IBM ThinkPad notebooks take leap forward in global market

In addition, IBM's commercial PC notebook shipments in the second quarter 2004 were the highest ever for IBM in a single quarter, and represented the seventh consecutive quarter of unit growth for ThinkPad notebooks, based on IDC's reports.

"IBM ThinkPads are built for business and our customers value innovation that helps them cut their costs and improve their efficiencies. With outstanding security, manageability and wireless features, IBM's patented ThinkVantage Technologies continue to set new benchmarks in both the regional and worldwide market," said Imtiaz Ghani, regional manager, personal computing division, IBM Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan. "We're looking forward to demonstrating these unique technologies at the GITEX exhibition in Dubai next week."

IBM's second quarter 2004 performance showed IBM ThinkPad shipments growing at a faster pace than the overall industry in both year-to-year and quarter-to-quarter measurements, thereby allowing IBM to achieve some hard-fought gains in its commercial PC notebook market share, based on the IDC numbers.

IBM has added several new ThinkPad models in 2004 to its award-winning line of commercial PC notebooks, including the ultraportable ThinkPad X40, and the thin and light ThinkPad T42. IBM ThinkPad notebooks are the only commercial PC notebooks to feature ThinkVantage Technologies, a set of tools designed to help customers reduce their service and support costs and simplify common user problems. These tools include built-in innovations such as an embedded security chip to help prevent data theft; Rescue and Recovery software to help restore lost data; and IBM's Active Protection System to help protect data on the hard drive in case the ThinkPad is dropped.

In addition, separate recent survey results from both Technology Business Research and PC Magazine indicated that IBM has solidified its commercial PC notebook customer satisfaction scores. In the latest TBR customer survey, IBM was the most improved notebook vendor. In the latest PC Magazine survey, IBM won the Reader's Choice award for notebooks yet again, based on high marks for overall satisfaction, reliability, service and support.