Roll Cages: A Big Part of What Keeps ThinkPads From Feeling Cheap

Last week we got into a discussion about what makes notebooks and netbooks feel cheap. On the other end of the spectrum, there are PCs that look and feel rock solid. Manufacturers that sell to corporations, such as HP and Lenovo, sell devices that are built to last and cost a bit more.  ThinkPads feel anything but cheap and sometimes people wonder why. I got ahold of a ThinkPad T400 roll cage at IDF 2010 and recorded a quick video for those who’ve never had a chance to tear apart a business machine for themselves.

As you can see, the ThinkPad’s roll cage is made of magnesium alloy and acts as the foundation for the entire notebook.  Business notebooks might not have as many bells and whistles as some consumer notebooks, but there’s a reason why the biggest companies in the world buy them.