What are tha chances of getting a T42p in the UK...

[DannyE]

Hi All,

After first hearing that there were versions of the T42(p) that had SXGA+ resolution on a 14.1" screen backed by a ATI Mobility FireGL T2 with 128Mb I have been scouring around the usual mail/internet order places in the UK that I know of (sterlingXS.co.uk computerbargains.co.uk laptopshop.co.uk etc etc...) but to no avail. All I seem to be able to find are the XGA res with the 7500 chipset behind them.

Haven't even been able to turn up one on Ebay

Is there any chance of finding one of these gems in the UK?

Many thanks,

Dan

[Johan]

Dan,

First, I suggest you have a look in the (famous!) ltwbook with the full title: "Personal Systems Reference, Lenovo ThinkPad Notebooks, 2005 to present - withdrawn (December 2006 - Version 316)". Therein, you will find specifications on the most recent T4x models; both T41/p's, T42/p's, and T43/p's, and there you will get a better picture of what resolutions/sizes etc are (/were!) available. Links to more specifications on (older) Thinkpads can be found in the thread T4X specs.

All T42/p's are now out of production (since 2005, I believe), and in my belief you will not be able to find any new in stock in any shops. But - now it is soon Christmas, so I am of course going to give you a... very nice Christmas present... taa-daa! If you (immediately!!) turn to a very interesting item currently at auction at the US eBay-site --> here (ending in 1 day and 7 hours hours from NOW) or the one here (ending in 7 hours from NOW) then you can start dreaming of having a brand NEW 14.1" SXGA+ T42p! If you want to have a look within Europe (where chances are very small and prices are very high!), you should check the German ThinkPad user-community ThinkPad forum.de (see their "Marktplatz"). If you intend to bid on the USA eBay, contact the seller first and say that you intend to bid... otherwise you might risk to be "banned" from bidding, since you are outside of USA. If the seller won't agree to letting you bid, immediately go to the Marketplace of this forum, and ask if someone in the USA is willing to bid on behalf of you. There are SO many extremely kind and helpful, totally trustworthy members there, so personally I would have zero problem of transferring some say $500 pre-payment to a forum-friend (in the USA) who could then bid on behalf of you. Just a suggestion, if you don't know anybody in the USA who can jump in right now and who are also having a good eBay-reputation and will accept to bid on behalf of you. If I were in the USA, I would be happy to help - but I am very much outside, like you!

I have been following T42/p auctions at eBay for quite a while, and my guess is that this NEW (!!) T42p will (most likely) not go much above $ 600. Add to this the cost of shipping this item to the UK (probably approx. $50) and the VAT/customs duty you need to pay upon import into the UK (how much? about 20 %?), and then still this is absolutely a very good deal. You need to check if these units are still covered by warranty - is so, the warranty can be extended for two more years for about $150 (you can read about where/how in the thread FS Flexview heaven T60P and T42P's - see the post of Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:41 pm).

But... if I were you (I know that I am not!), I would rather go for one of the 15" UXGA/FlexView T42p's.. they are a bit bigger, thus slightly heavier and consume slightly more power... but the FlexView/IPS display... aaah, once you have owned one, you find it hard to go back to some XGA or other non-FlexView type!

Well, I'll leave it for now (I could continue for long, as I am a 15" UXGA/FlexView T42p-addict, which you may already have guessed!), but if you shall have a chance to consider the above, truly outstanding eBay Christmas-suggestion, I better post this reply right now.

Feel free to ask, if you want more Christmas presents!

Best regards,

Johan

[DannyE]

That is one very detailed post you must be a big fan of your T42p UXGA! (I could do a lot with all those lovely pixels!!) Unfortunately I am one of those wierd people who likes to be able to touch/see something before he buys it so really the US is out of the question I'm afraid, something local to me (well within a few hundred miles anyway;))

There seems to be a lot of T42 with XGA screens and the mobility 7500 chipset about but none or very few T42p is it too soon for corporate leases to be running out in these yet and so there aren't many ex lease models around? Or weren't they distributed in the UK?

Any ideas guys?

Dan

P.S. thanks again Johan for all the information!!

[Johan]

Ooh, Danny, I am soo dissapointed that you don't want my Christmas present...

Well, I refuse to accept that you shall not have what you want (after all, it is Christmas!), so if you insist in wanting to "touch and feel" - and of course I can understand this - you have far less options. But, get going with Google and search e.g. after "T42p + London" and quite a few hits wwill pop up, e.g. IBM T42p,14 inch. 2 GB RAM (£370) or IBM ThinkPad T42P Notebook PC (expired?).

Alternatively, I suggest you contact a highly recommended reseller in Dusseldorf, which is in Germany I know, yes, but still maybe "well within reach" from you (the owner is actually one of your countrymen, I believe); LapStop.com - they are extremely kind and helpful and they are true ThinkPad experts and have access to both new and older ThinkPads. I would highly recommend them. More alternatives... well, why not consider a "WTB" thread (want to buy) in the Marketplace in this forum, as referred to above? Could be that there were some chap in the UK who had a good, used T42p?

Stay away from XGA-displays, is my recommendation - you will be much more satisfied with SXGA+ (or UXGA!). Ooh, by the way, did I mention that I personally like the FlexView/IPS displays? Well, this I do!

OK, Dan, look around, but be prepared to find very little as long as you "limit yourself" in a geographic sense. If you knew someone (in your vicinity) who had a T42p of the kind you consider/want, and you could go there and see and feel that one, that could perhaps persuade you to buy one off eBay? Really, seriously, honestly - the selection and prices are much better there... although it is even better to deal with some trusted member of this (outstanding!) forum via the Marketplace here.

Good luck with your dream-ThinkPad!

Best regards,

Johan

[andyP]

@ DannyE

If you start looking at T60p (new) then you have a better chance. T42s (new) are long gone. You might be lucky, but you will have to be patient even if you want a used T42p.

[DannyE]

I just did a quick search for a price for T60p's and I'm afraid they are well out of my league, i was hoping to spend between £300-400 (sterling) for a T42/43p...

I am looking for a 2nd hand/refurbished model, not new...

I think you are right though, patience is the key

Many thanks,

Dan