which T series?

Message

dsigma6 · #1 Post by **dsigma6** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:29 am

i currently have a 600E and was looking to upgrade- would the t20 or 21 be the cheapest options? i dont need a super computer, anything up from the p2 366 would be great. too many flashy websites running slow.

i believe a 21 would be better than 20, but im only looking to spend $250ish.

any general info, please inform me!

600e for sale if interested!

#2 Post by **schen** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:10 pm

I've owned all the T2xs from the T20 to the T23. While the T20/21/22 are decent machines, just a little bit of a stretch up to the T23 would get you the best deal (IMHO of course). It's the same form-factor and built quality, but for not very much more money, you get the following:

*Faster bus- 133mhz vs. 100mhz
*Faster CPU- The Tualatin chips 1.13 & 1.2ghz
*RAM up to 1Gb vs. 512Mb (also, significantly cheaper than PC100)
*Can be found with built-in wireless

If you'll look through the posts on this forum, you'll find that the T23s are very well thought of and generally considered to be outstanding deals for the money.

dsigma6 · #3 Post by **dsigma6** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:33 pm

thank you kindly...now i just have to wait for a deal on ebay...

Highwayman · #4 Post by **Highwayman** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:38 pm

schen wrote:I've owned all the T2xs from the T20 to the T23. While the T20/21/22 are decent machines, just a little bit of a stretch up to the T23 would get you the best deal (IMHO of course). It's the same form-factor and built quality, but for not very much more money, you get the following:

*Faster bus- 133mhz vs. 100mhz
*Faster CPU- The Tualatin chips 1.13 & 1.2ghz
*RAM up to 1Gb vs. 512Mb (also, significantly cheaper than PC100)
*Can be found with built-in wireless

If you'll look through the posts on this forum, you'll find that the T23s are very well thought of and generally considered to be outstanding deals for the money.

I agree, go with the T23 w/wireless.

#5 Post by **underclocker** » Wed May 10, 2006 6:40 am

For basic surfing and light computing, all will work. The built-in WiFi option of the T23 is a huge plus, especially if you can upgrade it to internal B/G or A/B/G.

I know you asked about a T-series, but I have to also recommend an R40. The T-series may "feel" slightly better, but the R40's are very nice. I have had several with the Pentium M cpu. The models with the Pentium M have the following advantages;

Pentium M 1.3GHz or better (fast, quiet and efficient)
USB 2.0 (vs. 1.1 for all T-series below T40)
8-cell battery that lasts forever (well 4 hours anyway)
All have internal WiFi antenna - all can take B or B/G or A/B/G
Available with 14", 15" or 15" SVGA LCD's
Solid machines
Some, still under warranty!

The price on eBay is about $400 for the Pentium M models.

Of course for another $100, you could score a T40...

ambientscape · #6 Post by **ambientscape** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:09 am

underclocker wrote:For basic surfing and light computing, all will work. The built-in WiFi option of the T23 is a huge plus, especially if you can upgrade it to internal B/G or A/B/G.

I know you asked about a T-series, but I have to also recommend an R40. The T-series may "feel" slightly better, but the R40's are very nice. I have had several with the Pentium M cpu. The models with the Pentium M have the following advantages;

Pentium M 1.3MHz or better (fast, quiet and efficient)
USB 2.0 (vs. 1.1 for all T-series below T40)
8-cell battery that lasts forever (well 4 hours anyway)
All have internal WiFi antenna - all can take B or B/G or A/B/G
Available with 14", 15" or 15" SVGA LCD's
Solid machines
Some, still under warranty!

The price on eBay is about $400 for the Pentium M models.

Of course for another $100, you could score a T40...

Errr.....SVGA LCD's?

dsigma6 · #7 Post by **dsigma6** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:10 am

this is such a difficult choice...picking between great and even greater. im payin on a credit card, so not like a few extra bucks is gonna kill me.

ive been on ebay looking for t23s, and they seem to be going $400. i think there are too many idiots bidding up on barebone sytems that are selling for as much as fully loaded ones.

im looking for t23 with 512mb, xp, and cdrw/dvd drive. a warranty would be nice, but thats just the nature of the game. i figure theres no sense in saving a couple dollars on a 256mb version with no cdrw/dvd when im going to end up spending more afterwards.

im gonna look at the r40s now and see if my eyes light up. thanks!

dsigma6 · #8 Post by **dsigma6** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:08 am

hey underclocker!! i just went on ebay and found an r40 for $425 with free shipping, but i offered $400 and he took it. god i hope it works! otherwise, back to ebay lol.

Brand: IBM Hard Drive Capacity: 38 GB
Processor Type: Intel Pentium 4 Screen Size: 15 inches
Processor Model: -- Operating System: Windows XP Professional
Processor Speed: 1.2 GHz Primary Drive: CD-RW/DVD Combo
Memory (RAM): 512 MB

#9 Post by **underclocker** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:52 am

ambientscape, no wiggle room on this board - I meant SXGA+ (1400 X 1050)!

dsigma6, that's great, hopefully, you did your eBay due diligence on this one. 1.2GHz doesn't sound right - let's hope it's at least a Pentium M 1.3GHz, preferrably with warranty remaining!

I've heard of trigger happy, but man, that was fast!

#10 Post by **schen** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:55 am

That's an awesome deal

Would you mind giving me the sellers ID. I'd like to check to see his he has more. I'm looking for something in that range for a friend.

#11 Post by **underclocker** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:13 am

Other excellent options are the R50 and R51's (not the R50e or R51e). Not available often, but some go for $400 with the Celeron M cpu. Not a bad CPU, plus they can be upgraded to Pentium M's for less than $50.

Again, look for one with a warranty!

dsigma6 · #12 Post by **dsigma6** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:35 pm

funny that i said i didnt want to spend much more than $250, and i ended up at $400. no warranty stated, but i didnt expect it for the price. im open to the fact that things may not be quite as the seller stated, but once again for the price cant go wrong. it is a 2ghz p4m.

if things dont work out, youll be seeing it right back on ebay.

im quite impulsive, and only get bit in the [censored] every few times...im not due for a bad turn though!

dsigma6 · #13 Post by **dsigma6** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:36 am

SCHEN- sellers name is sellerguy321. I don't think he sells laptops on a regular basis though. I'll find out monday the quality of this machine.

BruisedQuasar · #14 Post by **BruisedQuasar** » Tue May 16, 2006 11:36 am

I haven't owned any other IBM Thinkpads except for my T-23 but I have owned many major brand name laptops over the years, from Toshiba & Tandy to Sharp & Fujitsu and Comapaq(when it was king).

I paid a much, much more for them than the $370 I paid for my like-new factory refurbished T-23 but I think it is the lightest, best notebook I ever owned.

--Bruised

Temetka · #15 Post by **Temetka** » Fri May 19, 2006 10:38 pm

I would have to agree with you. On the PC side of things my T23 does everything I could ask of it and more. It's a great little laptop that is also a great looking laptop. Sometimes (my wife thinks I'm weird) I find it odd that I happened to end up with such a great piece of hardware.

The only other IBM I have owned was some 770 series machine (P233MMX). Although a tad slow, that machine was also great. I can type all day long on the keyboard.

However given the two, I'll take the T23 it's much ligher. I do have fond memories of the other laptop though.

#16 Post by **schen** » Sat May 20, 2006 1:22 pm

dsigma6,

It can definitely be done under $300. I've been looking for a notebook for a friend and was able to chase down the following T23 on ebay for $250:

PIII/1.13 (Tualatin CPU)
1 Gb of RAM
Built-in Wireless
12Gb HDD
Port Replicator

Add a $40 40Gb HDD from Brent Presley and there you are! A very nice running T23 for not much money.

kstuart · #17 Post by **kstuart** » Sat May 27, 2006 3:49 am

If I am buying on ebay (ie cannot see the Thinkpad in person, and the pictures are sometimes of other matchines), how can I tell if the T23 has the built-in WiFi antennas ?

Also - newbie question - if I get a higher resolution LCD, can I set it at a lower resolution like a PC monitor, or is it set to only work at the stated resolution? And, if the former is true, is the higher resolution LCD thereby clearer when using it at the same resolution as the lower resolution LCD ?

BillD · #18 Post by **BillD** » Sat May 27, 2006 6:24 am

kstuart wrote:If I am buying on ebay (ie cannot see the Thinkpad in person, and the pictures are sometimes of other matchines), how can I tell if the T23 has the built-in WiFi antennas ?

Also - newbie question - if I get a higher resolution LCD, can I set it at a lower resolution like a PC monitor, or is it set to only work at the stated resolution? And, if the former is true, is the higher resolution LCD thereby clearer when using it at the same resolution as the lower resolution LCD ?

1- If the T-23 has a built in wireless I'm sure the seller will mention it in his ad. Built in wireless is a great selling point..

2- Yes you can change the resolution. SXGA+ screens ratio is 5:4, a standard screen is 4:3.. Is a SXGA clearer? I don't know,I have a SXGA on my T23,my wife's T23 has the standard screen. The pix seems the same to me,but at the highest resolution the SXGA will show 87% more information then the standard 1024 x 768 screen...

davidwayne34 · #19 Post by **davidwayne34** » Sat May 27, 2006 11:14 am

Hi, very recently picked up my T22 from Ebay. GREAT Deal! I'm
very pleased with it.

900mhz 20gig 256megs ram
Paid $125 plus $15 shipping. Very happy camper here after
upgrading from my old compaq 266 laptop.

It was one of those v. respectable dealers that sells ex corporate stuff.

Website · #20 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat May 27, 2006 11:21 am

That is an awesome price. Congrats!

kstuart · #21 Post by **kstuart** » Sat May 27, 2006 4:43 pm

BillD wrote:If the T-23 has a built in wireless I'm sure the seller will mention it in his ad. Built in wireless is a great selling point.

Maybe - but some of the better deals on ebay are auctions from people who aren't particularly good about writing their listing, and who thereby don't get as many bids.

Also, some laptop sellers like to put "WiFi wireless!" in their listings, and if the original built-in WiFi card is not present, then their cheapest way to accomplish that is to add a $10 PC Card 802.11b card (despite the fact that the built-in wires are there).

I looked in the tawbook.pdf file and 2647-xLU or xNU or xSU (or GGU eductional) have the wifi antenna and the others don't. Of course, many sellers don't list the full model number.

By the way, that file seems to indicate that all T30's and subsequent models all have the built-in wireless antenna - is that true? And, while we are on that subject

- any pros and cons of T23 vs T30 ?

skou · #22 Post by **skou** » Sat May 27, 2006 11:40 pm

kstuart wrote:If I am buying on ebay (ie cannot see the Thinkpad in person, and the pictures are sometimes of other matchines), how can I tell if the T23 has the built-in WiFi antennas ?

If you look at the side of the LCD shell, it will have "windows" in it, in the upper edges of the sides. Also, the whole LCD shell is about 1/8th inch wider than the regular (T20-23) shell. None of the major plastic parts are interchangable from the T23 wireless version, with the T20-22 stuff, because of the extra width.

The covers are wider, because the antennas are between the upper ends of the hinges, and the back cover. (And I know they won't fit, because I tried.)

A wireless LCD assembly will fit on a T20-22, but the LCD bezel won't fit on a non-wireless back. You can't make a T20-22 run wirelessly, because there is a tiny hole in the motherboard, to run the antenna wires through, and the 20-22 mobo doesn't have that hole.

steve

#23 Post by **schen** » Mon May 29, 2006 12:54 am

skou wrote:If you look at the side of the LCD shell, it will have "windows" in it, in the upper edges of the sides. Also, the whole LCD shell is about 1/8th inch wider than the regular (T20-23) shell. None of the major plastic parts are interchangable from the T23 wireless version, with the T20-22 stuff, because of the extra width.

The covers are wider, because the antennas are between the upper ends of the hinges, and the back cover. (And I know they won't fit, because I tried.)

A wireless LCD assembly will fit on a T20-22, but the LCD bezel won't fit on a non-wireless back. You can't make a T20-22 run wirelessly, because there is a tiny hole in the motherboard, to run the antenna wires through, and the 20-22 mobo doesn't have that hole.

steve

Awesome explaination Steve. I just experienced this yesterday! My T23 had received a drop and cracked the left rear corner of the lid and I had to replace it. Mines is the version with wireless so I had to experience dealing with the wires in the cover which I did the wrenching. Once off you can see that it's fairly different than the T2x lids w/o wireless.

BruisedQuasar · #24 Post by **BruisedQuasar** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:58 pm

schen wrote: If you'll look through the posts on this forum, you'll find that the T23s are very well thought of and generally considered to be outstanding deals for the money.

I strongly agree. The T-23 is the first used, older notebook I ever bought

I have owned several expensive laptop & notebook PCs over the years, top of the line Tandy (25 pounds), Sharp, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Compaq (when Compaq was the king). The T-23, I paid nothing for in comparison, is the first notebook PC I liked

--Bruised

which T series?

which T series?

Which T?

Re: Which T?

R40

T23

Re: Which T?

Who is online