[redmenace]

I am thinking about getting a laptop for my final semesters of school. A R52  has really caught my eye because of the educational pricing. In addition to this I am purchasing a copy of office SBE as well. Any thoughts. As per the Lenovo brand being ****, well I have read that the engineers from IBM still design these, they are only manufactured in China.

Technical specifications 
Product Description  ThinkPad R52 1847 - Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz - 15" TFT
Dimensions (WxDxH) 3  13.1 in x 10.6 in x 1.6 in
Weight 2  6.6 lbs
Localization  English / United States
Mobile Technology  Intel Centrino
System Type  Notebook
Built-in Devices  Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna, ThinkLight
Processor 1  Intel Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz
Cache Memory  2 MB - L2 cache
RAM  1 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM
Hard Drive  60 GB - 4200 rpm
Optical Storage  DVD¦RW - plug-in module
Display  15" TFT active matrix SXGA+ (1400 x 1050)
Graphics Controller  ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 - 64 MB
Audio Output  Sound card
Telecom 4  Fax / modem - CDC - 56 Kbps
Networking  Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g
Wireless NIC  Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG
Input Device  Keyboard, TrackPoint, UltraNav
Power  AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Battery  Lithium ion
Run Time (Up To)  3.6 hour(s)
Operating System  Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Manufacturer Warranty  3 years warranty
Extended specifications 
General 
Mobile Technology  Intel Centrino 
System Type  Notebook 
Built-in Devices  Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna, ThinkLight 
Width  13.1 in 
Depth  10.6 in 
Height  1.6 in 
Weight  6.6 lbs 
Color  Black 
Localization  English / United States 
Processor 
Processor  Intel Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz 
Data Bus Speed  533 MHz 
Features  Enhanced SpeedStep technology 
Chipset Type  Mobile Intel 915PM Express 
Cache Memory 
Type  L2 cache 
Installed Size  2 MB 
RAM 
Installed Size  1 GB / 2 GB (max) 
Technology  DDR II SDRAM 
Storage Controller 
Type  IDE 
Storage 
Hard Drive  60 GB - 4200 rpm 
Optical Storage 
Type  DVD¦RW - plug-in module 
Display 
Display Type  15" TFT active matrix 
Max Resolution  1400 x 1050 
Video 
Graphics Processor / Vendor  ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 - PCI Express x16 
Video Memory  64 MB 
Max Resolution (external)  2048 x 1536 
Audio 
Audio Output  Sound card 
Audio Codec  AD1981B 
Compliant Standards  DirectSound, AC '97 
Audio Input  Microphone 
Input Device(s) 
Type  Keyboard, TrackPoint, UltraNav 
Telecom 
Modem  Fax / modem - CDC 
Max Transfer Rate  56 Kbps 
Protocols & Specifications  ITU V.90 
Features  V.92 upgradable 
Networking 
Networking  Network adapter 
Wireless NIC  Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG 
Data Link Protocol  Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g 
Compliant Standards  IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g 
Expansion / Connectivity 
Expansion Bays  1 x front accessible 
Expansion Slots Total (Free)  2 ( 1 ) x memory - SO DIMM 200-pin ª 1 ( 1 ) x CardBus - type I/II 
Interfaces  1 x audio - line-out/headphones - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ª 1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5 mm ª 1 x infrared - IrDA ª 2 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A ª 1 x parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25) ª 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ª 1 x docking / port replicator ª 1 x display / video - S-video output - 4 pin mini-DIN ª 1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11 ª 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45 ª 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) 
Miscellaneous 
Features  Locking device keyhole (cable lock), administrator password, system password, hard drive password, power-on password, ThinkVantage Embedded Security Subsystem 2.0 
Compliant Standards  CE, MPR II, BSMI, VCCI Class B ITE, CISPR 22 Class B, EPA Energy Star, NOM, SASO, IEC 60950, CSA 22.2 No. 950, UL 60950, FCC Part 15 B, CER, CCC 
Power 
Power Device  External 
Voltage Required  AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz ) 
Battery 
Technology  6-cell lithium ion 
Installed Qty  1 / 2 (max) 
Capacity  4400 mAh 
Run Time (Up To)  3.6 hour(s) 
Operating System / Software 
OS Provided  Microsoft Windows XP Professional 
Software  Drivers & Utilities, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Norton AntiVirus, PC Doctor, IBM Update Connector, InterVideo WinDVD, ThinkVantage Access Connections, Access IBM, IBM RecordNow, IBM Drive Letter Access, ThinkVantage Client Security Software, ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery 
Manufacturer Warranty 
Service & Support  3 years warranty 
Service & Support Details  Limited warranty - battery - 1 year ª Limited warranty - parts and labor - 3 years 
Environmental Parameters 
Min Operating Temperature  41 ¦F 
Max Operating Temperature  95 ¦F 
Humidity Range Operating  8 - 95% 
Sound Emission  40 dB 

[Fury]

I think it is pretty decent laptop from the specs, as long as you aren't planning play games that require graphics processing power. Imperial units are beyond me as I an used to metric system, but as long as 6.6 lbs is light it can't be a bad buy at least. Don't have any first-hand experience about IBM quality, but AFAIK they aren't crap.

[kode]

IBM laptops rock quality-wise. haven't heard anything about that changing when lenovo took over the laptop business (and tbh, they are the third best selling laptop brand...). I'm saving up for an X-series myself, but I wouldn't have minded an R52 either (although I'd probably feel some odd need to shell out the extra dough for an equivalent in the T series had it come down to it).

[StratComm]

I think Lenovo was building them beforehand and all IBM did was stamp their name on them, and from what I understand quality hasn't suffered at all, at least not yet.  6.6 lbs isn't the lightest laptop out there, but it'll be a good combination of portability and usability at that size.  Not the 2.7 lb ultralight, but not my 10 lb desktop replacement that I have sitting beside my desktop either.

[Kosh]

As per the Lenovo brand being ****,

For Lenovo to make money in this country, they need to be really good. They do have to compete against many other brands, both foreign and domestic.

[SadisticSid]

I bought an Acer Ferrari 4005 a few months back and it's the most solid laptop I've ever seen. Lesser models probably don't have the carbon fibre lid and the strong polymer base, but I have a few friends who've bought similar models from the same generation and they've all had no problems with the build quality at all.

The worst thing about most laptops in my experience is that the hinges become loose - and ThinkPads tend to have the most solid hinges you can find. My dad has used his for just under 2.5 years and there's still no screen wobble even when he's using it on the train.

[Kamikaze]

Thinkpads are awesome. I use an R50 all the time and it's perfect for what I do (programming and some light gaming). It has a very solid construction and performs well. Battery life isn't too bad either.

Thinkpads work well with Linux too, if that's your thing.

[MatthewPapa]

Thinkpads = Kickass

My T21 has been to hell and back and its still 100% functional and in one piece. It has experienced firsthand water, ice, my little brother, 4 foot falls, food, heat and cold but nothing has even phased it. The speakers on this thing are also really good, even better than my desktop speakers. Unlike other laptops, my thinkpad doesnt slowly sterilize me through intense heat output in the bottom. If I were you I would definetely get a thinkpad.