Please help me in choosing a Thinkpad T42 model!

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Highline · #1 Post by **Highline** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 7:13 pm

Greetings all!

I am going to be purchasing a IBM Thinkpad this upcoming week on-line.... probably on Monday. I would like to tap the greater wisdom of this forum

in efforts to find the right one for me.

I want it to be a T42 with integrated WiFi 802.11b/g/a, bluetooth and the fingerprint sensor. I also want it to be configured so I can play games on it.

What would the best model be for me to get? Money is not a problem.

Thank you,

Bradley

lfeagan · #2 Post by **lfeagan** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 7:20 pm

Check out the tabook
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitu ... tabook.pdf
Other things you need to decide on are if you want a 14.1" (smaller footprint and lighter) or 15" (adds about 1lbs and is a bigger case). Once you decide on a monitor, check out all the threads on Flexview among other things, then we might be able to help decide on a specific model. Also, do you want 40GB 5400rpm drive, 60gb 7200rpm drive, or 80gb 5400rpm drive? As far as the RAM goes, get it with as little as possible from IBM and then add on extra on your own. Do you want CD-RW or DVD-RW? These are just some of the questions you will need to answer. If you end up looking at the 14" models I can email you a pdf of an Excel spreadsheet I made while deciding a few weeks ago.

k3nnis · #3 Post by **k3nnis** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 7:56 pm

Hi lfeagan.

I am also deciding between t42 models. I am set on the 14.1" screen as its a smaller footprint. Can you please send me the excel file to my email?:) Thanks!

k3nnis@hotmail.com

Regards.
Kenn.

lfeagan · #4 Post by **lfeagan** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:03 pm

Ah, I just threw them up on my webserver. Here is the URL:
http://www.vectorcomputing.net/Upload/IBM/

Some quick notes: I was only interested in the 14.1" SXGA+ and a 9600/64M or FireGL/128M video card. So, no 1024x768 or Radeon 7500/9000 stuff in my comparison. PDF and XLS formats are at that link.

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for the prices being right, etc etc etc...though I think they were right at the time I typed it up a few weeks ago. I updated some of the Bill's prices about 5 minutes ago, so hopefully they are right. Basically, if you are not an edu buyer, buy it from Bill. If you are edu, you get a 20% discount...

k3nnis · #5 Post by **k3nnis** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 10:13 pm

Hi there.

Thanks:) Checking it out now:P

Cheers.
Kenn.

lfeagan · #6 Post by **lfeagan** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 10:32 pm

Just added a few 15" Models that Bill has to the sheets and updated it some. I think it would be nice if we had a more permanent maintainer of a spreadsheet like this...<wink at Bill>

Its far easier to look at a spreadsheet like this and sort out things than to sift through 20 or so pages of the tabook, which is why I made this in the first place. There are some pretty easy categorizations that you can break the notebooks down into when deciding how to split them up.

Highline · #7 Post by **Highline** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:24 pm

Well folks... I have decided to go with the 2373-P1U !

Just waiting for Bill to call me back tonight so I can order one from him!!

lfeagan · #8 Post by **lfeagan** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:28 pm

Highline wrote:Well folks... I have decided to go with the 2373-P1U !

Just waiting for Bill to call me back tonight so I can order one from him!!

Glad to hear it, I am sure Bill will be glad to send you a nice new notebook

Highline · #9 Post by **Highline** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:41 pm

lfe,

Are you aware if he does Sunday shipping through FedEx? I would like to get it Monday... I am so impaitent

His prices are quite good.......!

lfeagan · #10 Post by **lfeagan** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:00 am

Highline wrote:lfe,

Are you aware if he does Sunday shipping through FedEx? I would like to get it Monday... I am so impaitent

His prices are quite good.......!

Dunno dude. I ordered from IBM Edu, thus the Edu price listings for the State of Kansas. I would doubt he can ship Sunday. But if you pay, he could do it Fedex Next Day Priority on Monday and it would be there before 10AM Tuesday.

--Lance

Highline · #11 Post by **Highline** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:19 am

Just for the record, I was incorrect. I thought FedEx did Sunday shipping... but after speaking with bill it turns out they cannot.

I am going to do what you recommended though, Priority Shipping. So I can get the computer before I have to leave for work!

lfeagan · #12 Post by **lfeagan** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:56 am

Highline wrote:Just for the record, I was incorrect. I thought FedEx did Sunday shipping... but after speaking with bill it turns out they cannot.

I am going to do what you recommended though, Priority Shipping. So I can get the computer before I have to leave for work!

Yeah, I didn't think they did. I worked in the shipping room of an large engineering firm as a summer job during high school Fedex does some amazing things, but shipping on Sunday is not one of them and I am glad that they don't even attempt to offer it. Those guys work hard enough as is, they need (and deserve) at least one day off a week. I feel sorry for the UPS delivery guys too. In case you don't know, the deal is that the delivery guys have to deliver all the packages on their truck...sure sucks when you get a ton of small packages at the end of the day.

Highline · #13 Post by **Highline** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 2:59 am

Does anyone here own 2373-P1U? Opinions?

Thanks!

xtypestereotype · #14 Post by **xtypestereotype** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:16 am

lfeagan wrote:Basically, if you are not an edu buyer, buy it from Bill. If you are edu, you get a 20% discount...

Where does one buy edu models? How is it done?

Highline · #15 Post by **Highline** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:32 am

I am sure there is some sort of information portal on IBM's website on how to buy for an educational institution.

Me not having access to their discounted rates... and after searching around... I must say that Bill's prices are stellar!!!

I would just like to find someone who has the same model that I am getting...to see what they think

Brad

lfeagan · #16 Post by **lfeagan** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:34 am

Well, for Austrailai I found this website:
http://www-8.ibm.com/solutions/au/publi ... launchpad/

And I also saw this phone info listed:
Call our dedicated IBM Education Specialist Aroon Wadvani on 1300 557 074

JD24 · #17 Post by **JD24** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:50 am

xtypestereotype wrote:
lfeagan wrote:Basically, if you are not an edu buyer, buy it from Bill. If you are edu, you get a 20% discount...
Where does one buy edu models? How is it done?

I'm interested in that, too.
My brother will spend 3 month in South Carolina. I want him
to buy me a notebook. He is a student from germany is it possibly
for him to get the edu discount? Any ideas?

JD

Highline · #18 Post by **Highline** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:37 pm

Well, I must say, this laptop is quite amazing.

Bill shipping it right on time as he promised -- and it is absolutely as described!! I am quite impressed by the fact that I can play Battlefield 1942 on it with no problem whatsoever!!

To anyone considering purchasing a ThinkPad... I strongly suggest buying from Bill. Great prices, fast shipping, perfect products!!

It is just taking me some time to get used to the smaller resolution this scren has. It is operating in 1400 x 1050... and jumping to that from something much bigger is quite a change!

I am amazed at how light this computer is... it is quite a machine!

lfeagan · #19 Post by **lfeagan** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 6:18 pm

Ah, I am so glad you reported back and that it worked out well. Enjoy!

Highline · #20 Post by **Highline** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 6:25 pm

Thank you lfeagan!

I would assume that you have the same style laptop case as I... as they are both T42p's. Of course, with any new toy, there are worries about breaking things on it...etc. Have you found yours to be pretty durable?

Also -- What screen resolution do you use?

csj0952 · #21 Post by **csj0952** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:05 pm

How do I place an order with Bill?

lfeagan · #22 Post by **lfeagan** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 3:25 pm

Highline wrote:Thank you lfeagan!

I would assume that you have the same style laptop case as I... as they are both T42p's. Of course, with any new toy, there are worries about breaking things on it...etc. Have you found yours to be pretty durable?

Also -- What screen resolution do you use?

I actually just use a sleeve case for my T42p.
You can check it out over here:
http://people.eecs.ku.edu/~lfeagan/WaterfieldDesigns/

I have found it to be pretty durable. Certainly I think it will stand up just fine to normal use and carrying. Its not going to break just bumping into a wall, like some devices I know of.

I run at 1400x1050, the native resolution of my screen.

#23 Post by **JaneL** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 8:28 pm

>How do I place an order with Bill?
>

Bill's contact information is at http://thinkpads.com/start.htm If you e-mail him, be sure to put ThinkPads in the subject line.

Franasia · #24 Post by **Franasia** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 8:30 pm

Hi Highline,

I'm in Nashua, and have had my T42 from Bill for a month now. If you're impatient you're welcome to swing by my office and play with it a little bit.
Mine is a 2373-3UU.

Highline · #25 Post by **Highline** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:05 pm

Fran,

Thank you very much for the kind offer! I actually got my laptop yesterday... and am using it as we speak! I am very pleased with it... and am treating it like it was my own child. For 3700$+ dollars... I want this thing to last!!!

I don't know too many people with bad things to say about thinkpads though... they seem to last 5+ years!

god willing!

lfeagan · #26 Post by **lfeagan** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:52 pm

$3700, Yowza!!! That hurts. The price premium for 2.1 vs 1.8 is just insane. I guess if my laptop was my primary machine it would make sense. Hoorah for VNC!

Highline · #27 Post by **Highline** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:31 am

lfeagan wrote:$3700, Yowza!!! That hurts. The price premium for 2.1 vs 1.8 is just insane. I guess if my laptop was my primary machine it would make sense. Hoorah for VNC!

It certinally is alot of money for me... I work in law enforcement, and accordingly, am far from being rich. But I figured that I should just go all the way.

Hey, being in debt is the american way

CChoi83 · #28 Post by **CChoi83** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:50 am

Highline wrote:
lfeagan wrote:$3700, Yowza!!! That hurts. The price premium for 2.1 vs 1.8 is just insane. I guess if my laptop was my primary machine it would make sense. Hoorah for VNC!
It certinally is alot of money for me... I work in law enforcement, and accordingly, am far from being rich. But I figured that I should just go all the way.

Hey, being in debt is the american way

lfeagan · #29 Post by **lfeagan** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 3:08 am

If being in debt is "the American way" then I am almost certifiably un-American as I make a strong commitment to saving as much as I spend things other than food and other living necessities. And by save I don't mean save to spend later. I literally mean I never intend to touch it for many years to come. Makes me feel comfortable knowing that I have enough money in the bank to rebuy whatever I have all over again in case disaster strikes.

Side note: I am just about as American as one can get in terms of my support for the Constitution in its more pure, original state as developed by the founding fathers. I personally consider a firm understanding and belief in the Constitution of the United States to be the most important thing to really being an American. Too bad 90% of Americans are oblivious to most of the text, much less the interpertation in the legal system, of the Constitution. Everyone always just knows the highlights, largely the ammendments, namely: speech/religion, guns, and quick and public trial. Everyone should be required to know all the ammendments and be able to say them at a moment's notice. I don't want to get all Mao's Red Book or nuthin'...but most Amerians don't even have a clue what the Constitution proper, not the Bill of Rights, has to say.

rrungta · #30 Post by **rrungta** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 5:12 am

Hi,

I am new to this forum and interested in buying a new laptop either P1U or Q1U , can you please tell mw whos bill and how do I get in touch with him ?

Thanks a ton

Rashmi

Please help me in choosing a Thinkpad T42 model!

Please help me in choosing a Thinkpad T42 model!

Since I have decided what I am getting.....

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