So I've had a trusty Thinkpad for a few years, and it's been great, but I've had it for 2.5 years, and it's starting to show wear. I tried to update the BIOS the other day, and I think something bad happened during the upgrade... once it restarted, all I get is a blinking cursor...

So I called support tonight, and they said that it was still under warranty, and that they'd ship me a box to send it back to them (no cost to me), and they'd have it fixed and back to me in around 2 weeks. The guy said I'd probably need a new hard drive, but it's under warranty.

I love great customer support... no hassles, and the process was incredibly stress free. (sorta like dealing with S7 )

Good thing I have a back up computer, and I have retrospect to back up my data.

Thinkpads KICK ASS. I have two. One I bought 5 years ago (A T20). My GF is using it now, as I bought a smaller and lighter X31 with a docking bay a couple of years ago. I expect them both to keep going for many more years. Super solid construction and reliable performance, plus with the Ultrabay, both of my models can use the same peripherals,

The Lenovo team is basically the old IBM team, in NC I believe. Lenovo's acquisition of the IBM PC division made them the world's third largest PC seller (they've been #1 in China for a decade).

There's a sale going on at Lenovo right now. The regular prices on systems are discounted already, but if you use eCoupon code USPBUY1315 you get an extra:

- 15% off select ThinkPad X Series and Tablet notebooks
- 10% off select Think Pad T Series notebooks

The eCoupon expires November 16.

Another sale at Lenovo, two days only but notebooks as cheap as $380:

http://f.lenovo.com/asbs/servlet/WebCon ... 160393624&

I have a T61 now which I have had for about 2 years or so and it has been great. My first Thinkpad was a 701c with the Butterfly keyboard and at work I sell Thinkpads regularly. I see HPs, Toshiba, Compaq/HP, Fujitsu, Dell and really I think the only ones that sometimes come close are some of the Compaq/HP Evo as far as being easy to work on/service.

And their customer service/support has always been great with regards to resolving problems.

If anyone needs any Thinkpad parts: older = probably better chance we have it. Feel free to pm me.

Gonna have to go check out the sales. I've been wanting a Y series for a little bit now.

_Ethan