Lenovo ThinkPad X240

Decent Laptop, have been using it for 5 years – I bought my thinkpad x240 around mid 2014 with top specs at that time - intel core i7 - 4600U, 8GB RAM, 1TB Hdd storage. PC is light-weight, suitable for carrying around. Cost me a bit under $2000. I use it for general use, coding and a little bit 3d rendering. Hardware is very robust. Nothing broken after 5 years. I especially like the screen, as it is not a glass screen and doesn't reflect light (unlike macBooks). Software is OK. It doesn't have a lot of crappy manufacturer softwares, even if there is it can be uninstalled without affecting anything. But sometimes i cannot adjust screen light, has to reboot to fix it. Still, no major software faults. GPU is NOT great. I think it's intel HD graphics 4000. Not suitable for 3d rendering or gaming. But overall it was a good purchase.

Suppposed to be reliable – On they outside they look rugged and reliable. To people, Thinkpads are supposed to be reliable. However, I own 4 Thinkpads and they have been the most inreliable laptops I have ever used. All 4 of them, including brand new and used ones have failed on me. Either from HDD, Motherboard, Power Supply etc.

Don't buy one of these from Lenovo!! – I have also had the good fortune to have purchased different brands, and experienced interactions with several laptop suppliers. In this regard I have found that they tend to provide an agreed product and service. As a result, I am a little suprised that my purchase from Lenovo (allegedly the number one seller of laptops) deviates from these general rules.

Mid February, I buy the laptop. It takes a month to arrive (not expected). It comes with a dead pixel near the middle of the screen (awesome)

I replace the hard drive with a new samsung SSD (which I am allowed to do and retain my warranty). I install all my programs, then the SSD breaks and starts failing the SMART hard drive test. I replace it and get a refund and a new hard drive (same model). I reinstall everything, then the new hard drive fails again. I ring CS about the OS issue, and am advised to reinstall again (I actually did five installs in total over the process of the two failures). As I know it is extremely rare for new hard drives to fail without warning, (I have purchased/owned over 20) I am now thinking that my issue is likely with the laptop.

I ring customer support to complain that I may have a faulty motherboard. I am told that if I send in the computer with the ssd in it, it will get replaced. I was very clear that the SSD was not one that came with it (I pretty much ranted about the above issue to them so they were very clear that two new SSDs had failed in the computer, after going in with no issues detected). I clarify several times that I am sending in a hard drive that is not the one that came with it, and ask what is going to happen, e.g., are they really going to replace it. I am pleased to hear that they are going to replace the hard drive with one that matches what I send in. I assume this is because their laptop appears to have a faulty motherboard or something breaking the hard drives that I put in. ( I cannot remember if I asked about the motherboard being tested (probably), but I asked that he record all of my information so I assumed that any competent service would do this based on my issue)

I send in my laptop (three months after I purchased it, and having yet to use it). I feel that I will finally have the working laptop that I have needed since I purchased it. I get a call telling me that (i) they will need to quote me a price for a new hard drive and (ii) they cannot return the hard drive I sent in (worth $150). The person calling me clearly has little or no idea of my actual issue, that I am replacing drives and they are failing due to an unknown issue and I have sent in the computer and ssd as requested.

I have no good options - if I want a refund for the computer I will need the laptop sent back, and to start a new process for that to happen. I realize this basically means I will either pay $300 (I don't get refund and buy a new hard drive) or get my laptop back again, and then have to send it to them again).

As I am so busy (finishing a PhD and tutoring, I am probably going to just pay). I am promised the quote by the end of the day, and I don't get it.

I check the ticket number for my issue, and there is no where to enter it, or see the progress of the order. Fantastic!

The next day I ring and I talk to a CSR, she tells me that I am going to get the motherboard replaced, and that they will only charge for the laptop.

I get a call about my quote. I haven't received the email. I give another email. I get the quote on the first email I gave and the second email is entered wrong (he has left out my first name, even though it was clearly specified).

I read the quote - it is $484 for the service (I have a three year warranty, but it is marked as out of warranty). Wow. I am charged for the courier fee and also for the service, as opposed to just the hard drive as I was told. No mention of the motherboard.

Now I need to call them and waste more of my nonexistent free time.

Based on the above experience (by far the worst purchase I have ever made!) I would advise anyone thinking of buying from lenovo to rethink doing so. Unless you really don't mind having your time wasted.

I will update when this is resolved (just to inform of the outcome)

***Update - they messed up in several other ways! I sold the x240 and bought a macbook pro****

***Update in 2016 - still the worst purchase and customer experience I have ever had*** Small It never worked, Service from Lenovo was aweful