How is this relevant to the article? I had a look at my Thinkpad T42 and X201 and both were manufactured in China. I looked up a picture of the T40's bottom case and it was manufactured in China as well. I think the differences in durability you're noticing are more because the majority of laptop buyers value the laptop being thin and light over being durable, so companies moved their product lines to suit these tastes. In fact, you seem to be a part of that segment. If you really value the laptop being durable over all else, why did you buy a Samsung ultrabook, a Dell XPS, and a MacBook (all thin-and-light ultraportable laptops) instead of a current generation T or P series ThinkPad or a Panasonic Toughbook?