I've done my HW, but still, 23738ZU or 2378FVU?

[ehsu]

Greetings,

I've been reading a lot of threads and posts and spent countless of hours doing research on T series before I narrowed down to these two models, 23738ZU and 2378FVU.

It comes down these differences:
On the Student/Alumni website, it shows

1)
ZU has only Keyboard and UltraNav for input device.
FVU has keyboard, touchpad, trackpont, UltraNav for input devices.
Any differences here or they all have the same input devices, i.e. keyboard, trackpoint and touchpad?

2)
ZU has 512 MB of RAM, 3 year warranty, $1720, getting an addition 512 to make it $1808.

FVU has 256MB of RAM, 1 year warranty, $1485
*I can upgrade the warranty to 3 year on FVU and get 2X512 Kingston 333 ram to make FVU model to $1779, and sell the factory RAM to compensate the cost a little bit.*

3)
Any other differences between the two models that I just stated?

4)
Is it really worth it to upgrade from Intel Pro 2200 to IBM a/b/g mini pci adapter?

5) What is my best option for performance/money?

Thank you for reading and I appreciate your comments and inputs.

[aamsel]

I would get Crucial or Mushkin memory. If you do get Kingston, don't get the Value RAM. That has been the most problematic stuff in a lot of applications, not just in Thinkpads. Kingston does make good ram (HyperX) but not the Value stuff.

Factory 256MB module hardly worth selling, IMHO.
Toss it in a drawer.

Andrew
Austin, TX

FVU has 256MB of RAM, 1 year warranty, $1485
*I can upgrade the warranty to 3 year on FVU and get 2X512 Kingston 333 ram to make FVU model to $1779, and sell the factory RAM to compensate the cost a little bit.*

[andypenguin]

I personally got the 2378-FVU with its stock 256 and then picked up this 1GB Kingmax stick from newegg for $180: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 111&depa=0
which has worked flawlessly ever since. You get 1.25GB of RAM total, no need to throw away the factory stick.

[dfumento]

Both models have exactly the same inputs. I'd get the 2378FVU.
1. increase the warranty to three years.
2. buy the 512MB stick (you probably don't need any more RAM).

I wouldn't upgrade the wireless unless you don't connect to your wireless acess point and it handles 'a'.


Also, with FVU you can upgrade to bluetooth (not certain about other model) later on or when you order the unit.

Finally, the IBM web site says there are 90 in stock which means you'll get one right away.

Check out on the 2378FVU
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 68670a6791

[ehsu]

Thanks for the recommendations.

I will go with 2378FVU with 3 year warranty and an addition 1GB of KingMax from newegg.

Does It come with a 6 cell battery right? Or do I have to select the Special offers: Discounted T and R Series 6-Cell Battery Express?

[admsteiner]

Thanks for the recommendations.

I will go with 2378FVU with 3 year warranty and an addition 1GB of KingMax from newegg.

Does It come with a 6 cell battery right? Or do I have to select the Special offers: Discounted T and R Series 6-Cell Battery Express?

It comes witha 6 cell, but IBM is running a free battery promo, so if you select that you may be able to get a second battery for free or very cheap (the details escape me)

--adam

[aamsel]

I know that some people will disagree with me, but...
I don't believe that Kingmax would be considered "first tier" memory.
It may work just fine, and I am not saying that it won't.
I just consider it to be generic.
Just FYI.
Feel free to correct me if you disagree.

Andrew
Austin, TX

[aamsel]

There is NO free battery promo on Express models.
There is an error on the website that says "Free Battery Express" but the cost for it is $59.
It is actually a $59 battery promo.
I told the IBM folks that it was inexplicable that this website error has not been corrected.
It has been wrong for far too long.
They couldn't explain it either, yet 2 weeks after I reported it, the error is still there.

There is also a $99 promo for the 9 cell.

Andrew
Austin, TX

...It comes witha 6 cell, but IBM is running a free battery promo, so if you select that you may be able to get a second battery for free or very cheap (the details escape me)

--adam

[ehsu]

Thanks.

I normally wouldn't consider getting KingMax memory; instead, I would get name brand ones i.e. Corsair, OCZ, Mushkin or Kingston. But it's all different in laptop memory as I have no idea in terms of their sodimm qualities. My initial idea was to get the 512MB Kingston (Is this the ValueRam you're referring to in the earlier post?)http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe ... e=80065-03

But after seeing lots of good reviews and ratings on NewEgg, I am more inclined to get the KingMax now. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 111&depa=0

I wanna have at leat 1 GB. So I either
1) Get 2x512MB Kingston for $176
2) Get 1x1GB Kingmax for $188

What would you pick?

[gazingwa]

Lets see....
for $12 you get

256 MB more ram
The ability to upgrade to 2gb without throwing away this purchase
An off brand memory shiped from a dealer with a great reputation(i'm sure they will return it if it doesn't work)

get the 1gb stick for future expansion, performance, and resale value

[andypenguin]

I know how you feel about off-brand memory sticks. I run two sticks of ECC Crucial in my desktop, so I was initially a bit hesitant. But it's been running for the past week solidly even under heavy use (3D games/apps, several runs through with memtest86 and Windows Memory Diagnostic). It's definitely a pleasant surprise.

[admsteiner]

There is NO free battery promo on Express models.
There is an error on the website that says "Free Battery Express" but the cost for it is $59.
It is actually a $59 battery promo.
I told the IBM folks that it was inexplicable that this website error has not been corrected.
It has been wrong for far too long.
They couldn't explain it either, yet 2 weeks after I reported it, the error is still there.

There is also a $99 promo for the 9 cell.

Ah, thanks for clarifying that. A $59 6-cell or $99 9-cell is a pretty good deal anyway

--Adam

[aamsel]

I wasn't aware of the GREAT reviews on the Kingmax at newegg.
It may be really good stuff after all, but there are several reviews on the web saying (for example) that some ot the desktop "enthusiast" modules that Kindmax puts out won't even reach their rated speed. Some people have avoided Kingmax for this reason.

Andrew
Austin, TX

I know how you feel about off-brand memory sticks. I run two sticks of ECC Crucial in my desktop, so I was initially a bit hesitant. But it's been running for the past week solidly even under heavy use (3D games/apps, several runs through with memtest86 and Windows Memory Diagnostic). It's definitely a pleasant surprise.

[aamsel]

Newegg has been running the 9 cell for this price or less with no tax and cheap shipping, so it may or may not be a good deal.
If you want to buy direct from IBM, then yes, it is a good deal.

Andrew
Austin, TX

...Ah, thanks for clarifying that. A $59 6-cell or $99
9-cell is a pretty good deal anyway
--Adam

[lzy_tek]

How about T42 2373 M3U? It's $100 more but much better.

[admsteiner]

Newegg has been running the 9 cell for this price or less with no tax and cheap shipping, so it may or may not be a good deal.
If you want to buy direct from IBM, then yes, it is a good deal.

I believe Lithium Ion batteries have a certain life which begins when they are manufactured. If it is old stock that Newegg is selling it may not be worth purchasing. Someone mentioned something about this a few months back on the board.

--Adam

[davidlg16]

i see u r getting the student/alumni discount.

If you are a still a student, you might want to check your school's computer store/technology center. They might only display a few models, but can most likely order anything you see online with a big discount.

My school has 30% off on non-express models, which would make ur 23738ZU $1504.30

I know for some college computer stores, especially on educational models, you get 35% - 37.5% discount (as much as EPP discount)

if you aren't a current student, try get someone that's still in school to get it for u, cuz it saves u a LOT of $$$.

[CoolRunnings]

I always saw Kingston as "cream of the crap" because of the horrors I've experienced with their desktop RAM. In the systems I personally build for people I try to stick for Crucial but the company I work for seems to like Kingston. Maybe their quality has gotten better... That would be a pleasant surprise.

[kev009]

I ordered a 512MB Corsair Value stick off zipzoomfly. I know Corsair makes a good product, but am not sure if the Value maintains that. Most aftermarket RAM has a lifetime warrenty these days so you don't have much to lose either way but if I had the cash I too would have gone with Crucial just for the extra peace of mind.

[aamsel]

Mushkin is also supposed to be good RAM, but I am not sure about their SODIMM stuff.

When it comes to quality in RAM vendors (except by "enthusiasts" looking to overclock desktop systems), Crucial is the ONLY name that you hear over and over again as the trusted brand.

With every "value" line product, people are just looking to save money vs. Crucial.

Andrew
Austin, TX

[ehsu]

How about T42 2373 M3U? It's $100 more but much better.

Ya, that's a nice model, but it's kind of out of my preferred budget.

My school has 30% off on non-express models, which would make ur 23738ZU $1504.30

I know for some college computer stores, especially on educational models, you get 35% - 37.5% discount (as much as EPP discount)

if you aren't a current student, try get someone that's still in school to get it for u, cuz it saves u a LOT of $$$.

That's so nice, I can only get 23733XU for $1630 through school discount. I'd get the 23733XU in a heart bit if it was a 14" instead of a 15", everything else is perfect though.

With every "value" line product, people are just looking to save money vs. Crucial.

So true. Now I hope my Kingmax 1GB works just as good.

[dfumento]

Unless you are doing something really RAM intensive, go with the 512MB instead of the 1GB and save yourself $120-$140. Instead consider spending it on a larger hard drive because unless you reformat the 40GB HD and re-install windows, you only get about 32GB because of an IBM hidden partition used for IBM recovery and restore. For about $140 you can get an 80GB HD.

[davidlg16]

That's so nice, I can only get 23733XU for $1630 through school discount. I'd get the 23733XU in a heart bit if it was a 14" instead of a 15", everything else is perfect though.

that's the same price i get from my school on that model! School computer stores usually only advertise/list the educational models which are heavily discounted: 6vu, 3vu, 3xu, 7xu.

have you talked to your school computer store manager? I talked to mine and only then i found out taht i can order any non-express models and get at least 30% off.