Pre-Purchase Question about the X60

[dejola]

I am trying to help my ex-boss buy a new ultraportable notebook computer. He asked for my advice and I urged him to buy the Tinkpad X60 versus a Sony he was considering. I believe I have convinced him to opt for the X60. Now he wants me to order it for him via the IBM Employee Purchase Plan (perfectly legal and ethical). The trouble is there are a bewildering array of decisions that one must make. When you purchase through the IBM EPP all sales are final. You cannot return the machine for a refund.

My ex-boss uses his computer for email and surfing the web and word processing. I suppose he might want to enjoy watching a movie on DVD while waiting for a plane at the airport, and I know he would like to have built-in Verizon EDO wireless capability in addition to ordinary 802.11a/b/g (and down the road n) wireless capability, whether or not he ends up signing up for the service from Verizon.

The sales guy couldn't tell me if the EDO is built-in or would I need to buy an option V620 Verizon Sierra pc card for the EDO. I have heard conflicting information on this point. Likewise when I questioned him about the warranty for the X60 he said it was one year for the X60 and 3 years for the X60s. First time I'd ever heard of the X60s. He couldn't tell me how it differed from the X60 except that the X60s has a 3 year warranty. He also tried to interest me in an X41 with a bundled optical drive. Said it was basically the same as the X60 except that it didn't employ dual processors.

I need some knowledgable advice before I place my order.

Does my ex-boss need dual processor technology? If you were buying this machine would you want it?

Which optical drive choice should I make? Should I get a base or a dock?

Is CDMA2000 the same as the optional V620 Sierra Card? Do I need the optional V620 Sierra Card or is it built-in?

What is the ideal configuration (model number) of the X60 if I want:

Three (3) year warranty
Verizon EDO wireless broadband service
Ordinary wireless capability
Ability to load software from CDs and DVDs and watch movies on DVD

Does anyone know?

Thanks a bunch.

John

[trentblase]

Responding to some of your questions in no particular order:

The IBM EPP has a 30 day refund window.

Different models have different warranty periods -- you should be able to compare them effectively on the EPP site (which you should know/be able to find out how to access).

The Verizon service is called EVDO, and is the same service as CDMA2000/V620 Sierra Card. If you purchase a laptop with CDMA2000 included, it will not be a separate card. It will be built into the machine. Alternatively, you can purchase the laptop w/o CDMA2000 and buy the card separately (as a PCMCIA card). You DO need to purchase service with Verizon. I believe it runs about $60/mo for unlimited access, but you should double check with Verizon.

Whether you "need" the dock or dual processors is really a personal choice. For me, I don't need a dock, but the dual processor option was neccessary. I looked at the dual processor option from an incremental cost perspective ($X more expensive for twice the cores!)

Since the laptop doesn't have an optical drive, you will need your own external (or networked) drive to copy data to the PC. If you purchase the dock, this will take care of that requirement.

Looking at your requirements, if you want a total solution it seems you'll have to go top of the line with either the 170997U (X60) or the 170469U (X60s). The X60s is thinner and lighter but has a 1.66ghz chip instead of 1.83ghz.

If you don't need the "total package" then you could get any of the lesser systems and add on an EVDO card and external DVD drive.

[dfumento]

I have the X60s (1702-63U) which satisfies your needs (with the built-in EVDO).

You can get the external USB 2.0 Multi-burner for a very portable CD/DVD solution which is what I use and it works very well.

[dejola]

Many thanks to Trentblase and Dfumento for helping to clarify things for me. The information you both provided is very helpful to me and I very much appreciate the kindness.

Thanks again.

[dejola]

I rechecked at the IBM Employee Purchase Plan site and confirmed that their policy is no returns, exchanges, etc. None. They apparently do not offer a 30 day return policy when the purchase is via the IBM EPP.

I am also somewhat concerned about the problems some are having with the machine getting hot or uncomfortably warm and others who are having problems with the base and some ports not being recognized or working correctly.

I wonder what Lenovo's policy is regarding replacing defective units that overheat and...what constitutes overheating.

[trentblase]

I rechecked at the IBM Employee Purchase Plan site and confirmed that their policy is no returns, exchanges, etc. None. They apparently do not offer a 30 day return policy when the purchase is via the IBM EPP.

I am also somewhat concerned about the problems some are having with the machine getting hot or uncomfortably warm and others who are having problems with the base and some ports not being recognized or working correctly.

I wonder what Lenovo's policy is regarding replacing defective units that overheat and...what constitutes overheating.

My apologies... they must have changed this policy in the last 30 days. I double checked my confirmation email from 3/25/06 and it stated a 30 day return policy.

If you are worried about satisfaction, you might look into the details of your credit card's purchase protection plan. Most "platinum" type cards offer some kind of service where they will accept returns if the original manufacturer will not. This is usually subject to certain dollar amount limits. Also, if the product is unbearably hot, or the ports don't work, it could easily be argued that it's defective. If you spoke w/ Lenovo customer service, I think they'd allow a return. The alternative is you sending it back to them and disputing the credit card charge, which will cost them a lot. IANAL, but I would think that consumer protections will be on your side with a product that is demonstrably faulty (or even dangerous).

From what I've read about the base, I can understand your apprehension. If I was at all interested in getting the base, the negative feedback might have been a deal breaker for me.

[cj3209]

I rechecked at the IBM Employee Purchase Plan site and confirmed that their policy is no returns, exchanges, etc. None. They apparently do not offer a 30 day return policy when the purchase is via the IBM EPP.

I am also somewhat concerned about the problems some are having with the machine getting hot or uncomfortably warm and others who are having problems with the base and some ports not being recognized or working correctly.

I wonder what Lenovo's policy is regarding replacing defective units that overheat and...what constitutes overheating.

Lenovo must have changed the 30-day EPP exchange policy recently as I've returned an EPP unit within 30 days previously - last December '06.

I use an x60s and haven't noticed the machine getting uncomfortably hot. Every notebook has some degree of heating but I find IBM/Lenovo's notebooks to have less issues with heating than other brands such as Dell or HP. Also, my base is working fine so far.

Since IBM's service is the highest rated, I wouldn't worry about issues regarding defective units. If your Thinkpad is defective, they will exchange it; I've never heard of IBM not exchanging a defective unit. I HAVE heard about Dell and HP's service woes though.

Cheers,
CJ

[dejola]

Again, many thanks to all who are helping me on this question.
From what I am gathering it seem likely that the X60 overheating problem may be one that affects a relatively small number of units (the ones we hear about). As far as the base is concerned, I'm thinking I may not get the base (for now) and opt instead for the
external USB 2.0 Multi-burner mentioned by Dfumento. So, as I understand it that would mean I have thus have two separate pieces of hardware - the X60 - and the external Multi-burner, is that correct?
And to use the multi-burner I would just plug it into a USB port? No drivers to insyall or setup required each time? Dfumento, can you provide the cost of the USB 2.0 Multi-burner and its part number?

Many thanks once again.

[cj3209]

Again, many thanks to all who are helping me on this question.
From what I am gathering it seem likely that the X60 overheating problem may be one that affects a relatively small number of units (the ones we hear about). As far as the base is concerned, I'm thinking I may not get the base (for now) and opt instead for the
external USB 2.0 Multi-burner mentioned by Dfumento. So, as I understand it that would mean I have thus have two separate pieces of hardware - the X60 - and the external Multi-burner, is that correct?
And to use the multi-burner I would just plug it into a USB port? No drivers to insyall or setup required each time? Dfumento, can you provide the cost of the USB 2.0 Multi-burner and its part number?

Many thanks once again.

External drives may require an external power source necessitating an ac adapter just for the drive - a pain to keep with the notebook.

I still recommend getting the dock base as it attaches underneath the X60s and gives it more options for connectivity as well as an internal drive that can be replaced with an additional battery or hard drive - your x60s effectively becomes a t60 (well, almost...) with greater options. If it's defective, Lenovo will replace it instantly (hopefully).

[dejola]

I called IBM EPP and have zeroed in on an X60s Model 170469U after the sales rep assured me that this model has a 3 year warramty, the Verizon Sierra CDMA2000 WLAN card (foe EVDO service) builtin, 1GB of memory, 100GB hard drive, and a 2.4X Max DVD Recordable EIDE Ultrabay Slim Drive (Standard).

Haven't pulled the trigger yet, though.

[dfumento]

I think this is the DVD-CD burner unit you are looking for. It can run in two modes: 1) using 2USB ports, or 2) 1 USB port and an external power power adapter.


http://www-306.ibm.com/common/ssi/OIX.w ... ersion=yes

I am selling an older model for a reasonble price if you'd like as I might buy the new one.