Computers as a fashion accessory

I had a couple of arguments about this a few nights ago. Lenovo, the company which now owns the ThinkPad brand, was celebrating the 15th anniversary of its ground-breaking laptop.

As far as I can tell, the ThinkPad itself has not undergone any major changes. It's small, it's fast, and it's lightweight. Fine. It should be, especially since it's one of the leaders of Lenovo's mobile line.

But some fashion guru decided to encase it in leather and slap a 'limited edition' number on it. As one of the attendees at the party observed, it looks like someone glued leather on a plastic box.

I don't get it. Making computers 'exclusive' - Lenovo said it was only selling 1,200 "editions" of the computer in UK, France and Dubai - does nothing for the computer's functionality.

It fact, considering that a couple of us couldn't figure out how to remove the cover from the computer, the leather case has the potential to be an eyesore. Scratch or scuff this computer and you're stuck with it until you buy the next one.

I was told I was looking at this from a tech view point - that I didn't understand who the computer was being marketed too. Unfortunately, I do. This computer will be snatch up by pretentious executives who know little about computing.

Computers have never been about fashion. Just the opposite actually; it's usually been the high-water pants wearing geek who sported the latest technology.

It isn't like this is a cell phone or a Bluetooth earpiece, either. I can understand the desire to make these ubiquitous, and often wearable, toys more fashion friendly. That doesn't mean I will buy one; it just means I understand.

One Lenovo spokesperson told me that it was important to executives to have this type of computer. These execs needed to show their underlings - my word, not Lenovo's - that they have an exclusive computer.

What a crook.

The only thing that will impress me is if this manager can actually turn the computer on.

I was also told that this type of computer could be "an extension of my digital life." Apparently, the first step in extending my digital life is to add non-digital junk to the case.

Computers have become a necessity, but they are still a tool. My impressions of your computer ability begins and ends with your ability to use said tool.

My digital lifestyle is more about me producing original content and accessing the latest media. It is not about brands, it isn't about 'bling', and it isn't about buying exclusivity. Exclusivity online will always be about the ability to do something that no one can do.

Now, Lenovo makes the point that some people just aren't impressed with all the technological jargon used to sell computers to people like me. Fair enough.

I recognise that a quad-core chip doesn't float everyone's boat, but slapping leather on the outside just tells me that Lenovo is targeting users who can do little other than matching their computers to their shoes.