Well 9 months on it looks like it is going well have you seent some of the new stuff they are coming out with now
http://www.lenovo.com/think/us/en/

You clearly have a cursory knowledge of the subject indeego, but as always you pretend to know everything about everything. The internet blurb article you probably read about Wal-Mart issues and their workers (it's really the 'super-discount sham chain' phenomena Wal-Mart just happens to be the largest) is only one sub-topic and merely scratches the surface, plus it's not actually what I'm talking about anyway. And so what if it's 'so 2003' if it's still true does that mean it's not important anymore? It's much more complex than that you really need to see that episode to understand. One example: China's fixed currency rate is the antithesis of the open-trade market they want to participate in and makes any trade with China inherently unbalanced in an open market context. Do some research maybe you'll learn something. Good business and trading partnerships can benefit both sides, but that assumes both sides play by the rules governing their trade. China does not. Simple enough for you?

Western nations were shammed into believing China was this great expanding market which would have a huge number of people buying up Western goods and services. Lots of people by itself doesn't necessarily make a good market in which to sell. People wh ocan *buy goods* makes a good market. A large majority of Chinese are impoverished country peasants or below poverty level workers. Then there's unfair business practices which some have mentioned here and many of these are illegal by the very treaties (WTO and special trade status with the US) that they have signed.

There is a Frontline episode called 'Is Wal-Mart Good for America.' I don't shop there any more because of watching that. If anyone else has seen it please say so it's eye-opening to say the least, and a good part of it revolves around trade with China. Our trade deficit with China is increasingly rapidly, to quote the show 'We are becoming a third-wolrd nation, exporting raw materials and importing finished goods.' That's scary. Lots of the current economic trends in the US that people complain about can be traced back to decisions Clinton made, such as NAFTA and making China a special trading partner.

Who's getting rich off all the trade? Most likely the Chinese government, possibly a few of their lackeys, some Corporations that benefit from the cheap labor (arguably their shareholders but really the top management with thei multimillion-dollar salaries.)

That's why I say fear the Chinese, they play 'the game' to dominate and crush the opposition not beneffit both sides.

Are there going to be layoffs as a result of this deal? Of course, IBM is saying publicly there won't be, but that's hard to imagine.

Yay. Another American company sells itself to the commies.

I agree with #3.

US businesses are practically selling everything to them because they offer cheaper labour than Taiwan. Australian Universities are teaching folks from there, science and other technological research. (Some visiting PhD students are here on some exchange program initiated by the two countries).

Heck, even some folks in the US Military believe the next major "military technology" competitor is China. (ie : Future US weapon systems will be designed to stay ahead of Chinese-based counterparts as the prime concern).

So I wouldn't underestimate them...They're building their resources to compete with USA and Europe. (Although one good thing has resulted...Their Govt has heavily "suggested" not to use Microsoft based software...Instead they want locally developed software! They're looking into Open-Source.)

As for the sale, its not exactly a complete sale.

IBM still retains about 20% of the Desktop/notebook division. Just like when they sold their stake of the storage division to Hitachi. (They still own 20% there as well...Not many folks know that).

#4, I read over here in Australia, the IBM branch involved with PCs will still provide support and service while existing IBM employees in this division have the choice to join with Lenovo or seek other opportunities.

However, some Aussie Govt Dept are a little worried as they prefer IBM as their desktop/notebook supplier.

In your case, I don't think you'll get fired (hopefully)...You probably have to change your uniform and other bits with "IBM" label to "Lenovo". : )
(As well as convince customers that a change of brand doesn't mean a total loss of quality and reputation businesses expect with the IBM name).

Personally, I own an IBM R40. And in the future, may purchase a Lenovo based notebook. If quality of build doesn't change and it retains all current ThinkPad features...I don't really care! (If its the same but cheaper, even better!)

Their PCs were a joke. I remember doing some work for a clinic. They has at least 40 cheap desktop netvista's, each one with its own problems and all out of warranty. I must have had 40 migrains opening them up to troubleshoot.

I personally can't wait for the Engrish Thinkpad's with Advanced Management Power Please Thanks!

ok I'm going to hell for my stereotyping and trolling, this is a given.

I really don't see what all the brewhaha is about? IBM has never made any of its PC line in house since the original announcement of the PC. All that manufacturing work was farmed out to outside vendors in the first place. In the begining assembly was done in house, but by 1989 that was pushed to third parties also. On top of that even thier own in house laptops aren't serviced by in house technicians, that work is provided by a third party operation. So all this announcement really is just a another bid for a new third party manufacturer with kickbacks to big blue. Plus I guess it gives IBM a strong foothold in the largest market in the world

Will IBM Macintoshes be next?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/06/ibm_apple_speculation/

..... give me a break. Who's next?

I think IBM recognizes that sales in developed nations will be flat, at best, and that the only place to really sell lots of PCs at this point is China.

However, it is very difficult to do business in China if you are not local (they do everything they can to give an edge to local businesses, which is reasonable, even if it isn't fair).

This is the best way for IBM to sell lots of PCs in Asia, and for them to divest themselves from a business that is relatively high risk at the moment.

Does this sale include servers?

Fear the Chinese. Seriously.

Okay, so here's a question for you guys... If I were to buy an IBM Thinkpad soon (which I probably will), could I be buying a Lenovo branded bucket or will it still be a Thinkpad, branded IBM? What's the deal? :)

I thought Lenovo was Jay Leno's company ?

A $11 billion business sold for $1.25 billion in cash and securities and another half billion in assumed debt. Shows you how little margin there is in the PC biz. And they get to use "IBM" and "Think" for five years... and then what?

Hmmm, guess who gets the IT contract for the 2008 Beijing Olympics...

Wow, that's a pretty large jump for them.