Frustration with a new T41

[hox]

I ordered a 1.7 GHZ T41 from IBM. One of their standard models listed online 23739FU. I added a second 512 mb ram. What I noticed on the invoice when it arrived is that IBM did not put PC2700 memory in this notebook. The Part numbers 31P8194 for a T30 think pad (PC2100) and the other stick is part number for an A series notebook. I called and spoke to a different sales rep who found the PC2700 CL 2.5 memory parts and stated that few people would have picked up on this. Contacting my original sales rep, he stated that the PC2700 memory listed on IBM's web site is not PC 2700 and that IBM does not make PC 2700, and that the PC2100 in the T41 I received was the fastest offered by IBM. Is this true? I find it hard to believe, what I think is that I paid for faster memory and received a slower product. I also ordered a high capacity battery only to receive the standard 6 cell battery. I am very tempted to send this machine back but the screen has no dead pixels. Do you think IBM intentionally shipped these parts thinking most people wouldnt notice the difference in memory speed? This is a very different experience than my previous notebooks from Dell or Toshiba.


Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Pandaren]

That's pretty disturbing. I just went to IBM's website and they list the RAM on your model T41 as having 333 MHz DDR (PC2700). The sales rep is lying to you, and I would not believe him.

Despite this, I don't think the PC2700 DDR would boost performance that much, as the 855 chipset's FSB is locked at 400 MHz. Faster DDR also eats more power.

I see that your T41 has the 6-cell battery standard. Perhaps your sales rep was negligent and didn't enter your order correctly. Does your invoice list you as being charged for a 9-cell extended battery? If so, I would call IBM and complain until they sent the right part.

Despite all these bad things, I would keep the T41, especially considering that it has no dead pixels and is a very fine machine otherwise. But let IBM know that you are unhappy with your sales rep.

Don't know about Toshiba, but Dell has been having problems too - see the thread on the Inspiron 8600s with "ultrasharp" screens that aren't sharp, bright, or color accurate at all.

 

[intellifudge]

I have had a T41 since 3 days after they were announced, and I have had many problems with the ram as well. At first they had my order set to pc2700 memory, and then they switched it to pc2100 memory and I complained, but they told me that it was the only memory that was available for the T41. I then showed them the pdf file and some other websites that showed that the t41 used 2700 memory and gave them the specific ram model number. I finally received the pc2700 memory, but when I put it in my T41 it just beeps a couple times and does not boot. I emailed them about this problem 4 days ago but have yet to receive a response. I have a feeling that the pc2700 memory they have and recommend does not actually work with the T41.

On the issue of IBM and ram, I ordered memory for my fiancee's T40 and they sent me desktop memory and did not offer to pay for the return shipping. I also told them to send the ram to replace the desktop memory and they never sent it.

I am also considering returning the T41 because I feel it is too big for my uses (im not sure I would call it a laptop when it does not fit comfortably in ones lap.) I had fallen in love with my fiancee's old x21 and now wonder why i didn't order the X31. The only reason I dont want to is because this screen has no dead pixels and I worry I will get a dud.