Is this a good deal on a T43?

[Jackal30]

I can get the Thinkpad T43 for $2097 + tax with the following specs:

Processor:
Intel Mobil M 2.0 GHz

Memory:
1GB DDR2 533 MHz

Display:
15.1" SXGA + TFT

Disk Drives:
80GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
24x10x24/2x/DVD R/RW

Graphics:
ATI Mobility Radeon X300 64MB/PCI Express Graphics

Audio:
16-bit Audio with integrated speaker adn microphone

Communication Devices:
IBM wireless 802.11 a/b/g

Expansion Ports:
USB 2.0 (2)
PCMCIA type II (1)
Type II ExpressCard/54 Slot (1)

Battery:
Li-Ion Battery (about 4 hours)

Weight:
5.9 lbs

Warranty:
3-year Parts & Labor

I'm using it mainly for classes and travel but would also like to use it for some gaming. (although i already have a dedicated gaming desktop) A few questions:

1. How does this price compare to other places that sell a similar T43 build?
2. How does this price compare to other brands that have similar models? (Dell 600m, 6000, etc)
3. Would the T43 be best for my needs or is there something better? (in a similar price range)
4. Assuming it is, anything in the build you would change?

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Jackal30]

Ok, almost as soon as i posted this i noticed you could get a Dell Inspiron for $1850 + tax shipped, with almost identical specs. Not to mention the Dell 700m for around $2000 + tax, with almost the same specs except the smaller display. Any thoughts on the T43 vs 6000 vs 700m?

 

[phpguru]

From what I've seen, it seems like a pretty good deal on a T43. And others have said that for $200 with the same specs, they would pick ibm over dell.

 

[znaps]

That seems a good price to me, and I'd pay the premium for the IBM over the Dell. You'd need to be talking at least $400 in savings before I'd consider a Dell with the same specs.

 

[fbrdphreak]

IBM >>>>. Dell

If you're going to travel a lot, get the 14" screen and thank me later. Otherwise, that price is reasonable. Not a super great deal, but not ripping you off either. It'll be a great macine that will last forever and IBM's support is unrivaled.
That said I would get a slower CPU and less memory. The 1.73 or 1.86 is a sweet spot for performance, the 2.0 is a bit pricey IMO. Memory is almost always cheaper to add yourself and memory prices are VERY cheap right now. See if you can get a model like that and how much you will save

Good luck

 

[Jackal30]

Thanks for the opinions!

Fbrdphreak, unfortunately this is through a grad school deal and they basically only have 2 configurations that cannot be changed. The other one is the Thinkpad R52 for $1527 + tax. Specs are:

Processor:
Intel Mobil M 1.7 GHz

Memory:
512GB DDR2 533 MHz (1 slot open)

Display:
14.1" XGA TFT

Disk Drives:
40GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
24x24x24x8x CD-RW/DVD combo

Graphics:
Intel Graphics Nedua Accekerator 900

Audio:
16-bit Audio with integrated speaker adn microphone

Communication Devices:
IBM wireless 802.11 a/b/g

Expansion Ports:
USB 2.0 (2)
PCMCIA type II (1)
Type II ExpressCard/54 Slot (1)
IEEE 1394 (1)

Battery:
Li-Ion Battery (about 4 hours)

Weight:
6.2 lbs

Warranty:
3-year Parts & Labor

I don't mind a little less processor and like you said the memory i can buy on my own. I am not too happy with only a 40GB HD and definitely not happy with the vid card. It's also heavier even though the screen is smaller?? I definitely don't mind spending the extra $500 but not if it's just going to be a waste. Ironically, when i go to the IBM site and plug in specs for the T42 with a 1.8Ghz processor, 512MB RAM and 14.1" display it actually comes out MORE at $2127 + tax. Same deal for the T43 with those specs. Would it be cheaper from another site? Also, would i just be better off waiting 2-3 months?

 

[RichieZ]

i would not buy a 15" T43, they are much larger and not as sleek as the 14"

 

[fbrdphreak]

The R52's are decent notebooks, I have one here, but not on par with a T-series. In that case, definitely go with the T43. The 15" is not AS portable, but is still plenty portable. My 15" T42 gets around easy enough

 

[Jackal30]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
The R52's are decent notebooks, I have one here, but not on par with a T-series. In that case, definitely go with the T43. The 15" is not AS portable, but is still plenty portable. My 15" T42 gets around easy enough

What do you think of the T42p? Any reason you have the T42 instead of a T43?

 

[trikster2]

I thought I was looking at something similar for $1400 on the EPP site last night, so you can do better. Might have been the 1.86 CPU though, probably was.

There are a zillion ways to skin a thinkpad (own stock? are you a student? Got a friend in the biz? have a visa card? all of them get you discounts)

Quite truthfully you are in the wrong place for thinkpad advice, you need to get thee over to http://forum.thinkpads.com/ and ask your questions there.


IBM >>>>. Dell

Is such a blanket statement it is almost silly and very disappointing coming from someone running a laptop web site.

In some ways dell >>>>> Lenovno , specificaly bang for the buck and max graphic performance.

If you are looking at the dell consumer line, be aware that the 700m and the 6000 series do not have docking stations available and are not capable of DVI if you intend to hook up an external LCD. If you are comparing dell to thinkpad go to dell's EPP web site through your school and check out the lattitudes and precissions.

Finally, IBM no longer makes thinkpads, they are made a chinese company called LenovNO (incorrect spelling intentional).

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: trikster2

I thought I was looking at something similar for $1400 on the EPP site last night, so you can do better. Might have been the 1.86 CPU though, probably was.

There are a zillion ways to skin a thinkpad (own stock? are you a student? Got a friend in the biz? have a visa card? all of them get you discounts)

Quite truthfully you are in the wrong place for thinkpad advice, you need to get thee over to http://forum.thinkpads.com/ and ask your questions there.


IBM >>>>. Dell

Is such a blanket statement it is almost silly and very disappointing coming from someone running a laptop web site.

In some ways dell >>>>> Lenovno , specificaly bang for the buck and max graphic performance.

If you are looking at the dell consumer line, be aware that the 700m and the 6000 series do not have docking stations available and are not capable of DVI if you intend to hook up an external LCD. If you are comparing dell to thinkpad go to dell's EPP web site through your school and check out the lattitudes and precissions.

Finally, IBM no longer makes thinkpads, they are made a chinese company called LenovNO (incorrect spelling intentional).

as far as I can tell from reading up on this, even if you use the T series with a docking station the res outputed via DVI only goes up to 1280x1024. There are some hacked drivers that can output a higher res but I think it causes some other problems, people have reported that they lost the native res for theit SXGA+ screens

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Jackal30

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
The R52's are decent notebooks, I have one here, but not on par with a T-series. In that case, definitely go with the T43. The 15" is not AS portable, but is still plenty portable. My 15" T42 gets around easy enough

What do you think of the T42p? Any reason you have the T42 instead of a T43?

The only reason I have a T42 is because I bought it through my school last fall, before I even thought of T43

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: trikster2

I thought I was looking at something similar for $1400 on the EPP site last night, so you can do better. Might have been the 1.86 CPU though, probably was.

There are a zillion ways to skin a thinkpad (own stock? are you a student? Got a friend in the biz? have a visa card? all of them get you discounts)

Quite truthfully you are in the wrong place for thinkpad advice, you need to get thee over to http://forum.thinkpads.com/ and ask your questions there. Absolutely right


IBM >>>>. Dell

Is such a blanket statement it is almost silly and very disappointing coming from someone running a laptop web site.

In some ways dell >>>>> Lenovno , specificaly bang for the buck and max graphic performance.

I think anyone will agree with me that IBM's quality is vastly superior to Dell's. I have used Dell's in the past and I am using a D600 at work now. There is NO contest in just about anyone's mind. Now, when you want to talk about price and bang for the buck, that is a whole different story. I agree that the 9300 is an AWESOME machine for the money, esp with the 6800. I think that the cheap prices on their machines after coupons warrant them serious consideration for someone looking for a best bang for the buck machine. But when it comes to build quality and even tech support in most cases, IBM wins hands down. Yes, you can pay for the "Gold Support" or whatever that is and even on-site service maybe? But even in those scenarios I've heard you still have to deal with someone in India and the whole process is a screw job. IBM you call one number, are relayed to a LOCAL call center (George for me) and they overnight you whatever you need, with included return shipping for your item. Can't get much better than that IMO....

If you are looking at the dell consumer line, be aware that the 700m and the 6000 series do not have docking stations available and are not capable of DVI if you intend to hook up an external LCD. If you are comparing dell to thinkpad go to dell's EPP web site through your school and check out the lattitudes and precissions.

Finally, IBM no longer makes thinkpads, they are made a chinese company called LenovNO (incorrect spelling intentional). This is true, but if you think that automatically buying a new Thinkpad makes them crap you are wrong. IBM is effectively overseeing the Thinkpad line for the next 5 years. I have spoken with people at IBM and since the legendary Thinkpad brand name is on those machines, they aren't about to let the line turn to crap within that time period. There is also no plans to change the tech support in that time period. Towards the end of the next five years, we will see what happens. But until then, I'm all for a Lenovo thinkpad :thumbsup:

 

[6000SUX]

The 700m is sub-par. To get great battery life, you have to get a heavy, bulky battery that sticks out the back. There's also no dedicated graphics, limiting its usefulness in some ways. The keyboard is also small, so it's not as easy as the others to type on.