Hugo Ortega opens Tablet talks with Lenovo

It�s not often that major vendors show grass roots passion for their products in Australia (probably a sentiment felt even more by New Zealand Tablet PC MVP, my mate Craig Pringle). So frequently I hear tales of little interest shown to �the man on the street� by the big brands. So with that in mind I got in contact with Lenovo.

In a highly anticipated announcement IBM confirmed the sale of its PC division to China's Lenovo Group, 8th of Decmeber 2004; a proclamation that also saw IBM take 18.9 percent equity stake in Lenovo. With this in mind it came at no surprise that Lenovo has kept the build-quality that we�ve all come to expect from brands like �Thinkpad� and Thinkcentre�. What I didn�t expect, and was pleasantly surprised by, was their newly found commitment to making the Lenovo a brand that aspired to IBM greatness, but now fully intended to surpass it.

Let�s start from the top: �I Hugo Ortega (nicknamed Poogie) predominantly focus on growing Tablet PC awareness in Australia�. The way I accomplish this is by strategically and sometimes coincidentally making myself available to masses of listeners willing to listen to the merits of Tablet. I�m really not prejudice, I�ll preach to Microsoft Employees, I�ll make interstate visits to hand deliver a Tablet, or even prophesize to mums and dads while waiting for my son after school. Tablet PC isn�t a way of conducting oneself on the road, to me it�s a commitment to progression. If this technology is allowed to go to the dogs, then it�s only time before the brakes are pulled on more and more projects that should be destined for greatness.

Along my travels I have built congruent partnerships that support my commitment, and conversely show passion for what I do. It was Lenovo that came into my life in December 2005 when I became a Lenovo Business Partner. Admittedly I signed up to gain leverage from current Lenovo programs but I�ve since realised that I�m dealing with a Group that is more proficient than that. It was my initial contact with Merrin Palmer, Lenovo Channels & SMB Marketing Manager, that lead me to realise just how proactive this company truly is. Imagine this, every email I sent swiftly received a reply � obviously it sounds ludicrous to mention this as a point of difference from other companies, but sadly it�s true.

Passionate people have always been intriguing to me. Knowing that if I display sincere interest in anyone then they�ll often share with me their passion. In the case of Greg Hunt, Lenovo Business Development Manager, it�s quickly apparent that his passion lies in destiny. As we sat at my local "Italian-style" Cafe and talked Tablet PC over coffee I couldn�t help but admire well-dressed Greg. As he hacked away at his Lenovo Thinkpad X40 I began to admire his level of commitment and passion for the Tablet. As we took doses of caffeine and Greg hacked keys, and I inked Tablet, I realised that Lenovo and Tablet PC Australia had nothing to worry about. Greg sat there and described the proprietary �Hard Drive Active Protection System� and talked about forth coming structural enhancements to Lenovo notebooks in general � Lenovo to me felt like it has a pulse and is unquestionably kicking!

As we parted our ways both Greg and I knew that our paths would cross again. We�d tentatively mapped out some strategy and eagerly brainstormed new marketing techniques for Lenovo, and most excitingly Tablet PC as a whole.

Watch this space!

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• Do you own a Lenovo notebook?
• In your opinion does Lenovo still carry on the IBM legacy?