what problems have you had?

Message

knotquiteawake · #1 Post by **knotquiteawake** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:38 pm

My Dell Inspiron 8100 recently had its LCD backlight stop working and so my kind of portable 8Lb laptop is now parked at my desk and i don't feel like fixing an aging laptop that i hate carrying around.
I really need something to take notes on in class (and have wireless access PCMIA or integrated). So i'm looking at ultralight laptops to replace my old dell. i don't need anything powerful just "good enough" since i've always heard good things about IBM laptops i'm looking here for advice.
What i want:
PIII any speed
20+ Gigs of HD space
512MB RAM
about 3 hours of battery life
And i need it to be sub $1000 with extras added in (battery, dock, extra memory)
and of course very small and light

from looking around i thought the X30 meets those but i'm very afraid to buy used laptops, because they get thrown around so much i'm afraid it will just break. Old laptops are like time bombs... just waiting to explode and leave you computerless

So now to where i hope to get help from you all:
based on what i've said what would you suggest i get?
What problems have come up with your X-series laptops (Hardware issues mostly, software i think i can deal with)?
Linux compatability for the x30?

Thanks in advance for you help

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:47 pm

knotquiteawake wrote:<snip>...i'm very afraid to buy used laptops, because they get thrown around so much i'm afraid it will just break. Old laptops are like time bombs... just waiting to explode and leave you computerless

I can't comment on the "X"'s, but I currently have a T41 (< five pounds) that I fell on and cracked the LCD when I slipped on the ice over a year ago. New LCD and good as new. Somehow, I cracked the bottom case and that was fixed. So these things can take some abuse without being a ticking time bomb. ... JD Hurst

Txiasaeia · #3 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:08 am

Motherboard busted after eight months on my X31. Glad it was still under warranty - 3 years for X-series.

eriqesque · #4 Post by **eriqesque** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:42 am

My systemboard blew on my X40 after 7 months.
Its at the depot right now with a parts hold on it and NO ETA.
I am not happy.

knotquiteawake · #5 Post by **knotquiteawake** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 2:05 pm

i just heard back from my parents (they are in china adopting a girl). It looks like my father will pay up to $300 to repair my Dell. So i guess i'm just going to go with that. Its not ideal, but its the freest option for me right now. once i finish my IS degree and make tons of money i will come back to IBM, assuming their new laptop divison owners still produce the same quality.

Txiasaeia · #6 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:51 pm

eriqesque wrote:My systemboard blew on my X40 after 7 months.
Its at the depot right now with a parts hold on it and NO ETA.
I am not happy.

I'm a bit luckier - I can still use it as long as there's no battery in it, but as soon as the battery is put in it freezes up completely. DC/DC card is shot, in other words. But yeah, that must suck!

MadeInJapan · #7 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:08 pm

Txiasaeia,
If your Thinkpad is still under warranty, it can be repaired with the fastest turn-around in the business.

Txiasaeia · #8 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:32 pm

MadeInJapan wrote:Txiasaeia,
If your Thinkpad is still under warranty, it can be repaired with the fastest turn-around in the business.

Well, it's been there for almost a week now. The repair guy emailed me today saying that the part isn't in yet - didn't expect anybody to actually get in contact with me!

Txiasaeia · #9 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:15 pm

MadeInJapan wrote:Txiasaeia,
If your Thinkpad is still under warranty, it can be repaired with the fastest turn-around in the business.

Heh... been reading some older posts and had to laugh when I came across this one again. My X31 has been waiting for four weeks now for a new system board. If this is the "fastest turn-around in the business," I shudder to think of how much slower it could get

I thought 3 days was the max for warranty repair?

#10 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 12:46 am

It's fun to read these posts about all these problems with the newer computers then contrast with the 7 year old ThinkPad and look at how well it runs, even if the only reason I use it is because of money.

Txiasaeia · #11 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:59 pm

AlphaKilo470 wrote:It's fun to read these posts about all these problems with the newer computers then contrast with the 7 year old ThinkPad and look at how well it runs, even if the only reason I use it is because of money.

"Fun" isn't the word I'd use to describe it. But I agree - I used a Thinkpad 250C for about nine years before it finally died, which is the reason I bought an X31. I'm really disappointed not by the technology (as the X31 is still one of the best smaller notebooks on the market), but the lack of customer support.

selvan777 · #12 Post by **selvan777** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 10:22 am

My X20 is almost 5 years young and still have had no problems, not even dead pixels.

Txiasaeia · #13 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:36 pm

Txiasaeia wrote:
MadeInJapan wrote:Txiasaeia,
If your Thinkpad is still under warranty, it can be repaired with the fastest turn-around in the business.
Heh... been reading some older posts and had to laugh when I came across this one again. My X31 has been waiting for four weeks now for a new system board. If this is the "fastest turn-around in the business," I shudder to think of how much slower it could get I thought 3 days was the max for warranty repair?

Now five weeks. I made a complaint with IBM, and they called yesterday to get some more info. Very polite woman. Anyway, haven't heard back from her yet.

DavidNZ · #14 Post by **DavidNZ** » Tue May 03, 2005 1:20 pm

Five weeks! Good lord... That's pretty much unacceptable, as far as I'm concerned. Keep us posted. I'm afraid mine might need to go in, and I'm guessing there ain't that many X40 motherboards in Oceania region...

Txiasaeia · #15 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Thu May 05, 2005 11:36 am

System board FINALLY came today. Should be fixed by tomorrow.

what problems have you had?

what problems have you had?

Re: what problems have you had?

Who is online