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Are IBM laptops worth the extra $$$? (update: went with the IBM)

A

AgentEL

Golden Member
I am in the market for a new laptop. I've used IBM laptops at school and at work and I feel they are really high quality.

I was thinking about getting the T41. The prices are much steeper compared to competitors (ie Dell). Is the extra quality worth the higher price?

Or should I just get a Dell?

Update:

Thanks everyone for their input.

I ended up ordering a T41 through a "friends and family" discount. Should be shipping in a couple weeks. I am now counting the days.

Thanks again!
 
i clicked IBM, but that was before i read the poll's actual question: "Which is a better value?"

IBM's are better than Dell's, IMO. however, Dell's are cheaper which means they are a better "value".

personally, i do think that Thinkpads are worth the extra money.
 
Dells are teh sukcs but IMB's are over priced so its a tough call I would probably go for IBM though.
 
I too am in the market. Been looking closely at the Compaq X1000 series. My budget is $1500 max. $1400 can buy me a Compaq X1000 with a Pentium M 1.4Ghz, Centrino, WiFi 802.11B, BlueTooth, 40GB harddrive, 512MB RAM, Radeon 9200 32MB, 15.1 WXGA screen. It also weighs 6.5 lbs. and is 1.3" thick.

Please, show me an IBM or DELL with the same specs for about the same price. (I've already looked at the Inspiron 600m. It doesn't have an IEEE port, smaller screen, smaller HD, and slightly more expensive.)

What's so wrong with Compaq?
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I too am in the market. Been looking closely at the Compaq X1000 series. My budget is $1500 max. $1400 can buy me a Compaq X1000 with a Pentium M 1.4Ghz, Centrino, WiFi 802.11G, BlueTooth, 40GB harddrive, 512MB RAM, Radeon 9200 32MB, 15.1 WXGA screen. It also weighs 6.5 lbs. and is 1.3" thick.

Please, show me an IBM or DELL with the same specs for about the same price. (I've already looked at the Inspiron 600m. It doesn't have an IEEE port, smaller screen, smaller HD, and slightly more expensive.)

What's so wrong with Compaq?
Click to expand...

their built quality sucks. We had some Compaq notebooks at work, after a year or so, things start to break.
 
Originally posted by: ndee
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I too am in the market. Been looking closely at the Compaq X1000 series. My budget is $1500 max. $1400 can buy me a Compaq X1000 with a Pentium M 1.4Ghz, Centrino, WiFi 802.11G, BlueTooth, 40GB harddrive, 512MB RAM, Radeon 9200 32MB, 15.1 WXGA screen. It also weighs 6.5 lbs. and is 1.3" thick.

Please, show me an IBM or DELL with the same specs for about the same price. (I've already looked at the Inspiron 600m. It doesn't have an IEEE port, smaller screen, smaller HD, and slightly more expensive.)

What's so wrong with Compaq?
Click to expand...

their built quality sucks. We had some Compaq notebooks at work, after a year or so, things start to break.
Click to expand...

i think it's not so much that the Compaq's are so bad, but more so that IBM's are built so sturdy and solid.

I've owned IBM's, Compaq's, Gateway's, and HP's. IBM's have always been my favorites.
 
One of my friends has an oldner IBM X30, and after having messed with lots of laptops from gateway, compaq, toshiba, and sony, I can tell that his IBM has a sturdier build quality...only matched by Apple.

But a budget is a budget. If someone can show me an IBM with similar specs for $1500 or less, let me know.
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
One of my friends has an oldner IBM X30, and after having messed with lots of laptops from gateway, compaq, toshiba, and sony, I can tell that his IBM has a sturdier build quality...only matched by Apple.

But a budget is a budget. If someone can show me an IBM with similar specs for $1500 or less, let me know.
Click to expand...

pay $1700 for the t41 on newegg
 
Yes, IBM makes the best laptops. But if you want value, you may want to stick with Dell. They are the most decent especially for their prices.
 
IBM is junk. They have as many problems as Dells and others. Heck I've had better luck with Dells than I've had with IBMs.
 
Originally posted by: DaWhim
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
One of my friends has an oldner IBM X30, and after having messed with lots of laptops from gateway, compaq, toshiba, and sony, I can tell that his IBM has a sturdier build quality...only matched by Apple.

But a budget is a budget. If someone can show me an IBM with similar specs for $1500 or less, let me know.
Click to expand...

pay $1700 for the t41 on newegg
Click to expand...

$200 more buys me half the RAM, smaller screen capable of lower res, less-capable graphics card, no BlueTooth.

I'm still not convinced IBMs are worth that kind of premium!
 
The Dell 8200 I had was great, no problems at all and very reliable - great value too, I sold it after a year for $50 less than I bought it new.
 
There's always going to be someone who has a horror story to tell about a brand, whether it be DELL, IBM, Toshiba, Compaq, etc.

Just in terms of pure value, I have yet to find something that approaches the Compaq X1000 series (depending on configuration).
 
I love my T30. Lighter and thinner than the opposition when I bought it. Travel with it extensively and never had a problem. Love the nipple.
 
The only laptops I would ever consider at this juncture in time are IBM and Apple. I personally chose Apple because it was a better value for what I needed and I wanted to try something different.
 
Can someone tell me in the Centrino is really worth it?

I've been looking at laptops and it seems that the ones with the Centrino CPU are A LOT more.

What is so great about them?
 
Originally posted by: Jhill
Can someone tell me in the Centrino is really worth it?

I've been looking at laptops and it seems that the ones with the Centrino CPU are A LOT more.

What is so great about them?
Click to expand...
The Centrino technology utilizes the Pentium-M processor. These use less power, and are more efficient per clock cycle. This means the 1.7 GHz Pentium-M is roughly equivalent to a ~2.6 Ghz Pentium4-M.
 
Centrino laptops consume less power, are lightier, and are cooler. I love mine. I would recommed them compared to a p4 notebook unless you are just going for a desktop replacement one then a P4 would be fine.
 
Originally posted by: JBT
Centrino laptops consume less power, are lightier, and are cooler. I love mine. I would recommed them compared to a p4 notebook unless you are just going for a desktop replacement one then a P4 would be fine.
Click to expand...
I still would recommend the Pentium-M over a P4. The Pentium-M offers more than enough power, and will still give you the option of taking the desktop replacement with you. If you buy one of those laptops with the desktop processor, it will suck your battery dry in no time.
 
/me typing this on his IBM R32 laptop.

I faced the same decision as you about a year, and decided to pay the extra $200 for the same specs but an IBM.

Must say I'm perfectly happy. The keyboard is so much better than other laptops. Much quiter also.

Had a problem with my DVD rom. Went dead for some unkown reason. Called at like midnight (CS wasn't closed to my surprise), told em what was wrong, gave them some numbers, and they pre-shipped a replacement. Awesome service.
 
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