Ordered T60p - The Scoop

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ScotchDiver · #1 Post by **ScotchDiver** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:34 am

I just ordered a T60p today (200793U) after spending the weekend scrounging through reviews, spec. sheets, and forum posts. So I just wanted to write up a little survey of what I found to help save others some frustration.

If your considering any T60, start by examining the TabBook PDF which is posted over at notebookreview.com:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=39265

Next, get the full spec. sheet from IBM (this is for T60p):

http://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/1/ ... 06-091.PDF

For the T60/p, the following reviews were informational, at least:

http://www.desktoppipeline.com/18140119 ... eed_pl_dtp

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2767

http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc ... =2663&p=15

For more of the same, just google "t60 review". There is lots of chatter out there right now. After that, I recommend reading the forum posts at forum.notebookreview.com and here at forum.thinkpads.com.

Don't be intimidated by the price difference between ThinkExpress models and the custom ones. The Lenovo reps truly do have enough flexibility to bring those _custom_ builds inline with the expresses. Also, since NONE of the general consumer T60's have shipped yet (so sayeth my rep), it doesn't make a bit of difference whether you order express or custom right now. Mine is estimated to ship on April 10, or 4 1/2 weeks from when I placed the order. Others have posted the opinion that these dates are likely to be quite pessimistic, which is good, but I'll let you know how it goes for me.

In my case, the only feature I opted out of is the integrated Verizon wireless WAN. I don't use Verizon and $60 a month just isn't in the budget. The list price for the 93U is $3599, but some _very_ simple negotiations got that down to $3023. As I said before, they will bring the price down a lot without you needing an _uncle_ that works for big blue. In fact, it wasn't even really negotiating so much as just chatting. After I discussed all the technical details I was interested in, I just stated that I was ready to discuss the pricing. I mentioned that I had read message boards talking about the AMEX, Visa, and New Customer discounts and I'd like to know what he could offer me. Since price was obviously an issue for me, he just stated that the lowest price he was authorized to accept was $3023. Bam, that was it, $575 off the top. SOLD.

I've heard other people say they've managed even larger disounts, but they don't seem to be very open with the details so YMMV. If you don't think your getting the best quoted price, just thank them for the information and try a different rep later. You should have no problem beating list price by a good margin. Our CTO bought a T43 a couple months ago and she paid list, which is $500 more than my T60 will be. I guess it just pays to be sociable and ask questions.

Good Luck

Scotch

jobes · #2 Post by **jobes** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 12:49 pm

Nice work ScotchDiver

wpwood3 · #3 Post by **wpwood3** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:02 pm

I just ordered my T60 today and had much the same experience. There was a brief discussion about the 3 models I was interested in and then the sales person gave me his best price on the one I decided on.

Thanks to your input I knew I was getting a fair deal.

MaloventEvil · #4 Post by **MaloventEvil** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:01 am

I ordered my 2623DDU for 2300 after discounts

ScotchDiver · #5 Post by **ScotchDiver** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:08 am

MaloventEvil wrote:I ordered my 2623DDU for xxxx after discounts

I have just one thing to say to that; ppppbbbbtttt!!!!

Now I've got to whipe off my screen.....

Seriously, good for you, that's a helluva price. I wish I had access to EPP discounts, but I'm still happy with the price I got none the less. Also, don't be suprised if your post gets blotted as it's against forum rules to post EPP deals.

ScotchDiver

MaloventEvil · #6 Post by **MaloventEvil** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:13 am

can you please unqoute me

csioucs · #7 Post by **csioucs** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:08 pm

I dunno, but I ordered from euclid 2623D6U at 18XX. As they ship internationally, I guess that it is ok.

ScotchDiver · #8 Post by **ScotchDiver** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:40 pm

csioucs wrote:I dunno, but I ordered from euclid 2623D6U at 18XX. As they ship internationally, I guess that it is ok.

That's fine, it's only EPP, Student, and other "restricted" pricing that isn't allowed on the forum. If any Schmo can get your price, go ahead and post it. In fact, that's one of the most useful bits of information a perspective buyer would like to see

I still don't think they're gonna beat Lenovo's best prices though. Euclid lists my 200793U for $3329 and I got Lenovo down to $3023. YMMV.

ScotchDiver

NJRonbo · #9 Post by **NJRonbo** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:53 pm

The guy on the phone at LENOVO would not budge.

Told him that the HP I was looking at, loaded, cost $2100

The T60 LENOVO with the same specs but less features $2800

He would not budge at all. So much for that.

Mandrake · #10 Post by **Mandrake** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:05 pm

NJRonbo wrote:The guy on the phone at LENOVO would not budge.

Told him that the HP I was looking at, loaded, cost $2100

The T60 LENOVO with the same specs but less features $2800

He would not budge at all. So much for that.

I think you are the first person to say that. Try calling again to get someone else.

#11 Post by **BillMorrow** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:34 pm

ScotchDiver wrote:
csioucs wrote:I dunno, but I ordered from euclid 2623D6U at 18XX. As they ship internationally, I guess that it is ok.
That's fine, it's only EPP, Student, and other "restricted" pricing that isn't allowed on the forum. If any Schmo can get your price, go ahead and post it. In fact, that's one of the most useful bits of information a perspective buyer would like to see

I still don't think they're gonna beat Lenovo's best prices though. Euclid lists my 200793U for $3329 and I got Lenovo down to $3023. YMMV.

ScotchDiver

scotchdiver is right..
restricted deals are a nono here, for obvious reasons..
key word is "restricted" meaning only a select few..j

as for euclid vs. lenovo and using one against the other, euclid probably does not add sales tax and lenovo does.. must, in fact..
the thing is, lenovo are whores.. euclid must make a profit or sink out of sight in a sea of red ink..

AND, for those that want to get the TABook direct from ibm/lenovo:

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitu ... tabook.pdf

NJRonbo · #12 Post by **NJRonbo** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:05 pm

Guys...

I just called Lenovo a second time and spoke to
a different sales person.

Explained that I had priced the loaded HP at $2100 and the
same specs on the Lenovo for $2800.

The guy was sort of....pissy. He said "well, it seems like
you priced both these out already" as if to really say, "what
do you want me to do about it?"

There was no offer to budge -- not even an offer to reconfigure
my specs to see if we could come close.

No, guys, Lenovo is not budging on these prices as far as
I can see and I'm rather put off by the manner in which this
last salesperson talked to me as if "I can take it or leave it."

NJRonbo · #13 Post by **NJRonbo** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:18 pm

I just sent LENOVO this email....

======================

Dear Lenovo,

I am a business owner and am looking into purchasing
a top-of-the-line notebook for my business needs.

I have been looking at both Lenovo and HP. My goal
is to purchase an expensive Duo-Core processor with
2 gigs ram and 100 gig SATA hard drive.

The price on HP's flagship computer (dv100t) with the
above mentioned specs is $2100. The price on the
LENOVO T60 2623D7U with the same specs (but less
features) is $2800.

I have been wondering why I would consider paying
an extra $700 for a Lenovo. I was also hoping that
perhaps your sales team would help me configure a
model close to what I need or even (as I heard Lenova
does) negotiate the price somewhat.

Instead, when calling Lenovo tech support they weren't
interested in helping reconfigure or negotiate a price.
In fact, both salespeople I talked to basically gave me
the "you can take it or leave it" attitude.

I'm not looking for a bargain when I call Lenovo. What
I am looking for is someone to be courteous enough to
explain to me why I am paying $700 more for a notebook
with less features than another company's flagship model.
Perhaps that salesperson could even offer to help me configure
something a little more in budget.

I have also read on Internet forums that sometimes when
your company sees that a buyer is looking at another company's
product, that there would be a little wiggle room for price negotiation.

I saw none of that courtesy given upon my 2 phone calls.
I think I will consider HP instead.

===========================

jeremivw · #14 Post by **jeremivw** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:28 pm

When I first joined these forums I was seeing a lot of this "price negotiations" being mentioned. I later learned that, in some cases, specials were being offered that lowered the prices and people (again, in some cases) were taking credit for "negotiations" that must have (in reality) not taken place...or maybe they did and the sales person just wanted to make the person think that they were getting a good deal.

In short, I had the same experience. The first sales rep I spoke to wouldn't budge on the price of the 200794U. Per suggestions in this forum, I called again, spoke to another rep and got the exact same thing. No price cuts whatsoever...even after I explained that I'm a new customer and will be attempting to establish this mobile workstation as the new standard for my position in our company. They didn't care.

I ordered the Express model DDU online since Lenovo humans proved themselves completely worthless, IMO. If it weren't for the supior product that IBM designed, I would have nothing at all to do with Lenovo...

NJRonbo · #15 Post by **NJRonbo** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:38 pm

As much as I want a Lenovo, I think I'm going with HP.

Based on two separate phone calls with two separate sales
people, I got the same impression that they didn't care.

Even more than that, they didn't go out of their way to explain
WHY their product was worth $700 more than the HP. There was
none of the expected salesmanship you would expect from a
company touting themselves as the "Cadillac" of notebooks.

If this was MY company, and I was offering a product I knew
was better than everyone else's, I would have been more courteous
on the phone than these guys were.

I'm not impressed. I'm rather sad, actually. I wanted to walk
away with a Lenovo rather than an HP.

ageyfman · #16 Post by **ageyfman** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:17 pm

Dude, why are you sad? because the salespeople at Lenovo didn't give you a good deal? It's certainly NOT because you didn't get to hear that Lenovo is a better laptop. Get over it. If you want an HP, get one - but know that HPs are consumer grade, not professional grade - it WILL start to show after a good amount of use (unless, of course, you will tether you laptop to your desk and never use it as a "laptop").

Sometimes, you have to pay for the best, even when it's disproportionately more expensive - after all, would you ask a BMW dealer to explain to you why his 325i is more expensive than a Neon? I think not.

Charles Mann · #17 Post by **Charles Mann** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:43 pm

On 3/9 ordered 2623DDU and 1GB extra ram, ship notice showed 1 GB ram to ship on 3/32, 2623DDU to ship on 4/5. Guess what, ram shipped on 3/17, 2623DDU shipped 3/23. For your information the e-mail link shows the memory will ship 4/7, 2623DDU ships 3/23 with no link to UPS, if you access the information through the Lenovo web site, the information is accurate, memory was delivered 3/22, and 2623DDU is in transit with the UPS tracking number.

Whoops...This should have been posted to Off Topic

#18 Post by **JaneL** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:29 pm

ageyfman wrote:If you want an HP, get one - but know that HPs are consumer grade, not professional grade

Well, that's not quite true. HP's are not consumer grade if you buy one of their business notebooks. In fact, this note is being typed on an HP Compaq nc6220. I don't particularly like it (use search to find my earlier comments), but that's not because it's not professional grade.

I do think, however, that deciding which notebook to buy based on the lack of oooohing and gushing from the sales-droid is... unwise. Buy based on your needs and your budget.

NJRonbo · #19 Post by **NJRonbo** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:03 am

Okay guys....

If I go with IBM....

Many are saying I should go with a THINKPAD
over a LENOVO. Why?

With that in mind.....

If it's a LENOVO I want the T60. What is comparable (top-of-the-line)
in the THINKPAD series?

Thank You all for your help.

Note from Moderator: Locking thread as it is being continued in a second thread at http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

Ordered T60p - The Scoop

Ordered T60p - The Scoop

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