x41 vs. x32

[Darrieb]

Ok, I know you must have covered this in other threads on here... somewhere... but, I tried a search and got even more confused than I was before...!

Here's the deal... I've had an x31 since they first came out - loved it, used it to death - literally! I'd tried cleaning it when it started acting funky, sudden shutdowns, weird mouse behavior, that sort of thing, but, nothing changed. It only got worse. One day about 3 months ago, it shut off, never to turn on again. Of course, the most recent backup was about two months before, and I'd just locked away about two thousand reference photos and nearly a year's worth of other files...

I came here (which is always where I go to find out about what the thing was doing and why!) and read about motherboard issues - described my 'puter's behavior to a "T". Ok... now what? To replace the mother, or get a new one?

After reading some more here... I decided to go for an x32 since the cost would be similar to replacing the board, and it seemed close enough to what I was used to, and needing, to fit the bill. I thought about buying a whole new one, but, frankly, the budget was limited to that check Uncle "W" was sending my way... so...!

Bought one on e-bay for $650.00. Thing kept doing the exact same sudden shutdowns of my x31, so I sent it back. Twice.

Now they want to exchange it for me for an x41. Don't know much about the x41 so here I am again!

Can anyone tell me how it compares to the x31? Is this a good trade-off for an x32? I don't really want to go below the performance and reliability of the x31 - I had it for nearly 5 years, with zero problems... I'd like it if this one could get in that neighborhood...!

Secondly, is the docking station the same? My main motivation in asking this is that I already found out about the 2.5 vs. the 1.8 HDD - and need help to connect to my old HDD using the dock... I have the adaptor to put an HDD in the x31's dock, but, ( and this brings me to Question #3) how to make it secondary to the one in the notebook itself? I remember doing this once before, but, it was nearly two years ago, and now? Haven't a clue!

Sorry if this has been covered before and I haven't found it- any help you can provide would be MOST appreciated!!

Thanks!

Darrie

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

First of all, $650 for a X41 is a highway robbery.

Couple of issues here:

a) Infamous 1.8" HDD that is slow and noisy, and the largest one you can get is 60Gb/4200rpm. Costs about $150 to replace nowadays as well.

b) Bad battery life when compared to X40, because of the hotter and faster FSB.

Apart from these issues, X41 is a fine machine.

Docking stations are different.

Personally, I'd try to get my money back. Or another X32.

If you paid by credit-card backed PayPal, file a chargeback with your CC company.

My $0.02 only.

[BillMorrow]

X31 for $650 is WAY too much, especially when there is an X60s near-new hereabouts for $800 and change..

i agree, send it back and get something other than an X41..
which was a nice, but very slow, think pad..
and limited due to the 1.8 HDD..

your old HDD can be connected via an external USB adapter..
cheap all over the place..
and if its in the thinkpad in a 2nd HDD adapter (in a base for any of the X series) it will not be seen as the boot device unless you set it up that way in the bios boot order..

[Saysana13B]

I made a thread a couple of days ago about buying an X40.

Someone had brought up the X31/X32 as a better option. I did a little searching and I found this review:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2438

It swayed me into buying an X31 off of ebay for $308 two days ago.

[Darrieb]

Thank you all VERY much!!

I just had a funny feeling that this wasn't such a deal as this guy was trying to tell me it was...!

Off to get my money back! I knew this was the right place to go!

Thanks again!

Doris

[fasterbybike]

Any clues as to who the Ebayer was A a link to the original listing would be fine.

[Darrieb]

Who...? ME?? Have an ax to grind...??


NAAAAHHH!!!!



http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-X32-1- ... 286.c0.m14


Can't seem to make it any shorter... sorry 'bout that! But... there it is, and I also now see two other x32's out there for about $200 less... figures!

[ajkula66]

Yep, these guys are...oh well...

If you paid by CC-backed PayPal, it's time for a chargeback...

[fasterbybike]

<snip>I also now see two other x32's out there for about $200 less... figures!

Thanks for that. Anecdotally I've heard mixed things about that ebay seller. They also appear to rip people off on their shipping charges

Today, I've just ordered an X32 from BobA on this board. He's quoted a far more reasonable price and also a realistic shipping quote for sending it half way around the world

Good luck getting your money back. BobA still has another machine available if you're interested.

[Darrieb]

You're right about the shipping... and BobA.'s inventory is VERY tempting... but, I won't be able to order anything from anyone until Paypal gets done with their "investigation"...

They tell me I have to wait for the seller to respond - at a minimum they give him til July 5. If he doesn't answer by then, they automatically rule in my favor.

His note on e-bay says he gets "over 2000 emails a day and cannot respond to them all" He responded to every single one of mine within hours BEFORE I sent him my money. Now, he takes DAYS and DAYS to answer. I can only hope he doesn't answer them, and they send me my money on July 6th. The stars don't usually work that way for me though...

[ajkula66]

If you paid by credit-card backed PayPal, file for chargeback NOW...

[jevons9958]

$650 for X32? tha't s too much...

Just bought X41:
P M 778(1.6GHz)LV, 1.5G RAM, 60GB 4200rpm HD, 12.1in 1024x768 LCD, Intel 900, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 8c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

$400 only.

[Darrieb]

I just wanted to post a quick Thanks to everyone here... I was able to get ALL of my money back, including shipping charges, and am now on the way to shop for a new toy...!

Looks like I'm too late for BobA's sale, but, I'm sure I'll be able to find sumthin' sumwhere...

Thanks again everyone!

Doris

[ajkula66]

You still have nice X3x machines on offer from BobA as well as mpcook, both of them being very trustworthy members of this forum, just check the Marketplace.