PLEASE help ASAP - Buying Decision *************************

[djThinkbad]

Which Laptop Should I buy???
Both are GARANTEED TO BE IN WORKING CONDITION (T42's)
Both are for $400 (shipping included)


A BRAND-NEW *** 2373-8TU*** T42

DESCRIPTION:
Processor: Intel Pentium M 735 1.7 GHz
Screen Size: 14.1" TFT active matrix XGA
Memory: 512 MB (installed) / 2 GB (max), DDR SDRAM, 333MHz
Hard Drive: 40 GB, 5400 rpm
Integrated Features: DVD-ROM, 56 Kbps Fax/Modem
Networking: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
Weight: 4.9 lbs.
Included Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Warranty: 3 YEARS limited on parts and labor


OR----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A LIKE NEW/USED ***2373-4WU*** T42

DESCRIPTION:
Processor: Intel Pentium M 735 1.7 GHz
Screen Size: 14.1" TFT active matrix XGA
Memory: 2 GB (installed) DDR SDRAM, 333MHz
Hard Drive: 40 GB, 5400 rpm
Integrated Features: CDRW / DVD ROM , 56 Kbps Fax/Modem
Networking: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b
Weight: 4.9 lbs.
Included Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
NO WARRANTY


Thanks 4 your input!!

[richk]

The differences are minimal. I wonder what "brand new" means. They haven't made T42s for 3 years+. Who provides the 3-year warranty? 3rd-party warranties are not the same as IBM warranty. It could be that anybody's 3-year warranty is better than no warranty. The wireless B card isn't worth much. Whe upgrade to a CDRW/DVD is worth a little more, and the memory is worth more, if you extra memory. 512MB -> 2GB is somewhat more expensive than either of the other differences, but unless you run things that use the memory, it doesn't add much to the process. If you just do email and web surfing, 2GB of memory will just translate to a little more power consumption and shorter battery life. I say that even though my T42p has 2GB.

[Johan]

I suggest you check the thread Is this a good deal (T40, 1.5ghz, 512 on ebay) - see the post of Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:31 pm and the links therein.

I would be very careful about buying a T40 without genuine IBM-warranty from an unknown (e.g. eBay) seller - owing to the very well-known "loose GPU" problem troubling not the least T40's (and also T41's and T42's). Your money, your call - but be sure to study the sticky T42 shuts down when i move it and perhaps also the thread Got the GPU loose issue? Please post your graphic card. ALso, I would recommend that you dig down a bit in the last few months posts in this T4x forum... and you will learn a lot. Surely worth the effort to spend a bit of time reading here, before buying, I would say. If the "warranty" - that the T40 you are looking at - is offered by third-party comnanies such as MACK or Square Trade, try see what people here or there report about such warranty...

If I were you, I would seriously consider posting a WTB ("Want To Buy") at the Marketplace and try get a T4x from some long-time, knowledgeable, trustworthy member here, who knows if it has shown any sign(s) of unstability of any kind. Also, if going for a T4x, I would certainly give priority to getting one with at least some amount of remaining IBM-warranty.

Best regards,

Johan

[ArtShapiro]

The inbuilt wireless on the second unit is the key. This is something that, for all practical purposes, you can't add yourself. Anything like memory differences can be handled for a little bit of money with intelligent shopping.

Making the assumption that wireless is a Good Thing for you, having inbuilt is just so much nicer than having a card sticking out the side of the PC, if only because you have to remove it to put the laptop into most carriers, not to mention the nuisance value.

Art

[sjthinkpader]

Ask the seller for serial number and check out the warranty. I would go for the 3 years warranty given that it is from IBM/Lenovo.

T4x is hard to install antenna but not impossible.

[ajkula66]

OK, two things here:

"Wireless upgradeable" for the first machine means that antennas are already in place but the card is not. All one has to do is install the appropriate card under the palmrest.

Secondly, I'm curious about the "3 year warranty" thing. If it's the original one from IBM, the machine that carries it is definitely worth taking. If it's third party, such as Mack...I don't think I'd go for that, not when there are numerous T42 machines with some remaining IBM warranty available. We're not talking about a rare model with mind-blowing specs. Both of these units are run-of-the mill, lower grade T42s, that are dime a dozen if one really needs them. So take your time and weigh your options.

Just my $0.02 obviously...

[ArtShapiro]

What leads you to assert that the first unit is wireless-upgradeable? Certainly I don't see it in the textual description, although I didn't go to the TAWbook or wherever this guy might be tabulated.

If this is patently obvious to the casual observer, I guess I need some remedial tutoring, so fire away.

Art

[Harryc]

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ry=23738TU

[ajkula66]

Thanks, Harry....

BTW, I've had well over 200 T4x machines pass through my house and have yet to see one that doesn't have antennas in place...card or no card is another issue.

[richk]

All have antennas

[Johan]

- just to emphasize what I said above, and to put things into perspective: A pointer to a recent eBay auction, that ended yesterday; see IBM T42 15" SXGA DVD Burner Factory Warranty - a 1.7 GHz T42 with SXGA+ FlexView/IPS display and 6 months or remaining on-site IBM-warranty (!) and otherwise in MINT condition, judging from the description/images - and went for a little as $ 400 (!).

Think of that - comparing to the two units you have been offered above, both with (much) poorer specs!

Keep at look at this T42p eBay auction (ending Feb-13-08 19:26:09 PST): An IBM Thinkpad T42p 15" UXGA FlexView/IPS with IBM Thinkplus warranty effective until 9-30-2008 and (MACK) warranty to Sept. 2011. It might end up at an attractive price?

NB: I am not sure if a 15" is of your interest at all; the two ThinkPad's you are mentioning above are both 14.1" - is this a requirement or just a coincidence?

Best regards,

Johan

[pianowizard]

djThinkbad, if the first unit has IBM warranty, get that one. If the warranty is not from IBM, get the second unit.

A pointer to a recent eBay auction, that ended yesterday; see IBM T42 15" SXGA DVD Burner Factory Warranty - a 1.7 GHz T42 with SXGA+ FlexView/IPS display and 6 months or remaining on-site IBM-warranty (!) and otherwise in MINT condition, judging from the description/images - and went for a little as $ 400 (!).

I don't know how often you use eBay, but it's very hard to get deals like this. Most mint-condition T42's with nice specs (e.g. SXGA+, Flexview, 2GB RAM, etc.) and IBM warranty cost a lot more than this. One has to check very often, and sniping (i.e. bidding with several seconds left) is always necessary. You found it so easily just because it's a completed auction. We should never use these rare deals on eBay to gauge laptop values. I cannot emphasize this enough. Many instances of sale crapping on this forum have involved "Hey, you've overpriced because I found this completed listing on eBay with specs similar to yours and it was sold for much less money."

Keep at look at this T42p eBay auction (ending Feb-13-08 19:26:09 PST): An IBM Thinkpad T42p 15" UXGA FlexView/IPS with IBM Thinkplus warranty effective until 9-30-2008 and (MACK) warranty to Sept. 2011. It might end up at an attractive price?

Most bids will be placed during the last two minutes, during which the price will go up hundreds of dollars.

[Johan]

I don't know how often you use eBay, but it's very hard to get deals like this. Most mint-condition T42's with nice specs (e.g. SXGA+, Flexview, 2GB RAM, etc.) and IBM warranty cost a lot more than this. One has to check very often, and sniping (i.e. bidding with several seconds left) is always necessary. You found it so easily just because it's a completed auction. We should never use these rare deals on eBay to gauge laptop values. I cannot emphasize this enough. Many instances of sale crapping on this forum have involved "Hey, you've overpriced because I found this completed listing on eBay with specs similar to yours and it was sold for much less money."

In principle I agree with you on that $400 is an unusual good price for such a nice T42 as that referenced to above - but still it is not impossible to find these deals if hanging around on e.g. eBay for a while: In the thread Is this a Good Price, in my post there of Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:02 pm, I included a list of recently completed eBay auctions on 15" SXGA+ FlexView/IPS T42's with several of these being sold well below $ 400,-

I would like to point out - very clearly - that I have absolutely NO intentions of conducting any form of "sale crapping" (!), neither here nor elsewhere. What I tried to say was that the two ThinkPad's offered to the OP for $400 was not, in my opinion, any particular good offer - compared to what at least I fairly frequently have seen during the last couple of months on eBay. If I said this (or anything else) in a wrong way, please accept my apologies. Kindly note that I also made a reference to the thread Is this a Good Price earlier in this thread (via the thread Is this a good deal (T40, 1.5ghz, 512 on ebay)).

Best regards,

Johan

[djThinkbad]

WOW, thanks for the replies but you guys confused me further,

Anyone here who can give a simple answer and a quick reasoning to why they choose that laptop over the other?

Thanks

[pianowizard]

Anyone here who can give a simple answer and a quick reasoning to why they choose that laptop over the other?

IBM Warranty is worth a lot of money, about $80 per year. So, if the first unit really has three years of such warranty, $400 is a steal. However, if the warranty is offered by Mack etc., it's next to useless and you are better off getting the second unit, which has better specs.