IBM ThinkPad Users' Group

[agent_719]

Been using my X1C 4th gen for almost 3 months. Dam good. Love the weight and extreme long battery life

 

[nicholaslee]

Really tempted to get x1c from eBay.. Price is so attractive and they have fully spec models.. But i just got a new battery, installed new 512gb msata ssd and new heat sink fan for my x220

Sent from Blackberry STV100-1 using GAGT

 

[OMeGa666]

Tempted to buy ThinkPad, but backed off by lousy service stories provided by the Lenovo site in Paya Lebar. Any recent encounters with service crew to share here?

 

[Encrypted11]

Tempted to buy ThinkPad, but backed off by lousy service stories provided by the Lenovo site in Paya Lebar. Any recent encounters with service crew to share here?

Yes. Macpherson/Paya lebar service center.

• Sent in T430s for intermittent fan error
• Fan replaced, but I realised previously with the discrete GPU enabled it maxes at ~80C, it hits ~95 and throttles on heavy load after repair
• Request to repaste CPU/GPU, still similar issue on throttling but not as bad
• Walked out of Paya lebar AZ, fiddling with the ultrabay ODD
• Realised its "stuck". After several attempts of removing, it came out but couldn't be seated back.
• Looked inside the ultrabay, a blue WWAN/WLAN antenna cable was sticking out in the ultrabay
• Immediately go back ask them reseat, came back
• Engineer incidentally found ODD wasn't detected, entire motherboard replaced from suspected ODD SATA port problem (3 day downtime)
• Left speaker grill no sound while I inspect, request to reseat
• Sometimes I run laptop on AC. Realised my laptop had a CMOS checksum error (date and time reset on each shutdown when there's no power source)
• Ultrabay release switch's spring mechanism gone

It was near the end of warranty period, so I couldn't be bothered to go back with the slew of horror stories with the svc ctr. I've opened my own laptops (full disassembly) before and did so for the T430s first time. Realised the following

• Excessive thermal paste caked the CPU/GPU die causing extra thermal resistance
• Engineer forgot to place back the CMOS 2032 battery, ended up getting one from aliexpress
• Solved both final issues myself, thermals back to normal, cmos working.

Overall long story short, I realised that this new svc center doesn't seem to have a diagnostic checklist or so. No printed diagnostic report was provided (compared to svc ctr from HP). Sloppy cable routing job and reaassmbly.

It does look like the engineers lacked familiarity with Thinkpad models, same with my kaki bukit opus IT experience.

On the bright side, the CSOs are alright people. They don't try to blame issues on "user handling" and try to shove you a out-of-warranty repair quotation like OpusIT. But if its a design fault like a poor hinge mechanism with the LCD cover "splitting" on an ideapad (friend's experience at svc ctr same time), they can't help you out.

Overall much better than OpusIT, turnaround is fast by sg standards compared to Opus backlogs but their diagnostics, reassembly process and familiarity with Thinkpads are extremely lacking. This happened on Feb 2016. Too bad warranty is no longer handled by IBM Changi Biz park.

Well at least there's a 3 in 1 coffee maker while u wait.... I consider this to be a horror story. Unfortunately, they couldn't match the level of service HP Alexandra provides imo.

I like my T430s. But lenovo's cs is putting me off.

 

[OMeGa666]

Yes. Macpherson/Paya lebar service center.

• Sent in T430s for intermittent fan error
• Fan replaced, but I realised previously with the discrete GPU enabled it maxes at ~80C, it hits ~95 and throttles on heavy load after repair
• Request to repaste CPU/GPU, still similar issue on throttling but not as bad
• Walked out of Paya lebar AZ, fiddling with the ultrabay ODD
• Realised its "stuck". After several attempts of removing, it came out but couldn't be seated back.
• Looked inside the ultrabay, a blue WWAN/WLAN antenna cable was sticking out in the ultrabay
• Immediately go back ask them reseat, came back
• Engineer incidentally found ODD wasn't detected, entire motherboard replaced from suspected ODD SATA port problem (3 day downtime)
• Left speaker grill no sound while I inspect, request to reseat
• Sometimes I run laptop on AC. Realised my laptop had a CMOS checksum error (date and time reset on each shutdown when there's no power source)
• Ultrabay release switch's spring mechanism gone

It was near the end of warranty period, so I couldn't be bothered to go back with the slew of horror stories with the svc ctr. I've opened my own laptops (full disassembly) before and did so for the T430s first time. Realised the following

• Excessive thermal paste caked the CPU/GPU die causing extra thermal resistance
• Engineer forgot to place back the CMOS 2032 battery, ended up getting one from aliexpress
• Solved both final issues myself, thermals back to normal, cmos working.

Overall long story short, I realised that this new svc center doesn't seem to have a diagnostic checklist or so. No printed diagnostic report was provided (compared to svc ctr from HP). Sloppy cable routing job and reaassmbly.

It does look like the engineers lacked familiarity with Thinkpad models, same with my kaki bukit opus IT experience.

On the bright side, the CSOs are alright people. They don't try to blame issues on "user handling" and try to shove you a out-of-warranty repair quotation like OpusIT. But if its a design fault like a poor hinge mechanism with the LCD cover "splitting" on an ideapad (friend's experience at svc ctr same time), they can't help you out.

Overall much better than OpusIT, turnaround is fast by sg standards compared to Opus backlogs but their diagnostics, reassembly process and familiarity with Thinkpads are extremely lacking. This happened on Feb 2016. Too bad warranty is no longer handled by IBM Changi Biz park.

Well at least there's a 3 in 1 coffee maker while u wait.... I consider this to be a horror story. Unfortunately, they couldn't match the level of service HP Alexandra provides imo.

I like my T430s. But lenovo's cs is putting me off.

Urgh ... something like this? (the current condition of my laptop hinge)

I plan to buy a new laptop because my hinge is giving way. A splitting LCD is really a turn off. Might expect that to be worse in thinkpad yoga series (360 degree turn).

 

[Encrypted11]

Urgh ... something like this? (the current condition of my laptop hinge)

I plan to buy a new laptop because my hinge is giving way. A splitting LCD is really a turn off. Might expect that to be worse in thinkpad yoga series (360 degree turn).

Yes... its splitting due to the poor design. But it is assumed that the damage was user induced. Friend was bringing laptop in on behalf of his sis.

 

[OMeGa666]

Yes... its splitting due to the poor design. But it is assumed that the damage was user induced. Friend was bringing laptop in on behalf of his sis.

Found something similar in Lenovo forum. Also a user from Singapore (maybe talking to call centre in India).
Conclusion: No faith in Lenovo ThinkPad anymore. Shall skip this, no matter how good the design of Yoga 260 is.

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-S-Series-ThinkPad-Yoga/Thinkpad-yoga-260/m-p/3310628#M13798

Just returned that machine while you can. Track point cap on mine scratch the screen and after a month of use and bright spots apear.

My conversation with CSO is mildly interesting, according to him I damage lcd. He explained I could have press it, I replied it's a touch screen and I'm not supposed to touch it.
He then claim I might have left something between screen and keyboard while closing the lid. I promptly replied if that's the case lcd would have Crack and he agreed.
Lastly he claim I have left something on it. That's when I stopped, there's no end to their excuses.

They are selling a touch screen laptop that can't be touch, else it consumer induced damage (CID). It's a laptop they debut with someone standing on it, but if you dare to place a phone on top of it, it's CID.

 

[Encrypted11]

If you're after pro grade laptops with decent technical/warranty support, then in sg I guess its Dell or HP.

Well from a friend who has a T460 (personal hands on), I also found that the hinge mechanism design is no longer similar to the IBM style ones already (heng my T430s still has it). Upon further lookup on aliexpress (where such replacement parts can be sourced), I think it will be correct to say since the *40 series, the IBM hinges have been replaced with more consumer-ish ones but I'm unsure how durable they are but they put pressure at different areas from the different mounting points.

Personally, I sticked with Lenovo (Thinkpad) purely for the keyboard (despite the 7 row chiclet), trackpad and ultranav implementation. Not because of the "mil spec" build quality these days. I found HP and Dell pro laptops to be better in build.

 

[OMeGa666]

If you're after pro grade laptops with decent technical/warranty support, then in sg I guess its Dell or HP.

Well from a friend who has a T460 (personal hands on), I also found that the hinge mechanism design is no longer similar to the IBM style ones already (heng my T430s still has it). Upon further lookup on aliexpress (where such replacement parts can be sourced), I think it will be correct to say since the *40 series, the IBM hinges have been replaced with more consumer-ish ones but I'm unsure how durable they are but they put pressure at different areas from the different mounting points.

Personally, I sticked with Lenovo (Thinkpad) purely for the keyboard (despite the 7 row chiclet), trackpad and ultranav implementation. Not because of the "mil spec" build quality these days. I found HP and Dell pro laptops to be better in build.

Thanks for the advice Encrypted11. Shall look into Dell and HP (although I had a bad time with Compaq previously - overheat damaged CPU right after 3-year mark) for a digitizer-enabled convertible. Didn't expect ex-IBM machines turn bad now. Decent feature and good build are not usually bundled together, alas.

 

[shawniiex]

Currently using Hp spectre x360 bro, on site warranty beats everything else. haha.

 

[Calvin.Lee]

I also like my ThinkPad T430s but it is hurting my back as I use it for travel to work purposes.

This will be the last of the ThinkPad series I am willing to buy because none of the newer series ThinkPad has the same quality as the older ones.

I may yet go for a ThinkPad yoga if price is good in the 2nd hand market but I prefer the old gen X1 or X1 Carbon.

I wanted to install Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 on the ThinkPad T430s, is it possible? I do have legit licenses to do so but I am facing drivers issues (installing Windows 8.1/10 drivers don't work).

Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[magneto23]

What's a good place to go laptop shopping? Used to buy from Challenger in Funan but it's closed down.

Looking for an Ultrabook. The lighter the better. Leaning towards the Lenovo Yoga 900.

Appreciate any recommendations or suggestions. Many thanks.

 

[ra[g]e]

Just wanted to share my experience for recent warranty claim with Lenovo. Essentially the SD card reader became faulty under normal use, and the spring loaded slot would not 'keep' the SD card in it anymore.

My T430 has 5 years on-site warranty. Unfortunately Lenovo seemed to have removed their customer service PHONE NUMBERS from their website and they force you into a chat room.

The (probably India-based) support staff heard the problem, and basically said that this is 'accidental damage' and not covered by warranty. Like WTF, you use cheapo parts for your SD card reader that breaks down under normal usage and its not covered under warranty? This is probably their support culture where the supervisor will scold their staff for sending down on-site tech support too easily.

Thankfully the staff at the Lenovo service centre at Paya Lebar were more helpful. They accepted the claim and fixed the part.

I must say that the support provided by Lenovo's new outsourced partner ServLink at Paya Lebar is much much better than the old support given by Opus. Its quite a joke really, the old Opus service centre at Kaki Bukit was small and cramped, and you would have to wait in queue for at least 2hrs. The wait time at ServLink's Paya Lebar centre was closer to 30mins and there was free coffee provided through a dispenser. The space was also bigger.

That said I still miss the old Thinkpad support by IBM at Changi. I think Lenovo is making a huge mistake by conflating the Thinkpad and non-Thinkpad support together. Thinkpad users pay a premium for superior build quality and support, and the older Thinkpad users will remember the old support level at the Changi centre - no queue, instant fix as the techs can change the motherboard on the spot when required in less than 30mins.

Lenovo did continue with the IBM support for Think-branded products for a few years after their acquisition, but unfortunately stopped it a few years back.

Oh well, what was a no-brainer decision as to which new laptop to buy has now become a headache. My old T60 still works after 10 years, while the newer T430 has had to get its motherboard changed no less than 3 times.

I don't think I can so strongly recommend Thinkpad laptops anymore, and will probably go with whichever provides the longer warranty at the best value.

 

[OMeGa666]

My T430 has 5 years on-site warranty. Unfortunately Lenovo seemed to have removed their customer service PHONE NUMBERS from their website and they force you into a chat room.

The (probably India-based) support staff heard the problem, and basically said that this is 'accidental damage' and not covered by warranty. Like WTF, you use cheapo parts for your SD card reader that breaks down under normal usage and its not covered under warranty? This is probably their support culture where the supervisor will scold their staff for sending down on-site tech support too easily.

Seems the best way is to buy the warranty plan with accidental damage. In that way, the operator has no excuse to decline sending service team.

 

[Kenshin79]

What's a good place to go laptop shopping? Used to buy from Challenger in Funan but it's closed down.

Looking for an Ultrabook. The lighter the better. Leaning towards the Lenovo Yoga 900.

Appreciate any recommendations or suggestions. Many thanks.

can check Lenovo by AddOn in Bugis junction #03-03. full range of systems there

 

[zinedine]

Seems the best way is to buy the warranty plan with accidental damage. In that way, the operator has no excuse to decline sending service team.

That's terrible of them! Lousy service!!

Soon I will stop getting Lenovo stuff. Looks like Acer/Dell/HP is the way to go for those who want quality parts and support(generally speaking) ...

 

[BeanFarmer]

Ordered a ThinkPad 13 with onsite warranty, hopefuly I'll have a better experience when the time comes :O

 

[magneto23]

can check Lenovo by AddOn in Bugis junction #03-03. full range of systems there

Thanks. Will check it out.

 

[ra[g]e]

Seems the best way is to buy the warranty plan with accidental damage. In that way, the operator has no excuse to decline sending service team.

That's terrible of them! Lousy service!!

Soon I will stop getting Lenovo stuff. Looks like Acer/Dell/HP is the way to go for those who want quality parts and support(generally speaking) ...

Usually for Lenovo if you bang table they will do something about it.

There was once my battery got stuck (obvious design flaw since there have been numerous reports of this online), and Opus service centre also wanted to refuse warranty service.

Ended up sending a complaint to Lenovo's Facebook, and they got back to me after a few weeks, with quite a few phone calls from their Malaysian office.

 

[OMeGa666]

Usually for Lenovo if you bang table they will do something about it.

There was once my battery got stuck (obvious design flaw since there have been numerous reports of this online), and Opus service centre also wanted to refuse warranty service.

Ended up sending a complaint to Lenovo's Facebook, and they got back to me after a few weeks, with quite a few phone calls from their Malaysian office.

Taking weeks to reply? Internal communication must be horrible