refurbished R40 - should I buy??

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tplover · #1 Post by **tplover** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:47 am

Hi - New here. Gotta replace my 1997 TP 380Z.

In your opinion(s), is a factory refurbished IBM TP R40 worth $685?

A local dealer got a load of them and I'm tempted. My only applications are spreadsheets, web browsing & minimal word processing, so I can't see any serious limitations.

I heard a rumor their HDs have a short life.

Configuration is 18GHz Celeron, 512M RAM, Win XP Home Edition, DVD-ROM/CDRW combo drive, but only 20G HD (5X what I have now

). 1yr factory warrantee.

christopher_wolf · #2 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:53 am

Welcome to the Thinkpad Forums

That looks to be a good deal, especially when you have a 1 year warranty on it.

wolfman · #3 Post by **wolfman** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:21 am

I agree based on the warranty of 1 year.

I can't speak to the longevity of the factory hard disk as I have replaced mine with a 7200 RPM unit and the original has been sitting on a shelf since then.

Also keep in mind you are probably within ~$100 or so of what a R51e (for example) would cost new from Lenovo...

Good luck...

tplover · #4 Post by **tplover** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 1:21 pm

wolfman wrote: Also keep in mind you are probably within ~$100 or so of what a R51e (for example) would cost new from Lenovo...

Good luck...

Thanks!
Lots of pros & cons, but I think I'll run down and get one now. I'm not thrilled by Lenovo's mail-order-only policy. This one I can see & touch before I walk out the door.

Tnx for wishing luck - perhaps I'll need some

Will report back on results.

tplover · #5 Post by **tplover** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:19 pm

Well, that didn't work out

After opening several boxes, I found 'refurbished' meant beat up & scratched. If I'm that close in price to a new Lenovo R51, I'll go for new.

Do the R51s all have a matte screen? (I hate the new glossy screens.)

wolfman · #6 Post by **wolfman** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:20 pm

Wow - that doesn't sound like a good experience at all.

Yes, the R51's will have a matte screen - I *believe* that some models of the new Z series are the only ones with an X-brite type of display...

I'm sure the R51 will do you right, they are all fine machines.

pianowizard · #7 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:26 pm

tplover wrote:Well, that didn't work out

After opening several boxes, I found 'refurbished' meant beat up & scratched.

And that's why buying "refurbished" or "used" laptops on eBay is so risky!

refurbished R40 - should I buy??

refurbished R40 - should I buy??

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