thinking about buying a T42, couple of questions

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Billmanweh · #1 Post by **Billmanweh** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:05 am

I'm currently using a Gateway 450SX4 (1.7GHz P4, 40GB, 512MB) and need to find a replacement. After reading a lot of reviews I think I would like a Thinkpad. My budget is ~$500. I found this on ebay;

Thinkpad T42
Pentium M Centrino 1.7GHz
1GB RAM
80GB HD (5400 RPM)
14.1" XGA
Also has about 8 months of warranty left

The seller has great feedback and the price is ~$500 shipped.

Does that sound like a good deal? Would it be fairly decent upgrade over the Gateway? Anything I should ask about first or be concerned about buying on ebay?

#2 Post by **Harryc** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:27 am

Sounds like a good deal to me, particularly with 1GB of RAM and 8 mos. warranty. As far as upgrading, is the Dell a Pentium M or a Pentium 4-M ? I believe the 1.7GHz CPU in a T-42 is a Dothan Pentium M, which would definitely be an upgrade over a 1.7GHz 4-M. The other advice I would offer is to make sure you want XGA resolution. If that's what your Dell is and you like it/are used to it, then disregard my comment. But there are T42's and possibly T43's out there in that price range with higher resolution LCD's.

Billmanweh · #3 Post by **Billmanweh** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:44 pm

Harryc wrote:Sounds like a good deal to me, particularly with 1GB of RAM and 8 mos. warranty. As far as upgrading, is the Dell a Pentium M or a Pentium 4-M ? I believe the 1.7GHz CPU in a T-42 is a Dothan Pentium M, which would definitely be an upgrade over a 1.7GHz 4-M. The other advice I would offer is to make sure you want XGA resolution. If that's what your Dell is and you like it/are used to it, then disregard my comment. But there are T42's and possibly T43's out there in that price range with higher resolution LCD's.

Not sure what the Gateway is, as far as the resolution. How could I find out?

And it's a Pentium 4 1.7GHz, not a Pentium M. It's like 5 years old.

#4 Post by **Harryc** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:54 pm

Billmanweh wrote: Not sure what the Gateway is, as far as the resolution. How could I find out?

And it's a Pentium 4 1.7GHz, not a Pentium M. It's like 5 years old.

Check the model at the Dell website. If the max resolution is 1024x768 it is XGA.

Billmanweh · #5 Post by **Billmanweh** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:55 pm

Harryc wrote:
Billmanweh wrote: Not sure what the Gateway is, as far as the resolution. How could I find out?

And it's a Pentium 4 1.7GHz, not a Pentium M. It's like 5 years old.
Check the model at the Dell website. If the max resolution is 1024x768 it is XGA.

Just checked and my Gateway is 1,024 × 768. Would the SXGA be a big improvement? If so, I might wait and look for one with the improved resolution.

#6 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:40 pm

Billmanweh wrote:Would the SXGA be a big improvement? If so, I might wait and look for one with the improved resolution.

I have owned a T42 of both flavors. I do prefer SXGA+ over XGA. I would make the effort to get SXGA+ if at all possible, but it would not be a deal breaker for me. I love my SXGA+ T42. It is what I use all the time.

The backlight went out in my first XGA T42, and before I got it fixed, I had the opportunity to buy my current SXGA+ T42. Subsequently I replaced the display on the older T42 with one I bought on ebay. This is now my daughter's primary computer.

Some people cannot stand XGA at all, but I don't quite feel that way. YMMV

Billmanweh · #7 Post by **Billmanweh** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 1:10 am

Thanks guys.

Maybe I'll look around for something similar with the upgraded resolution.

thinking about buying a T42, couple of questions

thinking about buying a T42, couple of questions

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