Thinkpads Forum

I am a poor graduate student who needs to upgrade his laptop. My T42 has served me very well over my undergraduate years and is still going strong, but I think I could use more computing power and maybe play a newer game than WC3. I am very interested to know how much I should expect to get for it on thinkpads.com, to offset the cost of the new laptop. The warranty expired on 7/13/07

T42 2378-FVU
Purchased: 7/14/04

Stock:
Intel Pentium M 735 1.7GHz (2MB L2 Cache, 400MHz FSB)
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG WLAN
Intel PRO/1000 MT LAN
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 64MB GPU
14.1" SXGA+ (1400x1050) LCD
Non-BT CDC with BT antenna installed in screen assembly (according to HMM)

New / Upgraded:
DVD/CDRW Combo Drive (warranty replaced)
1.5GB PC2700 RAM (Crucial 512MB + 1GB)
60GB 7200rpm HDD (Hitachi 7K60)
9-Cell Battery (<10 cycles)
6-Cell Battery (<5 cycles)
Keyboard (unused spare)

Condition:
Excellent except I removed the Windows XP and Intel Centrino stickers. All original documentation included. I threw away the recovery CDs by mistake, but I will include a non-original Windows XP Pro SP2 media (the COA and license is on the bottom of the computer) and a CD with the latest drivers. Computer will be shipped with blank HDD to protect my privacy and to let you have a clean install.

How much am I supposed to get for this laptop? Veterans of the board please help!

I'd say about $600 give or take. Here's a recent example of a T42 that sold in the Marketplace.

If I were you, I'd consider selling one of the batteries and keyboard separately, and you'd probably be able to ask for $500-$550. The expired warranty is a little bit of a killer in this instance, hence why I'd suggest $600 for the laptop itself may arguably be difficult to achieve. If a couple of pics can be uploaded it may help out as well.

Just my 1/50 of a dollar though - all the best with what you decide to do

rhema83 wrote:9-Cell Battery (<10 cycles)
6-Cell Battery (<5 cycles)
Keyboard (unused spare)

Sell the keyboard separately. Let the person buying the T42 choose one of the batteries. Then, sell the other battery separately.

You should have dumped it before the warranty expired. Now it is worth probably around $400 at best. With even a month of warranty, a buyer can be secure that any issues will be fixed.

scosgt1 wrote:You should have dumped it before the warranty expired. Now it is worth probably around $400 at best. With even a month of warranty, a buyer can be secure that any issues will be fixed.

I get what you mean. Someone mentioned that warranty is extendable. I haven't checked the validity of that yet. But I feel that $400 is on the low side. On eBay the T42s are still going for $450-$500 without warranty, and those come with low RAM and small HDD.

At worst, I can keep my T42. The laptop has been extremely reliable for the past 3 years and I am quite confident that it can last at least another 3 years. Another forumer said that the T42 is the epitome of ThinkPad design, and I tend to agree.

Is that what people are asking or what they are actually selling for?
I just sold a T43 on Ebay, a 2GIG with one GIG/60 DVD burner And over a year of warranty for $675. So where does that leave an out of warranty T42?

You can buy a service contract for $178 per year, a good deal, but if there was a warranty, it only costs $110.

I am not saying you won't get your price, I don't have a crystal ball, but you should have sold it a few months before the warranty expired, you would have gotten $100-150 more at least.

rhema83 wrote:But I feel that $400 is on the low side. On eBay the T42s are still going for $450-$500 without warranty, and those come with low RAM and small HDD.

AND the great majority of those have XGA displays. Your T42 is worth $550.

Then make him an offer if you think it is worth so much. The hi res LCD is a plus, but on a used unit it may not add that much.

scosgt1 wrote:Is that what people are asking or what they are actually selling for?
I just sold a T43 on Ebay, a 2GIG with one GIG/60 DVD burner And over a year of warranty for $675. So where does that leave an out of warranty T42?

You can buy a service contract for $178 per year, a good deal, but if there was a warranty, it only costs $110.

I am not saying you won't get your price, I don't have a crystal ball, but you should have sold it a few months before the warranty expired, you would have gotten $100-150 more at least.

I was searching the succesfully closed auctions. At least two T42s with XGA screen on Radeon 7500, 512MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, went for $469 before shipping. Hate to say this, but I think you deserved to get more for your T43.

scosgt1 wrote:Then make him an offer if you think it is worth so much.

It's worth so much to someone who needs such a unit. If you look at my signature, you'd know that I don't.

scosgt1 wrote:The hi res LCD is a plus, but on a used unit it may not add that much.

Compare XGA and SXGA+ prices on eBay. Easily a $50 difference.

Also, look at the specs listed in the opening post. The 9-cell battery alone is worth $50, the 6-cell $35, and the 60GB 7200rpm HDD $45. Most T42's only have 5400rpm drives, and old batteries with many more cycles.

Whoa, you guys need to chill. Each is entitled to his opinion.

scosgt1 wrote:
I am not saying you won't get your price, I don't have a crystal ball, but you should have sold it a few months before the warranty expired, you would have gotten $100-150 more at least.

My experience on ebay has been that warranty adds about $50 to selling price, not a whole lot more.

Regarding OP, I'd say about $500 shipped (with just one battery)

With that much memory, in that condition, I'd start at $600 and give the buyer a choice of either battery included in the $600 (the extra 1GB of RAM makes this a good starting place).

Certainly, lesser T42's have sold in the $500 range as of late.

With daily monitoring of eBay, you can certainly pick off $400 well spec'd T42's (I should know, I grabbed one last week ), but not routinely at this point. If you're not careful, $400 won't even get you a quality T40!

This T42 has everything going for it, but some warranty. And apparently the OP took full advantage of the warranty prior to it's expiration.

Since you wish to maximize the sale price, list it at $600 delivered in the U.S. with the extra battery and keyboard as optional extras, they should go for $25 to $45 each.

The only T42 I think has a shot at $600 today is the 15" FlexView version.

I have a 15" T43 FlexView in new condition with the box and all. I can't get close to what I have in it. I would jump at $800, and that is way better than a T42.

well i'd say start at $600 and go from there. My 2378-FVU from a while ago sold for my asking price. If you don't get it at that and you wanna sell it bad enough you can bring the price down a bit and try again.

scosgt1 wrote:The only T42 I think has a shot at $600 today is the 15" FlexView version.

If you have a T42p for sale at $600, please sell it to me. I would like to try putting one of my R50p's QXGA display assembly on it. This is NOT a joke or a sarcastic comment. I am really interested in getting a T42p for $600.

pianowizard wrote:

scosgt1 wrote:The only T42 I think has a shot at $600 today is the 15" FlexView version.

If you have a T42p for sale at $600, please sell it to me. I would like to try putting one of my R50p's QXGA display assembly on it. This is NOT a joke or a sarcastic comment. I am really interested in getting a T42p for $600.

Piano, wont a 15" T42 work ? Do you need a T42P ?

pianowizard wrote: If you have a T42p for sale at $600, please sell it to me. I would like to try putting one of my R50p's QXGA display assembly on it. This is NOT a joke or a sarcastic comment. I am really interested in getting a T42p for $600.

To be fair to him, he didn't include the "p" in his post. Any person who sells a T42p for that low a price...well, you've mentioned it before about throwing away money.

Here's how I see it: parting the deal out-slightly-would be beneficial IMHO...

a) Take out the extra 1Gb RAM. That should bring you about $60.
b) Sell the 9-cell separately, as well as the keyboard. Another $60, and I'm being pretty conservative here
c) The machine itself, with the upgraded HDD should bring anywhere between 450 and 500.

My way, you should walk away with $600 or thereabouts. Selling everything together for that amount of money may prove a difficult task.

The question being, once you get your $600, what will you be able to buy that is significantly better than this T42???? Without putting in more money, that is.

If you have a set answer to that question, best of luck with the sale of this fine ThinkPad.

scosgt1 wrote:I just sold a T43 on Ebay, a 2GIG with one GIG/60 DVD burner And over a year of warranty for $675.

Remember that's DDR2. The OP's 1GB + 512MB DDR memory is worth $50 more.

scosgt1 wrote:I have a 15" T43 FlexView in new condition with the box and all. I can't get close to what I have in it. I would jump at $800, and that is way better than a T42.

It depends on the user's criteria. Those who want a quiet fan and are bothered by the 2010 error would prefer the T42. I for one much prefer my current T42 over the T43 I used to have.

wearetheborg wrote:Piano, wont a 15" T42 work ? Do you need a T42P ?

I could get a 15.0" T42 and upgrade the display to UXGA-IPS myself. But as manufactured by IBM, UXGA-IPS was available only the in T42p.

ajkula66 wrote:The question being, once you get your $600, what will you be able to buy that is significantly better than this T42???? Without putting in more money, that is.

Good question. I think after a few more months, $600 will be almost enough to get a nice SXGA+ T60.

I thought you wanted to put in a QXGA screen onto the T42 ?

wearetheborg wrote:I thought you wanted to put in a QXGA screen onto the T42 ?

People have tried. The T42p's LCD assembly is too thin for the panel.

ajkula66 wrote:The question being, once you get your $600, what will you be able to buy that is significantly better than this T42???? Without putting in more money, that is.

That is what bothers me. Once you have had the best, you won't settle for anything less.

Anyway, I think I would get either a 14.1" T61 WSXGA+ or 14.1" T61p SXGA+.

rhema83 wrote:I would get either a 14.1" T61 WSXGA+ or 14.1" T61p SXGA+.

Perfect timing! A new coupon code for getting 20% off the T series: USPTRSERIES

There is no 14.1" WSXGA+. Possibly later, but not right now.