T440s order and fingerprint reader

[warmstrong]

I just received a confusing email from Lenovo regarding my order for the T440s. Here's what I got from them:

"We thank you for your recent purchase of your Lenovo ThinkPad ThinkPad T440s-20AQCTO-1WW. Unfortunately, the fingerprint reader w/ Near Field Communication that was requested in your CTO box will not be available until late Dec/early January. You can choose to cancel this order and rebook in Dec/Jan or you can cancel and rebook now with the only Fingerprint Reader available on the web."

My follow up with them was inconclusive. I didnt know that there was a connection between the fingerprint reader and the NFC feature. I asked for clarification about what fingerprint reader the machine will have if I continue with the order. Will it be the same as the one I have on my current T430s machine? I also for something more about the difference between what they would send me now if I dont cancel my order and what I would get later if I postpone until they have the new FP reader.

I assume that all of this has something to do with a change in suppliers for the FP reader from Authentek to Validity. There has be discussions here and elsewhere about Lenovo switching suppliers due Apple's purchase of Authentek.

Does anyone else have any light to shed on all of this?

[Ibthink]

I think its because of the NFC module, which seems to be not available yet. The FP-readers can´t be the problem, these are already available.

[warmstrong]

For some reason that I don't understand there seems to be some sort of connection between the fingerprint reader and the NFC device. Do you already have a T440s? What do you have? Anyone else have any ideas about this. I need to decide right away whether to get this laptop now without the combined FP and NFC, or do I wait until the end of December/early January. What does the NFC device give me that I might want? How is the FP reader different?

[Ibthink]

Yes, I already have my T440s since mid September. It is the model 20AQS00600, and it does not have NFC, but the FP-reader.

I don´t think the FP-reader will be different on a model with NFC, it is maybe just a combined bundle.

Would get the model without NFC, unless you really need NFC.

[warmstrong]

Thanks! This my thinking, too.

If I can ask, how did you get a T440s in September?

[Ibthink]

It is a special transactional education model, which was available since the End of August here in Germany.

You can see it if you look on the model number: 20AQS00600. If it would a regular model, it would be 20AQS006GE (GE = Germany).

[warmstrong]

Got it. Thanks! They changed my order to not include the NFC device. It looks like I saved a few $, but I'm still waiting for confirmation that the order will not be delayed. I was expecting the laptop to ship from China on November 25.