T41 vs. T42 vs. T43 - input appreciated

[Jan_Hoho]

Hey folks,

I apologize for starting another newbie thread with questions that have probably been asked and answered 100 times here - I simply want my own thread.

I have ordered a T61 from the Lenovo website, but there seem to be huge delays in shipping. I will call them tomorrow and if the real estimated shipping date is anywhere near 08/29/07 (see thread), I will cancel my order.

I need my new computer as a Linux/XP platform, so a T61 might be a dimension too big anyways. What I need is memory, and I thought I might get happy with a solid-as-a-rock T4x model just as well.
But what model should I look for?

I need a lightweight strong (in terms of RAM) notebook that is 100% reliable and gets a good battery mileage. An excellent (preferrably 14.1") display is a must, a good graphics card would be nice but is not priority.

Now, my first thought was a T42, but I see a lot more T43s on ebay and at refurb-retailers. Does this somehow speak against the T43? Which one would be the better choice for my needs?
And finally, what would be a fair price for an average T42/T43 with 1 or 2 Gigs of RAM?

Thanks for your time, I appreciate any help!

[pianowizard]

I have an $899 T60 currently up for sale locally. The main reason for not shipping it is that I am insanely busy working on a research grant proposal. However, I will be much less busy after June 11th and if it's still not sold, I will be willing to ship it. Would you be interested in buying it off me on around the 11th?

As many forum members can tell you, the T60 is better than any of the T4*'s.

[Jan_Hoho]

Yes, I would be interested, though I kinda doubt you won't be able to sell it within the next two weeks. My main reason for a T4x is affordability, but I can see that $900 is an extremely fair offer for a T60 with such good specs, and I would have to upgrade the T4x anyways.

Let me talk to Lenovo as soon as their lazy-butt hotline is back to work. If you don't mind going through the hassle with insured shipping to beautiful Oregon (would be covered by me, of course), we may have a deal.

Please do keep me posted on this!


For the T4x owners, please don't stop posting here anyway - oh wait, you haven't even started yet...

[agarza]

I'd say your best bet is a T42 if you not decide to get the offered T60. T42 have Dothan, have no heat issues, no problem with any hard disk. Easily upgradeable.

[gator]

If you can afford PW's T60, get it SOON. He is a longtime member of the forum and a very trusted and valuable member here. If you can't, try to get a barebones (or an entry level) SXGA+ 14" T42 and upgrade it yourself, T42s are awesome. If you don't mind the heat/noise of the T43s, get those, they are selling at slightly lesser prices than the T42 now.

IMHO, anywhere between $500-$650 is okay for a T42, depending on model, condition and warranty left. (SXGA+ models might be expensive).

[carbon_unit]

Depending on which distro of Linux you choose there may be a problem with the T43's PATA-SATA hard drive adapter. Some distro's will not install through it, some will install with help and some install and never notice it. It may be worth researching before you make a purchase.

[Jan_Hoho]

Right, thanks for the input! Seems like an easy choice; if I can't get the T60 I will go for a T42(p). I might post configurations in here for comments.

Thanks again!

[agarza]

Right, thanks for the input! Seems like an easy choice; if I can't get the T60 I will go for a T42(p). I might post configurations in here for comments.

Thanks again!

There you go. One vote for the T42p. Video card is powerful.

[tomh009]

At $899, I would go for PW's T60, especially since it has two years of warranty still left.

I would stay away from the T43/T43p as the hard disk firmware check is a real nuisance.

[pianowizard]

At $899, I would go for PW's T60, especially since it has two years of warranty still left.

Thanks for the support, Tomh! I've always loved you but I love you even more now.

[tomh009]

Brotherly love, man, brotherly love ...

Seriously, I do think your T60 is a very nice deal. I just need one that starts with an "X"!

[GnatGoSplat]

T42 is everyone's favorite and originally what I wanted to get, but you mentioned RAM more than once. T43 uses DDR2 so RAM is super cheap. You can load it up with RAM for a fraction of the price of T42 RAM. That, and the fact that T43s are the same price as T42s (sometimes cheaper) was the reason I got a T43 instead, and I immediately loaded it up w/2GB of RAM since DDR2 is so cheap.

I also have not seen any reports of T43 GPUs coming loose on the forum while there is a sticky about T42 GPUs coming loose.

I don't think T43s are any less reliable. You're probably seeing them more often because they are starting to come off-lease in corporate environments.

[gunston]

I'd say your best bet is a T42 if you not decide to get the offered T60. T42 have Dothan, have no heat issues, no problem with any hard disk. Easily upgradeable.

do you encounter Head issue at underneath the touch pad as T43 does???

thinking to change my current T43 motherboard to T42p motherboard...

[robert alcantara]

I just picked up a T41 SXGA+ off e-bay inc. 1GB memory and 40GB HD, 802.11a/b/g, and bluetooth for $445.55 USD + shipping.

It's a great unit (typing on it now). I just upgraded the HD to a 160GB WD, and the 40GB Fujitsu is in an external USB enclosure for backups and data transfer.