual 1.25 and a great price for the gf on an ibook, which She LOVES>.....he's got the hookups....seriously, or I'm not Teabgs.

 

[losfp]

Hopefully I'll be getting a PowerBook closer to the end of the year....

But I have a ThinkPad 600E (P-II 366mhz, 290MB RAM) and it is rock solid. Runs Win XP like a dream and I haven't had any issues with it. All my experiences with IBM ThinkPads have been excellent - IMHO they make the best-constructed notebook computers in the world. Dells, Gateways seem to have a slightly flimsy feel to me, but not the IBMs.

Not pretty, but classy enough in standard black. IMHO you can't go wrong with a ThinkPad.

 

[Vanilla]

I have a ThinkPad T20 700Mhz with 512MB Ram, 12GB HD, originally installed with W2K but recently re-installed with XP. Bought in 2000 and been very, very happy with it. IBM build quality second to none, online support likewise. Will not win any style battles when compared to a TiBook, but gets the job done.
Good, solid, quality laptop.
I'm personnally about to purchase a Powermac dual 1ghz as my main desktop but will keep the Thinkpad as my laptop.
cheers
Vanilla

 

[macktheknife]

Originally posted by iGAV
What about a Sony Vaio??

I was considering buying a Vaio to help me out with cross-platform development, and they ain't half bad looking for a PC either..........

In terms of looks and portability, you really can't beat a Sony laptop. However, from some people who I personally know who owned a Sony laptop, they experienced some significant problems. Whether it's hardware or software-related, I can't say.

 

[sphereboy]

ThinkPad's are probably the best way to go. The Dull [Dell] models look and feel so flimsy..and i've had a few friends with problems.

The ThinkPad's have been very reliable here at work for the Tech guys.

 

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by iGAV
What about a Sony Vaio??

I was considering buying a Vaio to help me out with cross-platform development, and they ain't half bad looking for a PC either..........

there is no doubt that VAIO is a much better pc laptop, but from the online shopping and the stores (when ibm had a retail presence), VAIO is just too expensive of a machine

IBM is middle of the road priced where VAIO, panasonic toughbook, and tibook are all a bit on the pricey side

only the really high end ibm laptops are very high in price, especially some of the really lightweight models with docks which can set you back 4 grand...in that case, definitely get a VAIO

VAIO is the best pc laptop, followed by toshiba, then ibm...check out laptop magazine and mobile computing over several months to get a "feel" for different pc laptops

but in the end, ibm, VAIO, or toshiba are all great buys and great machines...but not the same as ibook and tibook, but hey, they never will be anytime soon unless windows comes in a really easy to use, crash-proof version that is $129 USD

 

[SilvorX]

hmm some mac users must love ibm jk jk
apple and ibm have a good alliance so hopefully apple wakes up n smells the burning bacon n eggs n gets ibm to create the G5 for them

 

[moby1]

ThinkPad comments

Thanks for the responses. I'm currently leaning towards an X22...maybe a T23 later.

I'll probably go for IBM over VAIO because the ThinkPads support most versions of Windows and there's excellent Red Hat support too. Practicing installs and configurations is a key reason for this purchase.

Of course the X22 means I'll be doing network installs; Can I do an install from an ISO on the PowerBook or a Firewire drive connected to the PowerBook? Anyone know?

Anyway, It'll be fun doing some installs and set ups of Red Hat. I need to play with Samba too; I'd like to learn more about PC - Mac - Linux networking.

M1