I just bought me a brand new in box Thinkpad T42

[PhlashFoto]

just wanna share the joy!!!


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...&viewitem=&item=120099106797&rd=1&rd=1

Specs: (Bold type is what I really like about it, and Italics are nice feature to have)

Pentium M 745 1.8GHz Processor
1GB (1024MB) RAM
80GB 5400rpm HDD
15 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD
64MB ATI Radeon 9600
24x24x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD
IBM 802.11a/b/g wireless(MPCI)
Bluetooth/Modem(CDC)
1Gb Ethernet(LOM)
UltraNav
Secure Chip
Fingerprint Reader
6c Li-Ion
WinXP Professional

It even has a full 3 year warranty from IBM!!!

Most importantly, it's an IBM!!!!!

I already have 2x 1GB Crucial PC2700 sticks on hand going in later this week after I am sure the machine is working properly. Eventually I'd like to get a 7200RPM drive in it as well. But since the largest I see is only a 100GB 7200rpm drive and this will have an 80GB 5400rpm drive, I dont find the need yet to upgrade. I hope we will see high capacity 7200rpm drives to buy.

OH..... I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!!!

 

[AmigaMan]

Nice. If you're not using it for games, then it should last you a long time.

 

[alimoalem]

yea, it should last you for a good couple years. was $850 your budget?

 

[PhlashFoto]

No gaming on this baby. This is strickly for work-related, note-taking, and classwork. Portability (~5.0lbs) and durability (IBM) were my first primary concerns, as well as getting a long enough warranty to make sure I would be set for years. I bring my laptop(s) everywhere I go so it needs to be light-weight and durable.

Alimoalem, $850 wasnt really a budget set. I was looking at T60/T60p systems initially, but when I was configuring it identical to this one except for the Core2Duo cpu, I was paying over $1,500. Which I would have paid for, but I figured why pay $600 for just a cpu upgrade, and a new model number. As much as I would use the CPU performance it isnt a big deal to me on a laptop as it is on a desktop. Plus Lenovo doesnt even sell the 15" SXGA+ screens anymore on their website.

If anyone is thinking to themselves: "you could of have a Dell or blah blah with Core2Duo and this and that for the same price or less than what you paid...." I say this: I had a Dell in the first year I had it with a 1 year warranty. I went through 4 keyboards, 2 set of LCD hinges, 1 AC adapter. So for me I do not have the time nor patience to want to go through that again. I like Dell's desktops, networking gear, servers; and I love the desktop monitors. I just need a laptop that can last.

Any comments/questions, please feel free.

 

[mad0maxx]

I heard that Dell does have poor build quality but excellent customer service while on the other hand HP has excellent build quality but poor customer service. Figures :-\

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: mad0maxx
I heard that Dell does have poor build quality but excellent customer service while on the other hand HP has excellent build quality but poor customer service. Figures :-\

That hasn't been true with Dell for quite a while (the customer service I mean). HP's business line was solid, but not so much with their consumer machines. I've heard good things with Lenovo. My MacBook Pro is well built (except the batteries) and customer support has been top notch so far. It was a tough decision to go for the MBP versus the T60p for me, but what ended up selling me on the MBP was OS X.

 

[goodthymes]

Elopes580,

Regarding the warranty on that Thinkpad, I think you need to look closer at the Ebay listing. This T42 actually comes with 6 months (SIX MONTHS) IBM warranty, with an additional 3 years warranty provided by "Mack". It's kind of misleading I know, if you don't look at the listing line by line. And from what i researched, Mack isn't very well regarded, do a google/yahoo search.

Though the same thing did not happen to me, but I did purchase a T41P from the same vendor, Thinkpad World. I was kind of leery about thinkpad from Ebay, so I did a little research about them on forum.thinkpads.com, there was no glarring warnings so i bit. Unit came as advertised, with prompt shipping etc. My unit came with a 1yr. on-site warranty from IBM. Couple of times that I did contact IBM regarding minor issues, they were very good about it i.e., told them my thinkpad's keyboard was kind of "wonky", and they sent out a new KB the next day - no question asked/minimal hassle, pretty good servivce I would say. Though the T41P is actually for my wife, have to say, I love the little machine.

 

[WackyDan]

This explains the warranty terms. Note the "Remanufactured". It is not NEW in box. Personal opinion being very familiar with ThinkPads and pricing on them.... For a refurb, you got robbed.

"These remanufactured products are sold by IBM with a L-Claim classification, which means that they are in brand new condition. These are brand new items which were either:

(A) shipped to an IBM reseller or end user and then returned, in most cases unused, or

(B) a custom ordered configuration which was cancelled or,

(C) brand new odd lot or overstocked inventory.

They are carefully tested and recertified by IBM and come in a IBM factory sealed box. Computers include the original factory software load including OS and have a Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (COA). They come complete with all original accessories and documentation and have a Six Month IBM Global Financing Warranty.

Total 42 Month Warranty- Six Months IBM Global Financing Warranty plus 3 Year Mack Computer International Extended Warranty
"

 

[fbrdphreak]

You should've bought mine T42 15" SXGA+ 2.0GHz Pentium M with 1GB+ RAM (need to put some more in to sell) and 100GB 7200RPM. Full warranty with accidental coverage through August

 

[PhlashFoto]

Well I got the laptop in the other day. I have had very little chance to test it out.

What I can tell so far: The laptop is in mint physical condition, no scratches, wear and tear on the unit itself. No dead pixels, nice big display and high res.

Unforunately the hard drive was the incorrect size; it was a 40GB 5.4K rpm instead of the 80GB in the description. The seller seems to be looking into this and taking care of it. Also the battery has a great deal of wear on it. Although it has 97cycles of use, it had only 27.84Wh at full charge. I tried to recondition it and it only went up to 28.21Wh, then I did it a second time and it went up to 28.69Wh.

As for the warranty, I did some research. It appears it has 6 months left of warranty through IBM which expires on 11/2007. The 3 year warranty is through a 3rd party service shop Mack Computer (which I thought was affiliated through IBM). It is a mail-in place in New Jersey. According to their website, you send in your laptop with a $35 check. They claim its to cover shipping it back to you. It doesn't even cost $20 at most to ship something from where they are to me.

Also I thought with the 3yr warranty through IBM I could bring it to a local authorized service center and have it in a few days. Not with this place, even though on their website they claim that you can call in and find a local Mack service center to have warranty coverage. I did call and this semi-rude woman sais something to effect of "well the owner would rather have people mail their items to here...." Even though I said that their website claims this otherwise, then she said something contradiction along the lines of IBM warranty shop.

After doing some reading about this Mackcam.com place. I'd rather keep a dead laptop than bring it to them, as some people say they take FOREVER to send their items back.

All in all, I may ask for a partial refund, I dont want to return the system since its what I want and looking for in a T42. I just want a warranty through IBM since there about 10 IBM centers in the area I can just walk my laptop into ande they will have it ready in a few days. I just have to see what recourse I may have. Overall, I'm ok with this, even though someone above did say "i got robbed". I dont find it the case comparing spec and condition wise to others I see on ebay. Maybe a tad more than the average rate, but nothing ot cry about.

Sorry forthe long read.