Lenovo

I got some interesting responses to my January 2008 post about how I escaped from the insanity of Windows Vista back to the productive calm of Windows XP. For instance, InfoWorld quoted me extensively in an article, and I was one of the first to sign their "Save XP" petition. But apparently, it didn't get saved. Now what?

I have a new/old laptop computer and I love it -- finally -- because I dumped Microsoft Windows Vista.

In June 2007 I got a new Lenovo ThinkPad T61 with Windows Vista. I expected to be thrilled with my new laptop, but instead, it was horrible. Whatever I tried to do, the new computer fought me -- and usually, it won. By "do" I mean basic stuff: save a file, connect to my office network and the Internet, turn on, turn off, copy some files. It's MY computer -- shouldn't I be allowed to do these things? Nope, not without lots of effort, wasted time, and sometimes, complete failure.

For more than decade, I've been an IBM ThinkPad user. Period. When I try to use another brand of laptop/notebook, I get annoyed immediately at the poor keyboard and lack of TrackPoint.

Another reason is IBM's legendary support of ThinkPads. Eh, make that "was". Now, ThinkPads are owned by Lenovo, and I see the reputation slipping away. Or maybe it's racing away, based on an annoying experience trying to meet a fundamental laptop need: replace a battery.