Where to order 7K60? Warranty issue, and to those that have

[BoostedA4]

I just ordered a T43 that should arrive in two weeks. I like everything about its specs, but the HDD is a 40GB 5400rpm--smaller and slower than would be ideal.

As a result, I am considering upgrading to the 60GB 7200rpm (only if I am not happy with the 40GB HDD first, of course).

I was looking on the site to see about costs, yet could not find any pricing (EPP).

Where/how do I order this? How much? To those that have ugpraded, did you find a day and night change in performance? What about heat? Noise?

Does upgrading effect warranty? I'm assuming I have to buy it through IBM if I want any chance of retaining my warranty..

[stgreek]

Never buy hard-drives from IBM/Levono, expensive as hell! If you are in the US (please update your profile), I believe that Newegg and zipzoomfly (or sth like that!) have the best prices. HD is user replaceable, so it will NOT void your warranty. The 7k60 is much faster than the 5400 40 gb and produces little to no extra noise/heat. An excellent choice of a drive, recommended by most forum members ( I have 5!)

[BoostedA4]

Thanks for the info, if I wanted to upgrade, would I have to keep the original 40GB 5400 drive for warranty purposes (i.e. swap it back in if anything goes wrong with the laptop in order to get it fixed),or will I be fine if I put in a 7K60 hard drive and leave it in there?

Thanks

P.S. profile location updated

[egibbs]

IBM definitely IS expensive, but there is one (and only one) good reason to buy from them.

If you buy a part from IBM for an IBM machine, they will warrant the part as if it came with the machine - so if you have a 3 year warranty on your TP, the drive will be covered for the full 3 years.

With ZipZoomFly etc. you only get the manufacturer's warranty - usually 90 days, max 1 year.

If that's not important to you then just use cnet.com to find the cheapest price.

If you ever send a machine back to IBM for anything other than a drive problem, REMOVE THE DRIVE! Also remove any added RAM, etc. 90% of the time there is no problem, but people have gotten machines back with the wrong drive, missing RAM, etc. At a depot, parts is parts.

Ed Gibbs

[BoostedA4]

Well how expensive are we talking, if it's just $20 more than i'll find online (remember, I can use EPP pricing incase that gives me a discount) it's well worth it.

[JaneL]

would I have to keep the original 40GB 5400 drive for warranty purposes (i.e. swap it back in if anything goes wrong with the laptop in order to get it fixed),or will I be fine if I put in a 7K60 hard drive and leave it in there?

Item #5 in the FAQ.

[BoostedA4]

So are you suggesting that if I have a problem, i.e. with the chipset, to remove all the user-friendly parts and send it to IBM that way? i.e. remove RAM and HDD? and that IBM will put in some RAM and HDD they have lying around to fix my problem?

[JaneL]

So are you suggesting that if I have a problem, i.e. with the chipset, to remove all the user-friendly parts and send it to IBM that way? i.e. remove RAM and HDD? and that IBM will put in some RAM and HDD they have lying around to fix my problem?

Item #5 in the FAQ isn't there just because I like to write.

[BoostedA4]

I think in the time and effort it took for you to refer to the extremely vague #5, and i quote:

5) Does EasyServ need my HDD to fix my ThinkPad?

Never send anything to EasyServ that isn't part of the problem. Period.

you could have answered it in one slightly longer, less-condescending response, but that's just my $.02.

Let's make this easier for anyone who is willing to help. A simple "YES" if what I am about to say is correct, or a "NO" with a short explanation of why it is not

So if I diagnose my problem to the RAM, HDD, CD-RW, Motherboard, LCD, etc... I can completely disassemble my T43 and take the single part out and send it to get fixed, without having to send a single other piece, including even the notebook itself...? Just an odd policy in my mind, but if it's the case, a good one.

[egibbs]

Yes - with qualifications. If the failed item is a CRU (Customer Replaceable Unit) then you should just send that item back. Actually you should have them ship you out a replacement, install it and verify that the problem is fixed, and then send the bad part back.

Most of the items you mentioned are CRUs - RAM, HDD, Keyboard, CD/DVD Drives, Mini-PCI card, etc. are all CRUs.

The Mothernboard is not a CRU, nor I believe is the LCD. But if I had a confirmed problem with one of those I would strip the machine down before sending it in. I definitely would not send them my HDD. They don't need it, why give it to them?

Ed Gibbs

[JaneL]

I think in the time and effort it took for you to refer to the extremely vague #5, and i quote:

5) Does EasyServ need my HDD to fix my ThinkPad?

Never send anything to EasyServ that isn't part of the problem. Period.

you could have answered it in one slightly longer, less-condescending response, but that's just my $.02.

But, see, that's why it's item #5 in the list of Frequently Asked Questions - it's been asked and answered many times. Referring someone to the FAQ isn't intended to be condescending, and I'm sorry you feel that way because it's likely to happen quite a bit in any forum on the internet where there is one. It's intended to point a user to answers to questions that have been asked and answered so many times that a standard answer has evolved.

Item #5 isn't vague at all. It's simply extremely concise and to the point.

[BoostedA4]

Thanks for all help, I think I will like this policy.... I can keep a running notebook going if I have any additional pieces, unless it's something like the motherboard or LCD.

nonny, it's not so much that you referred me to the FAQ, which is quite helpful I might add, it was just that I felt that question/answer was not specific enough for a first time notebook/thinkpad/IBM owner. My condescending comment was more towards the "Item #5 in the FAQ isn't there just because I like to write" comment. No hard feelings though, thanks again...

[RBob]

I believe that Newegg and zipzoomfly (or sth like that!) have the best prices.

I notice that at the moment Newegg is selling only the 40GB E7K60, while ZipZoomFly is selling all of the 40GB & 60GB E7K60 and 7K60.

Now, I recall seeing something on Hitachi's Web site to the effect that the E7K60 drives were not intended for laptop use since they don't implement all the power-saving features of the 7K60, but looking again I can't find it. Still, the spec sheets for the E7K60 do show it lacking entries for "Active Idle" and "Low Power Idle".

[stgreek]

I believe that Newegg and zipzoomfly (or sth like that!) have the best prices.

I notice that at the moment Newegg is selling only the 40GB E7K60, while ZipZoomFly is selling all of the 40GB & 60GB E7K60 and 7K60.

Now, I recall seeing something on Hitachi's Web site to the effect that the E7K60 drives were not intended for laptop use since they don't implement all the power-saving features of the 7K60, but looking again I can't find it. Still, the spec sheets for the E7K60 do show it lacking entries for "Active Idle" and "Low Power Idle".

The main difference is that the E7k60 is not (supposedly) as reliable for any start/stop cycles, so in theory the 7k60 is much better for use by a laptop.

[egibbs]

Thanks for all help, I think I will like this policy.... I can keep a running notebook going if I have any additional pieces, unless it's something like the motherboard or LCD.

Now you understand why TPs are so popular with big IT departments - they are designed for ease of maintenance and field servicability, which equates to low maintenance costs and maximum uptime.

Even if you don't have a spare part on hand, IBM will usually get one to you the next day, even in a hotel in the middle of nowhere.

Somewhere on here there is a thread started by a guy who had a glass of OJ dumped in his TP on a plane. The machine was ok but the keyboard was shot. When he got to his hotel he called IBM and the next morning he had a replacement keyboard, installed it in about a minute, and made his presentation.

Ed Gibbs