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HK

wrote:
On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:13:38 -0500, HK wrote:

My old thinkpad's manual has complete directions for a full fieldstrip.
Never done it, though.

That is a good idea. I worked with 14 CEs (IBM computer techs) and we
all had Thinkpads. Only the guys who really specialized in laptops
would screw with them and they hated it. Worse than a laptop is the
"cop terminals" IBM developed with Motorola. Those things are packed
in the case tigher than a Thinkpad.
I bought a real 1-800-IBMSERV M/A on my personal thinkpad while it was
still available. I could have had onsite service if I wanted it but I
figured out the Fed Ex "send it away" service was faster. If you saved
the service shipping box it would turn around in 48 hours. The
repair depot was in the FedEx Memphis hub. Once after some well
placed griping I actually got it back the next day. This was different
than the regular M/A that you called the number with all the sevens in
it.

These guys just gave you a problem number and asked if you had a box.
The FedEx guy would come pick it up if you called early enough in the
day or you could dorp it at any Fed Ex pack and ship.
No hokey pokey with a script monkey in Bombay.
Small stuff like bad PCMCIA cards, chargers and cables were just sent,
no questions asked, just return the bad one.
It was $300 a year but I seemed to have at least one call a year and
some were system boards, displays and keyboards. My wife used it and
it took a beating.
Personally I don't want a laptop, I like a wireless keyboard and a big
display. The system unit can be anywhere then. I am not a road
warrior.

I usually take my laptop with me if I am going to be out of town for
more than a couple of days, or if I am out of town for a client, because
there always is something that needs to be written or rewritten. But
mostly these days my old laptop serves as a houseguest computer. If I
ever buy another one, it might well be one of the more inexpensive
Apples. I like their ergonomics. Haven't checked out their country of
origin, though. If China, no.