When can we expect the widescreen T60 to be available in Malaysia?

For some reason, Lenovo Malaysia's web site only offers the lowest end configuration for the T and Z series, but these options are available in other countries. Can we actually order the higher spec models here? Please enlighten me...

How? Through the phone or do I need to go to a reseller?

I doubt IBM will re-purchase their PC division from Lenovo. The most it could do now is introduce its own new line of notebooks, but I doubt they would want to re-enter the PC market since it is so congested and margins are extremely slim.
Lenovo might have simply "forgotten" about the Malaysian market. I think for a country as big as Malaysia, they sell less Thinkpads than they do in Singapore and other developed nations, so they'd rather promote their own Y series. It's very unfortunate because Malaysian consumers don't appreciate why business notebooks are priced much higher than their consumer counterparts yet have lesser features (this applies to all brands).

This post has been edited by chris_c28: Apr 9 2007, 01:15 PM

It just won't happen because IBM isn't keen on the PC market anymore. The Z series is also being slowly phased out as Lenovo is expected to launch a new T61 soon.
Not sure if guys notice, but the new Thinkpads are now shipping without the IBM tricolour logo anymore, making it a full Lenovo branded device.

Hey, just believe me because I see a lot of Thinkpads everyday, so I know what I'm saying

I don't understand what's the attachment/nostalgia with IBM's PC business. It no longer exist and Think machines were a legacy product from that division. The product line will remain as a brand of Lenovo since it is the cornerstone of the acquisition.

IBM has reshaped itself as a software and services firm (although they still retain their high margin server business). In the next decade, people will hardly even remember the days of the IBM computers.

The 15" T60s are no longer offered in 4:3 aspect ratio. They're now all widescreen since it is cheaper to produce them (widescreen LCDs are cheaper due to economies of scale). The ones still sold in the Malaysian market are most probably old stock (get them while you can). Are the T and X series even sold in Malaysia anymore? Lenovo seems to have scaled back Thinkpad distribution and sales in "emerging markets".

Lastly, shouldn't quality be about the same? I believe IBM has outsourced Thinkpad production for the last decade or so, like every other OEMs.

No, it doesn't matter. If you really like the IBM logo, you can still purchase them as a spare part and replace it to your heart's content on ebay (link posted previously doesn't work so just search "IBM Thinkpad logo").

But seriously, why bother branding it IBM when it's no longer an IBM Thinkpad, rather a Lenovo Thinkpad? The IBM logo previously made it inconsistent because there's Lenovo on the LCD frame and on the base of the notebook as well as on the desktop. If anything, they should have just stuck "Lenovo" there for branding development (Lenovo needs to seriously work on its brand). It's like sticking a Dell logo on an HP.

On a side note, I really can't stand the off-centred T61 screen and the battery which sticks out the back of this notebook. Horrible, thoughtless design. Wonder what the designers were thinking. My guess is it'll still sell due to the "Thinkpad" brand name and Lenovo's corporate contracts inherited from IBM.

This post has been edited by chris_c28: Jun 17 2007, 08:44 AM

Get the stickers from ebay and apply it yourself.

Why is the IBM sticker so important, since it's not even an IBM product anymore. Lenovo sounds like a good name too.

Wow, V3000, you are simply awesome, owning 3 notebooks, all very recent models. Congrats on your latest purchase. The X61 is a nice little machine indeed.
I'm also contemplating on an ultraportable, since my 14" nc6400 is still a little heavy to carry around. Wish the X61 has a touchpad (I can't use the trackpoint).

Does anyone have the pricing and configuration for the X300 in Malaysia?

I'm particularly interested in the 6-cell + 3-cell config without the DVD drive.

The X300 pricing is OK considering it has the SSD, BUT if you've read the proper reviews, it has been criticised for the low battery life, poor screen and underpowered processor (marginally better/worse than the ULV, yet consumes more power).
Once the honeymoon period is over, I think the X300 doesn't seem so attractive to me anymore, though I still love the design a lot. Will get an HP 2510p in the meantime.

Btw, the X300 isn't that groundbreaking at all. It only improves on some things which are already implemented in Toshiba's R500 and HP's 2510p, but somehow Lenovo managed to build up so much hype due to excellent marketing.

This post has been edited by chris_c28: Feb 29 2008, 03:22 PM

My new toy/work machine.....



No glamour shots though