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HyperX · Nov 14, 2006, 04:08 PM

I run a small IT shop. Bought some new Lenovo Thinkpads for my sales guys and two Mac Pros for the marketing guys. The team went to New York today and all of them forgot their power supplies. So 7 people with laptops and no power supplies (to be fair two of the lenovo guys had the older style power supplies for the last generation laptop).

Anyway - I get on the phone with Lenovo - and I ask them, where can I send my guys to buy power supplies. New ones are different. Lenovo says try comp-usa. Comp usa doesnt have them.

I call apple (for the mac pros) , and apple is like, apple store in Manhattan. Bang done deal.

Even though it seems apple has a smaller market share, its much easier to get parts for them.

Gossamer · Nov 14, 2006, 04:12 PM

It's harder because there are no IBM specific stores. If Apple hadn't opened up Apple stores, good frickin luck finding a power adaptor ANYWHERE but online. (BTW I think you meant MacBook Pros)

olePigeon · Nov 14, 2006, 04:18 PM

Those new Dell "stores" are funny. I wonder how many people run in there looking for a part or something, only to be told by the floor guy, "Yeah, well, we don't actually sell anything here. They're just for you to stare at. Then you can order it online."

HyperX · Nov 14, 2006, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

It's harder because there are no IBM specific stores. If Apple hadn't opened up Apple stores, good frickin luck finding a power adaptor ANYWHERE but online. (BTW I think you meant MacBook Pros)

Right - mac book pros... long day

l008com · Nov 14, 2006, 04:26 PM

COMPUsa sells Apple Power Adapters . . . Even before Apple started opening its new generation of retail stores.

vmarks · Nov 14, 2006, 04:26 PM

The yellow tipped barrel adapters for IBM / Lenovo are all interchangeable.

Even if they aren't exactly the same spec, you can charge or run off any of them.

I'm not sure what the new style is, but I hope there's some benefit like there was for Apple to go to MagSafe.

That intercompatibility meant that you COULD go to compusa, buy the generic Targus charger and work with the IBM without an issue.

Oversoul · 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Those new Dell "stores" are funny. I wonder how many people run in there looking for a part or something, only to be told by the floor guy, "Yeah, well, we don't actually sell anything here. They're just for you to stare at. Then you can order it online."

Haha. There are Dell stores? I've only seen kiosks, and yep they don't sell anything. Are Gateway stores still around?

Not to derail this thread, but the problem has already been mentioned. There aren't any IBM/Lenovo specific stores and power adapters aren't exactly compatible across models. Have you tried calling around to smaller specialty computer parts/repair shops?

screamingFit · Nov 14, 2006, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by vmarks

The yellow tipped barrel adapters for IBM / Lenovo are all interchangeable.

Even if they aren't exactly the same spec, you can charge or run off any of them.

I'm not sure what the new style is, but I hope there's some benefit like there was for Apple to go to MagSafe.

That intercompatibility meant that you COULD go to compusa, buy the generic Targus charger and work with the IBM without an issue.

Third party power adapters for notebooks are made be several manufacturers and can be found in a multitude of locations. IBM, Dell, Toshiba, whatever - they're easy to find.

If Compusa didn't stock Apple junk and there weren't Apple retail locations, you'd be seriously hosed depending on where those people were.

Your story definitely isn't a win for Apple. I'm sure there's a hundred stores around NYC that have an adapter for those Thunkpads.

turtle777 · Nov 14, 2006, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by HyperX

I run a small IT shop. Bought some new Lenovo Thinkpads for my sales guys and two Mac Pros for the marketing guys.

Why do you hate your sales guys ?

-t

HyperX · Nov 14, 2006, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by screamingFit

Third party power adapters for notebooks are made be several manufacturers and can be found in a multitude of locations. IBM, Dell, Toshiba, whatever - they're easy to find.

If Compusa didn't stock Apple junk and there weren't Apple retail locations, you'd be seriously hosed depending on where those people were.

Your story definitely isn't a win for Apple. I'm sure there's a hundred stores around NYC that have an adapter for those Thunkpads.

one of my marketing guys explained it best. If my battery is going to blow up, I better make damn sure I have the original OEM adapter. Easier to sue whoever laptop this is.

keekeeree · Nov 15, 2006, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by HyperX

I run a small IT shop. Bought some new Lenovo Thinkpads for my sales guys and two Mac Pros for the marketing guys. The team went to New York today and all of them forgot their power supplies. So 7 people with laptops and no power supplies (to be fair two of the lenovo guys had the older style power supplies for the last generation laptop).

Anyway - I get on the phone with Lenovo - and I ask them, where can I send my guys to buy power supplies. New ones are different. Lenovo says try comp-usa. Comp usa doesnt have them.

I call apple (for the mac pros) , and apple is like, apple store in Manhattan. Bang done deal.

Even though it seems apple has a smaller market share, its much easier to get parts for them.

Five salesmen, two marketing guys...the team goes to New York and not one of them remembered to bring a power supply?

You might want to consider replacing the sales and marketing guys instead of the power supplies...