Need help with a thinkpad purchase

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flounder · #1 Post by **flounder** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 3:48 am

Hi

Hehe, here goes a rather detailed post

I am an incoming engineering grad student at UIUC. I am thinking of buying a notebook for my research and grad school needs, one that serves both as a reasonable desktop replacement, is a decent enough gaming and multimedia platform for those Warcraft3, Age of Empires, Baldur's Gate type games, and at the same time provides good mobility as well. I have looked at some of the desktop replacements in the market, but they are so bulky and the extra juice does not seem worth the effort to carry 10 lbs all over the university ...

Among the choices I have looked so far, I tend to be inclined towards an IBM Thinkpad T42-2378FVU with the following specs:

* Intel Pentium M Processor 735 1.70 GHz
Front Side Bus 400 MHz
Internal L2 Cache Memory Cache 2 MB
* Weight: 4.6 lbs
* Display: 14.1 inch SXGA+ (1400x1050) TFT Display
* RAM: 1x512MB DDR SDRAM Memory 333 MHz (Upgraded from the measly 256 MB)
* Graphics: 64 MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600
* HDD: 40GB hard drive; ATA-100; 5400 RPM
* Optical Drive: CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive (24X/24X/24X/8X Max)
* Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG with Gigabit Ethernet
* Warranty: One year parts and labor (system battery: one year)

Base Price: $1,849.00
Price after RAM upgrade from 256 to 512: + $87
So Price is: $1,936.00

Q: Already with the above configuration, the price tag is getting hefty. Although shipping is free, but Illinois has a sales tax of 6.2% as well. So it easily reaches $2000. I am not happy with the base warranty and would like to upgrade it.

Can I postpone the warranty upgrade to a few months later, when I have saved enough, or do I need to get it alongside the initial purchase? What is the recommended warranty for the model, keeping in mind that I consider myself one who really pushes the notebook to extremes like keeping it on for days, carrying it around everywhere, even on hiking trips etc.

Q: After you upgrade the RAM to 512, does it come as 1x512 or 2x256?

Q: How would Thinkpad T42-2378FVU rank up in real terms as far as the deal goes?

Q: How does it rank up vs Dell D600, HP ZT3000, or Toshiba Tecra M2 in terms of performance, after sales support, warranty etc?

Q: My university has a partnership with Dell for D600, but I don't think it has any with IBM? Does IBM have general student discounts, and how to go about getting it? I couldn't find any information on that on their website.

Q: What are your experience with wireless connectivity on this model? I plan to make extensive use of the wireless thing around the campus.

Q: While ofcourse it would not replace the home stereo system, but how is the model for the occasional music needs? Is the SoundMax a decent chipset? How do the internal speakers go?

Q: My existing notebook Dell Inspiron 8100 runs hot to the touch. So that is one thing I don't want in my next notebook.

Q: I can't find the quoted "average battery duration" for this model?

Thanks. I am really fussing and freaking out on this buy and would really appreciate it if someone can help. For some of us, notebook is the love of our life

Regards,
Moazzam

v_parthi · #2 Post by **v_parthi** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 6:00 am

For price matters, Bill would be the right person to ask for.

flounder wrote: Q: After you upgrade the RAM to 512, does it come as 1x512 or 2x256?

Most probably it'll be 2X256, unless the seller is confirms it to be 1X512.

flounder wrote: Q: How would Thinkpad T42-2378FVU rank up in real terms as far as the deal goes?

The first choice goes to T42p, cos it has a powerful graphics, 7200 rpm hdd, etc. Then the T41p which also has 7200 rpm HDD comes next, though it has only Banias PM. You are the next with T42.

flounder wrote: Q: How does it rank up vs Dell D600, HP ZT3000, or Toshiba Tecra M2 in terms of performance, after sales support, warranty etc?

The T series is the best in build quality comparing to those. Dell may have a good warranty, but if ur notebook frequently fails, then you lose it for few days and wait when u give it for warranty.

flounder wrote: Q: What are your experience with wireless connectivity on this model? I plan to make extensive use of the wireless thing around the campus.

Good wireless in ur case, but IBM a/b/g model is little better than this since it has an 'a' in it, though it's an outdated spec.

flounder wrote:
Q: My university has a partnership with Dell for D600, but I don't think it has any with IBM? Does IBM have general student discounts, and how to go about getting it? I couldn't find any information on that on their website.

IBM has student offers, but sometimes Bill's offers are even cheaper than that. Ask him first.

flounder wrote: Q: While ofcourse it would not replace the home stereo system, but how is the model for the occasional music needs? Is the SoundMax a decent chipset? How do the internal speakers go?

inbuilt speakers are good for mobile necessity, but not good as a home theater syster. You can get some other good speakers. For the same sound card it works fine. But, there are much better desktop cards which easily outperform the T42 soundMAX. You can't expect more than this.

flounder wrote:
Q: My existing notebook Dell Inspiron 8100 runs hot to the touch. So that is one thing I don't want in my next notebook.

The aeration is good with T42 internally and must be better than your Dell. If you have problems, you must contact IBM.

flounder wrote: Q: I can't find the quoted "average battery duration" for this model?

First, your warranty is only 1 year. Usually it comes with 3 years warranty. Check it. The 6 cell battery comes around 4 hrs official battery life, but it certainly comes more than 3 hrs.

There are few people who lose patience very fast to answer lots of questions, but I am not one among them. however, beware of them here.

flounder · #3 Post by **flounder** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 6:53 am

Hi v_parthi

Thanks for your reply ... It's been helpful ... Yup I know T41p and T42p are cool, but for a grad student on a budget, I guess T42 ought to do

The specification and price mentioned above are from IBM.com ...

Bill, would be kind enough to make a suggestion on the specifications, and the deal with the warranty? How does the price sound? Would I be able to get a better deal elsewhere, 3 year warranty, shipping and tax included?

Thanks

#4 Post by **JaneL** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:26 am

If you want a quote from Bill, you'll probably need to e-mail him as he doesn't read all the messages on the forum. Be sure to put the word "thinkpad" in the subject so that the spam filters don't toss the note away.

Leon · #5 Post by **Leon** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:41 am

also, you CAN get the warranty later, as long as you get it before the 1 yr. is over...

flounder · #6 Post by **flounder** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:52 am

Hey nonny, thanks ... I will drop him an email ...

Hey Leon, ahhh so you can get it at a later stage as long as the base warranty is valid ... Nice

By the way, I checked on IBM Direct. They sell it as the base RAM as 1x256 and if you upgrade to 512 MB, it comes as 2x256 ... They dont have option for 1x512 ... Now thats lame ... !!!

Cheers

primedude · #7 Post by **primedude** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:58 am

I'm not sure a T41p is more powerful than a T42. I've heard Dothan improves significantly upon the performance of Banias, largely due to the expanded cache. It would not surprise me if a 2378FVU with 512 MB of RAM matched or outperformed a 2373GEU. But if anyone has hard performance numbers, please correct me.

Also, don't forget that the video cards in the T42 and the T42p are essentially the same -- the Fire GL card in the T42p is optimized for stability in OpenGL applications and has twice as much memory. The drivers for the Radeon Mobility 9600 in the T42 are optimized for performance.

Finally, if you want the Thinkpad Protection Plan, you must purchase this at the time you buy the system.

flounder · #8 Post by **flounder** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:20 am

Hii primedude ...

The 2mb level 2 cache is one of my prime reasons to go for T42 instead of a T41p ... Yes T41p has a cooler graphics card, but since I am neither into Counterstrike or Doom 3 type games nor in graphics programming, so 128 mb ram is more of an overkill for me.

So thanks for the info on the Thinkpad protection. I guess I will drop off the ram for now, and instead go for Thinkpad protection.

I am confused though about the warranty option. They have something called the "Three Year Extended Service Plan Plus Thinkpad Protection" for an extra $299 on the one year base warranty. The base warranty as per IBM's site is

- One year parts and labor (system battery: one year) with Customer Carry-in Repair or ThinkPad EasyServ

What does the "extended service plan" then refer to. Is it the extention of this Carry-in Repair / ThinkPad EasyServ warranty plus ThinkPad Protection?

Thanks

Regards

Leon · #9 Post by **Leon** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:21 am

true for the Protection Plan (damage insurance), but NOT for warranty

JHEM · #10 Post by **JHEM** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:52 am

flounder wrote:I am confused though about the warranty option. They have something called the "Three Year Extended Service Plan Plus Thinkpad Protection" for an extra $299 on the one year base warranty.

The "Thinkpad Protection" plan is not to be confused with the "Service" plan. The protection plan is, in essence, an insurance policy on the laptop that covers all accidental damage, up to and including a drunken frat brother using the display to crack walnuts!

The service plan covers all product defects and failures resulting from normal use.

The protection plan must be purchased at the same time as the covered unit is purchased. A service plan upgrade can be purchased at any time during the period of the initial warranty, in this case one year.

WRT your original question about memory options, I would hazard a guess that for the $87 they're charging for the upgrade to 512MB, you're getting one additional 256MB stick. I would pass on getting the memory upgrade from IBM and purchase a 512MB stick from Crucial for around $110.

Have you checked the bookstores of neighboring schools to see if they offer Thinkpads? You will often find that there are reciprocal agreements between schools that would allow you to use your UI student ID to obtain the unit at the student price.

Regards,

James

flounder · #11 Post by **flounder** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:22 am

Hey James,

Thanks for the detailed post

I am now clear on the Service Plan and the Protection Plan ... And I guess one really should the Protection Plan for use around the campus hehe ... You never know your roomie might just do that

Thanks for pointing out the thing with the memory upgrade ... Yes I think I will take the $110 option from Crucial ... Can I fit in the memory myself (I can do it on my own btw) and do I need to go through IBM Support coz of the warranty thing ... Does my opening up the unit voids the warranty?

I will check out the options with other neighboring universities. Lets see ...

Thanks

Regards,
Moz

JHEM · #12 Post by **JHEM** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:37 am

Moz,

You can easily install the memory yourself with no repurcussions WRT warranty. Memory is a Customer Replaceable Unit (CRU) and there are detailed instructions on the IBM website for installing it. There's even a movie!

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-51505

There's very little you can do to a Thinkpad that would affect the warranty status. Here's the listing of movies for installing various devices in your T42, including detailed instructions for removing the keyboard and "getting under the hood".

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-50233

Regards,

James

flounder · #13 Post by **flounder** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:10 am

Hey James,

Thanks a lot ... Really appreciate it !!!

Moz

flounder · #14 Post by **flounder** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:03 am

Does anyone have any experience of student discounts when a thinkpad is purchased directly from IBM, and if so how much discount can one expect? I dont think my university UIUC has a thing with IBM (They do have a partnership with Dell for D600, but I would really love a thinkpad).

Thanks

rhema83 · #15 Post by **rhema83** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:19 am

Hi flounder, I'm a student from Cornell University and I can share my experience with you.

I bought the exact same TP as you, ie 2378-FVU. The cost is $1756.55 shipped. Call up IBM Educational Sales and talk to the representative to your area. The price above is actually the list price on the education sales website. However, I got him to lower it to include tax and shipping with the same final pricetag. I then extended my warranty to 3 years for $132. So total cost is $1888.55.

I'm going to order a 512MB RAM module from Crucial for $106 shipped with lifetime warranty. So all together I get a FVU with 768MB RAM and 3 years warranty for under 2 grands.

By the way, Bill cannot discount Think Express models. I confirmed it with him a few weeks ago when I asked him about this model.

flounder · #16 Post by **flounder** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 2:59 pm

Hey rhema83

Waow you just lifted my spirits with that post hehe

$1756 doesn't seem bad at all ...

You wouldn't happen to have the link, coz I am having difficulty in locating it on IBM's site

... I just wanna have a look at it before calling up their sales rep ...

Ordering the extra RAM from Crucial seems like a very good idea

Thanks : ))

rhema83 · #17 Post by **rhema83** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 12:17 am

http://www-1.ibm.com/gold/portal/servle ... ge=Content

Then choose your state. After that, you can choose to either email the representative for your state or look through the price list.

flounder · #18 Post by **flounder** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:41 am

Hey rhema83

Thanks ... I will do just that =)

Cheers

Need help with a thinkpad purchase

Need help with a thinkpad purchase

Re: Need help with a thinkpad purchase

Hey v_parthi

:)

Heys

Re: Heys

Thanks

:)

Student Discounts?

Thanksss

:)

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