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T61 - Is This Too Good To Be True?
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:26 pm
by ArtShapiro
Local Craigslist just posted a T61 6457-4XU at $500
"INTEL CORE DUO PRO CENTRINO PROCESSOR 2.6 MGHZ T7500@ 220 GIG HD fingerprint reader too much to list paid 2500 this is like new"
TABook shows that as having a 2.2 Mhz processor and 120Gig drive. It seems to be a WXGA+ 15 incher.
I'm a bit scared of the discrepancy and of the price. Any thoughts out there?
Art
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:11 pm
by BeeJayEmm
Don't touch it without an oven mitt.

Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:13 pm
by erik
trust tabook—not some guy on craig's list. clearly the clock speed, HDD size, and price he paid are wrong. $500 sounds cheap, even for this model. caveat emptor.
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:37 pm
by richk
I sometimes buy things on Craigslist, but I am careful. I always ask for the serial number. I tell the seller that I need it so I can call IBM and check to see if the machine is reported stolen. IBM won't tell you straight-away that is stolen, but I can ask questions where I can get the information. I tell them I am trying to avoid buying something stolen. I then say something like "if I tried to open a service call on this machine, would that be possible?" (They cannot open a call on a machine reported stolen.)
I expect that if the machine is stolen, the guy won't give you the serial number anyway.
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:53 am
by Brad
Most likely if it sounds too good to be true, well, it probably is.
That said there could be a possiblitiy of a nice deal. If you are willing to take the risk ask for more information. If the seller responds, well, maybe it is true.
You have nothing to lose by asking. If they are serious then they will respond.
Let us know how you do.
Brad
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:58 am
by ArtShapiro
No rely from hit yet, although the ad is stlll up. Guess we'll see. I had no interest in a widescreen, but this one does reflect a legitimate increase in real estate over my SXGA+ T42 and actually might be real nice for doing crosswords at the coffee shop - one of my laptop pleasures.
I'll post the ultimate outcome.
Art
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:12 am
by Wiz
Unless i'm wrong the only T series from Lenvo with a 2.6GHz CPU is the T61p models with a T9500 CPU. T7500 is not a 2.6GHz.
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:56 am
by kc7gr
Wiz wrote:Unless i'm wrong the only T series from Lenvo with a 2.6GHz CPU is the T61p models with a T9500 CPU. T7500 is not a 2.6GHz.
I can confirm that, because that's the CPU I selected for my T61. The T7500 is a 2.2GHz chip (corrected from earlier typo).
I wouldn't touch that one either. Not without some serious serial number checking and verification that the seller has at least somewhat of a history with Craigslist, selling similar items.
Happy hunting.
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:48 pm
by Wiz
kc7gr wrote:I can confirm that, because that's the CPU I selected for my T61. The T7500 is a 2.4GHz chip.
Are you sure about that? I think the T7500 is a 2.2GHz while the T7700 is a 2.4GHz.
I said that the T9500 is the only 2.6GHz, but that is not correct since the T7800 is also 2.6GHz.
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:06 pm
by Johan
Wiz wrote:Are you sure about that? I think the T7500 is a 2.2GHz while the T7700 is a 2.4GHz.
I said that the T9500 is the only 2.6GHz, but that is not correct since the T7800 is also 2.6GHz.
See
ThinkPad Personal Systems Reference, Intel PC Processors, June 2008 - Version 341 - page 8.
Johan
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:49 pm
by Wiz
As far as i can see this basically confirms what i just said or is there something else you tried to show me?
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:08 pm
by Johan
Wiz wrote:As far as i can see this basically confirms what i just said or is there something else you tried to show me?
No; nothing (else) to show - now you've seen everything! All I wanted was to share a detailed, specific reference in order to prove to your beliefs right...

And, perhaps, to make you aware of this (perhaps previously unknown to many?) reference, which I find useful - and which I sometimes use to avoid uncertainty about the various processors. That was all. Over and out!
Johan
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:09 pm
by Wiz
Johan wrote:Wiz wrote:As far as i can see this basically confirms what i just said or is there something else you tried to show me?
No; nothing (else) to show - now you've seen everything! All I wanted was to share a detailed, specific reference in order to prove to your beliefs right...

And, perhaps, to make you aware of this (perhaps previously unknown to many?) reference, which I find useful - and which I sometimes use to avoid uncertainty about the various processors. That was all. Over and out!
Johan
Oh i see....just curious if i missed something so had to ask:) Anyway thanks for the link which is very useful.
Final Resolution
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:33 pm
by ArtShapiro
I got an email from the seller Thursday morning, asking to call him.
I reached his voice mail.
No subsequent contact, including an email Thursday evening asking if he got the call.
Seems too flaky to me to worry further - I just bought one on eBay for $800, which seems more than OK for a 15" 1680x1050 unit. It seems fairly well-equipped - 2 gigs memory, Bluetooth, etc., although only a 5400 RPM disk. Maybe I'll swap it with the 7200 guy in my T42.
Now to worry about the fact that it's in Canada - will I get socked with a big customs duty?
I'd rather pay $500 than $800, of course, and not worry about shipping issues, but them's the breaks.
Art
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:44 pm
by ajkula66
You can't swap drives between T6x and T4x. The former takes SATA, the latter PATA.
However, 7200rpm SATA drives are cheap enough nowadays...
Good luck with your new ThinkPad.
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:54 pm
by ArtShapiro
ajkula66 wrote:You can't swap drives between T6x and T4x. The former takes SATA, the latter PATA.
Arggh! I knew that perfectly well.
A coworker once had a sign in his office: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth".
Art
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:05 am
by crashnburn
Get a serial number and model number (Tell him Black and White sticker on the bottom).
Verify online.
If you dont get it earlier go do the verification in REAL TIME... at a WiFi Cafe, where you meet to trade.
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:07 pm
by muffd
I've found pretty good deals on craigslist also. Some seem to good to be true but I also ask for the serial # so I can call and verify whatever it is I'm looking for. My latest purchase was this:
T61 7662-CTO
2.5ghz
250gb hd
3gb ram
cdrw/dvdrw
bluetooth
wireless agn
I got this for $600.00. The guy had the box and receipts.
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:09 am
by crashnburn
muffd wrote:I've found pretty good deals on craigslist also. Some seem to good to be true but I also ask for the serial # so I can call and verify whatever it is I'm looking for. My latest purchase was this:
T61 7662-CTO
2.5ghz
250gb hd
3gb ram
cdrw/dvdrw
bluetooth
wireless agn
I got this for $600.00. The guy had the box and receipts.
I guess some people dont value thinkpads the way WE do

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:33 pm
by muffd
crashnburn wrote:muffd wrote:I've found pretty good deals on craigslist also. Some seem to good to be true but I also ask for the serial # so I can call and verify whatever it is I'm looking for. My latest purchase was this:
T61 7662-CTO
2.5ghz
250gb hd
3gb ram
cdrw/dvdrw
bluetooth
wireless agn
I got this for $600.00. The guy had the box and receipts.
I guess some people dont value thinkpads the way WE do

For sure! I've gotten some really good deals these past 5 years and all from craigslist.