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Lenovo Completes Acquisition Of IBM's PC Division

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the purchasing-the-collective dept.

karvind writes "Chinese computer maker Lenovo has completed its $1.75 billion purchase of IBM's personal computer division, creating the world's third-largest PC maker. Under the deal, IBM takes an 18.9 percent stake in Lenovo. Lenovo paid $1.25 billion for the IBM PC unit and assumed debt, which brought the total cost to $1.75 billion. Slashdot timeline: Dec 3, 2004: IBM Puts PC Business Up for Sale, Dec 4, 2004: Chinese PC Maker Looks to Buy IBM's PC Business, and Mar 9, 2005: U.S. Approves IBM/Lenovo Sale"

1 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Re:ThinkPad's have been made in China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Very true. I've bought several Chinese Acuter spotting scopes (optics are another area with frequent China-bashing, top scopes being made in Austria or Japan for thousands) and found little noticeable difference with scopes whose sales tax cost about what I paid for the whole scope + zoom lens + video tripod. Sharp, bright, fully-round images from 20x all the way to 60x with an 80mm objective. I could not justify the $$$$$ leap for the noticeable but relatively minor quality differences.

    Ok, here's the difference between optics made in Japan, Germany, Taiwan and the US vs optics made in China. The workers in the Chinese factories are often missing fingers, their lungs filled with glass particles and their skin in contact with toxic chemicals used for coatings. In China there are no laws governing worker health and safety. In China there are no laws allowing civil lawsuits against negligent employers. In China there are no environmental restrictions preventing toxins from being dumped anywhere a company pleases.

    In short your cheap spotting scope was a result of slave labor (that's right you're no better than those who supported slavery in the past). I'm sure the standards in China will gradually improve and as they do, business owners concerned with the bottom line will shift their manufacturing to other 3rd world nations. Wal-Mart is already eyeing Africa.

    As for me, I refuse to participate in this vulgar consumerism. BTW ... I saved my pennies and bought a TV76 APO scope made right here in the USA by skilled craftsmen and a Bogen Manfretto tripod made by Italian craftsman.