Lenovo ThinkPad Z61m

This is a relatively OK computer in terms of other laptops in its league and excels at multimedia work and could have been much much better. It is let down by various problems and annoyances largely the doing of Lenovo. Although it does have "character" you can get quite used to it.

Firstly the removal of the sticker from the "stainless titanium" cover of the computer leaves unsightly stains deep set in the metal... The "award-winning" ThinkVantage "Lenovo-ware" which comes with the computer is needless, excruciatingly slow, infuriating and generally a total load of rot.

In particular the ThinkVantage Access Connections is dreadful and starts eating up RAM and freezing the computer even if you just accidentally click on the icon in the taskbar. It is pointless trying to find a network using the ThinkVantage Access Connections as the computer just freezes and although I'm loathe to admit it .. the MS network finder works far better. The ThinkvantageMessage Centre is another total disaster which only makes the computer freeze. The Active Shock Protection does not work and keeps giving contradictory messages .. The fingerprint reader is also just a pointless caprice.

The machine ages and depreciates quickly mainly because it runs at very high temperatures. The cooling system is quite poor and since the summer has begun I often find the laptop turning itself off for having overheated. When hot the whole machine slows and plods along even when called to do the most mundane tasks.. it then suddenly speeds up and over-compensates opening up 10 instances of the same program etc etc. Upgrading the amount of RAM does not seem to have helped a great deal mainly because of the heat problems. I find when not in my lap I have to "stand on its side" to allow the heat to radiate properly as it cannot be left on normal everyday surfaces in its normal position unless in air-conditioning, where it works quite well.

The microphone is very very poor .. veering on defective and recordings made are abysmal even when a good quality mike is plugged in.

The batteries on this range of computers were largely faulty however only a number were subject to a recall. I acquired my z61m from a batch-buy of these machines along with other colleagues. Amongst all of us only two have original batteries which are still operational. The Lenovo site's recall service is based on the serial number of the batteries. Although we all had the same computer (and presumably batteries) only some of us managed to avail the recall even though the battery problem was more or less identical.

There are similar problems with the chargers which are prone to failure or breakage. I personally know of at least four users including myself who have had to buy new chargers within months of purchase.

This computer is NOT an IBM machine which from what I know tended to be far better. It is "relatively" reliable in spite of all these problems mentioned above. I feel however that it shan't last much longer than maybe 3 years... and might just not start up one day.

I almost suspect that Lenovo have deliberately inspected limited consumer durability into their products.. mainly batteries and chargers in order to compel purchases. Both the charger and battery if bought together cost the better part of £200 which is quite expensive considering you can a reasonable new laptop for £300.