What's the best value used Thinkpad around $500

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nowstime · #1 Post by **nowstime** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:10 am

Hi~

I'm searching for a second computer for my wife...

Due to the heavy bleeding for my T41p...I can only afford around $500

Any sturdy and fast used computers out there?

Usage...

1. Internet
2. Word
3. DVD or CD-rom Movies
4. On-line games (no RPGs...just some easy going games - cards...)
5. MSN...

Thanks and help will deeply be appricated...

stgreek · #2 Post by **stgreek** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 5:26 am

Yous hould definitely go for the 600 series, as I believe you can find quite a few 600s with dvd on the internet for that price. I suggest you go for a PII-400 600E at least, as it is the lowest possible config for skip-free dvd. They have better construction quality than your T41 and should last a long time.

Stavros

ian · #3 Post by **ian** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 3:16 am

It really goes against the grain to agree with someone from Guildford (I used to live in Leatherhead...) but I think you're right - the 600 series (up to and including the 600x) was really a ground-breaking model and if you can find one with a reasonable amount of memory, go for it. This said, memory is not THAT expensive, and far easier to change than the processor etc.

aquina · #4 Post by **aquina** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 10:09 pm

I am in a similar situation. Would the 600 be a better choice than a T20/21/22/23 which are about the same price range?

Thanks

ian · #5 Post by **ian** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 12:58 am

Well, as you'll find by scouring the other posts here, the general perception of the Thinkpads goes from the 600 series to the T2* and onwards - I'm biased as I have a T21 and I thnik it's great - these benefit from the Ultrabay accessories (2nd Battery, 2nd hard disk, different combinations of CD/DVD/burner etc) so to my mind are a worthwhile consideration...

These 'extras' can usually be found on eBay without having to shell out large amounts of cash, and can make life alot easier IMHO

stgreek · #6 Post by **stgreek** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:13 am

aquina wrote:I am in a similar situation. Would the 600 be a better choice than a T20/21/22/23 which are about the same price range?

Thanks

They are not directly comparable, as most 600s had 13.3" screen while most T2x had 14.1" screen. The T2x came a whole generation after the 600s so the only direct comparison can be made between the T20 and the 600x, in which case the 600x has much better build quality but T20 has the advantage of cheaper accessories that Ian mentioned

Stavros

#7 Post by **BillMorrow** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 3:19 am

T20 series..!
no question..!

epbrown · #8 Post by **epbrown** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 10:18 pm

I thought the early T2s were considered much more fragile than the 600 series?

Emanuel

edelrc · #9 Post by **edelrc** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 10:53 pm

These people are obsesed with the Ts!!!

What about the A20p? As you can see I am working with it still, has Line-In, Flopply drive, 15" screen, Video-out and Video-IN, fairly slim (no like the monsters A30s), very quite fan and an architecture that make it faster than many 1.2GHz Toshibas!

#10 Post by **BillMorrow** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 3:28 am

an A20p or A21p would be terrific..
note however that it is larger and heavier..

>>It really goes against the grain to agree with someone from Guildford (I used to live in Leatherhead...)<<

uhmm, what is a leatherhead..? a skin condition..?

ian · #11 Post by **ian** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:16 am

Thanks Bill - as it happens, Leatherhead is about 10 miles from a small market town called DORKING - I kid you not !!

As it happens, Leatherhead was quite pleasant - as far as skin complaints go, that is...

hausman · #12 Post by **hausman** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 6:42 am

morrow wrote:an A20p or A21p would be terrific..

Where can one get an A21p, in good condition, for $500?

note however that it is larger and heavier..

...and far more functional

pkirk618 · #13 Post by **pkirk618** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 3:45 pm

My T22 is perfect. Light and virtually flawless cosmetically. And it came with a warranty. I paid 550 but have seen them as low 400-450 on EBAY for lots less. I paid more because it came with some accessories.

edelrc · #14 Post by **edelrc** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 4:34 pm

hausman,
I have seen many A20p and some A21p for $500 something on ebay (reseraching the market value for my A20p)

These laptops are 7lb (only one more than the T42p Flexview) but you also get floppy drive, Line-in, Video-In, serial port, S-video-RCA cable adapter and larger screen with the screen resolution of 1400x1050 (easier to the eyes than in a 14" screen)

If it were because I need a stupid larger CPU for one single program I need to use, I would have stick with my A20p for another two years easily.

Dorian, do not feel that your A21p has been 'depreciated' too much, just think it is probably the best deal laptop out there.

hausman · #15 Post by **hausman** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 4:44 pm

Hey, you don't need to "sell" me on the virtues of an A21p

It's just that when I looked for an A21p on eBay in January the going price was around $800.

Maybe they've come down to $500 since then, in which case I heartily agree that they're a fantastic value, especially if weight and CPU speed (although nowstime asked for "fast") aren't a primary requirement.

I too expect to keep my A21p for another couple of years unless something major breaks (or I succumb to temptation from reading about newer boxes here

)

What's the best value used Thinkpad around $500

What's the best value used Thinkpad around $500

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