Need Advice guys - DXU vs a newer T43?

[Nomad-Man]

Need Advice guys - DXU vs a newer T43?

Im seriously considering a DXU now vs the R series with the 7500 graphics card, figuring that I would be more future proof. Even though the DXU is gonna be about $700.00 more.

Maybe Im crazy if so let me know...would be used on a desk 90% of the time, other 10% between home, work and travels. Basic tasks such as word, excel, Databases, Website work, Microsoft publisher / Corel, No games.
Would the DXU notebook be overkill?

Have a couple of issues.
1. Orginial budget was 1250.00, (which I could meet with a R series with a 7500 video card, )
2. Dont know if the 1400x1050 screen on the DXU is gonna be too small, so may need to return for a different model with a 1024x768 screen
3. Right now there are no new 1024x768 T's that have a graphics card that is future proof for longhorn, everything is a 7500 card.
4. its gotta have a 15 screen
5. And if I get the DXU and need to return because of the screen, what are my options.

My orginial plan was to spend around 1250.00. Figured if I spent that at bestbuy and then paid 75.00 worth of tax and then another 250.00 to upgrade the warranty it comes to 1575.00.

The DXU would be 1744.86 with tax and a 3 yr warranty.
A difference of 169.86.
However I dont know how the warranties compare, but do know that turn around time would probably be longer with bestbuy on repairs, not to mention I would have to drive 30 minutes one way to take it to bestbuy.
and from what Im told bestbuy gives you a new battery every year and replaces the computer with a newer one if you have problems with it or the screen dies.

Does anybody know if any of the new T43s are priced about the same or lower (with specs that are similar to the DXU). I hate to spend the 1700 on the DXU if its going to be overkill for me or find out I could have gotten a newer one with similar specs for less money.

[gazingwa]

you can get a newer one with similar specs for less.... but it won't be a thinkpad. The quality is what you are purchasing. the DXU is a great machine, the IBM battery warranty is 1 year but the service is still good for other repairs. The keyboard is unmatched, 15" flexview is great(won't find a screen like that at best buy) and the overall feel of the machine is quite nice. A DXU will last you a good while for office use, is it more than you need, yes, but it will run longhorn adn do very well in whatever you do with it, that isn't overkill

[kimr]

I originally purchased a T42 DXU and ended up swapping it for the equivalent T43 (2668-94U). At the time the T43 (which added a fingerprint reader) was about $130 more than the DXU (EPP prices - your mileage may vary). The DXU has had a price decrease since then, so there may be a bigger price difference now.

Anyway, I'm pleased with my decision - the T43 is noticably snappier than the T42 (2.0 Ghz vs 1.7). A downside to the T43 is that add-on memory is about twice as expensive as the T42. Mechanically they seem identical - unless you can tell that the pc card slot is now an express slot by looking.

One easy way to proceed would be to ask Bill for a quote on a T43 2668-94U - in terms of configuration it's basically a DXU with a faster processor and a fingerprint reader.

[Merlyn_3D]

What's the price of that 2668-94u (EPP) now? The DXU is $1371 before tax.

[baertracks]

A downside to the T43 is that add-on memory is about twice as expensive as the T42. Mechanically they seem identical - unless you can tell that the pc card slot is now an express slot by looking.

I'm in Africa at the moment with my new T42 (2372YDU) and 2GB of RAM. It's a great machine. One of my colleagues here wants me to sell him the computer, but with the original 512 of RAM. I was planning, therefore, to remove the 2x1GB modules and put them in a new laptop (another T42 or possibly a T43).

However, after reading the above post, I am now wondering whether this will work. Is there a difference in addon memory for a T42 and T43? Will my current memory work in a T43?

FRANK
Baertracks

[kimr]

No, you can't exchange the memory. The T42 uses PC2700 SODIMM, the T43 uses PC2-4200 SODIMM (where the "PC2" refers to it being DDR2 memory instead of DDR).

[baertracks]

No, you can't exchange the memory. The T42 uses PC2700 SODIMM, the T43 uses PC2-4200 SODIMM (where the "PC2" refers to it being DDR2 memory instead of DDR).

Thanks for the advice. That has a real impact on my shopping strategies.

FRANK
Baertracks

[asiafish]

With your memory investment I'd definitely be shopping T42.

Andrew