Difficulty in replacing T500 LCD (& where to buy)?

[djb25]

Hi everyone,

I don't post here often, but I'm in a bit of a quandary.

Two weeks ago I ordered a T500 off of the lenovo outlet site (I was actually really happy with the buying experience - I ordered it on Friday and it was delivered the following wednesday, although I'm in pa so UPS ground is only two days from NC).

Anyway, the T500 I ordered was listed on the site as having the WSXGA+ screen, but it arrived with the WXGA screen. I was really disappointed, as I considered the wsxga+ screen a necessity - I did not want the wxga screen.

I'm happy to say Lenovo has been great about it. I emailed the outlet and they called me back today, said that the online listing mistakenly showed the system as having the wsxga+ screen, and that it was their error.

They offered to either credit me $75 (the difference in value between the screens, which is consistent with what is on the main lenovo site) or take the notebook back.

I'm really happy with the other specs of the system (and with the price I paid) so I'm contemplating taking the $75 credit and buying a replacement wsxga+ screen and replacing it myself. I've seen the LCDs on ebay for $125-150.

I looked at the procedure in the HMM and it seems pretty straightforward. I have taken my thinkpads apart before (this is my fourth thinkpad) but I never swapped out an LCD before.

Anyone care to chime in on this? Is it reasonable for me to take this route, or should I just return it and get a different Thinkpad?

Also - if I do swap the lcd - anyone have any recommendations on where to purchase one?

Thanks!

Damion

[ZaZ]

Am I missing something here? Were the specs on the machine better than the one you ordered? Lenovo is going to give you a credit for $75 and then you're going to spend $125-150 on a new screen. Looks like a losing proposition to me. Plus Lenovo will not look kindly on you swapping your screen in terms of your warranty.

[djb25]

I can do the math - $125-75-$50.

It's not a losing proposition as I can't find a wsxga+ t500 on the outlet site that only costs $50 more than what I spent on this notebook.

[ZaZ]

So basically you can send back the machine, but they're not going to give you one at the price you paid and instead you'll have to find one and pay full price for it? That seems like kind of a rip-off, though it makes your original post make more sense. I know in the last month I've seen the T500 with ATI card and WSXGA+ screen for a little over $700 in the Outlet. If you're not in a hurry you could hang out until a good deal comes along. Because of the warranty issue, I'd be more inclined to send it back and wait, than swap the screens.

[djb25]

You know, I am tempted to return this one and wait, but I don't know how long I can go without a working notebook....