Lenovo bids an early adieu to IBM brand

If you haven't already, say goodbye to that little IBM sticker on your ThinkPad.

Turns out, Lenovo doesn't need the reputable computer brand to sell its notebooks and desktops anymore. Lenovo Chief Executive Bill Amelio said as much following the company's most recent earnings results, which was noted by E-Channel Line.

Now you see it, soon you won't: The IBM logo like the one on this ThinkPad will be no more.

(Credit: Lenovo)

"By making substantial progress on all of our critical priorities over the past few quarters, we're now a stronger, healthier company," Amelio said. "One important sign of this progress is our decision to completely transition our Think products from the IBM brand to the Lenovo brand two years earlier than planned." Previously there had been a deal made that allowed Lenovo to use the IBM logo on ThinkPads and some desktops for several years. The Chinese PC maker purchased IBM's computer business in 2005 for $1.75 billion.

Lenovo is currently dueling with Taiwan's Acer for the mantle of third-largest PC vendor in the world. Both are trying to build brand-name recognition globally, but also here in the U.S.

Lenovo tripled its earnings in the most recent quarter to $105.26 million.

[piusg]

Incredibly disappointing...

I worked for IBM for twelve years, and I've only been this heart-breakingly disappointed in Big Blue twice before: first when they sold off the PC Company to Chinese-held Lenovo, and again when they laid me off in 2005. And now this. One more indignity to suffer from some ****-ant little foreign-held nothing who came on IBM's back and then threw them unceremoniously out of bed without even so much as cab fare. And worse, IBM let Lenovo do this to them.

Under IBM, the PC Company continuously bled red ink until they finally sold it off. Now it's a profitable, money-making enterprise again. What the $#@&!* was Big Blue doing with PCCo. for twelve years!?

And Lenovo--those dirtbag scum--practically stole the PC Company from IBM and then they go "Thanks for everything; now beat it." Ungrateful jerks.

I swear, Sam Palmisano should take a good, close, hard look at how Lenovo turned the PC Company around. Because if IBM carries on the way they're carrying on, they're doomed.

[oxtail01]

Lenova not the bad guys here.

You're contradicting yourself. You call Lenova dirtbag scums and yet turn around and suggest IBM should take a close look at how Lenova does it. Maybe if you worked for Lenova, you wouldn't have been laid off.

[dz1b]

IBM continues to drop the ball

Look how IBM dropped the ball with OS/2. Can one imagine how great that OS could be by now if they'd have continued to develope and support it? Another sore point with me is IBM's failure to market their System i. It's a great, stable system and IBM should be pushing it as an alternative to Wintel boxes. We have 2 System i's and everytime we get new applications in here, they're destined for Wintel boxes which means more and more Windows servers. If there were more System i apps. out there and IBM educated clients (and prospective clients) on the benefits of using the System i as an alternative, it would make my jobs one heck of a lot easier.

[rshimizu12]

IBM PC division problems

I have mixed feelings about the PC division. The PC division had way to much influence over personal software systems division. One reason why OS/2 floundered was because PC division refused to pre-load and support OS/2. This to me made no sense, why not let the OS/2 people handle the support The PC division even turned down the software select program which would let people load Windows or OS/2.

The other problem was that the PC division was never able to develop strong brand for the PC's. Perhaps IBM should have kept the Thinkpads and sold off the PC brand. The laptops comprise most of Lenovo's sales in any case.

In the end the PC division was a distraction for IBM.

[albany100]

IBM LOGO

My family purchased four think pad computers via Lenovo website last week. Two of the computers have the IBM logo and two do not. I called Lenovo today only to be informed that they stopped using the logo two years ago. I then asked the salesperson if that meant that the two that have the logo are old machines, he stumbled over his words claimed the case was old and the parts are new.

I purchased this product because of the IBM logo. IBM has status that is synonymous with price, quality and durability. The IBM emblem is a status symbol just like the grill on a Rolls Royce or the Mercedes Benz emblem. How many people would buy a Benz or Rolex if it didn?t come with the emblem---probably less than five percent?

Since they are no longer using the IBM logo then they should take it off their website. As it stands their advertising is completely deceptive and is nothing short of bait & switch. Lenovo is deceiving the consumer. It would take Lenovo's web designers no more than a few minutes to remove all the IBM logos off the lenovo sight.

[HeleneFB]

I feel the same way! I ordered online - saw the IBM and then when it arrived it was Lenovo and it wasn't even right! I got 3 gig of ram when I ordered 4 and didn't get a spare battery that I ordered! Now what? I deal with a dishonest company in another country because I feel for the IBM label? I could have got the same thing in a Sony for less and I would really know it was a Sony! Bait and switch, dishonest, or just plain not caring about the customer - doesn't matter at this point but I can assure you I have sent an email to everyone I know and they will be forwarding it to everyone they know. Good luck with the military community!

[mneleventhirty]

Now what part of 'Lenovo bought IBM's PC business three years ago and is currently the fourth-largest PC maker in the world', didn't people understand. They thought they needed the IBM logo when they started out, but apparently they felt they were doing better on their own. Do you think IBM doesn't do it when they buy out companies. It's called globalization people, grow up. As someone put it better, 'it's greed', everyone wants a better deal and American manufacturing cannot deliver a better deal.

[thomascgty]

This move is normal in business world; benefit from the other brand and drop the name when everything seems to be stable after the merger.