What Windows XP version comes on new T42's ?

[chrisnyc]

I'm looking to buy a new T42 or 42p. I understand that the newest models (released in Oct '04) have XP SP2 installed.

But almost none of the T42's for sale on the IBM site are the October releases ; all I see is the 2378R9U and one other top-line model which is above my price range.

I've looked at the models on the tabook and am interested in the 2373N1U (with 80 GB hard drive, etc), but it's not for sale by IBM.
What gives here ?

So, two questions :
Is Windows XP SP2 pre-installed on all of the currently available T42 series (the ones with May 04 release date) ? If not, what comes -- SP1 or even just the original 3-year-old XP release ?

And question 2 : When can we expect the Oct 04 releases, such as the 2373N1U, 2373N3U, etc. etc., to actually be listed on IBM's web site for sale ?

I'm leaning toward a T42 Thinkpad to replace my 3-yr-old Dell Inspiron, and I want one of the brand new models, but not the 2378R9U (I really want the 80 GB drive).

Thanks for any information and advise that can be provided.

[Plinkerton]

Can't help too much, but I received my T42 2378-FVU on November 11th or so, and it didn't come with SP2 installed. I'm not sure if it had SP1 though. I just updated it the other day, without a hitch.

[k3nnis]

Hi chris.

I have a 2373K5U which is a october 04 machine. It came with SP2 installed.

Cheers.
Kenn.

[Matt_]

Hi chrisnyc

A couple of things. I have the 2373-CWU. According to the tabook, there appear to be just two differences: the fingerprint reader and also the mini PCI card (an IBM a/b/g Mini PcI Adapter II Atheros AR5004X chipset in the N1U and an IBM a/b/g mini PCI Adapter Atheros AR5001X+ chipset in the CWU).
When I ordered it the first time back around the end of August and received it around the middle of September, it did NOT have SP2.
I had to return it because it wasn't working correctly.

When I re-ordered and received the 2373-CWU in the middle of November, it had SP2 and everything else appeared/appears to be up-to-date, too.

If you haven't already found out about them, there are two methods that I had used to find out more information about the system that I was planning to order.
1)
http://www5.pc.ibm.com/us/products.nsf/ ... NumLookup/_

At the end of that link, just type the part number of whatever system you are interested in.
So, in my case, it was

http://www5.pc.ibm.com/us/products.nsf/ ... p/_2373CWU

(For the N1U: here)

For systems like this and the N1U, doing this will give you at least a little more information such as IBM's suggested retail price.

2) Visa discount: http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/visa
MasterCard: http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/mastercard
Discover: http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/discover
American Express: http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/amex
It seems that after a particular model of laptop has been out for, say, a few months (give or take a little bit of time), it will be available at a discount if purchased with a particular credit card.
In my case, since the 2373-CWU had already been out for a little while, it was llisted there, and so I could get more information about configuring it along with any particular special offerings.
While unfortunately I don't see your N1U listed among the discounted laptops, since it is pretty similar to the CWU perhaps looking at the listing for the CWU might help a little bit as far as how you probably will be able to configure the N1U.

If it isn't important to have the fingerprint reader and the latest mini PCI card, you would be able to save yourself ~ $600 in buying the CWU.
I couldn't be happier with mine.

And as for your question about when you can expect to see a recent model listed.... I don't know why it takes so long. I remember even back around September or October that models such as the CWU still were not listed.

[w0qj]

on 15-Nov-2004 i bought my 2373K5H which is a T42 with FingerPrint Reader.

at the time, FingerPrint Reader models were the only guaranteed model with SP2 pre-installed at the time...

[Pei_Wang]

My T42 is 2373NTH,
November 21th.
Only SP1.