Thinkpads Forum

I am in need of a new laptop, I cant really spend all to much, IM a student and was planning on getting a T60, though now I just cant spend the money. It really sucks, but what can I do.

The Laptop will be used for coding for school and pretty much other standard stuff. I do play Counter strike 1.6, though this is not needed.

I was looking into a used model on ebay, but im worried about getting a bad system or one that does not work, so I then looked at the R series, they are a little more than I would like to spend, but possibly manageable, though its kinda big.

I want to spend under $500, It need to be pretty fast and cant be to old. is there anything I should know or any great places to buy them?

I'd look at eBay or the marketplace here for a solid T4xp or something like that. I'm not too familiar with them, so I can't say what model would be at that price, but I'd guess a T41p would be within reach.

Alternatively, look at an EPP Z60t, those can be had quite cheap. Not a core duo, but you can't really afford that (neither can I! also a student...)

Good luck!

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How does this look.


http://cgi.ebay.com/LOADED-IBM-ThinkPad ... 0032804483

Oops, my mistake.

As for the ebay auction, it looks like a winner. Not much HD space, but I use an external. I got the T23 in my sig for $330 and it's in near perfect shape, it even has the Intel and Windows stickers taken off for a "stealth" look, heh. It wasn't reconditioned, though, so that T40 has that going for it. My battery sucks, but that seems to be the case with most used computers.

Have you checked to see if your school has a discount program with Lenovo?

It might...

JohnDrake wrote:Have you checked to see if your school has a discount program with Lenovo?

Vinny77's budget is $500, and I doubt very much that one can buy a new Thinkpad for that price even with academic discounts. Either raise the budget a little bit for an R series, or buy used on this forum, or buy a new non-Thinkpad (Newegg.com currently has three non-Thinkpads under $500: they're Acer, HP and Lenovo). Buying used laptops on eBay is indeed a little risky - I have been disappointed at least five times.

pianowizard wrote:

JohnDrake wrote:Have you checked to see if your school has a discount program with Lenovo?

Vinny77's budget is $500, and I doubt very much that one can buy a new Thinkpad for that price even with academic discounts. Either raise the budget a little bit for an R series, or buy used on this forum, or buy a new non-Thinkpad (Newegg.com currently has three non-Thinkpads under $500: they're Acer, HP and Lenovo). Buying used laptops on eBay is indeed a little risky - I have been disappointed at least five times.

Have bought a camera, some parts and a laptop from a "reputable, IBM approved reseller". Did due diligence and will never ever buy from eBay again. More and more the name "eBait" and "oBoy" are being mentiond in some forums as doing a purchase there.

I was fortunate - there was still three months IBM warranety onthe laptop left and I extended the warranty otehrwise I would have been in deep trouble. MB, screen, PCMCIA daughter board all needed replacement over the period of 6 months. Machine has never been really "stable" in contrast to the machine I bought locally at over two and a half times the price. The savings were not worth the aggrevation.

I am now buying direct from Lenovo....

Peter

I got a t40 on ebay, and it has been great so far,

vinny77 wrote:I got a t40 on ebay, and it has been great so far,

That was quick turnaround time!