Where are the Thinkpad stores?

June 7, 2007 9:40 AM

Is there anywhere in the Chapel Hill/Durham, NC, area where I can just show up and buy (or at least get a good look at) a Thinkpad X60 (or preferably, X40/X41)?

I've called Staples and Office Depot, looked at their web sites plus the sites for Office Max and Best Buy, and called Lenovo (not helpful). I know that Intrex, a local computer retailer, only sells one model of Thinkpad - not one I want.

I tried the "find a reseller" interface of the Lenovo web site, but none of the twenty names it listed as being near my zip code (27517) were known retail stores; I suspect that they are all business consultants.

Through Craigslist, I found ONE X-series listing, and it's some kind of reseller in Raleigh selling X60s for $999 each -- sort of a good deal, but I think I'd prefer the X40/X41 and spending less money. And something closer, dependable, with a retail location.

I also looked at the classified ad web site through the local paper. I know I could try local University surplus, but I doubt they'd be selling something this new.

I know that I could order a new one directly from Lenovo, but they aren't even selling the X4* series anymore. I could probably find one on EBay, but I'd be much more comfortable buying one that I could *see* first. Used or new is fine, but I am trying to be frugal.

Am I just out of luck?

posted by amtho to shopping (8 comments total)

(former Intrex employee) I know sometimes the store is willing to order parts or computers for a customer - but as for previewing an X60... do you have any friends/relatives/contacts working for IBM in RTP? They might know of a way to get you close to an X60/X4*
posted by salsamander at 10:59 AM on June 7, 2007

You might, might, have luck at the UNC student stores. I know they've had some models out in the past you can look at, but I'm unaware if they currently do. Still, it probably wouldn't hurt to give them a call and see what's what. I see you mentioned University Surplus, but just in case you haven't tried this other source....
posted by malaprohibita at 11:01 AM on June 7, 2007

I would just post to Craigslist saying "I'll buy you a Frappucino if you'll meet me at Starbucks and let me observe and type a bit on your X40/X41."

(With more detail, though.)
posted by mendel at 11:01 AM on June 7, 2007

I am tee-totally unfamiliar with Lenovo/Thinkpad product lines, so there's that. But along the same lines as malaprohibita's suggestion, Duke University has a computer store with Thinkpads on display. I don't know if they're selling the one you're after.
posted by 10ch at 11:05 AM on June 7, 2007

There's a very active Thinkpad forum (http://forum.thinkpads.com/) where you could also try asking this question & reading up on people's somewhat obsessive descriptions of the various models.
posted by yarrow at 11:35 AM on June 7, 2007

The student stores idea is good - thanks. I'm not sure they have the models I'm looking for (I know that UNC only has the X60 tablet, and I want the notebook).

Also, ideally, I'd see the exact laptop that I'd leave with if I bought it, so looking at laptops that are owned by others, or only available to students, isn't ideal... but still a good idea.

Thank you for the responses so far!
posted by amtho at 12:42 PM on June 7, 2007

I work for Lenovo and would be happy to help you out if I can.

Send your name and phone number to me at [e-mail] and we can discuss further.

Lenovo offices are only a short distance from you in Morrisville, so if you don't mind coming by we can show you a range of models.
posted by Matt_Evans at 9:44 AM on June 9, 2007

follow up:

Matt_Evans was as good as his word! I visited the Lenovo Customer Care Center in Morrisville, NC, yesterday, and saw a lot of cool stuff as I walked through their "four elements"-themed showroom. Obviously built for impressing CEOs and the like. There were huge bamboo poles, rocks glued to a wall chart ("milestones" -- argh -- I liked the rocks in spite of this), and a completely decadent giant screen showing a constant display of water that rippled as you walked past it. Water sound effects went with this. That would have been fun for the engineers to set up.

I did, finally, get to hold some Thinkpads. I'm totally excited about the new X60 or X61s I'm going to get. They are indeed as light and trim as I imagined.

Unfortunately, this isn't really a retail location, so I don't know what to recommend to people in a situation like mine. Apparently, Lenovo hopes to increase its presence in retail stores, but whether that would include Thinkpads is anybody's guess.
posted by amtho at 9:03 AM on June 22, 2007