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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"

4 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. A new hope for IBM by squiggleslash · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I just hope the Thinkpad survives. It's always been my absolute favorite laptop series. They're beautifully made, elegant, and they use, for me, the right pointing device (yes, I know people who don't like the trackpoint, but the trackpad is, IMO, nothing like as usable. Trackpoints are always stationary relative to the mouse buttons, which means you don't need that hack installed to make it usable that you do with the 'pad, where you're never sure if you just accidentally selected something because your attempt to move the mouse was interpreted as a click, etc. I know a lot of this is "what you're used to", but I also think it's an objectively better system.)

    IBM leaving the PC business seems sad, and I hope the fact they still have a big stake in the PowerPC and Workstation markets means they'll re-enter, this time with something a little more interesting. That said, it's important not to overstate this: IBM has never been a commodity player, and the PC business is a commodity market. That's why they're getting out. The chances of a populist computer coming out of IBM soon isn't that likely. It's like Anakin Skywalker being thrown into the lava and left there by Obi Wan Kenobe in the climactic scene of the new Star Wars movie, explaining why he has to wear the protective suit in his guise as Darth Vader and why he's all hairless and damaged in Return of the Jedi. Just like in that movie, it may explain things in the future of IBM (albeit things we're not aware of yet, whereas we've all seen A New Hope) and is a dramatic change. Hopefully though IBM's not "going to the dark side"!

    But it is sad. In many ways, I feel that when it came to IBM and its influence over the last few years, she blinded me with science.

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  2. What Future For Thinkpad's? by rAiNsT0rm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It figures the only laptop I will even consider since they hooked me on the little pointer nub is a Thinkpad. A lot of business users rely on TP's too, and now with this Lenovo aquisition what lays ahead for the beloved Thinkpad?

    --
    http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
  3. You know the coolest thing about thinkpads by ducttapekz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    . . . No windows key. I didn't like it at first but then I realized, it is a neutral pc. It doesn't have an ms advertisement on the keyboard. I hope that doesn't change.

  4. ThinkPad's have been made in China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wish to preempt foolish comments that quality will now deteriorate into the crapper:

    ThinkPads have been manufactured in China for some time now while maintaining high quality.

    Please stop the unfounded China bashing: the country's industries have been quickly becoming very competent at high quality production as well as churning out $2 Wal Mart items.