I bought my first laptop--a Toshiba machine like 10 years ago. Since then, I have used Dell, Toshiba, Compaq, IBM and Acer.
The reasons am telling you all this, is to provide a perspective about the different machines I have used.
I bought my first IBM laptop in December 1999 and it’s never looking back since then.
It’s a P-III machine with 128MB RAM. I was recommended IBM after I complained to my friends about the short battery time of Dell machines. I complained the bulkiness of Toshiba...am not saying that my ThinkPad is very light. It’s abt 2.3 kg.
Since December 1999, I have treated this machine like a workhorse...and it’s powerful. I have installed NT on it, which has never crashed.
I connect it to my corporate LAN using the Xircom Ethernet card. It works great. I have used it in the comfort of my car...chauffeur driven, so that allowed me to work. I have used it in the crowded, sardine-packed trains of Bombay...yeah I managed to get a seat!
Believe me, I have used it in the dusty cabs of Bombay...the cool cabs. I have used it on Ships on my trips to Nhava Sheva from Bombay’s Ferry Wharf... I have used it ruggedly in Airlines and it’s still working.
Once when I was in Dubai, my battery almost died...well it was not dead yet...I tried to charge it but it wouldn’t charge to the full level of 3.2 hours. Tring tring...IBM in Dubai is a phone call away. I called them up and within no time, Mr. Manji of IBM Dubai replaced my battery. I just could not believe that it took almost no effort for me to convince him that my batteries needed to be replaced.
Once in Bombay, last month my sound card gave some problems. Spoke to Ashmita Chaudhary at IBM Mumbai...boom the problem was fixed.
Well, the only problem with the machine that irritated me was the space in front of the keypad...it’s made of steel and coated with high-quality paint...whatever that is. It seems that in India, due to the hot weather if you rub the palm of your hands, this paint chips off. Well of course, Sudhir at IBM Mumbai replaced it free but then IBM should look at modifying it for the Indian weather conditions.
Overall, it’s a great machine...Very stable and reliable. I hope it lasts until I have enough money to buy a newer ThinkPad with more power...and DVD.