<p>PCWorld has released a survey of its readership regarding the reliability of their computer related purchases and how they rate customer service when they encounter problems.</p>
<p>The survey covers: desktops, laptops, printers, digital cameras, wireless network equipment and audio devices.</p>
<p>Biggest surprise: E-Machine desktops and laptops get high marks. Funny what a couple of years under better management will do for a company…</p>
<p>E-Machines was started in 1998 and produced really unreliable desktop computers. In 2001, they were bought out by Gateway and a new management team was brought in to turn the company around (led by Wayne Inouye). Quality has gone way up ever since.</p>
<p>E-Machines are usually sold at BestBuy and Circuit City.</p>
<p>Could be… I can be a slow reader sometimes. Still the information is valid…like going back to earlier issues of Consumer Reports.</p>
<p>You read so many threads about which computers and laptops are reliable on CC. It’s nice to be able to get a more objective point of view.</p>
<p>From a product standpoint, whatever you buy has, for just you, a 50-50 percent chance of working just fine (or not) in the first 90 days or the first year. After that brief period, statistics will start to kick in.</p>
<p>We bought two emachines desktops for our kids about two years ago. One is still working flawlessly, the other had the motherboard “fried” beyond repair, with no data recoverable. Maybe that was a lemon?</p>
<p>Nice to see that Dell which many colleges and universities sell through their bookstore, landed 4th on the list after E-machines, IBM, and Apple. </p>
<p>Since we’re not mac users, can’t imagine buying an e-machine and IBMs are more costly and now made by an outsourcer in China, I feel even better about the D610 ordered last week. Personally I’ve never gotten or much liked Dells but since my D will be far away and on her own I liked the metal case, the Next Business Day On Site Service, the Accidental Damage coverage and the general good press Dell gets on repairs.</p>
<p>I’ve been hearing a lot of people talking about IBM thinkpads being sold to Lenovo…and it makes it sound like being made in china is a really bad thing…but is there proof that the quality of thinkpads are going down because of this? As a country we rely on goods made in china, so why the awful connotation re: IBM?</p>
<p>The fact that the notebooks will now be made by Lenovo may not be a bad thing at all. But it does mean that for the time being any former opinions on fit and finish, freedom of defects and subsequent service don’t really mean very much. There’s also questions as to who and where tech questions will be answered.</p>
<p>Lenovo was/is the OEM for IBM laptops. Lenovo has been producing IBMs for years…</p>
<p>Virtually all pcs and laptops in this country and from around the world are manufactured in China/Taiwan.</p>
<p>I, too, read a poster on another thread that argued that buying from Lenovo was supporting the Chinese government. If this is true, anyone buying from Walmart has got a lot of explaining to do…</p>
<p>ooo IBM’s are made in China, well so are Dells etc. I just got an IBM thinkpad its rock solid, has given me no problem and is built like a tank. The customer service is extremely nice and they will throw in extras if you ask when ordering over the phone. They are definitely worth it.</p>
<p>All I know is…I hated my Sony Vaio
Where are sony products manufactured? I’ve always considered sony a reputable american company but their laptops suffer big problems…and the ratings represent that.</p>
On the bottom of my Vaio, it says “Made in U.S.A. with foreign components.” I do remember hearing that Sony’s parts come from Taiwan and the Philippines.</p>
<p>When I get back to the States, I’m going to get a Toshiba. It’s ranked pretty average on the list. But while vacationing here in Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia, Toshiba is regarded highly for their laptops (fine craftsmanship apparently) and pretty decent. Hope it applies to the U.S. as well.</p>
<p>seriously people. Stop all this bad mouthing because ibm is now made by a compnay in china. Lenovo has been making IBM’s for many years, and has the qaulity gone down? No. this is nothing new. </p>
<p>My apple powerbook was manufactured in China and look how high it’s ranked. Seriously you have to get over this idea that only the best things come from america.</p>
<p>Sony VAIOs are made all over the place. A lot of the higher end models are made in Japan and most of the desktop replacements are made in China. However, if you buy a customized Sony VAIO, those are usually assembled in the United States.</p>
<p>Although Lenovo has been making IBM Thinkpads before, they did not make the legendary T-series. The T-series notebook computers were made by Lenovo’s competitor “Great Wall” in a partnership with IBM. Therefore, while it is true that Lenovo used to do manufacturing for IBM, except they didn’t make all of the products. The R-series and the X-series are reportedly made by a Taiwanese company called Wistron, which continues to produce those products for Lenovo.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, when get a new “Lenovo” Thinkpad, you can hardly find the words “Lenovo” anywhere. You actually have to flip the computer over and read the fine print. The computer still says IBM everywhere.</p>
<p>Personally, when I compare my Lenovo ThinkPad T43 against my father’s retired IBM T40 from a long time ago, I can see that the construction quality is somewhat worse. The T40 that we have was an IBM original that was made by IBM in Japan. The fit and finish on that computer was better than the one I have right now. The gaps between the Ultrabay drive is much smaller and of greater uniformity. However, the quality of the older T42 and T43 are about the same, so not much has changed in the recent years. Great Wall quality and Lenovo quality is about the same.</p>
<p>Even though I have a Lenovo Thinkpad, I think that the Dell business line represents a unprecedented value. My dad has a company issued Dell Latitude D610 and I think that computer is definitely a very capable machine. It has a very good keyboard, strong battery life, and solid construction. The construction isn’t exactly as tank-like, but it definitely feels like it could take a few knocks. Combine that with decent warranty coverage and it is a good deal. Especially now since Dell has been coming out with rare coupons for the Latitude line.</p>
