For all you companies wasting valuable time and money on computer support and maintenance, IBM has an answer: more software you’re going to have to spend hours and hours of IT time training your staff to use for themselves. The Thinkpad R52 is IBM’s first R-Series to run with Intel’s Sonoma chipset, and the first to boast their new ThinkVantage Technologies software tools bundled in. The idea behind ThinkVantage is sound—putting users in touch with a database of walkthroughs for standard functions that give the most hang-ups, or failing that, letting them talk one-on-one with an expert—but wouldn’t it be easier and more time-saving to make more user-friendly computers? I’m just a dreamer like that. While no means the strongest kid on the block, for what you’re getting, the R52 is pretty nicely priced (around $1500). And there’s all those fun new programs to learn!
