T41 that I'm about to purchase...

[UTCowMan]

I was just wondering if this was a good deal...

IBM ThinkPad T41 2379DJU
14" SXGA display
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 32MB video
Intel Pentium M 725 1.6GHz
768MB PC2700 SDRAM (Kingston upgrade, Infineon OEM)
40GB 5400RPM hard disk
CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive
IBM (Atheros chipset) 802.11a/b/g II internal wireless

- 2 years of warranty remaining
- No dead pixels

It's selling for $1000 USD.

I'm also a student and could get a student discount if I knew how, but I also don't know how much that would be..

I was also wondering if it is possible to upgrade the videocard or something...? This is the first time I've looked into these computers.

Thanks.

[aamsel]

Looks like a good deal.
Are there more than one of them? If so, where are they?

I am in Austin, as you are.
Hook 'Em !!!

Also, the student discount is about the same as the VISA/Mastercard discount, not a really huge discount.

The ATI 9000 is not upgradeable.

Andrew
Austin, TX

I was just wondering if this was a good deal...

IBM ThinkPad T41 2379DJU
14" SXGA display
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 32MB video
Intel Pentium M 725 1.6GHz
768MB PC2700 SDRAM (Kingston upgrade, Infineon OEM)
40GB 5400RPM hard disk
CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive
IBM (Atheros chipset) 802.11a/b/g II internal wireless

- 2 years of warranty remaining
- No dead pixels

It's selling for $1000 USD.

I'm also a student and could get a student discount if I knew how, but I also don't know how much that would be..

I was also wondering if it is possible to upgrade the videocard or something...? This is the first time I've looked into these computers.

Thanks.

[UTCowMan]

Sorry, but there is only one...and I'm gonna get it

A couple questions on it. Is this an awesome laptop? The last laptop I had died recently, hince the new purchase, so I'm a little hesitant about it. I really like the two years warranty, and I've heard nothing but good things about IBM's service.

Also, this is a PM with 2MB L2 cache right? There isn't really a big difference between the Mhz ranges once you have 2M cache right? That's kinda what I figured....

Would it be possible to upgrade the motherboard one day in the future as a way to upgrade the videocard? (i mean...is this the same chasis that the T42 and T43 are using?) What would be the price of that? (not that it would happen any time soon....)

Looks like a good deal.
Are there more than one of them? If so, where are they?

I am in Austin, as you are.
Hook 'Em !!!

Also, the student discount is about the same as the VISA/Mastercard discount, not a really huge discount.

The ATI 9000 is not upgradeable.

Andrew
Austin, TX

[mysbca]

Also, this is a PM with 2MB L2 cache right?

No, the T41 comes with the Banias processors with 1MB L2 cache.
The T42 comes with the Dothan processors with 2MB L2 cache.

[UTCowMan]

Also, this is a PM with 2MB L2 cache right?

No, the T41 comes with the Banias processors with 1MB L2 cache.
The T42 comes with the Dothan processors with 2MB L2 cache.

So is this laptop being misreported by the guy selling it? How do I check if this model comes with the 725 or the 1.6 1M L2 cahce chip?

[ZaZ]

T41s have the Banais core. Some of the older T42s with the 1.5Ghz Pentium M have the Banais core as well. This will tell you what the cache on the CPU is:

http://www.lavalys.com/products/overvie ... =1&lang=en

If you are willing to spend a little more, mabe the same, you could probably pick up a new T41/42 on ebay. Then while it is still under warranty you have the option to upgrade the warranty to three years. It costs $132 on IBM's website. I had a T41. Its a nice mahine. I hardly notice any perfromance differnces between it an my new T42. The only reason I got rid of it was I wanted a higher resolution screen.

[aamsel]

UTCowman:
Don't worry, it is a cold day in July when I buy used computer equipment. 99 times out of 100 I buy new. Yes, I pay the premium, but the benefits are many.

You spoke about hearing "...nothing but good things about IBM's service" and I agree, but I like the Thinkpad Protection, and you would not be able to add that on. I also assume that this was either someone's notebook that they are selling, or some sort of refurb unit? If it is a refurb, be careful.



FredGarvin:
You suggested that "you could probably pick up a new T41/42 on ebay". Why would anyone buy a NEW T42 on EBAY, when you can get one from IBM/Lenovo ???
Are you sure that the "new" T42's you are referring to on EBAY are not refurbished or recertified units ??? That is usually the case with Thinkpads on EBAY. The word "new" is used in the title or description, they say "original box", "factory sealed". Buried somewhere in the description is the fact that they are refurbs.

I like selling on EBAY, but buying is a little worrysome. What do you do if you buy a refurb T41/42 from EBAY, and it has scratches on the screen or the case is more beaten up than you expected, etc. etc.??? ( i.e. things that would not be covered by the standard warranty)??? You are probably stuck with the unit.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Sorry, but there is only one...and I'm gonna get it

A couple questions on it. Is this an awesome laptop?

[ZaZ]

Both of my ThinkPads came with three year IBM warranties. The refurbeded ones don't come with that. I bought on ebay because I saved about $200 over what I could find elsewhere on the internet. I agree some of the item descriptions are not as clear as they should be and one should read them carefully. There is nothing buying refurbed machines, in my opnion, as long as you know what you are getting. You'll pay less. You should buy from a reputable a seller. One with a lot of positvive feedback and somenone who has sold laptops in the past. The one I bought my laptop from had over 15,000 feedbacks with 99% positive. If the item is not as described, you should contact the seller. If that does not work, PayPal offers buyers protection and purchasing with a credit card offers other avenues of protection.

[danny_isr]

i was sure that the main difference between the 41 and 42 is the CPU - Dothan 2M cache vs 1M.
if the early 42 came with 1M cache , then what where the differences between those generations ?

[UTCowMan]

Well, he emailed me back and said he mislabeled the laptop as being a dothan processor. I know a lot of people don't really understand what the difference is, so I guess it happens. Other than that, It really is a solid machine, so I think I'm just gonna take my chances with it :-\. I don't have enough money to do otherwise.

[aamsel]

The Banias is a fine CPU. There are very few applications in which you would ever know the difference. If there are no other issues with the T41 you are considering, it should be a fine deal.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Well, he emailed me back and said he mislabeled the laptop as being a dothan processor. I know a lot of people don't really understand what the difference is, so I guess it happens. Other than that, It really is a solid machine, so I think I'm just gonna take my chances with it :-\. I don't have enough money to do otherwise.