Places to buy Thinkpads in the US?

[Cola]

Hi!


One of my friends are currently studying in the US for the next year or so, but he wants to buy a new laptop while he's there, because it's cheap as hell compared to pricing here in Denmark, and because his old Ideapad U450 needs replacing.

I recommended him to buy a T430s from the official Lenovo site, but as his payment card is issued here in Denmark, he seems to not be able to use it on the internet over there, he can however buy things from various stores around the town.

The only requirements he has got for it, is that it has got to be between 14'' and 17'', it has to have a dedicated graphics chip for some minor gaming, at least 4GB of ram, everything above would be even better though.

Now, as I'm the one to help him here, but have no idea or experience of where to buy stuff in the US, I'm turning to you guys for help.

He's looking to spend around 1000$. He lives in Goleta/Santa Barbara (Zip code 93117)
Where should I tell him to go? What's the best Thinkpad for him?


Thanks in advance!
Regards; Frederik.

[rkawakami]

I'm not sure if any of the major electronic retailers would carry the T series.

A quick Google search says that there's a Best Buy store in Goleta (7090 Market Place Dr 93117 (805) 571-3999). Looking at their online store, they do sell Lenovos but do not have a T430s listed. Same for Frys Electronics. The nearest one is a few miles to the southeast in Oxnard (1901 East Ventura Boulevard 93036 (805) 751-1300). Both stores mainly deal in the consumer line of laptops. If your friend is attending UCSB then I'd check with the campus bookstore (http://www.ucsbstuff.com/SiteText.aspx?id=15397).

[Radioguy]

Office Depot and OfficeMax carry the Edge ThinkPad models as well as mainline Lenovo laptops. Sadly, OD and Staples used to carry T, R, and other models, but not for several years.

[Cola]

Hi
I tried Officemax, Officedepot and Bestbuy.
Happens that I cannot access Officedepot at all, Officemax has only got the Thinkpad Edge series (and all the ideapad crap) and BestBuy apparently has got close to nothing in stock in their physical stores.

My friend told me that he had been recommended a Staples store near him, but I dunno if it's just me, but I find their products being quite pricy, nor they have got the Thinkpads were after. :-/

[Cigarguy]

Since he's studying in the US, how about inquiring at the University/College's computer store. They may have some Thinkpads.

[dr_st]

What I would do is find a preconfigured model in the Tabook that I like, then Google a retailer that sells that exact model.