Why Me ?
Mar 23 '00 (Updated Apr 01 '00)
This is a follow up to my original review on the i1400 series, titled 'Quality Control'. The sales lady called me back from Circuit City to inquire why I had returned the 1420 T'Pad and I informed her of my concerns regarding the poor build quality that I was not expecting from IBM. I also explained to her that I would be stopping by the store to complain to the manager about this. While I was there, the assistant manager mentioned that they also had the model 1460 (14.1 Active Matrix, DVD drive and a Lithium-Ion battery, which weren't available on the 1420, which I bought originally).
I began wondering if my problems stemmed from the fact that I had purchased a low end IBM laptop, so I blundered again, spent an extra $600, and decided to upgrade to a i1460 (146U, retail).The assistant manager was also kind enough to give me $50 off the price to compensate me for my troubles....
I brought the laptop home, it worked fine, played a DVD on it. Seemed like I had finally got the system I had wanted, but then again I started noticing a grey shade on the screen whenever I opened a window with a light background, for instance, maximizing any empty folder, word document, web browser with a light background. also, the screen would not lock securely in place on the right side of the system (where the IBM logo is). At this time I was getting sick of this ordeal.
By the way, IBM was supposed to send me a mail-in box to repair the first thinkpad I got, it hasn't showed up to date....
Anyway, I took the system back to the store, the THIRD time, and they told me that it could only be exchanged, so I had to go to another store to pick up another 1460, I opened it at the store, looked for the display build first, it snapped right into place, so I took it home, everything looked fine till I played a music cd on it, the system warmed up. I stopped the cd, then I started noticing a whine coming out from the system. I had to shut down the system because it was hurting my ears.
I called IBM technical support, as I felt that it was unfair for the store people to keep on exchanging the units and selling them as open box systems. I explained the situation to the tech and explained to him that this was my FOURTH thinkpad and expected IBM to send an onsite technician to look into the problem. He mentioned that the system board would probably have to be replaced and said that I would have to send in the system for repair, could take as much as 8-10 business days (realistically), he said that my system did not have onsite coverage - due to insurance / legal aspects. So much for customer service.
All said and done, I contacted the store manager, returned the unit and got my money back.
Defect Summary :
ThinkPad #1 1420 Excessive noise from system
ThinkPad #2 1420 Hairline splitting the screen in the middle
ThinkPad #3 1460 Poor screen build, lot of play while locked
ThinkPad #4 1460 Whining sound, needed ear plugs to work with..
I am not writing these reviews to defame IBM, but this is the actual truth, I always wished I had a thinkpad, had to settle for less because I never had enough savings to buy a think pad, but what I went through is unjustified, and I could not just 'live with it', because $1900 is still a lot of money for me. If IBM cannot build quality systems under $3000, why bother, spare me the anguish. I would rather purchase a Compaq Presario or a Quantex W series laptop, because these systems, although they may be mere 'clones', are better quality products than junk labeled with a red, blue & green logo engraved on it.
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Epinions.com ID:
zulqadars
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Location: Houston, Texas
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 1 member
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