CTO Models: cost, parts, and warranties

[tasat]

Apologies if my questions have been answered somewhere else in the forum and I missed it.

I'm looking at the T43P CTO models 2687-E4U and 2687-EJU as are several others in the forum (though I'd still like to see a 14.1" model). My question(s) relate specifically to minimzing total cost through thrifty parts procurement without sacrificing on quality and warranty.

1) First a question about warranties in general. I've read the standard Lenovo limited warranty (http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-59390). Based on my understanding it looks like all hardware (including CTO and accessory options) have a standard 3 year warranty on parts, and 1 year warranty on labor. Can someone confirm this?

Obviously I can't predict any major catastrophes, but are there any reasons why I should seriously consider upgrading the warranty -- particularly in regards to labor? In my experience, I've only had problems with hard drives which have been relatively easily replaced under parts warranty.

2) From what I've read in the forum, it looks like it's possible to buy "bare bones" models that have no RAM, HD, wireless, and warranty extensions. Is this really true? This should help save on cost, but what is the impact on warranty?

3) Can someone suggest particularly good places to buy RAM and especially HD that are compatible with the T43P models and offer good quality and a solid warranty?

Thanks!
-T

[emorphien]

1) The warranty that my 2687E4U has is 3 years parts & labor.

2) These open bays don't seem to let you buy them without at least all the base options (HDD, RAM, etc). I'm letting them put in and install on the 60 gig 7200 rpm drive.

3) Yes, any ram should work as long as its the right type. Newegg and mwave have 1gb sticks for $120 ish.

[chbone]

Even I have done this, I don't recommand to order the CTO now. I have it for the following reasons:

1) When I bought it, the price of CTO was very low. But now the price is up for the 2687E4u and 2687EJU, at the same time, the regular type is down.

2) I have an OS and HD already, if I don't use it, it is just a waste.

3) The CTO has longer shipping time

[CoolDragon]

Well, I think the CTO model is still cheaper the pre-configured model, though you will have something that's not needed. I see the most outrageous thing is memory, if you buy it from IBM, it is just crazy.

[pointfielder]

I have also ordered the 2687E4U model, but with the lowest option of 256MB.
I don't care much for the fingerprint reader, so didn't pick 2687EJU.

I found that the CTO way is still the cheapest and best way to get the parts
you want. Like, I really wanted the IBM ABG II card with multiburner in a 15" UXGA
machine and didn't want to shell out extra bucks for the 2.13 GHz proc that comes
with 2668H8U, the only preconfigured machine with these components.

I believe I will save more than $500 even after upgrading my 2687E4U with 1GB RAM
from Crucial (~$135).

[JHaislet]

Has anyone seen a T43p CTO model with a 14" screen and the PM 760 (2.0ghz)? All I see are the 15" models & I'd really like to stick with a 14" screen.

[pointfielder]

I haven't found any 14" T43P CTO models, let alone those with 2GHz
processor.

But if you don't mind 64MB graphics and 1.86 GHz processor, then
here are the models. You can research their differences.

T43
INTEL PENT 750 1.86 14" SXGA OPENBAY
2668A1U

EXPRESS T43
INTEL PENT 750 1.86 14" SXGA OPENBAY
2687E3U
2686E6U
2686E7U
2687E8U
2687E9U