Lenovo FAQs

Q: The PC’s and ThinkPads are now Lenovo; what happened to IBM?
A: IBM spun-off the PC division with our ThinkCentre and ThinkPad to Lenovo; however IBM and Lenovo are still working together very closely as a unified team. You should expect the same great products from Lenovo and great service from IBM.

Q: What else is IBM doing at Harvard then?
A: IBM is still doing many things at Harvard including Servers, Software and Services. We have great pricing on xSeries Servers (Intel/AMD) and pSeries Servers (Unix/Linux Power Architecture).

Q: What are some of the features of the current T Series and X Series products?
A: The ThinkPad T Series (flagship) and X Series (ultraportable) systems feature Intel Core 2 Duo technology. The ThinkPad T Series feature our ruggedized design with an internal roll cage. Both the T Series and X Series include a rubber isolator and metal cage to physically protect the hard/storage drive. And the ThinkVantage® Active Protection System™ (on models with traditional magnetic hard drives) uses an accelerometer to monitor movement of the system and stop the drive and help protect against damage when a fall or similar event is detected. Both products include our ThinkVantage tool set which consist of tools for backup and recovery, system updates, wireless connectivity, and more.

Q: What are the differences between the ThinkPad lines? T Series and X Series?
A: The T-Series is our flagship line with premium features like a composite case (tough and durable), steel hinges, sealed keyboard and options such as a memory card reader, higher resolution screens, and discrete graphics. The X Series is an ultraportable weighing only 2.7lbs with a standard battery and a Tablet configuration is available. Depending on the configuration and what functions are being performed, some of the X Series models have a low voltage processor and can run off battery power for 10 hours. Learn More

Q: Are all the laptops wireless?
A: Yes all of the ThinkPads for Harvard are wireless, in fact they are all using a/b/g wireless radios. Different parts of Harvard have implemented a, b, or g wireless signals and the ThinkPad works with them all. In additional, wireless draft N connectivity is available in the customized configurations.

Q: How long do the batteries on the ThinkPads last?
A: The answer to that is "it depends". But here are some general guidelines. First the ThinkPads come loaded with a power management tool, this allows you to select profiles for the type of work you are doing; i.e. word processing, watching DVD etc, this helps get the most out of the batteries.

Q: Can I add memory or a larger hard disk to the ThinkPads?
A: Yes, the ThinkPads are upgradeable. Most of the Harvard ThinkPads use only one memory DIMM socket and there is one free socket. You can order memory and place it in the free socket. It is very easy to do-it-yourself. The hard disk can be removed very easily and upgraded as well. You can also make changes to the standard models by ordering a customized configuration.

Q: Why should I purchase a ThinkPad versus something else?
A: There are many laptops out in the marketplace. Some of the other brands may only have a 1 year warranty or may use older generation Intel Celeron or Pentium processors. They may have less on-board cache (memory for the processor) or not as fast as the Harvard ThinkPads. Or they might have a lower resolution LCD screen. Also, Harvard services the ThinkPad on campus. Lenovo ThinkPads have unique technologies, such as quieter processor fans, spill resistant keyboards, Active Protection on the Hard drive, and more. Learn More