Help me find a T43p (I have searched!)

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emorphien · #1 Post by **emorphien** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:24 am

Most forums I'm on hate noob posts like this, but I've searched with no useful results so I have to resort to being the noob (to this forum) and ask for your help in finding the machine I need.

My current laptop is almost 4 years old and before I start graduate school in the fall I need to replace it since it's becoming more troublesome and less useful (too slow!).

The specs I am looking for are pretty specific, but I haven't found an express service code. Here they are:

T43p with 14.1" SXGA+ screen
2.13Ghz processor
1GB RAM
60GB 7200 RPM drive (what I upgraded my current laptop to, wouldn't want anything less!)
DVD burner
128mb video (V3200)
Obviously wifi and bluetooth are included
I have no use for the fingerprint tool.

I have received information from the NY state educational guy for a similar configuration but with a 15" screen and 80gb drive for about $2600, I'm hoping to get this for under $2500. I'm willing to drop the processor one notch and the RAM to 512 (one stick, I'll upgrade later) to save some cash if it blows past my $2500 limit.

Obviously I intend to get an educational discount, is that available on any machine once configured?

Additionally I will check out the shareholder discount, how much is it? I understand only one share is needed, and if it gives me a 10-15% discount (Or better) I'm all over that. If anyone has any information on this program let me know, IBM doesn't want to tell much and I haven't had much luck searching this forum.

If there are any other discounts available (I've heard of an AMEX/Visa/etc discout) what's the deal on those? I research everything before I buy and I've never had as much trouble getting decent non-contradicting info as I have with IBM laptops!

I've never asked so many questions in one post on any forum, so I truly appreciate any help you can provide. If anything has been covered somewhere before and I missed it (very likely probably) please share and I'll see if it does answer my questions.

I'll probably order in May, but I've read rumors about some potential upgrades around the beginning of the summer but they don't seem substantiated.

Sorry for being wordy, I'm tired and frustrated from shopping for a Thinkpad!

redsb3 · #2 Post by **redsb3** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:00 am

Go to this thread:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=7436

The very first post has links to all the different IBM sites. Credit card sites are as cheap as IBM shareholder, so forget that. Also a link to the tabook, where you will find every current (and still to be released T43) and the respective specs. Choose the model number from the tabook that matches what you are looking for and see what you school can do for you on educational discount. You can get a discount on almost every model, just not as deep as the featured educational models.

emorphien · #3 Post by **emorphien** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:05 am

I looked at tabook.pdf before I made this thread, didn't find what I was looking for. Can you get things that aren't listed in that? I'm looking again to see if I missed it, but the closest I've been able to find also has fingerprint which is an unnecessary addon.

My school doesn't offer an IBM discount.

Can IBM shareholder be added on top of credit card sites?

JHEM · #4 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:23 am

emorphien wrote:My school doesn't offer an IBM discount.

RIT? Of course they do. http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/cicu.html

emorphien wrote:Can IBM shareholder be added on top of credit card sites?

No, you can't "stack" discounts.

The 2668-G3U or 2668-G6U will meet all of your specs and don't have the fingerprint reader.

As was mentioned, the "Express" preconfigured units offer the best price.

Regards,

James

emorphien · #5 Post by **emorphien** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:42 am

[censored] I missed RIT before, thanks!

Those models are close but don't have a DVD burner.

This gets me a lot closer to where I need to be though. Too bad IBMs educational nonsense is a mess, these cost more than the 15" laptop with DVD burner the NY guy sent me.

JHEM · #6 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:57 am

Check the SUNY pricing here: http://www-1.ibm.com/gold/portal/servle ... ge=Welcome

You can drive over to SUNY Syracuse and pick one up at the bookstore with your RIT ID!

SUNY has one of the better education contracts with IBM and some of the lowest prices.

Regards,

James

emorphien · #7 Post by **emorphien** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:15 am

I'll consider SUNY.

For now I'm working with the G3U and seeing what I can get it for. I wish you could just pick and choose parts like Dell on their website.

davidlg16 · #8 Post by **davidlg16** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:23 am

you can with CTO (customized to order) models, call up one of the sales rep and get a quote

emorphien wrote:I'll consider SUNY.

For now I'm working with the G3U and seeing what I can get it for. I wish you could just pick and choose parts like Dell on their website.

emorphien · #9 Post by **emorphien** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:53 pm

I have read about ordering through Bill (of this site). Would he be worth talking to, would I save any more with him?

The NYS guy says that some updates should come in a few weeks and the T43 should be on CTO by then so he suggested waiting and seeing what's out and what's available then, which I will be doing.

Leon · #10 Post by **Leon** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:30 pm

not if you are eligible for a student discount...

dfumento · #11 Post by **dfumento** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:02 pm

There is also an Alumni/Student discount for College students or anyone who graduated from college. See FAQ in my signature.

davidlg16 · #12 Post by **davidlg16** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:11 pm

T43 CTOs are already shipping...I just received mine today

T43p CTOs are the ones I wasn't sure about

emorphien wrote:The NYS guy says that some updates should come in a few weeks and the T43 should be on CTO by then so he suggested waiting and seeing what's out and what's available then, which I will be doing.

emorphien · #13 Post by **emorphien** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:12 pm

dfumento wrote:There is also an Alumni/Student discount for College students or anyone who graduated from college. See FAQ in my signature.

If you read my OP you'll see I intend to get the student discount, in fact that'll be the only way I can afford to get an IBM.

I read the FAQ, although it's a little cluttered I got some good info off of it. Didn't answer all my questions, mostly having to do with the poor flexibility and unclear nature of IBMs site, but it looks like I'll be waiting a month or so anyway (as planned) for some possible updates as well as the inclusion of the T43p in the CTO and hopefully some new T43p express codes. There's still a ton of T42p codes lying around, I'd like to see some new T43ps and see if it's worth getting the newest machine I can.

Mike-Indiana · #14 Post by **Mike-Indiana** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:23 pm

Assuming I qualify for Alumni here in Indiana from Huntington College, it seems sad that my employer can only get a 5% discount as a non-profit organization but I get 10% with a degree.

They might be able to get the 10% visa deal but I would need to increase the limit as it is used mainly for petty-cash so has a $1,500 limit. Of course it is filled with other monthly items as well so would need more limit than $2,500.
What a hassel just to save some $$$$$.

The non-profit is buying the T43 if I can find a decent one under my $2,500 limit. Doesn't seem right to use my alumni discount for theri purchase.

Help me find a T43p (I have searched!)

Help me find a T43p (I have searched!)

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