My work in consultancy means I travel a lot - hence my need for a decent mobile computer. It's often used for datashows to clients, email from hotels, and, naturally, reports and so on. Until recently, when in the office, I had the ThinkPad^® 380ED notebook plugged into a keyboard and external screen, scanner and printer and used it as a desktop.

Last year I had a meeting in my home town (for which a datashow was required) and was running a little late. We'd left a double sea kayak on the roof of the work car (a large stationwagon), and I thought it wasn't a good look to turn up with such an obvious piece of recreational equipment on show. I put the ThinkPad notebook on the ground by the car while I removed the boat - which is quite a struggle alone.

It was getting very late - and I was a little over-heated - when I finally got into the driver's seat. Our driveway is quite steep and has a dog-leg at the bottom. I turned the car a little and tried to accelerate up the driveway. However, the car wouldn't move and I assumed - correctly - that there was something under the front wheel. In my rush I accelerated a little more enthusiastically, and the car bumped over what I suddenly realized was the computer.

I jumped out of the car to see a perfect tire track across the middle of the computer's carry bag - a soft-shelled job. I started the ThinkPad notebook in the car, and to my surprise it worked fine. The joystick and the keys in the center of the keyboard had crushed a few cells in the middle of the LCD screen, and I noticed during the presentation that it didn't sit flat on the desk - and it still doesn't.

That was over six months ago. The ThinkPad notebook has since been on numerous travels - on large and small planes (with all that vibration) - and it still functions perfectly.

I liked the ThinkPad notebook before I ran it over, and now I think it's quite incredible. I have never had any problems with the hardware.

A computer-programmer friend advised me, when I was considering purchasing the ThinkPad 380ED, that, "IBM makes a solid kit." I've been pleased to prove him right.

Rob
New Zealand

This may not be a typical user experience; individual experiences may differ.