New models in the UK?

[morgandog]

Let me first say that dealing with Lenovo in the UK is a real pain (like most Thinkpad prices are more than double here), and this is especially true when new models appear. Yesterday the Lenovo UK site had the new models listed (at least the T400), and when I checked back today all new models have dissapeared.

So, has anyone heard about availability of the new models in Europe in general or in the UK specifically? If I were in the US I would order a T400 today, but I'm afraid it may be ages before I can get one here (and probably not custom configured the way I want!). Thanks.

[Dead1nside]

I'm in the same boat morgandog and equally as frustrated. Why can't we ever customise our laptops, why do we have to go to their preferred vendors for their inflated prices, why can't we buy direct?

I asked Insight UK, who are currently showing one T400 model. They said availability is two weeks, and that they don't have the full system specs at the moment.

I would expect things to take at least a month for things to start showing up this side of the Atlantic.

We're second class customers in the UK, we pay huge prices for rubbish service.

[morgandog]

Why can't we buy direct is indeed a frustrating question. I have a very specific set of options I want, and I have to dig through the terrible selection of pre-configured models.

So do people in the UK have a recommendation for where to get Thinkpads (Dead1side mentioned Insight, any other decent options?). I ordered two of them from laptopsdirect a few years ago, but they appear to have gone out of business and I need to replace my T42!

By the way, some links have been added back to the Lenovo UK site, but some are dead links, and depending where you start, you end up in different places when you try to look for the new T series models. I take that yo mean that they are in the process of once again trying to get the new models online, but are failing to do so smoothly...

[Dead1nside]

Yes pretty much. At least on the US site they put up big pictures and links to the new models. UK site, you have to dig through the 'View Models' of the T Series. And there they are, clunked together with T61 and T60s.

Looking through the models listed there, none of them seem to have IWS at least not for the T400. Similarly, there's only a couple of models that have LED backlight with WXGA+. Most of the WXGA+ models are CCFL.

[kiwimeat]

We're still waiting for any new R, T or W series to appear in Australia. Last updates we had was for the SL series.

Enquires to Lenovo Australia have hit a brick wall (no change really).

[Mack]

It's not only UK, it's Asia as well that is being treated as second class customers. Here in Taiwan where I am currently located, there is no sign what so ever of the new models. We always have to wait extra long for new products to appear, even if the products are actually made here.... go figure.

Not only are the prices cheapest in the U.S, there you also have discounts and coupons every week, basically. You can customize your order as well. Most other places you have to chose from a very limited set of preconfigured models. In the U.S you can also shop refurbished. Basically, everything is about the U.S.

Not to mention this release from Lenovo has been full of typos, errors, unavailable configurations and strange prices.

[andrewb]

So do people in the UK have a recommendation for where to get Thinkpads (Dead1side mentioned Insight, any other decent options?).

I have recently used Insight for my X300; first rate service and the machine was delivered within 2 days. The only other company I have dealt with for a Thinkpad purchase is Cheriton Online; no real problems except delays, and then more delays, over delivery.

[pksw]

We're still waiting for any new R, T or W series to appear in Australia. Last updates we had was for the SL series.

Enquires to Lenovo Australia have hit a brick wall (no change really).

It's ridiculous that we pay double in Australia, and don't get the customize options that the US have. I need to update my aging T41p, and am tossing up between a T or X series.

And they still haven't got the new models listed.

[Dead1nside]

It's ridiculous that we pay double in Australia, and don't get the customize options that the US have. I need to update my aging T41p, and am tossing up between a T or X series.

And they still haven't got the new models listed.

Same. It's the lack of configuration, availability and price that annoy me.

[morgandog]

By the way, not sure if people have noticed, but everywhere that appears to plan to sell the T400 (i.e., has the T400 listed on their website) has the same model number listed: NM321UK (or NM321xx, as it is listed on the website, where the xx is the country code). The specs are given here:

http://www5.pc.ibm.com/europe/products. ... eb_express

That is not a bad spec machine, but it's not clear if it has a webcam (I am NOT buying another computer without a webcam - need for Skype) and it lacks the LED backlight. It has the P8600 cpu, 250GB hdd, discrete graphics and the 6 cell battery. Again, not a bad spec machine, but not exactly what I want! Grrr...

There appear to be two T500 models listed at most resellers, but I was not interested enough to check those specs (I don't want another 15" screen).

[Dead1nside]

That is not a bad spec machine, but it's not clear if it has a webcam (I am NOT buying another computer without a webcam - need for Skype) and it lacks the LED backlight. It has the P8600 cpu, 250GB hdd, discrete graphics and the 6 cell battery. Again, not a bad spec machine, but not exactly what I want! Grrr...

There appear to be two T500 models listed at most resellers, but I was not interested enough to check those specs (I don't want another 15" screen).

If it doesn't have a webcam, it appears to have a 5400RPM HDD and lacks the LED backlight what's the point in buying a T400 if you don't get T400 class features... Lenovo are a joke to me. All I want to do is buy my new T400 with the specs that they told me they would have... and I can't.

[Kinne]

That´s the problem here in Europe, paying more for a thinkpad without customzing it.

The price for an Lenovo ThinkPad T400 NM321GE is 1369,- €. So x 1,55 this is ~ 2120 $

[Dead1nside]

I honestly wouldn't mind but let me please choose the method that I am to be mugged by if you get my meaning, even if it is rather crass?