About to buy T42... couple of questions

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rookworm · #1 Post by **rookworm** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:10 am

Hi!

I have been hankering for a thinkpad for quite some time, and I think that this is the week. I found a T42 2378 RBU (14.1" 1024x768 screen with Radeon 7500, Pentium 735, fingerprint reader) with an extra 512 mb ram for $1548+tax shipped. Canadian dollars, that is. I have a few questions before I order, though.

1) I gather from another thread that the T42's with the FPR are noisier than the others, can someone confirm this?

1-b) does this mean the build quality is different/ worse than older t42's; would this have anything to do with the new owners?

2) How can I tell beforehand whether this model uses the Thai or the Chinese keyboard? Do they all use Thai kb's now?

3) Can I/ How do I get Educational/ Credit card discounts?

4) Is there a comparably priced model out there with a better video card (like 9600)/ higher resolution screen? (I think the above is a pretty good deal, but is it?)

5) Is there a way to exchange the notebook if there are any dead pixels?

6) does the "extra 512 mb ram" mean that I can get I stick of 1gb ram and have a free slot left?

7) that's all for now. Thanks.

Thinkpaddict · #2 Post by **Thinkpaddict** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 7:39 am

You have a lot of questions there. Let me address a couple of them.

I don't know about the FPR making the laptop noisy. But, why bother getting the FPR? Do you deal with industrial secrets? Ashamed of your porn? Honestly, if someone gets a hand on your Thinkpad you are most likely not going to see it again, so the FPR won't help you there. You can always encrypt sensitive data in case your computer falls in devious hands.

I don't know about the build quality, but I doubt it would be any different than earlier T42's. It would be very difficult to establish for sure a noticeable difference in build quality. It would require a single person to buy a large set of T42's over a period of time, recording the build quality of each one. Difference between individual units is not statistically significant, so it would be hard to comment based on that. My guess, once again, is that the build quality is the same (made from same parts in the same country).

There is no way for you to know which keyboard you will be getting. Once you get your laptop, point a flashlight to the arrow keys, and look underneath. Are the bumpers colored purple? If so, congratulations. You've got a Thai keyboard

If you buy from IBM/Lenovo directly, you can return a new Thinkpad within 30 days, no questions asked. If you buy from anywhere else, you can't return your laptop. You can issue a warranty claim to have the LCD replaced if there is something wrong with it (for example), but be adviced that you need to have a lot of bad pixels in close proximity for IBM to consider that a valid warranty claim (check their guidelines).

I don't think the laptop you have in mind is a specially good deal (sorry, but that's just my opinion). I would never go back to anything below SXGA+ (1400x1050). I'm not saying it is a bad deal, it is nice. I'm just saying that you can do better.
You should think of getting something with a Radeon 9600 at least (notice that the graphics card in a Thinkpad is not upgradeable, unlike the CPU, RAM, HD, etc). I am sure that you can find nicer Thinkpads for about the same price if you shop around. I just got a T41p with a 128 Mb FireGL T2, SXGA+ screen, and 7K60 HD for $1400. I got it from eBay and it was (as all eBay transactions are) risky, but it really paid off. Did I mention it came with the Thai keyboard?

The 512 Mb extra stick means you get an extra stick (occupying both slots). It is cheaper to use 2 512 Mb sticks than to use a 1 Gb stick. That's not necessarily bad, if you are OK with 1 Gb of RAM (and I think you would, based on the type of machine you have chosen).

You can get CC discounts from IBM on their website, as long as you have a Credit Card (DUH?). I don't know if I am allowed to post that information in this forum, but you should be able to find it if you do a search for businesscenter.

hoya · #3 Post by **hoya** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:57 am

regarding question #4, I agree that you will be happier with SXGA+ and a 9600 video card. Windows Vista needs at least 64mb of VRAM to run comfortably, so the 7500 won't cut it. I'm not sure if this deal is available to Canadians, but Thinkpad.com (lenovo's site) is running a special on the 2373H6U. I configured mine with a 7200rpm hard drive, 3 year warranty, fingerprint reader, bluetooth, etc. all for $1341. that is the absolute best price for a T42 of that caliber (the price is even better than the employee discount!).

just click on special offers, view all, then the highly mobile users section to the right. the model in the middle is the best deal.

rookworm · #4 Post by **rookworm** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 2:18 pm

Thinkpaddict wrote: You can get CC discounts from IBM on their website, as long as you have a Credit Card (DUH?). I don't know if I am allowed to post that information in this forum, but you should be able to find it if you do a search for businesscenter.

Yeah, I found the Visa discount; it turns out that the prices that my campus bookstore offers are actually worse than what I can find online. I just read the FAQ, so I won't ask HOW, but I'm curious as to WHETHER I can apply both discounts simultaneously (online, in Canada). Is there a Canadian equivalent of www.ibm.com/education/us?

stanmocek · #5 Post by **stanmocek** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:18 pm

hoya wrote: I configured mine with a 7200rpm hard drive, 3 year warranty, fingerprint reader, bluetooth, etc. all for $1341. that is the absolute best price for a T42 of that caliber (the price is even better than the employee discount!).

just click on special offers, view all, then the highly mobile users section to the right. the model in the middle is the best deal.

Greets - mind if I ask how you configured that setup to get that price? Is there some other discount that I'm not seeing? I only see the base of $1,500, and anything I see that can be subtracted make the package less appealing - like eliminating the wireless and using a 6 cell instead of 9 cell battery.

SM

andyli · #6 Post by **andyli** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:53 pm

You can use only one discount. If you have certain discounts (such as EPP or certain education), you cannot take advantage of any free options, as well.

Trip · #7 Post by **Trip** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:57 pm

Is there a Canadian equivalent of www.ibm.com/education/us?

I doubt it. Before I bought my T42, I called and asked if there was a student discount for Canadians that was available directly from Lenovo, and was told that there isn't.

rookworm · #8 Post by **rookworm** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:04 pm

hoya wrote:regarding question #4, I agree that you will be happier with SXGA+ and a 9600 video card. Windows Vista needs at least 64mb of VRAM to run comfortably, so the 7500 won't cut it. I'm not sure if this deal is available to Canadians, but Thinkpad.com (lenovo's site) is running a special on the 2373H6U. I configured mine with a 7200rpm hard drive, 3 year warranty, fingerprint reader, bluetooth, etc. all for $1341. that is the absolute best price for a T42 of that caliber (the price is even better than the employee discount!).

just click on special offers, view all, then the highly mobile users section to the right. the model in the middle is the best deal.

Yes, I am curious about that also, hoya. I am not so worried about Windows Vista, because I heard it is going to be low on features and a resource hog to boot. In the far future, I will probably run linux on the thinkpad I do not yet have

. I just want a sleek, reliable, ergonomic laptop before it's too late

More questions:

It seems that having higher resolution/ radeon 9600 consumes more battery. Is this correct?

9) does thinkpads.com ship to Canada, and would I be able to avoid tax by ordering it that way?

stanmocek · #9 Post by **stanmocek** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:31 pm

stanmocek wrote:
hoya wrote: I configured mine with a 7200rpm hard drive, 3 year warranty, fingerprint reader, bluetooth, etc. all for $1341. that is the absolute best price for a T42 of that caliber (the price is even better than the employee discount!).

just click on special offers, view all, then the highly mobile users section to the right. the model in the middle is the best deal.
Greets - mind if I ask how you configured that setup to get that price? Is there some other discount that I'm not seeing? I only see the base of $1,500, and anything I see that can be subtracted make the package less appealing - like eliminating the wireless and using a 6 cell instead of 9 cell battery.

SM

Never mind - figured it out. Didn't realize that there was a price difference between XP Home and Pro.

SM

#10 Post by **aamsel** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:47 pm

To NOT have to run in "XP compatibility mode" the requirements are supposed to be 128MB of VRAM and AGP 8X. Since Thinkpads are AGP 4X, my understanding is that they won't suffice.

Andrew
Austin, TX

hoya wrote:...Windows Vista needs at least 64mb of VRAM to run comfortably, so the 7500 won't cut it....

Kenn · #11 Post by **Kenn** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:26 am

And even if they were, the mere fact of being AGP 8X is probably not going to be enough to make it tolerable

When Vista comes out, it's time to upgrade (sigh). Hopefully battery runtime will be 6 hours average by then.

#12 Post by **aamsel** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 10:57 am

Well, "hard drives" will probably be solid state within a couple of years. No telling what other improvements will occur. There should be OS's in ROM by then, although Vista certainly won't run out of ROM anytime soon.

Andrew
Austin, TX

Kenn wrote:And even if they were, the mere fact of being AGP 8X is probably not going to be enough to make it tolerable

When Vista comes out, it's time to upgrade (sigh). Hopefully battery runtime will be 6 hours average by then.

rookworm · #13 Post by **rookworm** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:13 pm

hoya wrote: just click on special offers, view all, then the highly mobile users section to the right. the model in the middle is the best deal.

What is the model number of that TP?

Also, are there any photos comparing the form factors of 14" T42s and T43s?

I get the impression that the T43 is hotter, noisier, and gets less battery than the t42 from these forums, but the review at http://pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,120923,00.asp suggests otherwise.

Thanks!

#14 Post by **aamsel** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:49 pm

Same form factor.
The dimensions of 14.1" T42 and 14.1" T43 are identical.

Andrew
Austin, TX

rookworm wrote:...Also, are there any photos comparing the form factors of 14" T42s and T43s?...

hoya · #15 Post by **hoya** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:45 am

rookworm wrote: What is the model number of that TP?

2373H6U - I configured with a 6 cell rather than 9 cell, and XP Home rather than Pro.

kendalf · #16 Post by **kendalf** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:39 am

You also have to go w/ the Intel B/G wireless card instead of the a/b/g.

FWIW, my 2373-H6U should be arriving today. Parts look-up indicates Hydis LCD but Chicony keyboard.

rookworm · #17 Post by **rookworm** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:43 pm

Just ordered my 2378 RBU with extra 512 mb of ram and ac adaptor for $1471+tax (Canadian).

With my VISA card, I get an extra year warranty and insurance!

How/ when can I tell what kind of keyboard/ screen it has?

robmack · #18 Post by **robmack** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:55 pm

rookworm wrote: 1) I gather from another thread that the T42's with the FPR are noisier than the others, can someone confirm this?

1-b) does this mean the build quality is different/ worse than older t42's; would this have anything to do with the new owners?

FWIW, I ordered a 2378-REU model a couple of weeks ago and received that unit within 3 days. So far, I am very, very pleased with the Thinkpad. This is about my 5th Thinkpad in 12 years...mostly machines obtained through work but I've invested money in a T30 (now sold) and this T42.

The 15" screen is bright and has zero dead pixels. There is very little fan noise coming from my machine and it is a fingerprint reader unit. Compared to my older T30, it is just as quiet and built just as well as far as I can tell in the short time I've had it. I'm expecting the same robustness out of this unit as I got with my T30. Once, I dropped the T30 on a hardwood floor from a kitchen-counter height. The machine survived the fall without damage, testament to the build quality and design.

Just for safety sake, I bought the 5WTE110 bundle substituting 3 year Thinkpad protection and bring-in service for the on-site service.

rookworm · #19 Post by **rookworm** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:03 pm

I just called Lenovo, and they said my TP won't even ship until the second week of October!!!!

What a gyp!

pphilipko · #20 Post by **pphilipko** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:59 am

rookworm wrote:I just called Lenovo, and they said my TP won't even ship until the second week of October!!!!

What a gyp!

How is this a scam?

rookworm · #21 Post by **rookworm** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:39 pm

I just called, and he said I should get on the first week of november!!!! I ordered it in September! Amazing.

gforce · #22 Post by **gforce** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:07 pm

rookworm wrote:I just called, and he said I should get on the first week of november!!!! I ordered it in September! Amazing.

You might wanna talk to a rep. to switch your order to a model that is in stock right now.

rookworm · #23 Post by **rookworm** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:16 pm

would they give me a better configuration for free if I did that?

gforce · #24 Post by **gforce** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:02 pm

rookworm wrote:would they give me a better configuration for free if I did that?

LOL...there is no harm in trying your luck.

But on a serious note, many models seem to be in stock right now (atleast in the U.S.).

About to buy T42... couple of questions

About to buy T42... couple of questions

Re: About to buy T42... couple of questions

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