Which should I go for - T42 3UU or T41p GEU ??

[noetus]

Hi, I'd like some buying advice - I'm currently trying to decide between one of the following two models:

T41p 2373-GEU

T42 2373-3UU

These are the bluetooth and a/b/g equipped models, both 14.1" SXGA+ 1.7 GHz Penitum M. Apparently the only differences are that the T41p has the 9-cell battery (against T42's 6-cell), the 128MB Fire GL 2 graphics card (against 64MB Radeon) and the 60GB 7200 drive (against 40GB 5400). However, I'm planning to upgrade the hard drive to a 100GB model, so don't much care about the larger capacity drive (also will be upgrading the optical to a multiburner). My questions are - are there ANY other differences, e.g. in the case design, the keyboard (feel, key travel etc), or firmware issues, the fan issues, things like that which would make me go with either model? Or is the ONLY other difference that one says "T42" on it while the other says "T41p"? The T41p is $100 more, so that is an issue, too - is it worth paying $100 more for the larger battery, larger graphics card, and larger hard drive? One other issue is that I am not really 100% sure that I'd prefer the larger battery, as size, weight, and bulkiness are premium considerations for me.

So, which should I go for?

Thanks, and thanks everyone for making this an awesome site!

---noetus


PS. Both of these are "IBM refurbished" units (NOT buying from eBay but from an online store). Is there anything I should know or be cautious about when buying these units?

[mlykke]

Well it really depends on your usage. If you play games or do heavy graphics work then the P model will be worth the 100$ for sure

[aamsel]

Well, one thing to be vary aware of is that, with a purchase like that, all sales are final every time or almost every time. No returns, no refunds. If you can return for refund there will be a restocking fee.

The savings would have to be HUGE for me to consider a purchase from a place that sells refurbished units.

Andrew
Austin, TX

...Is there anything I should know or be cautious about when buying these units?

[noetus]

The savings would have to be HUGE for me to consider a purchase from a place that sells refurbished units.

Why huge, apart from the returns issue? Is that a hesitancy with buying refurbished in general, or refurbished Thinkpads in particular? Are there known pitfalls with buying refurbed Thinkpads, then? I thought they were particularly safe refurb buys (i.e. IBM takes care with them and often they are in pretty much new condition).

I know refurbs only come with one year's worth of IBM warranty, but a MACK international warranty is basically an extension of the IBM warranty (they get you to ship the unit to IBM for repair and just cover the repair charges - the difference should only be in turnaround and minor cost issues - i.e. shipping it to IBM yourself - and not in the repair, which would be the same as under EasyServ).

As for the returns issue, as far as I know if there's a problem with the machine you can return it. So if you're certain about which model you want, there shouldn't be a problem here.

[aamsel]

It would have to be huge, because a refurb could be anything, and, although it has been tested, there could be cosmetic or other issues.
As for a "MACK Warranty" I think that is third party, and I would be more than extra careful about buying one. My understanding is that MACK also does warranties for the camera industry, and they are not a good warranty to buy. I would do google and other searches on "MACK Warranty" and "MACK Warranties" and be darned sure before agreeing to one.

My opinion:
When you buy new and direct (or from Bill) you know what you are getting. EVERYTHING else is a step down from new. Like new, used, refurb...it is all the same...i.e. USED.

UPDATE: I just "refreshed my memory" on what a MACK Warranty is. You DEFINATELY don't want one of those!!! Those are the New York/New Jersey "camera shop" extended warranties. They are notorious for being bad. I don't care what they say they will do for you in writing...don't do it.

Andrew
Austin, TX

The savings would have to be HUGE for me to consider a purchase from a place that sells refurbished units.

Why huge, apart from the returns issue? Is that a hesitancy with buying refurbished in general, or refurbished Thinkpads in particular? Are there known pitfalls with buying refurbed Thinkpads, then? I thought they were particularly safe refurb buys (i.e. IBM takes care with them and often they are in pretty much new condition).

I know refurbs only come with one year's worth of IBM warranty, but a MACK international warranty is basically an extension of the IBM warranty (they get you to ship the unit to IBM for repair and just cover the repair charges - the difference should only be in turnaround and minor cost issues - i.e. shipping it to IBM yourself - and not in the repair, which would be the same as under EasyServ).

As for the returns issue, as far as I know if there's a problem with the machine you can return it. So if you're certain about which model you want, there shouldn't be a problem here.

[brainpicker]

Refurbished or reconditioned or recertified or re-anything is a risk. Anyone who knows this wants a good reason to take that risk. A BIG discount. The re-anything sellers can only sell this stuff at such a small discount to retail because folks don't know the difference or are looking to save a buck any way possible. You know, like the people who spend their entire weekend clipping coupons and go to 17 stores to buy everything they need because they think they are saving money. They never consider the cost of their time to do all the clipping and organizing and travel, plus the cost of the extra gas or wear on the car. But they'll brag about how much they "save"!

I read a story about a reviewer who not too long ago purchased an IBM laptop, NOT direct from IBM or even from an honest reseller like Bill who will (for a small fee as I understand) check out your laptop before it's shipped to you. The reviewer finished the review over several months and wanted to keep the laptop as it was given a great review, but it had several bad pixels which he expected would just get repaired under warranty. Nope! He was told by IBM that his model had to have 12 bad pixels before it would be accepted under warranty as it was otherwise certified to be fine. When he checked into this farther he found the same thing happens to buyers of one of those re-anything laptops because unless the defect for which the original owner returned it is beyond what the manufacturer's policy allows, the manufacturer (or an authorized re-something agent) can seal up the box and sell it as a new, sealed, re-something laptop. So, had this reviewer bought his laptop from IBM and returned it within 30-days because of his issues, he could have received another new one in return and his defective one would have been re-somethinged with as many as ELEVEN bad pixels (per his story) and sold to someone else at a small discount by one of the re-something sellers on eBay or elsewhere, and that buyer would have no recourse at all with the re-seller or the manufacturer.

Since reading that story I will NEVER buy a re-anything laptop unless the discount is HUGE. Really huge!

Yak

[noetus]

Thanks for all the advice about re-anything thinkpads. I think you all saved my life! I decided to go away from refurbs and then found a new T42 2373-9XU at a steal ($1500) which fit the bill exactly. Got it today, and it's wonderful! Even has the faster chip, a 1.8 instead of a 1.7 dothan.

Thanks again!!