Newbie Thinkpadophile... Choices

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DeAnna · #1 Post by **DeAnna** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 6:26 pm

I wasn't sure where to put this, but since I'm leaning towad the T23...
First, I want to thank you all, especially Bill. This forum has taught me so much. : )

I have a DT Dell PIII 800 128 ram 10 gig HD that does everything I need: Web browsing, Site admin (HomeSite & Fireworks), family digital pics. But next week, we're moving into a much larger house where I'll need room-to-room, floor to floor portability, so I decided to buy a laptop and set up a wireless home LAN.

So I am trying to decide between T or A, used, vs R or G, new.

Am I reasonable to think I should spend like this:

Up to a thousand if it is new R or G with full IBM Warranty, ( http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... Id=2035724 says G series "from 799" R series "from $869" - tho I can't seem to find the details on either)
$8-900 for a used T23 with at least 3 - 6 mos IBM Warranty, ( http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... logId=-840 has a T23 for $835, but it's win 98, no wireless, no burner. )
...and would it be smart to go down to a $699 non-warranted T23?
Or would I be just as happy with a good, used T22 and $200 to spend on new patio furniture? lol

Here are the requirements - for the above $ layout, whether it comes with, or I upgrade it:

Weight isn't that important, but ruggedness is crucial
Processor: 1Ghz - The new ones would have to be Celeron... is that a big minus?
RAM: 256 now, upgradable to 1G later (or 512 if I save enough on a T22)
HD: Not important
OS: Win 2000 at least
Wireless: integrated would be very nice, but not necessary
CD-RW - or a 2.0 USB to use with USB external burner I'd buy separately.

I love the T's sexiness, lol. I've heard such ravings about the T23 (especially by victoria and a few posts on this thread: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=352 )
I had all but decided to go for it.

But when I see IBM selling brand new Rs and Gs - fully warranted and without the risks of used - for just a hundred more than a t23 configured like I want, I wonder if I should forget about the titanium and thinness, and...

I guess my bottom-line question is: Besides weight, What would make a used/refurbished T23 better than a new R or G series?

Two years from now, what will I wish I had bought ?

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 8:38 pm

If you buy a G and are still walking, you may wish you had not bought one of those.

The early R's were consumer machines and always left something out. The later R's appear to have changed their stripes, but someone else would have to comment.

I had a T23 P3 1.1Ghz with a 30Gb hard drive and 768Mb of ram. I sold it, but it remains in use and works well. I have a T41 now.

The T23 ran XP Pro, Office XP Pro, VMware 4, and could run two virtual machines at once. The light weight is a god-send in an already packed briefcase. The strong construction is worth considering. The small size is a very strong feature - smaller than my T41 and I liked that.

So long as it is in known good condition and with warranty, it should be a good deal.

The downside - a bit weak at 1.1Ghz, and then will appear more so down the road.

Only you can decide. ... jdhurst

DeAnna · #3 Post by **DeAnna** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:15 pm

Thank you, JD. : ) Just what I wanted to hear. lol

I see a few on e-bay & my finger is itching to bid or buy now, lol.

They say they are still under warranty by IBM for many more months. But I'm stil nervous... Is there anything I need to do or look out for to make sure I don't have a problem getting the warranty work done by IBM?

Do I need the seller to give me any paperwork? Check serial #s?

#4 Post by **erik** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:26 pm

perhaps you should consider getting a certified used thinkpad direct from ibm...
http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... Id=2576396

not only will you have a 90-day (or 1-year) warranty but if you don't like the unit that ibm sends you, you can send it back with free airborne express shipping both directions.

in my personal experience, both used thinkpads that i've purchased through the certified used department have been in excellent condition. one was a T23 for my father and the other was a T40 for a friend.

-erik

#5 Post by **jdhurst** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:27 pm

If the machine has not been damaged and is not running poor quality peripherals (memory), warranty should be fine. If you are dealing with the original owner, do one of two things:

1. Ask the seller to register the warranty with the actual purchase date. This may be as much as six months after manufacture. I have done that to ensure full warranty.
2. Ask the seller for the invoice and do this yourself.

The serial number should be registered in the IBM data base, and you should be able to determine it is legitimate by trying to register the machine. Registering the machine will also tell you the amount of warranty left according to IBM.

... jdhurst

#6 Post by **erik** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:50 pm

this link will allow you to look up warranty status:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ubtype=Cat

-erik

DeAnna · #7 Post by **DeAnna** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:24 pm

Thanks y'all, so much! Great advice.

I asked the e-bay seller, but I don't know if he'll give me the serial # til I purchase. We'll see.

The IBM certified used looks great except it seems so high, considering the low memory, and lack of wireless or CD burner... But that warranty really makes a difference, doesn't it?

The great news is that I had posted this: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=8320#8320
earlier and gotten more great advice from Victoria and James.

Based on that, I e-mailed Bruce and he already got back to me, so now I'm trying to e-mail him back with a specific request and offer...lol
Not easy!

#8 Post by **erik** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:32 pm

DeAnna wrote:The IBM certified used looks great except it seems so high, considering the low memory, and lack of wireless or CD burner... But that warranty really makes a difference, doesn't it?

that page changes all the time. a few weeks ago, there was a T23 wireless model offered in the $850-$875 range. you might want to call ibm's used department to see if they have one in stock -- typically if there is only one or two left, it won't show up on the website.

if bruce has a wireless T23 in stock then by all means go that route. but, i would go through ibm or bruce before resorting to ebay. a warranty is nice.

-erik

PirateLawyer · #9 Post by **PirateLawyer** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 3:00 am

Nothing substantive to contribute, sorry, I was just very amused by the word "Thinkpadophile"....
Very creative, but I don't think it will be catching on!

esquire · #10 Post by **esquire** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:09 am

PirateLawyer wrote:Nothing substantive to contribute, sorry, I was just very amused by the word "Thinkpadophile"....
Very creative, but I don't think it will be catching on!

Hehe sorry, lol.. My thoughts exactly.

How about

Thinkpadaddict
Thinkpadian
Thinkpadder
Thinkpaddite

snappy · #11 Post by **snappy** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:39 am

Or you might want to check out the Canadian IBM site:

http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... daNotebook

IBM Certified Used ThinkPad T23 (4NU)
A26474NU
Add to cart
Sale price
$1,068.75 * (CDN not USD)
IBM Web price
$1,125.00*
Intel® Pentium® III 1.13GHz
Microsoft Windows 2000
128MB/1GB
30GB
14.1" TFT
DVD-ROM
3.5" floppy
Ethernet
56K
802.11b wireless LAN
3 months limited

DeAnna · #12 Post by **DeAnna** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 8:40 pm

Thank you, Snappy and flatdraft... : )

I called IBM Certified Used - they don't have any other T23s in right now. : /

But while I was on the phone with IBM, I asked if there were any concerns about buying from Canadian IBM Used...

She said:
a) they wouldn't sell to me since I'm in Texas, and
b) even if they did, my warranty would only be Canadian... Unless it was under "international" warranty. (my head hurts lol)

I didn't press her on how badly that would limit me

, and I didn't ask whether that refered only to the machine I'd buy from the Canadian IBM Used site, or if it also refered to
this offer from another Canadian seller:

That yummy top of the line T23:
48GB
1.20GHz
256 Ram
XP Pro
CD/RW/DVD
integrated wireless
SXGA+
3 Mo "warranty from manufacturer" (?)
~$700 USD

Sounds yummy! lol

I asked that seller if
a) the warranty was Canadian or international IBM
b) if "warranty from manufacturer" means IBM Warranty (it should, shouldn't it?)
c) for the serial # so I could check...

He just said the warranty is "North American/Canadian" I can give you serial #, that’s not problem. We have sold over 15 of these notebooks, USA & Canada, no one had issue with warranty."

(should I be satisfied with that answer?)

Other options (aside from e-bay) are:

New in unopened box T23
warranty til ?/2005
256 ram
XPPro
1.o GHz (how much worse is that than 1.2 +?)
20 HD
No wireless
No burner. ($150 to add one)
$900.00

Bran spankin new sounds awesome, but ... I'd be out the $900 (bu$ted, lol) and still need wireless and a burner...and more memory. How important is the integrated wireless vs just buying a card?

Or, I could get one configured just like it but used - no info on condition - for $675.

Thanks for "listening", y'all... this is so stressful, lol. Helps just typing it out. lol

#13 Post by **erik** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 9:11 am

DeAnna wrote:I called IBM Certified Used - they don't have any other T23s in right now. : /

ironically, this showed up on the u.s. certified used page:
http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... logId=-840

it's a 2647-4NU just like what snappy posted above. the downside is that it doesn't have a burner and ram is only 128mb.

regarding processor speed, i'll pay you if you can humanly tell the difference between 1.0GHz, 1.13GHz, and 1.2GHz processors.

-erik

DeAnna · #14 Post by **DeAnna** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:27 pm

Ironic indeed! lol

But I did even better.

I just bought a sweet one in mint condition, still under warranty, from Bruce. (Thank you, Bruce!)

I saved a couple hundred, and it has 20 gig 5400 RPM hard drive, 256 RAM, DVD drive, and XP.

Now I can buy a wireless card (Looking at those 3COM X-Jack that James recommends), and a cd-burner or a USB memory pen thing... if it works ok with 1.0 USB...

He says it'll be here tomorrow. (kidding

)

Leon · #15 Post by **Leon** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:43 pm

who's Bruce

#16 Post by **JaneL** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:50 pm

James (JHEM) had recommended that she contact someone about a particular system, and I assume that is the Bruce she is thanking. As far as I know, he doesn't visit here. He's usually not shy about participating in forums that he frequents. (You can stop laughing, James!)

DeAnna · #17 Post by **DeAnna** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:59 pm

LOL Yes. Thank you, Nonny.

I should have also, and especially thanked you, James, for referring me to The Bruce. (I wont say Bruce Almighty, but it does make me chuckle to think it. *G*)

Isn't waiting for a new laptop just awful? I feel like I'm 12.

JHEM · #18 Post by **JHEM** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 6:31 pm

nonny wrote:(You can stop laughing, James!)

Not........ quite.......... yet..............!!! ROTFLMAO!

Thanks Nonny, I needed that!

James

JHEM · #19 Post by **JHEM** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 6:35 pm

DeAnna wrote:I should have also, and especially thanked you, James, for referring me to The Bruce.

You're very welcome DeAnna, glad to help.

DeAnna wrote:(I wont say Bruce Almighty, but it does make me chuckle to think it. *G*)

That's how we ALL think of him! Especially him.

(Quiet Nonny!)

Regards,

James

#20 Post by **JaneL** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 6:49 pm

>(Quiet Nonny!)
>

But... but... I *like* Bruce! He may be a curmudgeon, but he's *our* curmudgeon!

JHEM · #21 Post by **JHEM** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 7:39 pm

DeAnna,

DeAnna wrote:Now I can buy a wireless card (Looking at those 3COM X-Jack that James recommends), and a cd-burner or a USB memory pen thing... if it works ok with 1.0 USB...

The 3Com X-Jack cards are great, although the a/b/g cards are still expensive.

Get an Ultrabay 2000 burner, you should be able to find one readily on eBay, but beware of paying top dollar for one of the 4X Combo I drives when what you want is the 24X Combo IV drive.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4PKPPU

I've got several 256MB memory pens that work just fine on USB 1.1 on 600s, 770s and early A/T machines.

Regards,

James

JHEM · #22 Post by **JHEM** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 7:46 pm

Leon wrote:who's Bruce

Bruce is a purveyor of quality used Thinkpads and general curmudgeon who has inhabited the various Thinkpad lists since the introduction of dirt.

Regards,

James

Newbie Thinkpadophile... Choices

Newbie Thinkpadophile... Choices

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