Need laptop advice - Mac vs. ThinkPad

[drawkcab]

Tough to beat thinkpads in the long run. They are tough as nails, easy to work on and its not a problem to get under the hood.

On the other hand, the new apple rigs offer a lot for the price. Apple has first access to all the new technologies coming out of china.

I'm surprised you can't get a decent thinkpad for a lot cheaper though. They run decent sales on their website periodically and if you pair that with an employee purchase code (they're floating around and lenovo doesn't really bother checking) you can probably save a few hundred bucks.

Also if you call a sales rep and ask them to accelerate your order, they'll hook you up. IBM's customer service is outstanding.

[KiwiNZ]

Also if you call a sales rep and ask them to accelerate your order, they'll hook you up. IBM's customer service is outstanding.

The Thinkpads have nothing to do with IBM, they are Lenovo.

[cbennett926]

The Thinkpads have nothing to do with IBM, they are Lenovo.

FWIW, Lenovo has always manufactured their laptops (to my knowledge so please feel free to correct me, but please be nice I'm fragile ) . I have a w520 and absolutely love it, it's astounding how easy it is to switch hard drives, I do it between classes, one has Ubuntu, the other Windows. I use the Windows for my English classes because sadly, I love Microsoft Offices UI. I love Lenovo's T/W series because they look so professional and are as someone said "tough as nails"! I could rant on and on about how much I love them. At the end of the day it comes down to form or function, in all honesty I don't think you could have picked two products that exemplify each.

[KiwiNZ]

FWIW, Lenovo has always manufactured their laptops (to my knowledge so please feel free to correct me, but please be nice I'm fragile ) . I have a w520 and absolutely love it, it's astounding how easy it is to switch hard drives, I do it between classes, one has Ubuntu, the other Windows. I use the Windows for my English classes because sadly, I love Microsoft Offices UI. I love Lenovo's T/W series because they look so professional and are as someone said "tough as nails"! I could rant on and on about how much I love them. At the end of the day it comes down to form or function, in all honesty I don't think you could have picked two products that exemplify each.

IBM sold the Laptop and Desktop Division to Lenovo in 2005.

[Mikeb85]

Tough to beat thinkpads in the long run. They are tough as nails, easy to work on and its not a problem to get under the hood.

On the other hand, the new apple rigs offer a lot for the price. Apple has first access to all the new technologies coming out of china.

I'm surprised you can't get a decent thinkpad for a lot cheaper though. They run decent sales on their website periodically and if you pair that with an employee purchase code (they're floating around and lenovo doesn't really bother checking) you can probably save a few hundred bucks.

Also if you call a sales rep and ask them to accelerate your order, they'll hook you up. IBM's customer service is outstanding.

You can get a decent ThinkPad for cheaper, but I want an i7, at least 8 GB of RAM, the highest resolution screen possible, and an SSD... Actually I found a W530 build that has all the options I want for an even $2000, might do that. Still though, a Retina Macbook Pro, if I settle for 8GB of ram is $2050...

The ability to easily upgrade Thinkpads, swappable batteries, durability, etc..., does make it very tempting as well. Not to mention the excellent Linux compatibility (last I checked, unless things have changed, Thinkpads are certified on Red Hat Linux, SUSE, and Ubuntu). Still would like more opinions, especially from KiwiNZ (I know you've used both and you like Apple!)...

[drawkcab]

The Thinkpads have nothing to do with IBM, they are Lenovo.

IBM still provides support for Lenovo here in the states. Just called them last week.

[KiwiNZ]

IBM still provides support for Lenovo here in the states. Just called them last week.

That is a finite service as part of the sale agreement.IBM get royalty payments from each sale That is extent of the involvement .

[AllRadioisDead]

IBM still provides support for Lenovo here in the states. Just called them last week.

I had to send in my T420 a few months ago and I didn't go through IBM at all. That may have been for older models shipped before the Lenovo takeover.

[cbennett926]

IBM sold the Laptop and Desktop Division to Lenovo in 2005.

True, but didn't Lenovo, or whoever they were called at the time, still manufacture the laptops for IBM?

[era86]

If you care at all about screen quality, you will probably want the MBPR. If you care at all about typing, you will probably want the T430. You're welcome for my subjective opinion.