Thinkpad T Series Help

[carnagedobalina]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for a laptop as a secondary PC to my desktop back at my apt in college. I want it to do all of the basic laptop functions, but i also don't want it to be made for JUST basic functions. I'd like to play games on it as well, so i'd probably want a good graphics card on it, and hopefully end up with 512 RAM or more. Also for the graphics card, i heard i should get more than 1024x768 max resolution. I'd be fine with a 14.1 inch screen too. Fingerprint would be nice too .

Any ideas on which model i should get? i don't think i'd really need to get a T43, and just settle with T42...unless you guys think otherwise?

Also, i can get ?discounted? prices (i dunno if it's really a lot off the retail price, or if i can get it even cheaper..) off of this one website from my parent's work...but here are my possible options:

2379R1U - $1,259.10
2379R8U - $1,484.10
2373K5U - $1,711.20

Maybe i should look for other models? Please help me out! I'm totally new at these laptops...and i wanna make the right decision


thanks guys and gals

[K. Eng]

That last model (2373K5U) is what I would buy if I were in your shoes. It has a Mobility Radeon 9600 and SXGA+ display, which gives it an edge over the less epensive models in both office applications (can see more of documents) and games (9600 blows the 7500 away).

Choosing a notebook isn't all that much different than choosing a desktop. Figure out what you want to do with it, and then figure out what options would be best suited to your applications

Edit: I should add that the 2373K5U has a 3-year warranty as well, which is always a good thing to have on a machine that costs more than $1,000.

[carnagedobalina]

Is that listed price too much or about right?

Also, do u think i should try to look at the other models for better deals?

Thanks for the quick reply

[K. Eng]

The price seems reasonable to me... you can probably do some comparisons on pricegrabber.com to see if you can get the machine for a lower price.

Also, Bill Morrow (the site admin) sells machines, so you may want to consider purchasing one from him.

[mysbca]

For $78 more than the 2373k5u, you should take a look at the 2373m3u.
You get the much sought after 7200rpm 60GB HD, plus a slightly faster processor and built-in bluetooth.

edit: You should check your school bookstore to see if they sell discounted models as well.

If you are willing to give up the fingerprint reader, you can save almost $200 from the 2373k5u by getting the 2378fvu ($1356), upgrade to 3 year warranty ($119) and buy an extra 512MB RAM for $45-$60 from Newegg, Crucial, etc.

[carnagedobalina]

yeah i was just looking at the 2373-m*u ones...1, 2, 3...they look pretty good too. but the prices i saw were around 1800...that's about right yes?

anyway...im kinda thinking about those ones.
out of those three...which would be a better buy?

Edit: i just looked up the 2373-m3u..and it says the 60gb hd is only 5400rpms?

[mysbca]

Edit: i just looked up the 2373-m3u..and it says the 60gb hd is only 5400rpms?

It is a typo on their site. The tabook specs it as 7200rpm and many people here have bought it and confirmed that it is 7200rpm.

Regarding M1U, M2U or M3U, it depends on what you value more:
M1U - 80GB 5400rpm and IBM abg wireless (Atheros chipset), costs a little more
M3U - 60GB 7200rpm and Intel BG wireless
M2U - same as M1U except with Intel abg

The IBM wireless supposedly has better range but might use a little more power.