Do most people buy their laptop from IBM/Lenovo, ebay, etc.

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ajazzman · #1 Post by **ajazzman** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:08 pm

I am looking to buy a T60/60P and would like to get an idea where most people purchase their laptops?

Thanks,

Currently using a T20 (6 years) and need to upgrade in the next couple of months.

#2 Post by **Kyocera** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:12 pm

I've had three thinkpad's all purchased from IBM - Pre Lenovo. I am definately going to get a T60 but want to wait for Vista, and will probably get one from Lenovo, unless Bill can hook me up.

wolfman · #3 Post by **wolfman** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:20 pm

I've had three total and purchased all from IBM (one from IBM on eBay however)...

ajazzman · #4 Post by **ajazzman** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:21 pm

My initial plan was to wait for Vista but, I am living on borrowed time with my T20. So this guy Bill sells?

#5 Post by **Kyocera** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:34 pm

Yes, he is the genius behind this forum.

Website · #6 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:44 pm

He generally had some machines for sale through an extension of his site: http://www.thinkpads.com/start.htm

Although, I haven't personally purchased anything from him, I have yet to hear a negative comment from anyone that did purchase something from him.

I would assume that if someone got a raw deal from him, you'd see posts about it.

lithium726 · #7 Post by **lithium726** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:53 pm

i bought my 23 off anandtech forums, and my 40 off IBM certified used... the 60 will be coming direct from IBM/lenovo.

MagicBoy · #8 Post by **MagicBoy** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:14 pm

Can you get the T60 retail anywhere in the US? I'm in Florida for a couple of weeks at the end of March and I'm very tempted to get a T60 while I'm there due to the savings.

turbolium · #9 Post by **turbolium** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:37 am

got mine t42 of some guy on other forum

bhtooefr · #10 Post by **bhtooefr** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 10:10 am

Got my X21 from RetroBox. Service was great, but I shouldn't have had to use it. Never again will I buy a used laptop.

My R51e 1843-35U is on the way, ordered from Lenovo.

Aroc · #11 Post by **Aroc** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 2:11 am

Lenovo. I must have what I can only assume to be the last openbay CTO that shipped as an open bay (ordered on 2/4/2006). If Bill sold thinkpads as open bays, I would have bought one from him. I also buy used on eBay, but only from Buy-it-now auctions. I'd like to buy a used, second thinkpad from the forums here to use as a general remote access /wireless test machine for work.

#12 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 2:21 am

MagicBoy wrote:Can you get the T60 retail anywhere in the US? I'm in Florida for a couple of weeks at the end of March and I'm very tempted to get a T60 while I'm there due to the savings.

not pushing sales these days and i don't tend to sell anything less than top of the line thinkpads..

why..?
the economics and the fact lenovo would rather see me close up..

that said i live in florida..
and i might be able to accomodate you..
depending on which thinkpad you would like..

#13 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 2:27 am

Aroc wrote:Lenovo. I must have what I can only assume to be the last openbay CTO that shipped as an open bay (ordered on 2/4/2006). If Bill sold thinkpads as open bays, I would have bought one from him. I also buy used on eBay, but only from Buy-it-now auctions. I'd like to buy a used, second thinkpad from the forums here to use as a general remote access /wireless test machine for work.

they are not supposed to sell open bay thinkpads..
you MUST order a HDD and optical drive..
you MUST buy an OS (you have a choice of windows XP and, uhmm, well nothing else!)..
you must buy memory..

in short, you can't buy one without it being a complete computer..

that said, it has happened that LE's wouldf buy bunches of open bay machines and their IT department would config and ship to end users..
some of these might wind up as surplus and be sold off, privately..

and they leak out in other way as well..

yours might ship or it might get cancelled..
they can and DO cancel orders..
or they just forget about it..
like a pocket veto..

good luck.. seriously..

bhtooefr · #14 Post by **bhtooefr** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:39 am

I have an order that was in a queue in which orders randomly get canceled if they don't meet certain conditions (which I will not say, I'm on this site, after all).

Mine is borderline not qualifying. If it would have gotten spot checked, it probably would've gotten nuked.

However, it's currently sitting in the UPS Shanghai warehouse, awaiting a 747 to take it to the US.

So, there's hope for you, Aroc.

And, Bill, Lenovo is STILL trying to shut you down? Sad.

Aroc · #15 Post by **Aroc** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:35 am

2687-E8U open bay ordered on Sat 2/4/06 via website. Package arrived at Parma, OH 44129 on Thursday 2/09/06. I wasn't there to sign for it so I picked it up myself from UPS on Friday 2/10/06. I am extremely lucky. I have not read success stories of open bay CTO orders for almost a year. And it seems that Lenovo stopped taking open bay CTO orders some time back in Dec 2005.

Unit came with 14 inch SXGA+, P-M 1.86Ghz, 64MB X300, single 16v power supply, 56k modem daughter card, 0MB of RAM, no HDD, no O/S, no battery, no wifi, no optical drive. I won't discuss specific pricing since that is verboten here (which I agree with Bill) but it was well under a grand shipped.

I was successfully able to trick the website into dropping my order into my shopping cart. The checkout process went smoothly. No call, no modification, no cancellation. I don't believe my good fortune can be repeated. At least not now that the website as been redesigned as of a few weeks ago.

I only needed the one. By time I need a replacement Thinkpad, I will likely order one from Bill. Since I will enjoy the zero hassle experience and will likely be able to get a top-of-the-line unit, like the ones he sells. I appreciate the feedback and of course good luck with the site. Here's to hoping that Lenovo learns to get along with you. This is a fantastic site. I wishyou well with your business. I understand you provide fantastic service. Kudos.

Do most people buy their laptop from IBM/Lenovo, ebay, etc.

Do most people buy their laptop from IBM/Lenovo, ebay, etc.

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