I'm A Stingy Bugger, And I Wanna Thinkpad.

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revolutionary_one · #1 Post by **revolutionary_one** » Sun May 01, 2005 11:35 pm

Ok Guys, just about all my questions have been answered...except for one...buy this, or hold out??

Thinkpad t42 2378FVU
Processor - Intel Pentium M 735 1.7 GHz
RAM - 256 MB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM - PC2700 - 333 MHz
Hard Drive - 40 GB - 5400 rpm
Optical Storage - CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo
Display - 14.1" TFT active matrix SXGA+
Graphics Controller - ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600 - 64 MB
Wireless NIC - Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Weight - 4.9 lbs
Warranty - 3 Year Depot with 3 Year Thinkpad Protection

Price - 1896 U.S. dollars and some cents [calculated tax and assuming i can pull free shipping] w/ EDU discount

A friend of a friend works for IBM and they say there will be a IBM sale in the next 3-4 weeks...

I guess I'm just looking for one of two things here, 1) a sales pitch convincing me to buy, or 2) living proof that this deal can be done much cheaper with an EDU discount.

I'm sry if im being a bother, asking almost asinine questions, but i work hard for my money [pulling part time job and full time job along with full time undergrad]. I'm pretty much sold on a Thinkpad, and i dont mind paying a premium for quality. I guess i just need some enlightenment, going to hit the faq all the way through before i make my prospective purchase at the end of this week. Muchas Gracias

Orbitz · #2 Post by **Orbitz** » Mon May 02, 2005 12:17 am

If the sale occurs withing 30 days from the date you buy your machine wouldn't IBM honor the sales price and refund the difference to you? Afterall, you could return the machine and rebuy it with the discount if you are still within the 30 day window couldn't you? Of course, there is no assurance that your paticular model would be included in the sale.

revolutionary_one · #3 Post by **revolutionary_one** » Mon May 02, 2005 12:54 am

yes, that is true, they WOULD honor the price with the sale, and the unit would still be under an evaluation period.

However, why go through the headache of buying and returning, when someone here can just tell me that the price im willing to pay for the unit is wayy to high, and i SHOULD be holding out.

And, yes, addition to the question above, if i do decide to return the unit within the 30 day trial period, would i have to pay for shipping the unit back to IBM, and how long would it usually take to get credited for the refund?

Esteban · #4 Post by **Esteban** » Mon May 02, 2005 1:02 am

The price of a 2378fvu is $1,376.10 with a Visa credit card discount which usually match generic edu. discounts. http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/visa The regular Web Price would be $1,529.00.

The length of the included warranty is confusing. The product description shows a 1 year warranty. In the warranty drop down box it seems to suggest it now comes with a 3 year Depot warranty as prices for upgrading to a longer Depot warranty start with one for 4 years. Confirm which warrranty length is correct when you order.

An FVU for $1,376.10 is a very good buy. If it now includes a 3 year depot warranty it's a very very good buy.

Upgrading to 3 year Thinkpad Protection + 3 year Depot Warranty is an additional $245 per the drop down box. That's about 18% of the price of the notebook. Too much imho.

revolutionary_one · #5 Post by **revolutionary_one** » Mon May 02, 2005 1:08 am

The price of the 2378fvu is 1452 with an education discount with a 1year limited warranty.

Adding the 3 year warranty with Three year thinkpad protection was 299.00. Which is a big partof the purchase for me.

Might as well go with a Visa based purchase then...i guess...

Is it possible to couple an education discount with a visa / master card discount?

Esteban · #6 Post by **Esteban** » Mon May 02, 2005 1:11 am

No, you can't stack an edu. and CC discount.

revolutionary_one · #7 Post by **revolutionary_one** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:08 am

I didn't think so, sounded too good to be true

O well, i really wanna snag this deal for 1700, and with the visa discount , it ends up being like 1760 something with taxes and free shipping...

might as well just blow the extra 60-80 dollars and get 'r done...

I'd still like some input on whether the deal above can be feasibly done at a better price with some short-term waiting involved [as ive been researching and pricing since about December

]

halp!

stgreek · #8 Post by **stgreek** » Tue May 03, 2005 1:53 am

revolutionary_one wrote: I'd still like some input on whether the deal above can be feasibly done at a better price with some short-term waiting involved [as ive been researching and pricing since about December ]
halp!

That can easily go forever. I'd say just buy it and enjoy it! Maybe you will have lost 200 bucks, you will have won a brand new Thinkpad to play with though!

Plinkerton · #9 Post by **Plinkerton** » Tue May 03, 2005 2:15 am

Just buy it. I did, and it's been worth every cent, and I'm a poor college student.

rhema83 · #10 Post by **rhema83** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:16 am

It's a good computer. However you are paying too much for it.

The FVU plus 3-year depot warranty should suffice, especially if you are strapped for cash.

Steve007 · #11 Post by **Steve007** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:35 am

rhema83 wrote:It's a good computer. However you are paying too much for it.

The FVU plus 3-year depot warranty should suffice, especially if you are strapped for cash.

Just as an aside, but if people are strapped for cash or on a very tight budget why are they buying PC's??!!

Leon · #12 Post by **Leon** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:38 am

cause you can't live without one

GoEatFood · #13 Post by **GoEatFood** » Thu May 05, 2005 12:17 pm

I agree. a lot of cases people need computers for daily life. a laptop is a good solution for college students because a lot of the time there is no room for a desktop computer depending on living situations...even for business needs laptops are always good to have for when you wish to do work away from the office...I know I'll go outside and use the cheaplaptop I have now to work outside...just so, I'm not inside.

revolutionary_one · #14 Post by **revolutionary_one** » Thu May 05, 2005 12:26 pm

I'm NOT strapped for cash mind you, im a STINGY BUGGER

Big difference.

And yea, its really nice to have a lappy laying around, and if i want it to last, might as well go with ibm/lenovo [and yes im getting 3 year TTP and 3year warranty w/ depot].

So, if im paying too much for the 2378-fvu with the config above, how much SHOULD I generally be paying.

GoEatFood · #15 Post by **GoEatFood** » Thu May 05, 2005 12:30 pm

I paid that for my FVU...it most likely won't be shipped out till some time after the 25th if you need it now.

Nolonemo · #16 Post by **Nolonemo** » Thu May 05, 2005 2:08 pm

If you're really stingey, buy a primo off-lease T22 on eBay for ~$400. Has the juice you need to do everything except play games, CAD apps, NLE video editing or heavy Photoshop (which may rule it out for you

).

revolutionary_one · #17 Post by **revolutionary_one** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:49 pm

I WAS actually considering it, very much, so....esp since i could find one for about $250.00

However, warranty and TPP protection was a big issue for me for the overall purchase. And since i would be running linux on the TP anyway, ~1Ghz would do VERY well

But in the end, I could do just as well with a REALLY good 2378-fvu and enjoy it for like 5-8 years [3 of which under warranty with the initial warranty / TPP purchase] and maybe able to just extend it as i see needed.

Plus, I DO want to be able to play some of these newer games outside of my room sometimes. A heartly laugh at starbucks b/c of an IRC comment just isnt as cool as a synical laugh at someone you just owned in a CS:S server...

GoEatFood · #18 Post by **GoEatFood** » Thu May 05, 2005 6:05 pm

are those connections at starbucks actually fast enough to play a game on?? even on my home network playing games online can be a PITA.

JHEM · #19 Post by **JHEM** » Thu May 05, 2005 6:10 pm

GoEatFood wrote:are those connections at starbucks actually fast enough to play a game on?? even on my home network playing games online can be a PITA.

What's your home connection? Most Starbucks have high speed connections, either DSL or Cable.

Regards,

James

GoEatFood · #20 Post by **GoEatFood** » Thu May 05, 2005 6:18 pm

JHEM wrote:
GoEatFood wrote:are those connections at starbucks actually fast enough to play a game on?? even on my home network playing games online can be a PITA.
What's your home connection? Most Starbucks have high speed connections, either DSL or Cable.

Regards,

James

I have a cable at home...

when I first moved there the cable modem was on the first floor and I wasn't able to get it to my room...so, I went wireless. but, after having a really crappy connection I just decided to run a wire how ever I could and it went to what my cable modem did before when wired...I just haven't had very good exprerence with wireless connections I guess...plus, don't most startbucks/wifi hotspots use wireless B connections which are normally pretty slow? or have the upgraded to G?

Orbitz · #21 Post by **Orbitz** » Thu May 05, 2005 6:31 pm

B is usually sufficient for online gaming...G is waaaaaay more then necessary. I can stream HD video over my G network without a single stutter and that has substantially higher bandwidth requirements then any game. I played EQ and EQII over B (and nearly 70 feet from the router) without any problem.

JHEM · #22 Post by **JHEM** » Thu May 05, 2005 8:03 pm

An "average" 11b connection is twice as fast as a 3Mbs Cable or DSL connection, and up to three times as fast.

So WiFi isn't your problem.

Regards,

James

revolutionary_one · #23 Post by **revolutionary_one** » Thu May 05, 2005 10:37 pm

actually, wifi well could be...

someone may be sapping your bandwith, or you just might have signal strength issues...

Otherwise, i think ill wait two more weeks for my thinkpad to change in price, in the end, if all of you say im paying too much, then it can only go down....im in no hurry, fall sem is in the fall

JHEM · #24 Post by **JHEM** » Thu May 05, 2005 10:52 pm

revolutionary_one wrote:actually, wifi well could be...

someone may be sapping your bandwith, or you just might have signal strength issues..

I'll agree that signal strength could be an issue, but I did qualify my statement by referring to an "average" connection, e.g. a strong signal.

Bandwidth will affect all users equally, regardless of whether they're wired or WiFi.

Regards,

James

baraider · #25 Post by **baraider** » Thu May 05, 2005 11:12 pm

which T23 has preinstalled antenna which I can use the ibm a/b/g atheros card in it? Looking at couple of T23 on ebay but most of them do not have wifi.

JHEM · #26 Post by **JHEM** » Thu May 05, 2005 11:24 pm

There was a [censored] of them that came with WiFi from the factory, easily as many with as without.

Check the tawbook.pdf.

Regards,

James

w0qj · #27 Post by **w0qj** » Fri May 06, 2005 1:51 am

"Best bang for the buck" is how I would describe it; certainly not "cheap".

I've bought a 2373-K5H (steep corporate discount):
512 MB RAM
1.7 GHz Mobile M 735 Somana
5K40 HDD (it's Fujitsu)
14.1" TFT SXGA+
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 (64 MB)
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG
3 Yr Int'l Warranty

- - - -
Then i spent more by upgrading to: (budget allowing for everyone)
-increased total RAM to 1 GB
-replaced my hdd with 7K60

Still had enough money left over to buy a Port Replicator II & spare AC adapter

= = = = = = = = = =
If anyone wants an expensive computer, stick with a destop computer, R-series Thinkpad, or G-series Thinkpad (ouch!).

P.S. - Has anyone noticed that the IBM web site is now named "Lenovo" as the name of the web page?

======

revolutionary_one wrote:I'm NOT strapped for cash mind you, im a STINGY BUGGER Big difference.

And yea, its really nice to have a lappy laying around, and if i want it to last, might as well go with ibm/lenovo [and yes im getting 3 year TTP and 3year warranty w/ depot].

So, if im paying too much for the 2378-fvu with the config above, how much SHOULD I generally be paying.

revolutionary_one · #28 Post by **revolutionary_one** » Fri May 06, 2005 12:59 pm

That's about the same configuration i'm looking for, however, I have access to the education discount and not the "steep corporate discount." So yea, in the end, how much did you end up paying for TP 2373-K5H??

Since standard 3 year warranty with TPP is standard pricing[~$300], its the actual price of the unit that interests me.

In the end, I might as well just wait till mid to late may to see what degree of inventory is available for EDU discount?

Also, my dad works the postal office, i know he has a discount via some federal contract with consumer based civilian contracts, but i essentially get a run around when looking for them on Lenovo's site, as they say IBM supports it and now IBM says lenovo offers the models, o well

How much of a difference would i see when comparing the federal USPS civil server discount vs. the generic Lenovo discount?

I'm A Stingy Bugger, And I Wanna Thinkpad.

I'm A Stingy Bugger, And I Wanna Thinkpad.

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