Trying to decide on laptop

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Killjoy00 · #1 Post by **Killjoy00** » Thu May 20, 2004 7:17 am

Hey guys,

I've been looking for a nice, relatively light laptop for law school. I did some research and found the T41 and it looked like a good idea - my school offers one that is 1.6 ghz, 40gb hd, Radeon 7500, a/b/g wireless and 1gb ram for $2052. Then I found this forum site and began reading about Dothan and the 42p, along with the 41p. Here are my questions:

1. I need a laptop by June 3rd - is there anyway to get a 42 by then?

2. I configured a 41p through a visa discount. 1.7ghz, 1gb ram, a/b/g wireless and bluetooth, 60 gb 7200rpm hd, Radeon 9600. However, it costs $2900. Is this worth it, vs the one from my school? (also, the one online at the ibm site offered a "free wireless mobility bundle". What is this?)

3. What are the weight comparisons on these laptops (42's, 41p and 41)?

I play a lot of computer games and would like a laptop that could handle some at least ( of course, I have multiple desktop computers to play on, so it's not a huuuuuge deal).

This is my first laptop and I really appreciate any help you guys would give!

Ryan

sktn77a · #2 Post by **sktn77a** » Thu May 20, 2004 7:37 am

The computers weight basically the same. If you're a gamer of any sorts, wait and get the better video chipset (9000, 9600 or a T4Xp). You can probably get one close to your ideal configuration for less than $2900 through Bill Morrow on this board. Don't rush and buy the wrong one!

#3 Post by **K. Eng** » Thu May 20, 2004 8:44 am

$2000+ for a T4x with a Radeon 7500 is overpriced, and the 7500 is undermatched for the 1.60 GHz Pentium M.

You don't need a super-duper notebook for games in law school. There's no point if you have several more capable desktop machines at home, unless you intend to be playing games in class or in the library. I'd say get the least expensive T4x you can get with a 3-year warranty.

Killjoy00 · #4 Post by **Killjoy00** » Thu May 20, 2004 9:56 am

I have to rush one way or the other - I have to have it by June 3rd!

Mofongo · #5 Post by **Mofongo** » Thu May 20, 2004 11:24 am

Here's my personal take on the whole thing. CPUs are fast enough that you should not worry about the processor speed...especially when considering a difference of a few 100MHz (and even between Banias and Dothan). Anything at or above 1.6GHz is perfectly fine. The T41s do have more memory bandwidth than the T40s, however, so I would get a T40 over a T41.

The second consideration is the graphics card. The 9600 (which also includes the FireGL) is 2.5x as fast as the 9000. So you will see an immediate benefit right off the bat by having a 9600. There will be a lot of games *now* that will be lame on a 9000, whereas the 9600 will probably play any current game (with no-too-extragavant graphics settings) plus you will probably be able to get most games over the next 3 years to work reasonably on it, even if you have to turn off some of the fancy graphics. Furthermore, the 9600 has full DirectX 9 support, whereas the 9000 does not. I have heard rumors that the next release of Windows will demand full DX9. Granted, this release will be a long time coming, but it probably will happen within the next 3 years, which is how long most people tend to keep a laptop.

So if I were cash-constrained, I would try and get the cheapest machine that has a 9600 in it. For this, your options are a T41p with the FireGL (still $$$) or a T42 with a 64MB 9600. The 2378-FVU is a 14" express model with the 9600, and it lists at $2,029.00 (1-year warranty).

All of the 14.1" screen models (T40/T41/T42) weigh pretty much the same. Getting the 15" adds an extra 0.2" in thickness, 0.7" width and 0.5" depth. Weight estimates are still variable but it looks like an extra 0.5-0.7 pounds. The benefit is that you get a *much* nicer screen. However, the cheapest 15" model with a 9600 in it (by list price) is the 2378-DXU for $2,429.00 (ThinkExpess, 1-year warranty). There are also educational models. Although, Bill has managed to sell the $3000 2373-3VU for something like $2300, so he might be able to work some magic on the similar 15" education model, the 2373-3XU which lists for only $2649.00.

Also, if you are cost-conscious, do not by any model that comes with 1GB of RAM....they are *reallllllllllly* expensive because 1GB SODIMMS are very pricey. You save an enormous amount of money by getting 512MB SODIMMS instead.

Good luck!

Mofongo

P.S. I ordered my T42 2 days ago and I need it by May 30th. We are in the same boat!
EDIT: Oops! I mean *June* 30th.

dclee012 · #6 Post by **dclee012** » Thu May 20, 2004 11:31 am

is the dxu 1 yr or 3 yr? i always thought express models were usually 1yr, but the details on the web says 3yr... so confusing..

i ordered mine last week, and i want it now!!! but i can keep using my 14" for a while..

csv96 · #7 Post by **csv96** » Thu May 20, 2004 11:59 am

2378DXU is 1 year
2379DXU is 3 year

Price difference is only $100.

#8 Post by **BillMorrow** » Thu May 20, 2004 12:31 pm

no time to read all this BUT i AM offering a special on the T41p at $2600 even..
no sales tax + shipping..
and if the order is placed today i can deliver by june 1st..

BUT HURRY..

to paraphrase Richard Daley (former mayor for life of chicago) Buy early, Buy often!

hausman · #9 Post by **hausman** » Thu May 20, 2004 2:08 pm

morrow wrote:to paraphrase Richard Daley (former mayor for life of chicago) Buy early, Buy often!

He also said that he wanted to be buried in Chicago so that he could continue to work for his party (the Democrats) long after his death

#10 Post by **BillMorrow** » Thu May 20, 2004 2:22 pm

and he still IS working for the dems in chi town..
he votes early and often in more elections than they actually HAVE there..

what was a real hoot was his sone William, current mayor for life, i think, coming here to florida and getting on TV in 2000 to say that the repobs had STOLEN the election from his boy AL...

the laughter was enough to wake his dad..!

Lmax · #11 Post by **Lmax** » Thu May 20, 2004 3:24 pm

Ryan, get the T41p my friend, the 2373 GEU to be specific, I just did and I have a feeling I will love it. It is the best for what you want to do (a little gaming, a little work, a little bit of everything). The GEU has the great IBM a/b/g wireless card and bluetooth. It will not disappoint.

Oh, and is it worth 3000? YES

You get what you pay for.

Max

Killjoy00 · #12 Post by **Killjoy00** » Thu May 20, 2004 4:23 pm

Wow, thanks guys!

Bill, can I order today? Can you send me the specs of this $2600 laptop??

JaimitoBond · #13 Post by **JaimitoBond** » Thu May 20, 2004 4:33 pm

morrow wrote:no time to read all this BUT i AM offering a special on the T41p at $2600 even..
no sales tax + shipping..
and if the order is placed today i can deliver by june 1st..

BUT HURRY..

to paraphrase Richard Daley (former mayor for life of chicago) Buy early, Buy often!

That's a great value. Probably the best bang for the buck among the 14" T4xp.

Killjoy00 · #14 Post by **Killjoy00** » Thu May 20, 2004 5:47 pm

Bill, any info you can give me would be appreciated. What do I need to order from you and what are a couple of specs you offer?

I want the 60gb 7200rpm HD and at least 9600 radeon.. at least 1.7ghz processor, at least 512mb ram, a/b/g networking, bluetooth.

Ryan

Mofongo · #15 Post by **Mofongo** » Thu May 20, 2004 7:11 pm

The one he is offering for $2600 is the 2373-GEU:

1.7GHz, 512MB RAM, 60GB 7200rpm HDD, 14.1 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 128MB Fire GL T2, 16x10x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD(slim), Bluetooth/Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), 802.11a/b/g Wireless(MPCI), Secure Chip(TCPA), UltraNav, 9 cell battery, WinXP Pro

Specs at http://www5.pc.ibm.com/us/products.nsf/ ... p/_2373GEU

Just look at his website http://www.thinkpads.com/start.htm

If you don't want a Flexview screen, it's a nice package. I was on the verge of getting this exact model, until IBM announced the T42 line with the Flexview screen. If not for this, I would probably still be getting the T41p.

Keep in mind that you are paying $570 more for the T41p than if you bought the new 2378-FVU ThinkExpress T42. For the extra bucks, you get a bigger and faster HD (40GB 5400 RPM vs. 60GB 7200RPM), more video RAM (64MB vs. 128MB...but roughly equal in actual performance), built-in bluetooth, and a 3-year warranty instead of a 1-year. These are the only real differences between the machines. Whether this is worth the money is up to you.

Oh yeah, and the T41p comes with an extra-capacity battery that sticks out of the back of the machine, but it gives you 50% more battery life. So this may also be a consideration. http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.a ... 52&head=36 has some nice pictures of the T41p with battery.

Good luck,

Mofongo

Trying to decide on laptop

Trying to decide on laptop

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