Thinkpad A31 (2652D3U) with Palm M125 $1149

ImpalaSS99 · Jan 7, 2003

Hey guys, you are are amazingly quick. I was just thinking, this IBM will reach me faster too.

Im attending Drexel University for Electrical Engineering. For the most part during senior desigtn it will be dealing with schematics, writing VHDL and typing up proposals and such. Our school is completely wireless, which is why the laptop will come in handy, I can just hand out on campus and work with my group with a lot of power using the laptop.

The laptop I ordered is the dell 8200, I know its huge, but I cant have it all. The warranty on it is 1 year, not the 3 year.

here are the specs:
Order Detail
I8200,15 IN UXGA,P4,1.7GHZ
128MB,DDR,266MHZ (1 DIMM)
32MB DDR 4X AGP NVIDIA NV17 3D VIDEO
30GB,HD,9.5MM,I8200,FACT
FLOPPY DRIVE, INSP, TIED
DELL RESOURCE CD,W/TOOLS I8200
DELL SUPPORT 2.0 FOR INSPIRON 8200
WINXP HOME,INSP8200,ENG SP1,FACT
INTEGRATED NETWORK CARD I8200
INTERNAL 56K MODEM
FIXED 24X CDRW,INSP
8X DVD MODULAR DRIVE
IVI SW DVD 4.0 FACTORY INSTALL,INSP
MUSICMATCH 7.1X BASIC
DELLNET BY MSN 7.0 FI 6-MONTH
MS WORKSUITE 2002,CDWD,OEM,US ENG,INSP
NO WARRANTY,YRS 2/3(1-1-1RTD)
RTD,INSP,SOL,INIT YR, BSD (HIGH-2)
TRACKING,D AND C

I know i went skimpy on the ram, but i can upgrade that myself. It's also 100 MHz faster than the IBM, but i hear IBM is the cream of the crop when it comes to laptops. Thanks again for all the advice. Another thing, im very impatient, expecially when I'm waiting for something cool, and I wont have the dell for a few weeks, whereas I can probably get this IBM this week with 2nd day air. Not a huge deal.

I Figure i can unload the free m125 to someone for 100-130 and offset the cost slightly, but its still a close call. Thanks again!

Buzzman151 · Jan 7, 2003

Well I guess if you only ordered your lappy w/ a one year warranty..... get the IBM! 100 MHz is nothing now a-days, you definatly will not miss it.... 256 of RAM should definatly be enough for you. I'm just hoping for your sake that you don't get bit in the butt by the jack@ss fairy that will screw over your lappy after that one year warranty is up.....

RossMAN · Jan 7, 2003

ImpalaSS99,

That's a tough choice because you got a pretty loaded Dell i8200 with a great warranty.

Has your Dell shipped yet?

I would strongly recommend checking out an IBM ThinkPad T or R series available from eBay's IBM store, here are the current auctions:

IBM ThinkPad R31 P3 1.066GHz 20GB CDRW WiFi $999.00 Jan-08 13:21
IBM ThinkPad R31 1.066GHz 20GB CDRW Wireless $809.00 2 bids in 4 mins
IBM ThinkPad R31 1.066GHz 20GB CDRW Wireless $799.00 1 bid Jan-09 12:31
IBM ThinkPad R31 1.066GHz 20GB CDRW Wireless $799.00 1 bid Jan-08 12:31
IBM ThinkPad R31 1.066GHz 20GB 128MB WinXP NR $770.00 5 bids in 34 mins
IBM ThinkPad R31 1.066GHz 20GB 128MB WinXP NR $660.00 3 bids Jan-08 13:01

IBM ThinkPad T23 1.2GH 60G DVD CDRW FREE SHIP $1,729.00 - Jan-08 15:41
IBM ThinkPad T23 1.2GH 60G DVD CDRW FREE SHIP $1,729.00 - Jan-07 15:41
IBM ThinkPad T23 1GHz 20GB CDRW DVD FREE SHIP $1,499.00 - Jan-09 11:16
IBM ThinkPad T23 P3 1.13GHz 30GB 256MB DVD $1,449.00 - Jan-09 17:26
IBM ThinkPad T23 P3 1.13GHz 30GB 256MB DVD $1,449.00 - Jan-08 17:31
IBM ThinkPad T23 P3 1.13GHz 30GB 256MB DVD $1,449.00 - Jan-07 17:26
IBM ThinkPad T23 1GHz 20G 256M CDRW DVD Combo $1,449.00 Jan-10 14:01
IBM ThinkPad T23 1GHz 20G 256M CDRW DVD Combo $1,449.00 Jan-09 12:56
IBM ThinkPad T23 1GHz 20G 256M CDRW DVD Combo $1,449.00 Jan-08 13:01

Leland · Jan 7, 2003

I think the Evo 600c from Warehouse is a decent deal.

http://www2.warehouse.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=CP18917&blind=no&cat=pc

$1000

1.2GHz, 30GB hard drive, 256MB of RAM, CD-RW/DVD-ROM drives, integrated 10/100 Ethernet, 56K modem and a 14.1-inch TFT active-matrix display (SXGA+).

Also has 3-yr warranty.

Only caveats: no firewire, no usb2 (I'd like both of them), which are in the 610c (P4 models).

It's thin and light, comparable to the T-series (doesn't have the same cachet, though).

What is the speed equivalent of a 1.2 ghz PIII-M in P4-M terms? I have wondered this forever.

UltraWide · Jan 7, 2003

I would go for the IBM instead of the Dell, unless you are getting the 3year warranty with the Dell.

daye · Jan 7, 2003

Leland:
The compaq evo 600c does look more attractive then the A31.
Portability worth at least $200, I think.
PIII 1.2G is reported to be faster than P4 1.6G, at least for intensive computing.

Impalass99:
It is said that you could save 2% by going through ebates;
Now I think the Compaq one is better;
You will get used to the red dot mousing thingy.

ImpalaSS99 · Jan 7, 2003

Well, it seems that the decision is almost unanimous (sp?), I will call dell and cancel the order for the dimension and purchase the A31 from warehouse. Thanks again everyone for your input. One more question, is the little eraser mouse pointer easy to get used to? The dell has a touchpad which is what im more accostomed to

EDIT: oops, I forgot, one other question. Does this have USB 2.0/Firewire? TV out?

cleek · Jan 7, 2003

<Sigh>. I ordered PN BN19250 as soon as it went up. The order was accepted. We'll see how things unfold.

Guess I'm a click first, call later kinda guy .

daye · Jan 7, 2003

Cleek:
We are on the same boat, just a little bit too late to jump off.

Originally posted by: cleek
<Sigh>. I ordered PN BN19250 as soon as it went up. The order was accepted. We'll see how things unfold.

Guess I'm a click first, call later kinda guy .

HardAngel · Jan 7, 2003

Originally posted by: ImpalaSS99
Well, it seems that the decision is almost unanimous (sp?), I will call dell and cancel the order for the dimension and purchase the A31 from warehouse. Thanks again everyone for your input. One more question, is the little eraser mouse pointer easy to get used to? The dell has a touchpad which is what im more accostomed to

EDIT: oops, I forgot, one other question. Does this have USB 2.0/Firewire? TV out?

I've had three Thinkpads and I indefatigably prefer the red pointer to a pad any day. Once you get used to it it's very easy to use accurately. Pads can be very sensitive to moisture from your hands and annoying for that and other reasons. Still, the pads are popular.

Here is IBM's page for the lappy:

Thinkpad A31

-Angel

ImpalaSS99 · Jan 7, 2003

Thank you very much. Im gonna order it now. Also, keep in mind there is Tax in NJ 6%.

Also, price is 1149 now!

Souka · Jan 7, 2003

I worked for a company that used IBM and Dell's.

Without a doubt, IBM laptops are far superior in quality and durability. We have rarely an RMA or failure of IBM laptops.....heck, we have some units that are in the field 3+ years and that's rough.

Dell? To be honest, not too many were around....a few here, a few there.......high percentage failure, felt flimsy....etc.

The IBM A, T, and X series are top notch and worth the extra cash.

Also, if you get one of these latops, replace the HD with a 20 or 40GB IBM Travelstar GNX (5400 rpm, 8mb cache...faster than Toshi's 5400rpm). Drives can be found at newegg I think for like $99 and $135 respectivly....ebay your old drive and it might only cost a few $$).....the drive will make a huge difference in boot times and load times.

J9JM3 · Jan 7, 2003

This is a great price on an IBM laptop with these features. the higher res screen is really nice. I have a t-series and it is hands down the best laptop I have had(i have had c610 dell and e500 compaq).

Warranty is important with laptops that with desktops in my opinion, so the only hesitation is the one year warranty. however if you use this mainly as a desktop replacement then go for it.

Braxus · Jan 7, 2003

Originally posted by: Buzzman151

Braxus: The lappy w/ the 32 meg Radeon vid card doesn't seem to have an SXGA+ display, only the Regular TFT

If you check out the specs on IBM's site for the 2652D3U, it says it uses a SXGA+ screen. TFT is more or less just a generic term for laptop screens.

rrbb · Jan 7, 2003

So what do u guys suggest should i go for 1199 (without Palm 125) or 1149 (with palm 125).
is that palm125 deal legit?

Leland · Jan 7, 2003

If it's the same system, my logical sense says to get the cheaper system with the palm ;-)

Of course, I'm thinking that I'm going to get that Compaq Evo600c. I just need to talk myself into it and then hope that it's still there by the time I get to buying it.

cleek · Jan 7, 2003

A great no brainer docking station option - Connects to the host machine though USB.

IBM USB Multiport Hub

daye · Jan 7, 2003

Does it support A31?
Where did you find the WinXP driver info?

Leland · Jan 7, 2003

That hub will support anything with USB, just load the drivers. You're getting a usb hub with a parallel and serial port. Not bad. Should revive the other thread to discuss the hub, though.

cleek · Jan 7, 2003

You're right.

re-link to the old hub thread

IBM USB Multiport Hub

daye · Jan 7, 2003

Already got too many FAR USB hubs in the past years;
was trying to reason I need a IBM branded hub because just ordered this A31.;-)

geba · Jan 7, 2003

I have been reading this forum for a long while. It is a treasure of information. I was looking for a laptop and today I locked in this thinkpad.
Thanks a lot to Anandtech. I will get back to you to report on wheather it will be honoured.

Here is my order:

IBM ThinkPad A31 P4 1.6GHz 256MB 40GB DVD/CD-RW Co 1 $1,149.00 with the free palm.

Subtotal: $1,149.00
Shipping and Handling: $15.70
Tax Total: $0.00
Total Amount: $1,164.70

cleek · Jan 7, 2003

Originally posted by: daye
Already got too many FAR USB hubs in the past years;
was trying to reason I need a IBM branded hub because just ordered this A31.;-)

Remember - this one also has more than just USB
Up five Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices
- Parallel Printer Port
- Serial port NOTE: The hub will not work with a serial mouse.
- Standard keyboard (PS/2)
- Standard mouse (Ps/2)

I use the several we have as a simple docking station (no external video) for our notebooks and to
minimize the number #$%^&#@ cabling running to out desktops.

<<nudge, nudge>> of course you need another one

rrbb · Jan 7, 2003

this deal seems to be legit. I called up and asked about the combo deal. she said both Laptop and PALM are NEW with 1 yr warranty.

I ordered it

. Seems like IBM A31 is a good laptop just that it a lil slow. But then again i am much slower

.

cleek · Jan 7, 2003

Wow - Notebook and Palm on the way.

My order already shipped and I have a tracking number and the serial numbers for both the A31 and the Palm M125..

Thanks for the deal, Daye!

Thinkpad A31 (2652D3U) with Palm M125 $1149

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