Lenovo doesn’t care about you.
IBM didn’t care about you.
ThinkPads don’t exist for your benefit.
here is one Very Videos and blogs looking to answer the question “Why are ThinkPads so popular?”
These discussions usually boil down to three things
- price – A used ThinkPad from 5-10 years ago will perform better than a new laptop in the same price range
- build quality – The engineer who made Thinkpad is incredibly special About making your machines as indestructible as possible.
- repairability – Different eras of ThinkPads were better/worse in this regard, but generally Lenovo’s too New Without the anti-repair design of things like Apple devices, devices are very repairable.
If you’ve ever clicked on some random YouTube video about ThinkPads, you’ve probably got the impression that the entire series of laptops harkens back to the lost old days, when everything in the world was better, and IBM and Lenovo are the kindest, most compassionate corporations in the universe, filled with endless love and care. You The computer-enthusiast end user.
This is a foolish assumption. I can even call it a blatant lie. But Why Is this common? Why is it like this Standard How do people seem to talk about these things? Why do people think the Framework is a “spiritual successor” to ThinkPads, when most of the laptops they worship were built on less than ten years agoBy a company that still exists, and puts out dozens of ThinkPad badged laptops every year?
Simply put, because they haven’t thought about it one second Think about a ThinkPad in any context other than your home, let alone the general functioning of a computer in a business setting…
So let’s talk a little about the general functioning of computers in a business setting, the business models of IBM and Lenovo, and more. Reason The reason why people find this ridiculous is because of the design philosophy in these laptops.
First, let’s ask a question: “How do ThinkPad laptops make money for Lenovo/IBM?” (This question applies to both companies, and also to machines made today and in the past. Both because the business model hasn’t changed that much, and because IBM is still Heavy Linked to Lenovo’s PC business). Generally, ThinkPad makes money in two ways.
- ThinkPad makes money when it is sold to a business customer (usually in a laptop fleet of dozens/hundreds)
- Linked to the purchase of a fleet of ThinkPads, Lenovo/IBM sell widely (and) expensive) Hardware Service Contract.
Second, let’s consider what happens when a laptop breaks down In a normal business environment:
- The user of the laptop contacts his company’s IT department, who himself makes a service call to IBM/Lenovo
- A laptop technician either repairs or replaces the laptop at IBM/Lenovo’s expense
- The user returns to his daily use of the laptop.
Third, let’s consider what happens when there is a service contract on a fleet of laptops. ends upAnd the company that bought them upgrades to new hardware:
- New hardware has been purchased
- Old laptops are disposed of, and they are basically treated as garbage.
Now! With these three things in mind… I’d like to take you on a tour of the “three things” that are great about ThinkPads.
thinkpad are repairable because every minutes A field technician’s labor costs IBM/Lenovo money, and cuts into the profits made on the service contract, so a laptop that Easy have a laptop to work takes less time to repair, and as a result spends less money for service. Also, there should be a laptop repair instead of Replaced as often as possible, because instead of a perfect laptop It costs more for IBM/Lenovo to replace a broken part than a working part.
thinkpad are durable Precisely for that reason they are repairable. Every time a laptop needs to be fixed, it costs money, and cuts into IBM/Lenovo’s profits on the service contract. If laptops break less, they make more money For IBM.
Finally, there are ThinkPads Cheap…
thinkpad are not doing Cheap laptops. I am serious. Visit Lenovo’s website Now!And you won’t find any entry laptop, anything under $500… so Why Do “cheap ThinkPads” have a reputation?
thinkpad are “Cheap” Because the one who worships things does not buy new things. total culture The number of enthusiasts for ThinkPads is dependent on the fact that once a business laptop is replaced, the business that bought it keeps it looking pristine. literal trashAnd no interest in reselling it. Lenovo never sold the T480 at $20 a pallet, but Joe Schmoe Accounting LLC certainly will, because old laptops are just e-waste to them.
Note that nowhere in this explanation did I say “were before”, “once upon a time” or “then were”. because this is the cycle Continuous. this is happening Now!. New laptops are being designed with easy-to-service in mind, current laptops are being sold with longer service contracts, and older laptops are being disposed of (often by landfill, if we’re lucky by a bargain resale) after the service contract ends.
Some things people love about old ThinkPads is just because they’re old. The original keyboard style is no longer made, thick laptops with lots of I/O aren’t fashionable right now, hot-swappable batteries are basically out, and New laptops are not as cheap as old laptops.
But the core of what people love about ThinkPads? Why are they popular among hackers and hobbyists? Design, and repairability. These are not magical properties of a bygone era. These things aren’t even really “good”, at least in terms of motivation. Lenovo doesn’t care about “right to repair” any more than Apple, they just sell into a different market, and make their money in a different way.
There Is Something “special” about ThinkPads. It is rare to see such a long tradition of design and engineering allowed to continue inside mega-companies like IBM and Lenovo. It is rare for those teams of people to survive buyouts by foreign companies while retaining their agency and independence. It’s rare to see so much talent invested in a series of random business tools over thirty years.
But that distinction is not because “things were better then”, or because “IBM was good, Apple bad.” and a Very What people promote as unique features or “consumer-pro” about ThinkPads wild accidentsBorn from the completely different goals of design, engineering and business. IBM and Lenovo are not magical and divine. They are elite companies, with some good designers and engineers. ThinkPads are good laptops, but not because of altruism, or because they’re from “better times.” and if i am tired People are talking about these things through the same reductive lens, and coming to the same shallow conclusions.
Yes, right to repair is important.
Yes, the technology used has value and purpose
Yes, ThinkPads are good laptops.
But ThinkPads aren’t made of noble ether, they’re not cheap Good Reason (behaving like a thousand dollar laptop Trash Because they’re a few years old, it’s crazy!), and you can’t rely on corporate charity to ensure you get the repairs right.
If you need a cheap laptop, you should probably look for a used ThinkPad. Are still durable and repairable machines, with great build quality, and they to do Buy them cheap when businesses sell them used… but don’t treat these things like they’re magic, and if you care Understanding The world, when it comes to saccharine video-essays and blogs written by twenty-somethings, might not hold much at face value.
-A saccharine twenty something.
PS, buying used professional gear is not only a good way to get a good laptop for cheap, but it’s better for everything. Whenever you can choose, used pro equipment will always outperform new consumer goods.
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