Hard choosing: 2373-3UU or 2378-FVU or other????

[mrflynn]

Hi folks,

after my previous post about Powerbook vs T42, I am definitely going for the T42. Now I have to choose which model.

the 2373-3UU would be really interesting, but the only thing it misses is the fast Hitachi 60gb 7200 rpm hd.
In one of the last post, mr bill morrow offers the 3UU model at $2200, that is a pretty nice price.

On the other end, there is the 2378-FVU. It has similar features of the 3UU but a much lower price.
the 3UU has bluetooth, 256mb more, 2 year warranty more, and aetheros wifi chipset. But regarding to that:

- Bluetooth is a nice feature, but I already have a USB bluetooth dougle (I heard someone saying that IBM bluetooth is very bad implemented)
- I can easily expand memory purchasing kingstone or corsair memory (I can buy here in Italy 512 Pc2700 SoDIMM at 79 Euro)
- about warranty, could I extend later the warranty and at what prices????
- about wifi, the aetheros supports 802.11a too, but i think it's now a bit obsolete, so what would be the advantage to get the aetheros version??? I heard that now there is a package to support IPW2200 also in Linux. Which one offer better performance in term of strongness and robustness of the signal??? which one is more compatible with more wifi access point

Moreover, does mr bill morrow sell the 2378-FVU too and at which price???
How much will the HD 60 gb 7200 rpm cost???? I heard that mr bill could exchange drive too...

At the end, would it be cheaper if a buy an IBM barebone adding the parts i want (1,7 ghz, 512 mb ram, hd 60 7200, wifi, bluetooth, 14" SXGA+)

I'd like to spend $2000...could anyone help me finding the best solutions in terms of money/performance????? I have to buy this laptop before July, because a friend of mine that right now is in NYC will come back in Italy at that time...

thanks for the help you gave me in this forum till now and the one you will give me 4 this thread

Tony

[sktn77a]

It's rarely, if ever, cheaper to buy a barebone yourself and add the parts. See if you can find what you want in a preconfigured machine and then check with Bill on the price.