texudo wrote:
My T61p is dead with the GPU problem, I have bought it from 10/2007, and it's already out warranty I decided go to the Lenovo service center in my country for replacing mainboard, and do you know how much they charge for this problem, 680 USD. It's too expensive, and I bring my laptop go home with the dead. I want to know do Lenovo have policy for this problem?
you can buy an extended warranty on your laptop.... you will have to call up Lenovo customer service. This is currently cheapest way of fixing this issue.
A reply to myself... I guess! 
I called for service and from the information I provided on the phone, the person I spoke to directed me to bring my machine to the nearest repair center.
Indeed, it turned out to be the System Board that had to be replaced.
Now, everything went smoothly and no reason for complaint on the quality of service provided. And, of course, I made it known, in writing.
So, I got one more problem solved with the kind of traditional great quality IBM got us all spoiled with. I wish I could say the same about the quality of the machines...
As I have stated several times in the past, I cannot help it but think that the reputation IBM deservedly earned for the great quality of its machines (and its customer service) is being seriously eroded by the attitude from Lenovo of seemingly trying to cash on IBM's reputation with not much consideration for backing it up on a continued path of similar quality.
I said it before and it keeps being corroborated by time: I own three IBM/Lenovo machines; one IBM A21 bought in 2001 (mostly left for the kids to play with); one IBM T42 acquired in 2004; and one Lenovo T61p purchased in 2007.
The 9-year old A21 NEVER required any kind of service and the only thing that gave up so far was the battery, no surprise on that one. Nothing else.
The T42 required a keyboard replacement, following a little accident that IBM (at the time) chose to honor as if it had been a regular breakdown. It also required a new battery about one year ago (original one lasted more than 4 years!). Recently, one memory module had to be replaced and I elected to install a new fan kit because of some noises the old fan was sporadically making.
And finally, the A61: First down, the original battery died suddenly, 14 months after purchase date; Mark was kind enough to get involved in my issue and had Lenovo send me a replacement battery "under warranty"; then, a couple of months later, my HD started malfunctioning and had to be replaced, thank God I had and extended warranty; now, a little over 2 years after purchase date, the mother board fails on me... Sheer luck I had bought a 3-year warranty extension...
All these sicknesses happen on a relatively new machine, while my two "older" machines keep living their normal lives, apparently happy and oblivious of their step-sister shortcomings...
What gives? Of course, this is no exact science, but am I justified in suspecting, just suspecting -- or do I seem to have good reasons to suspect -- that Lenovo may be cutting a few corners for a buck?
Maybe not. I hope not. Not so much for the sake of the company, but because we, the customers, would be deprived of the quality machines we grew up used to rely on and enjoy. But if it is, it would be just sad!
This most recent problem with my machine, as signaled by three beeps upon booting, has been once again expeditiously repaired. But will Lenovo's reputation be able to withstand the apparent decline in product quality?
I hope so. Otherwise, as the three beeps are gone, the goodbye may be insinuating itself...
Cheers.
