Any reviews of the T42 2378FVU?

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rocketman · #1 Post by **rocketman** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 4:05 pm

Looks like this is the model I'll be ordering direct from IBM. Can anyone with this T42 let me know if you're happy with it or not?

rhema83 · #2 Post by **rhema83** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 5:20 pm

I got my FVU a little more than a month ago. It is definitely a great notebook computer.

The processor is fast enough for anything I throw at it. I am a college student and the laptop is lightning quick at running all my programming, mathematics and graphics programs. (I am especially impressed with its calculating speed in MATLAB.) Needless to say, this computer is more than enough for office applications.

The speakers are decent (especially if you compare it to Fujitsu and Acer) but you should get some good speakers or headphones if you listen to music often. (I'm using a Sennheiser PC130.) The screen is so bright and sharp that I start to wonder what crap I have been using previously. I watch movies and anime with no problems at all. All my games can run at highest detail at good speeds. (See separate reviews regarding Doom 3.)

The notebook looks plain but that's what I call minimalist and elegant. Nothing even comes close asthetically except the Apple notebooks. It's built like a rock (carbon composite body) and is light enough to be carried around (5lb).

What more can you ask for?

By the way, getting an extra 512MB of RAM from Crucial ($110) really helps. The swap file usage is minimal and programs load really fast.

Deleau · #3 Post by **Deleau** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:25 pm

I got my 2378FVU yesterday after spending a few weeks researching laptops on this site and a few others (thanks all for the wealth of information). There is nothing about this laptop that has disappointed me. Like rhema83, I ordered an extra 512 MB from Crucial which I think is a must.

I do .Net programming with Visual Studio, and it runs great. The same goes for Photoshop. I can also play City of Heroes, Everquest, and Everquest 2 well (not as good as my desktops but better than I expected).

I would highly recommend the 2378FVU.

sairam313 · #4 Post by **sairam313** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:49 am

Can you tell me where I can get the best deal for this laptop? I heard the resellers give more discounts, don't know if it applies to express models

fafaforza · #5 Post by **fafaforza** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 12:26 pm

I've had my 2378FVU for about a month. The machine is very fast. I played Doom 3 on it and it ran fairly well; definitely playable. But you will want to get more RAM if you'll be running Windows.

The only problem that I'm having is the Intel BG2200 wireless card. I was able to use my home Netgear AP with my PowerBook with no problems. I was getting a full 170KBps on my Verizon DSL.

With the Thinkpad, for the first half hour I get an intermittent connection. It works as much time as it doesn't. After a half hour, it seems to get better, but continues to be unreliable overall. Also having a problem with the AP at work which gave me no issues on the PowerBook.

Has anyone else had such issues? I did download the latest wireless drivers from IBM 2 weeks ago, or so.

The only other minor issue that I have is with the viewing angle of the LCD. It doesn't compare to the PowerBook. But that will be the same across all models, except the 15" UXGA T42.

fafaforza · #6 Post by **fafaforza** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 12:29 pm

As far as the price goes, I got mine for 1760 from costcentral.com. About $100 bucks cheaper than from IBM, and I probably got it much faster than ihaving it shipped from IBM.

But for the $100 difference, you might be passing up some bundle deals that IBM offers, as well as a return policy. I *believe* IBM lets you return the laptop after a month with no questions asked. Resellers might not offer these perks. So shop smart.

Deleau · #7 Post by **Deleau** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 4:15 pm

I got mine from CDW. I had also looked at Office Depot and IBM. I decided to go with CDW because they are not incorporated in Oklahoma thus I did not have to pay sales tax; both Office Depot and IBM charged sales tax. I got mine for $1850 with free shipping, and it was shipped quickly.

dbonds · #8 Post by **dbonds** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 6:16 pm

I'd echo pretty much what everyone else said. I shopped around quite a bit several months ago and obviously settled on the FVU. I have no regrets at all.

- I ordered the crucial 512M at the same time as the laptop. It's just too easy to burn up 256MB ram on XP.
- I added PC Card CF and SD, MMC, MS, etc readers in the two slots to cover my PDA and digital camera interfacing (more than makes up for the lack of the SD readers found on many other laptops).
- I'll probably buy the bluetooth module to get internal bluetooth, but just haven't got around to it yet (FVU is reported to have the internal antenna already in place).
- I also picked up the 9 cell battery when I ordered just because of the discount when ordering with an Express model. I carry the 9 cell around with me in my bag, but honestly haven't ever needed beyond what the 6 cell could handle. I typically try to stay near a plug.

My only complaints (and I'm really nitpicking here)
1) Didn't have a serial port, which I do need occasionally for work. I just picked up a USB serial port adapter.
2) The part of the palm rest under your left hand creaks a bit because of some plastic on plastic rubbing around the PCMCIA slots. This is a pretty common complaint with the T42. I mostly took care of it by wedging half of a business card between the top of the PCMCIA slot compartment and the plastic palm rest.
3) I ended up with the thinner China keyboard but had no trouble getting it swapped for the Thai model. I didn't have any major complaints with the old keyboard, but it was a little more noisy and my trackpoint buttons squeeked which was kind of annoying. The new keyboard flexed a bit around the arrow keys which I mostly addressed by putting some of that thick double sided tape (only one side peeled) under there.
4) I have had some wireless dropping problems at home, but I'm not sure if that's the fault of my Linsys WRT54G, interference with neighborhood 2.4GHz noise, or the laptop/adapter/drivers. I haven't noticed it at work, but I'm typically wired at work. The jury is still out on that one.
5) I would've preferred a 60GB or even 80GB drive over the 40GB, but that's easy enough to replace later when the prices drop and I actually get to the point of needing the space.
6) It was a bit more pricey than the off brands or less expensive mainstream brands, but IMHO still a better value than Sony. I got mine through IBMs shareholder program which made it a little less painful.
7) The display does wash out a bit at extreme angles (ie. multiple people watching a DVD might be tough), but it's perfectly fine for one user in front of the laptop.

All in all, it was the best size/features vs size compromise for my needs and the thing feels very solid compared to just about anything else I looked at. I was a little concerned about the SXGA w/ 14" display, but I love it. I haven't seen the 15" display, but feel the 15" would take away too much in portability for any color or viewing angle improvements to be worth it.

Daniel

Plinkerton · #9 Post by **Plinkerton** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:24 pm

Remember, if you ask IBM for an educational discount, they'll give it to you.

Also, I just had to return my T42, so that 30 days definitely comes in handy.

I wouldn't buy it from anywhere besides IBM.

rocketman · #10 Post by **rocketman** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:59 pm

Remember, if you ask IBM for an educational discount, they'll give it to you.

Do you mean even if you're not affiliated with a school or do you have to provide some kind of proof.

puco · #11 Post by **puco** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:05 pm

Hi guys

since this looks like a thread full of 2378-FVU users, could some of you halp me with my problem. I have a unknown device and I don't know what it is and what driver to install. Could you fire up your Device Manager and tell me ich you have any devices that I don't have - the list is here

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=25472#25472

Plinkerton · #12 Post by **Plinkerton** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 8:14 pm

Do you mean even if you're not affiliated with a school or do you have to provide some kind of proof.

If your morals can handle it, you don't have to tell them anything. I actually am a student, so for me it wasn't an issue, but they didn't ask for anything. Just the school name. They seem to offer different discounts for different schools. They only offered me $100 dollars off, but I have heard they offer up to 300 or so depending on the school. I guess I could have told them any school, but I was thinking about it at the time.

Leon · #13 Post by **Leon** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 11:59 pm

IBM has close relationships with all schools they offer discounts for. Part of that relationship is cross-checking of student rosters. If you tell them you are a student at a particular school, they will eventually catch up with you.

Plinkerton · #14 Post by **Plinkerton** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 10:49 pm

I don't know about that. I told him I went to UCSB, which is true. He had never heard of it.

Really? I asked, it's a HUGE University of California, you have no affiliation?

Nope. I'll give you a hundred dollar discount, but that's all I can do, sorry.

Okay, I said, that's better than nothing...

They seem to offer significantly bigger discounts for other schools, but he had no problem throwing a hundred dollars my way.

They won't find my name on any roster anyway, as my CC name and drivers liscense name is different from my legal school registered name.

I'm not worried about a whole lot...

Leon · #15 Post by **Leon** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 12:48 am

What I said applies only for schools with which IBM has agreements.

Any reviews of the T42 2378FVU?

Any reviews of the T42 2378FVU?

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