Opinions from T 40 users?

T4x series specific matters only
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dwallace
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Opinions from T 40 users?

#1 Post by dwallace » Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:52 pm

Anyone care to suggest whether the following refurb deal from IBM might be worthwhile? More details on the ibm.com site.

T40 T237475U - 1.5mhz Centrino
wireless B - XP Pro - modem and network cards - 512mb memory
Docking Station and spare Ultrabay battery
$1095

After only a couple of months, the extra heft and heat of my T30 is convincing me to window-shop again. I'm also wondering if the T40 keyboard might be a happier version than the clacky one in the T30. . .

Time to trade up?
Thanks
David

K. Eng
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#2 Post by K. Eng » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:01 pm

Not worth it IMO... if you are paying over a grand for a machine, you might as well get an all new one with comprehensive warranty coverage.

I'd say go for a lower end T42 with a 3 year warranty :)
Homebuilt PC: AMD Athlon XP (Barton) @ 1.47 GHz; nForce2 Ultra; 1GB RAM; 80GB HDD @ 7200RPM; ATI Radeon 9600; Integrated everything else!

WozniakMac
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#3 Post by WozniakMac » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:20 pm

Well, that laptop has a warranty until 2007. I think that's a pretty good deal. I mean the dock is $200-300. And a backpack is included. I have only had a ThinkPad for a day, so I am not the expert on it.
Lenovo T60p (2623-DDU)
15" UXGA IPS LCD
Intel T7600
2x2GB Patriot RAM
320GB Western Digital Scorpio Black Edition
ATI Mobility FireGL V5200
Lenovo Advanced Dock
Logitech VX Nano

Steve007
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#4 Post by Steve007 » Thu Jun 16, 2005 5:10 am

WozniakMac wrote:Well, that laptop has a warranty until 2007. I think that's a pretty good deal. I mean the dock is $200-300. And a backpack is included. I have only had a ThinkPad for a day, so I am not the expert on it.
Looks a good deal to me! Go for it! Why buy a new machine when all you're going to gain is a few extra 100MHz?

Get the T40...!
(2373-G3G) T40p/P-M 1.6GHz/1GB/60GB/14.1 SXGA/64MB ATI Fire GL 9000/CDRW-DVD/Cisco 802.11b/WinXP Pro SP2

(2373-8TG) T42/P-M 735/1GB/40GB/14.1 XGA/32MB ATI Radeon 7500/CDRW-DVD/Intel 802.11bg/WinXP Pro SP2

v_parthi
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#5 Post by v_parthi » Thu Jun 16, 2005 9:05 am

Just check the following:

* T40 RAM runs at 266Mhz, but this one may be different.
* Check the HDD RPM. T4Xp models come with 7200rpm, but old T4X models came with 4200 rpm which is quite slow.
* CD drive speed. Just check it.
* How many cycles used for battery?

Just my 2 cents.

regards
Parthiban.

Steve007
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#6 Post by Steve007 » Thu Jun 16, 2005 5:04 pm

v_parthi wrote:Just check the following:

* T40 RAM runs at 266Mhz, but this one may be different.
* Check the HDD RPM. T4Xp models come with 7200rpm, but old T4X models came with 4200 rpm which is quite slow.
* CD drive speed. Just check it.
* How many cycles used for battery?

Just my 2 cents.

regards
Parthiban.
You Americans and your two bloody cents! :lol:

RAM speed really isn't that important when buying a refurbed/2nd hand machine. Anyone who suggests otherwise needs help.

Budget T40's shipped with 4200RPM drives, but even so, they aren't that bad.

CD drive speed is irrelevant. Even the slowest ulrabay slim drive meets the minimum criteria for just about any application CD.

Your last point is actually a good one. Just look at the batteries health to make sure it's still in 'green'. If it is then it'll be fine.
(2373-G3G) T40p/P-M 1.6GHz/1GB/60GB/14.1 SXGA/64MB ATI Fire GL 9000/CDRW-DVD/Cisco 802.11b/WinXP Pro SP2

(2373-8TG) T42/P-M 735/1GB/40GB/14.1 XGA/32MB ATI Radeon 7500/CDRW-DVD/Intel 802.11bg/WinXP Pro SP2

fierotech
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#7 Post by fierotech » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:11 pm

well I am the proud owner of my first IBM and I just recived it in the mail. I took advantage of the deal and I am highly impressed. It looks brand new and everything came sealed from IBM. no dead pixels and very slick machine!!!!

I am having a problem with the slim poly battery upgrade for $1 that they offered. They did not ship it with my system and I am alittle frustrated about that. But this Laptop is awesome. it is a good buy in my books.

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#8 Post by fongj » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:18 pm

fierotech wrote:well I am the proud owner of my first IBM and I just recived it in the mail. I took advantage of the deal and I am highly impressed. It looks brand new and everything came sealed from IBM. no dead pixels and very slick machine!!!!

I am having a problem with the slim poly battery upgrade for $1 that they offered. They did not ship it with my system and I am alittle frustrated about that. But this Laptop is awesome. it is a good buy in my books.
The Ultrabay battery should be new, so make sure you get it, but also check the health of the system battery. Use the Battery MaxiMiser to check "Battery Health" if its red or even yellow, or if the capacity is half of what it should be, then if it were me, I would ask them to give me a better one... I didn't know to check when I got my A31p refurb a few years ago, and now (partly because I keep it plugged in almost all the time) I barely get an hour of battery life.

K. Eng
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#9 Post by K. Eng » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:29 pm

Glad you like it :)

If the machine does have warranty until 2007, it is a good deal. The T40 is a very user-friendly machine :)
fierotech wrote:well I am the proud owner of my first IBM and I just recived it in the mail. I took advantage of the deal and I am highly impressed. It looks brand new and everything came sealed from IBM. no dead pixels and very slick machine!!!!
Homebuilt PC: AMD Athlon XP (Barton) @ 1.47 GHz; nForce2 Ultra; 1GB RAM; 80GB HDD @ 7200RPM; ATI Radeon 9600; Integrated everything else!

fierotech
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#10 Post by fierotech » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:25 pm

well so far the battery maximizer states battery has 2 cycles on it and the battery went to 100% easily. I am running it on battery power right now with the thinklight (that light is awesome!!!!) while I watch the pistons-spurs game and so far I am down to 89% after installing 3 programs and uploading a DVD to the harddrive.
Everything looks top of the line in this laptop and we'll see how long the battery lasts

LOVING IT!!!!

Oh and it is my first laptop ever too. Going into aviation mechanics and commercial pilot so I am sure this machine will get it's use in the next 3-5 years.

fongj
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#11 Post by fongj » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:35 pm

fierotech wrote:well so far the battery maximizer states battery has 2 cycles on it and the battery went to 100% easily. I am running it on battery power right now with the thinklight (that light is awesome!!!!) while I watch the pistons-spurs game and so far I am down to 89% after installing 3 programs and uploading a DVD to the harddrive.
Everything looks top of the line in this laptop and we'll see how long the battery lasts
Wow, awesome deal... It might as well not be refurb'ed. Have fun!

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