TVSU revival by request!
I don’t know if you guys know about this or not, but what I first thought is ThinkVantage System Update was temporarily dropped service due to update or whatever. It’ was turned out to be Lenovo decided to cut TVSU out of ThinkVantage Suite due to the maintenance cost.
However, System Update made its way back by tons of requests. I’m really happy to see it back and it works just fine with Win7 (which I don’t have complete set of ThinkVantage software such as Fingerprint and Active Protection System) but CSS still doesn’t get along with clean install Win7. Oddly upgrading Win7 from Vista, CSS works flawlessly!
This can be either the way to waste Lenovo’s bandwidth or it’s the way to keep the crowd with Thinkpad. But the bottom line is happy customers. You are on the right track, Lenovo!
Popularity: 4% [?]
ThinkVantage System Update – big UPDATE coming??
Although all ThinkVantage softwares are likely to be just redundancy from Windows stock, System Update is one of the best ThinkVantage software provided for Thinkpad. It basically automatically finds all necessary drivers and apps (of course within ThinkVantage suite) that need to be updated or installed and set all we want up by single-click. It works on and off sometimes but, 70%-80% chance, this helps save quite a lot of time spending on IBM support site. I don’t blame their unorganized site by any mean since there are tons of update every week. It’s just hard to be that organize and up-to-date at the same time.
By the way, I COULD NOT UPDATE ANYTHING with System UPDATE recently. What they tell us is only this pop-up?!? Well, May is coming—tomorrow!!. I hope it would turn out to be something very good for us, Lenovo!!! Don’t just refresh new UI like all new ThinkVantage but only a few improvement then. I don’t care if that looks cool; I want it to work well.
I’m PC Ad: I’m not cool enough to be Mac. That’s why I’m using Thinkpad, perhaps LOL
Popularity: 7% [?]
All new ThinkPad & IdeaPad from Lenovo
Finally It’s the time for Thinkpad 6x series to go since it has been out for a few years now. Yes, the newcoming Thinkpad is still Thinkpad–you know that its design will rather be evolution than revolution and IdeaPad will still follow the same old design. What you are likely to get now is
X200 will be the successor of X61 with 0.8" think design likely to be the same footprint as X300 and more interestingly it will start at $1,199 with 11.6" by 8.3" by 0.73"-0.8" & only 2.93 lbs. I can’t wait to see X200 Tablet here.
SL series will debut for small business section; from SL300 (13.3"), SL400 (14"), and SL500 (15"); $699-$1199 price range; HDMI, Blu-ray, 3G, and WiMAX as optional. I guess this would be in the same market as Dell Vostro series.
W series is another new series here separating form T series with an ability to switch back and forth between ATi Mobility FireGL and integrated one.
T400 and T500 will replace T61, similarly to W series w/o switchable graphic card.
R400 & R500 will be the budget series as same as R is.
For IdeaPad, there will be 4 new models as well. Quite a lot for Lenovo, huh?
U330 will be a bigger sibling of fabulous U110 with a little over 4 lbs and switchable graphic cards. Quite interesting really.
Y-series will unleash Y430, Y530 and Y730 as 14", 15" and 17" model respectively
They all are based on Intel Centrino 2 platform (aka. Montevina) which will utilize 1066 MT/s FSB and better RAM than DDR2-667 that we all have in Santa Rosa platform–that includes DDR2-800, DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, and DDR3-1333. It also will support DisplayPort–new digital display interface–along with full supplemental support of HDMI, DVI, and VGA standards and mini-PCIe adapter as well. For integrated graphic card, it will be X4500. We will see how this compete with AMD Puma platform. I bet Intel will win over everything but graphic card, which might be the most important factor. Stay tuned.
[via Engadgat, Gizmodo, and Yahoo! news]
Popularity: 2% [?]
Day 30, Lenovo’s missing laptop saga still continues
Just to let you guys know that I still haven’t got my laptop; even though this is 30th day. Not only have I contacted numbers of representatives, but also from many departments as well. They still couldn’t locate "really" where my laptop is while one of reps claimed that he knew; eventually that was just an excuse from a frustrated customer, I guess.
I don’t really understand how Lenovo managed laptop arrival and departure to/from their repair center. It’s really a mess. I will post details later how this saga really is. Sounds like I’m not going to get my laptop back soon.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Lenovo (IBM?) Service Feedback
This time is the time for Lenovo after really splendid service from Logitech. What happen was my Thinkpad X61T didn’t boot up at all after flashing a new BIOS; screen on both internal and external was blank; only sound and LED indicator seemed normal. After a quick self-diagnostic, there was no way I could fix myself. It was the time to call Lenovo customer service. You know? I dig around to find if there are any chances to contact a representative by chat which is really cool way as far as my experience was concerned. Unfortunately there is no free service. It’s sad since most companies have started having that, and it works well. (Sprint, newEgg, for example) Okay, so far, the only way is calling them on the phone.
Day 0 (Thu , May 15, 2008): The system was down; call 1-866-96-THINK; then as you could expect, I wasted 10 minutes or so on an automatic system and identifying myself & my case, then they threw me another number which is IBM service department in Atlanta, GA. After that I had to have another 10 minutes to do the same procedure before getting into the real talk. The representative had done what I would do if I were him; asked customer to try to turn on, hook up to external monitor, but no luck happened here. Thus, while my machine is still on warranty, they had to send me a box by DHL which I had to send back to them for further investigation. What I can say is it’s quite impressive procedure so far.
Day 1 (Fri, May 16, 2008): The box with foam inside that fit my machine was come including one instruction paper and information form on the back. Soon as I got that I filled out the form and call DHL to pick up (it took only an hour after I called them). It’s pretty quick and smooth process here. At this point, I got an email about the case (and a link to my case info page on ibm.com) and tracking number for the box. But, since I have already completed all things they wanted, I don’t care much. As so you know, it’s all DHL express overnight service for free, pretty good.
Day 2 (Sat, May 17, 2008): I got another mail from Lenovo that told me that the repair on my case had been completed (o_O" I’m surprised how fast its whole process is) and a tracking number of the box that was shipping to me.
Day 4 (Mon, May 19, 2008): Since it was Sunday, I guessed they had to postpone to Monday before it delivered. I’m so thrilled to get my machine back. Yeah!
Surprisingly after I opened up the box, I found Windows XP Professional COA on the back instead of Vista Business COA I have on my machine. I thought it was quick because they just swapped and shipped me back. Unfortunately I was so wrong. It was IBM Thinkpad T43.
WHERE THE HECK IS MY X61 Tablet @(DJISD#(*)@&^uidfa@(*&#(@)(%)*^.
That was shock because I recognized that is the box I sent to them; every stickers were right: my name, my address, my case ID, and my machine S/N. Soon after I could keep my breath I looked up my case info on ibm.com; found that the case was closed with no failed part (yep, since it was no broken part really) Then I called Lenovo immediately. No luck this day since it was 9pm and no one would pick up my call.
Day 5 (Tue, May 20, 2008): I called Lenovo in the morning and explained that you guys shipped me a wrong unit. They sounded not surprised at all which sounded surprise to me indeed and they also told me to ship the box and would investigate the case and report me back in 5-7 days. It sucks; since it shouldn’t happen at all. I rather have few days waiting at first instead of this.
Anyway, they contacted me again at noon to ask if I could stay at home and wait for DHL guy to pick the system up and they would contact me again about my system within 48 hours. Hell yes, I want my X61 back fast. No way I would decline this. And DHL came by my apartment to get the box as promise.
Yet, I have no clue what will happen next. I could only do hope everything would be alright. Although shipping a wrong unit sucks, very fast process might be able to compensate it. Will see when my case will end.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Lenovo ThinkPad X300: back to Premium!
Oh, man! this ThinkPad is so cool. It’s almost no compromise in design with countless features, such as ThinkLight–I really missed it, Roll Cage, Stainless steel display hinges, shock mount HDD, LED backlight, mic, camera, fingerprint, spill resistant keyboard, 802.11n, Bluetooth, Opt. WiMax/WWAN in this small chassis which is also hardware removal/installation friendly.
Battery light is also great as well with
- 4.3 hours with 3-cell battery (3.13lbs)
- 6.5 hours with 6-cell battery (3.32lbs)
- 10 hours with 6+3-cell batteries (3.51lbs)
I have no idea about 6+3-cell batteries how it would be though–thru dock? However, 6.5 is impressive already, you maybe just carry another battery, then you will be all set. What you are sacrifice is faster CPU, instead they choose to pop Intel Core 2 Duo LV 1.2GHz 4MB L2 cache. I prefer longer battery life as always though.
BUT, sadly I couldn’t afford it. With the premium price tag–$2,700. That’s super far beyond my reach. At least, ThinkPad X300 is a dream machine of most people. I wish Thinkpad X200 will be almost the same with HDD and low price tag as X61s or X70 will be out soon.
X300 Brochure leaked via Forum.ThinkPads
X300 take apart via Forum.ThinkPads
update (Feb 26, 2008): After coupon and else, we could actually get this cool ThinkPad around $2,100-2,200. Not bad, not bad at all! (but still couldn’t afford it :-/)
Popularity: 4% [?]
