Used T43p value?

[Patrik28]

Can someone say if used T43p is worth of 1300 euros (about 1600 dollars). The notebook has Pentium 780 cpu, Firegl v3200 graphics (14"), 2gb ram, dvd-burner and 100Gb hdd.

I would say, that is high price, but what would other say? Or is it wiser to think T60-series with that price? I'm thinking to upgrade my T23 to newer.

[sktn77a]

I doubt it. It's a top spec machine but it's 2 years out of date. I'm guessing under $1000 US. Check similar spec machines under "Completed Auctions" on e-bay for the best estimate.

Unless there's something unique about the T43p that you want (?), I'd get something current.

[Johan]

Patrik:

A used T43p (with how much remaining warranty??) for USD 1600 - this sounds like a very poor deal to me!

First, I'd personally much rather try get a used T42p in stead of a used T43p, primarily owing to well-known fan-noise issue troubling many T43p's - several other reasons why I this spring bought a re-manufactured T42p, and not a new T60 or something else, is given in the thread Buying a 2nd hand T42p (see the post of Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:49 pm). Spend a little time to consider your needs before buying... would a 2.1 GHz Pentium-M satisfy your needs or does it have to be 2.33 GHz?? Very, very little difference from a practical point of view! The same about the video-card; what do you need and what would be sufficient?

Right now you can get a refurbished top-of-the-line T42p from IBM selling for only USD 850; see it here: IBM Certified Used ThinkPad T42p (C96). The only unfortunate issue with these refurbished IBM equipment is that IBM won't ship out of USA, so you'll e.g. need someone kind USA-based forum member to buy it on behalf of you, and ship it to Finland. Provided you want to extend the limited warranty, you can do this for USD 220,- for five-year, counting from the original shipment date of the T42p (you need to ask IBM about the original shipment date). Note that you'll have to pay duty if importing something from outside EU (e.g. USA) into Finland... if not bringing it into the country by yourself...and "forgetting" to pay duty! NB: The latter is against the law, and should not be taken as a suggestion!

Alternatively, search the Marketplace for prices on T42/3p's and/or put out a "WTB" (want to buy) advertisement. Also, check the German ThinkPad-Forum.de » Marktplatz - there are some good deals from time to time, and they are inside the EU (as are www.ebay.de and www.ebay.co.uk).

PS: If you know someone in the USA, they could (on behalf of you) get you a brand-new T60 or T61 or T60p way cheaper directly from IBM (provided stock has not run out); see the threay lenovo outlet, additional machines available!! pointing you to Lenovo Outlet - check out those prices!!! My recommendation, if you want to consider these very, very good delas: Get one of the 15" models with a 15.0" SXGA+ Flexview Display - these are simply the best displays available. Period!

Best regards,

Johan

[wearetheborg]

I agree, its not worth more than $1000 assuming it has lots of warranty left..
May I direct your attention to the T60Ps I'm selling ...
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=50835

[Patrik28]

Thank's for information!

Yes, it is a bit difficult to buy from USA, because I'm from Finland (not only the shipping problems, but the duty costs are pretty high - quess several hundreds) The machine should be bought in small parts or say that it is broken to fool customs officers, to prevent high taxes. The zero-limit is something under 100 dollars.

The 14" display would be better (smaller size) and I will also play and do a little 3d-desing (Pro/E, Inventor etc.), so a good graphic card is absolute demand. But display can be poor, I will always use external 19" display when drawing.

ps. If I would buy a T60p, it would cost here about 3000e -> over 3500 dollars

pps. This was the machine which I spoke: http://tinyurl.com/ysbkz3

[ulrich.von.lich]

I think a used T43p should cost around 600EUR to 1000EUR depending on its physical conditions and warranty state etc.. I wouldn't mind paying 1000EUR for a mint/problem-free/maxed-out T43p with a stunning UXGA flexview LCD and some warranty left, knowing that it's hard to find a brand new T60p with UXGA flexview under 2000EUR anywhere in Europe.

It all depends on what you want from a Thinkpad. Seems you prefer a 14" one, you might consider buying a T60 or T61 with a dedicated graphic card, which is not as powerful as the ones on T60Ps/T61Ps but it runs relatively cooler. (And it'd be good enough to make graphics run smoothly.)

A 14" T61 with a T7300 & a Quadro NVS 140M costs about 1750EUR on the website of Lenovo France, which I assume would cost something pretty close in Finland.

[Johan]

Oh, well, if you refuse to buy in the USA at cheap prices, and you also don't want to pay the import duty (and all in all still ending up with a very cheap ThinkPad!), but if you can live with a 14.1" SXGA+ 1.8 GHz T42p, there is a guy in Copenhagen who has one for sale right now for only DKK 2900 - but it has a broken display; see the Danish advertisement: Thinkpad T42p, defective display. If you then buy a display off eBay for around USD 170 (IBM FRU # 11P8346 or FRU # 11P8348 accroding to 14.1inch LCD service parts - ThinkPad T40/p, T41/p, T42/p) you're in business very cheap!

Best regards,

Johan

[ulrich.von.lich]

Don't you guys use EURO in Denmark??

[Patrik28]

Don't you guys use EURO in Denmark??

Neither do citizens of Sweden or U.K.

Johan -> The prices are extremely low in USA, but there will go too much to duty, shipping and other costs that I have not afford.
T42p would be enough for me, if it will have the cheapest price (my budget is about 1000eur - cheaper is better)

wearetheborg -> Your machines looks great, but I think that the price will rise 700-1400 dollars with all costs and thats too much.

[Johan]

Patrik:

Just for your information, the postage for shipping a ThinkPad from the USA to e.g. Denmark or Finland is only around USD 50,- Add to that the VAT you need to pay upon arrival into Finland (22 % I believe?). So, if someone in the USA ships a ThinkPad stating its insured worth equal to, say, 500 USD, your total price will be 500 x 1.22 + 50 = USD 660 which equals to approx. EU 470,-

If you happen to be a student, see the thread When would be the best time to buy a new T61p from now? about how to avoid the tax, if being a German citizen. Maybe the same apply in Finland? The threads How to buy a customized thinkpad in US legally & export and T61p availability with IWS might also be of your interest, if you (still?) consider buying in the USA.

Good luck with all your the considerations!

Best regards,

Johan

[Patrik28]

Yes, I'm a student, but not an international one. Quess that there will be no price cuts with duty costs.
And the VAT is 22% here.

ps. Do export Thinkpads have full range 110-230V AC-transformer?

[ulrich.von.lich]

Why not going to ebay if you want to buy something from the US? Even the transformers use it! Sometimes I buy DVDs and Kraft Dinner on it.

Don't even bother to calculate the taxes. It's NEVER certain. In my experience, sometimes you pay for them, sometimes you don't. It usually depends on what you buy. For instance, kraft dinner boxes are never taxed no matter how many of them you buy; Neither are CD/DVDs if you just buy a few of them; Softwares are taxed if the price is high enough. Also, a used/damaged for parts laptop and a new one will be taxed differently.

So if I were you, I'd buy what I want then let it be. At the very worst, I eat spaghetti for 2 weeks.

Good luck

[Johan]

ps. Do export Thinkpads have full range 110-230V AC-transformer?

There is no such thing as an "export ThinkPad"; because all ThinkPad's are international! Keyboard language and OS language (of course) differs, but the hardware inside is the same. To the best of my knowledge, all ThinkPad's (at least all the ones I have seen) comes with an external, international usable AC power adaptor, capable of running anywhere from 100-240 V ac, 50-60 Hz (called "universal input"). What differs is the power cord, which is different from country to country. This is no different from other laptops. Try Google after ThinkPad + "AC adaptor" and see for yourself. NB: A new ThinkPad keyboard in whatever language (e.g. Finnish) cost about USD 50 and is very easy to replace... if you buy an e.g. USA-keyboard equipped ThinkPad.

To find more specifications for ThinkPad's, check the thread T4X specs (see the posts of Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:01 am and Jan 28, 2007 7:35 am). Here you'll find links to detailed specs for most (but not all) ThinkPad's. If want to know anything about a specific ThinkPad, e.g. model 2373-N1G, simply go to www.ibm.com enter "2373-N1G" in the Search field, and select the very first hit. The Hardware Maintenance Manual linked to through the first hit will give you all (all!) information about the inner of that ThinkPad.

[Johan]

So if I were you, I'd buy what I want then let it be. At the very worst, I eat spaghetti for 2 weeks.

Good luck

Now, that's how it should sound... this is the proper attitude! You almost make me miss my student days, Ulrich!

[Patrik28]

So if I were you, I'd buy what I want then let it be. At the very worst, I eat spaghetti for 2 weeks.

Good luck

Now, that's how it should sound... this is the proper attitude! You almost make me miss my student days, Ulrich!

Ok, I have to see. Although there is no death-rush to get newer laptop.

But what I check on ebay.com, the shipping cost aren't only 50, they are even 150 dollars: http://tinyurl.com/2hh3td

[droopy128]

$1600 is too much in my opinion.. I just sold my T43 w/fingerprint, in pristine condition (been sitting on dock station most of it life), no sign of usage of the keyboard or any scratch on the cover.. and sold it only for $600..

I also have a T43p w/fingerprint & bluetooth thinking about selling too, but doubt if I would get even $1000 for it.

[Johan]

Ok, I have to see. Although there is no death-rush to get newer laptop.

But what I check on ebay.com, the shipping cost aren't only 50, they are even 150 dollars: http://tinyurl.com/2hh3td

The shipping cost that I spoke about (above) is from my own personnel experience, and has nothing to do with what other quote, e.g. on eBay. I have read, however, that many eBay sellers charge an unfair high shipping amount (way more than what it in reality is!), simply because the sellers pay some percentage of the selling-price to the eBay-owners. So, in stead of selling something for, say, USA 1000 and charge some (fair and realistic!) USD 50 in shipping costs (and in this case pay some xx % of the USD 1000 to eBay.com), sellers in stead sell for, say, USD 900 and then charge 150 in shipping costs. Fee paid to eBay now is still xx %, but of the 900 and of not the 1000. That's why shipping costs may appear so high - sellers "cheat" ebay!

If you have no rush (and this surely is a nice and clever stand!), keep an eye on the places I have already mentioned above, and make a move when a really good deal shops up! Good luck with the advertisement WTB: T42p laptop (primarily in EU-area) (although I would not have restricted myself to the EU... many, and many better deals are available in the USA, simply owing to the far lower original T42p prices over there, compared to here in the EU).

In any case: Good luck!

Best regards,

Johan

[crashnburn]

Would it not still be better to buy a US laptop + Shipping + Finnish Duties etc?

Lets say 1000 Euros = 1400/1500 USD.

I am guessing you could get a VERY CHEAP T41/42/43 for around 400-500 USD and then you only pay duties appropriate to the value of the item.

Have the seller include the sales price / receipt when shipping. So even after you pay all duties it might come out cheaper.

I am just guessing.. You can do the math.

[killer]

In March 2007 I bought a brand new T43p off Ebay (UK) for 595 pounds sterling. That is about 900 euros. It came with 3 years warranty.

[Patrik28]

Would it not still be better to buy a US laptop + Shipping + Finnish Duties etc?

Lets say 1000 Euros = 1400/1500 USD.

I am guessing you could get a VERY CHEAP T41/42/43 for around 400-500 USD and then you only pay duties appropriate to the value of the item.

Have the seller include the sales price / receipt when shipping. So even after you pay all duties it might come out cheaper.

I am just guessing.. You can do the math.

Yes, I did. Duty costs will be the price + shipping costs multiplied with 0.22 (VAT). It was a little surprise, when they have left computer-stuff without tax-percentage. And also bank charges about 50$ when paying.

Then, a suitable power cord, maybe 10$: http://johnmartintaylor.com/images/dp_4949h1.jpg

Edit. Johan -> Shipping costs will be included to total price from where VAT is charged. I've phoned today to duty office and asked that. Well that is only 22$ extra.