$1,309 - IBM T20 (P3-700) - 128MB, 12GB, 14.1" TFT (1024x768), Fax/Modem & Ethernet, DVD, W2K over $2000 on pricegrabber

[Jinux]

Hi guys,

This is a branch off from http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=472682.

You can get the T20 (P3-700) - 128MB, 12GB, 14.1" TFT (1024x768), Fax/Modem & Ethernet, DVD, W2K for $1,309. Use the buy it now on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1248744481. It's over $2000 on pricegrabber.

There's ram for T20 on ebay for about 93 bux. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1248544753 .

Also check on the above thread from Rootaxs. He/she got a free GPS device with his purchase.

Props out to rootaxs and the rest of the guys on the thread.

Update: They're all gone.......!!!!!!!

 

[Finality]

Please no auctions.

 

[Jinux]

It's not an auction. They use ebay has their storefront.

 

[Yv12345vY]

Those T20s are much much more expensive at other online retailers. For example, buy.com has those suckers for $3,699.95 !!! I got mine for $1414.04 tax and shipping included.

Here's the link if you don't believe me.

 

[thecollectivewi]

All sold out. These were being sold by IBM using an eBay storefront liek Jinux said.

 

[rootaxs]

Ditto. This is IBM's storefront on E-Bay. They usually have golden deals out there. If the item listed is no longer available wait for a day or two as they frequently refresh their list.

That T20 is *definitely* a good deal IMHO. I Just got my A21p via the same IBM e-bay storefront and i love it!

Btw, Jinux might want to mention something about the GPS... some people got it some don't so it's still worth listing. I just checked my order on this and it will be arriving sometime today. Will try to get some scans in ASAP.

 

[Jejunum]

bump for this awsome deal

 

[ZeroBurn]

wow, if this deal is completely legitamite and the retailer is reputable then i can't believe this hasn't been posted before. i checked out the storefront for IBM and they have a BUNCH of these going. here's a link with 11 available still for the same price. these go for TWICE that on buy.com, this is totally flaming.

 

[RossMAN]

wow, if this deal is completely legitamite and the retailer is reputable then i can't believe this hasn't been posted before.

This was posted before by rootaxs on 6/19 click me

 

[mrVW]

WARNING: Do NOT ORDER the Macintosh Memory from MemoryToGo. I got both my Thinkpad T20 and the RAM today. The RAM does NOT WORK with the T20.

The ThinkPad T20 is great so far. These appear to be "new old stock" -- the BIOS on them is from late 1999! However, they were TOP OF THE LINE models at the time they were made, so still fresh and current. Exactly what I like, a $5000 unit 18 months later at $1300!

 

[zboy]

Does it come with a three years warranty?

Zboy

 

[Wei2Cool]

Good deal but in case anyone interested in a similar configured lappie for $400 less, here is what I've got for sale:

Brand new MicronPC notebook PIII 700 (SpeedStep), 128M/10GB/DVD/13.3 XGA TFT/S-Video TV out/firewire/Li-ion battery for $1000 + shipping, check this thread for details.

 

[DDCSpeed]

The buy.com website has a less stuff...

 

[Jinux]

zboy: The T20 comes with a 3 year warentty with it and it's new old from factory.

Wei2cool: Sounds good but honestly, no offense but you're comparing a honda with a BWM. Yes, they have all the same stuff on it but the *feel* is totally different. I have all the IBM products at work (cuz I work there) and they can't compare to most other companies (Dell, Apple, Toshiba are pretty good but the rest are... ehhhhh) and worth th extra money.

 

[illusionm8]

oh damn. ebay uses the same format for their stores. good find.

 

[DDCSpeed]

Can someone tell me if ibm is worth the money or toshiba is worth the money.....

i posted the toshiba laptop deal....
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=477391

but now i can't decide anymore because the ibm has good features too.

Does anyone know if they have to swap the floopy with the dvd rom drive or they are both in at the same time?

is it true about the 3 year warranty for the ibm laptop?

Does ibm laptop breaks easily because 1 of my friend a technican said he fixes a lot of the thinkpads

can someone post their experience with toshiba or ibm? thanx

 

[Jinux]

DDCSpeed: IBM T20 is better in the case with Toshiba Sat (~5 vs ~7 pound). IBM T20 (~5 pound)is more compairable to Toshiba Tecra series (~5 pound) and I series (~7 pound) is closer to Toshiba Sat (~7 pound). My roommate has a Tecra and it is really nice. I don't know about your friend but all laptops break after a while but the worse are Sony's. I've seen IBM and Toshiba break but the freq. of them I would say are average (sometimes your lucky and sometimes not). Both Toshiba and IBM has mail-a-way if you have problems. Honestly if you want support, get a Dell. They come to your house if you have problems. Also the IBM lappy has a 3 years watt., just read the fine print on the ebay item.

 

[DDCSpeed]

thanx a lot for the advice. just 1 more thing, I read on epionion that
t20 gets hot real fast within 30 minutes.....is that a problem?

Also, the mail-away fix......who is responsible for the payment of the shipping?

I am sorry about all these comments but I am putting my whole wad into this laptop.....for i am the poor college student

 

[mrVW]

More reports on my TP20.

I updated the BIOS, the December 1999 date in the BIOS does not reflect how old these are... as EVERY update to the BIOS for this machine has the same date. Not sure why IBM would do such a thing.

The Toshiba 6x DVD / CD-ROM on my system was mfged December 2000, so unit is not very old.

Working good so far, I formatted it and am installing Windows 2000 Server (Win2K Professional not suitable for my needs).

 

[Jinux]

DCCSpeed: Honestly, all laptops gets hot over a while. You won't find a laptop out there that won't heat up but most I've found are not hot enough to cook an egg. It might warm your lap tho. As for shipping for a fix, they pay for all the shipping. What isn't cool is that it usually takes upto 3 weeks for them to fix it all up (all vendors except for dell do that. Dell if you get it, has next day come over to your house and fix).

mrVU: Did you get an email confirming your order? I ordered today and all I got were the order number and customer number for www.myorderstatusonline.com which by the way --don't work. How did it work out for you?

 

[DDCSpeed]

Thanx guys,

I just decided to go with the toshiba laptop. I decided not to go with the ibm on ebay. I purchased the 3 year service plan (bestbuy) and come out about 100 dollars more than what the ibm would have cost. I also went with the 6 month no interest financing so its a good deal kinda with no money up front. The only benefit is that I do not have to deal with the mail-away plan and i can just go to my local bestbuy to get it fixed if anything happens. Thanx for those who put time and thought into their inputs.

 

[DDCSpeed]

Can someone confirm this person selling on eb@y is legit? I heard that people can hack into the eb@y and make up false buyer response. I just hope people who are purchasing it off eb@y to be careful.

 

[rootaxs]

This "person" is legit. How legit can IBM go? Besides, the number they give you to call up when the auction closes is an IBM number, only difference is you have to specify the extension number given as opposed to (normally) pressing some other option for sales.

Here's a way to make the deal even better for those with American Express Blue cards. Purchase using this card and get double the warranty (max of 5 years) so instead of 3 years system and 1 year battery you get 5 years system and 2 year battery.

As for the heat issue, don't know about the T20 but the A21P i got last week never gets hot. Warm perhaps but never hot. Even under extreme "torture" (e.g. several windows, surfing, photoshop filtering, fireworks batch processing, ultradev editing) it never gets hot. I've never heard the fan turn on either. Edit: Btw, i did notice something interesting, i had the unit pre-installed with Win98SE and after i personally upgraded it to Win2k Pro the system did run cooler.

Another plus i like about these thinkpad's is the thinklight, if i had a better vidcam i'd take a photo of it in action. It's so cool having some sort of keyboard light when you work at night or in a dark place.

And oh! Another plus, if you get the 30+ GB version, that's a 5400rpm drive and it surely makes system response quicker.

 

[miniboot]

does anyone know if these amex blue deals apply to Gold Card holders also??? I'm in the UK, but have an american amex gold, however I don't know what kinda deals apply to it as my dad got it for me.
Also, does anyone know if the warranty is international, i.e. if I get my dad to bring one over here for me will I be able to get customer service?
Definitely gonna get one of these if IBM put any more up on ebay.

 

[RossMAN]

Does the T20 come in anything faster than a P3/700?
What is the battery life like when it's fully charged?
Is there any reason why I shouldn't buy this laptop other than I don't need it and won't use it?