Am I stupid? Potential buyers remorse over T22???

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iscoot · #1 Post by **iscoot** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:53 pm

I had a bad display on my T20 and, instead of monitor switch for $90 and hours of hell, I decided to get a replacement T20 cheap and put in the old HD.

After hours on ebay, I decided to upgrade a bit (on a budget) and opted for a T22 because it had good loaded software for what I do (I am mostly surfing, accounting, word processing and listening to music. I am networked via dock at work to other XP pro machines). I think I can use my ultrabay battery etc on T22. I am also hoping to use the old machie and/or HD as a backup in some way.

I saw "wireless LAN card" in the listing and thought internal. I have been reading posts and now think wireless and T22 are mutually exclusive. I hate the bulge of a PCMCIA wireless card on my current machine.

I paid $275 for the machine. Here is the post.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=002

Please visit and tell me....did I do something stupid? Concensus on this board seems to be to spend extra $ to go to the T23.

Thanks.

pianowizard · #2 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:09 pm

Yep, you paid a little too much for this T22. It's probably worth around $220.

iscoot · #3 Post by **iscoot** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:20 pm

Well, I paid $250 plus $25 shipping, and that much of an overpayment I can live with, expecially with the Office 2003 on board. But my concern is that the performance upgrade from my T20 won't be worth it. I think that I should've gotten a decent T20 for lots less and plugged in the HD from my existing T20

Website · #4 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:25 pm

Well, look at the bright side, with the age of the T20 versus the age of the T22, the LCD/backlight in the T22 should last longer.

ronbo613 · #5 Post by **ronbo613** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:44 pm

First off, an IBM laptop computer for $275 is not that bad of a deal, it's pretty cool you can get a computer that cheap. I paid more for the now outdated graphics card on my PC.
Windows XP Pro is $130.USD, Office is more than $500., it's not like you got robbed at gunpoint.

pianowizard · #6 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:53 pm

But both WinXP and Office 2003 are illegal installations, because T22 came with either Win98SE or Win2K, and Office2K or OfficeXP.

iscoot · #7 Post by **iscoot** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:08 am

A troubling thought indeed pianowiz, although I opt to believe that XP and office upgrades were purchased and installed legally, which is equally likely.

dsigma6 · #8 Post by **dsigma6** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:20 am

the lcd switch wouldn't have been hell!

You paid a high price, but it was good to see that at least the RAM is maxed out, plus a good size HD and the 14.1 instead of the chintzy 13.3.

#9 Post by **underclocker** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:56 am

If the machine is truly in good physical condition with a nice LCD, the price is fine. It comes with 512MB RAM + 35? (or 40GB) drive, a DVD drive, plus the AC adapter.

Unfortuneately, the wireless is external, unless someone did an upgrade or T23 LCD swap with this machine. T22's did not come with internal wireless.

(Plus you can probably sell your T20 for $100 or so.)

t20user · #10 Post by **t20user** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:19 am

There is no way I would settle for a T20 over a T22. I couldn't stand the noise from my T20, and the screen is much brighter on my T22.

As for paying $275, if you receive it, and it is in tip top shape then you did not over pay. When you pick up a T22 for $200 you will have to worry about scratches, keyboard wear, cracks etc. For $275 I expect it to be mostly flawless, and the seller have some return policy.

pianowizard · #11 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:06 pm

I agree that if it looks almost brand new (like the TP600E that I just sold to Mike), $275 would be about right. When I thought it's worth $220, I was assuming that the unit looked similar to the typical 5-year-old laptop, like 7 or 8 out of 10.

pianowizard · #12 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:11 pm

t20user wrote:There is no way I would settle for a T20 over a T22.

On the other hand, since it's now fairly easy to get a decent T23 for $275, there is no way I would settle for a T22 over a T23. Just the fact that T23 has two USB ports makes a huge difference, not to mention faster processors, up to twice as much RAM, etc.

Again, if the OP's T22 looks really nice, it can be worth $275, but I am afraid s/he is going to be constantly tempted to sell it and replace it with a similarly priced T23. I have been in such a situation many times!

iscoot · #13 Post by **iscoot** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:18 pm

I am feeling better about the T22. It will be an upgrade from the T20 and really is a short term solution. I may wish for the T23, but in a few years, I will spring for a haus with bells and whistles. For now, I need to replace what I have and preserve status quo, and an upgrade is just a bonus.

Thanks for all the input.

Nolonemo · #14 Post by **Nolonemo** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:31 pm

I don't know where people are getting some of these prices. Looking at completed auctions on eBay, $275 is not a bad price for a nice T23 with the OP's specs. And $275 is a pretty low price for a T23.

So, OP, don't worry about what you spent. Could you have gotten a better deal, sure. Did you get a bad deal? No.

On the wifi issue. You need to know that T23s with built in wifi are comparatively rare, the vast majority sold on eBay do not have internal wifi.

The solution for you is to get a 3Com X-Jack wifi card. The card's antenna retracts into the case of the PC card, so it's only extended when you are using it. I have one in my T23, and it's a great wifi solution.

dsigma6 · #15 Post by **dsigma6** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:44 pm

Nolonemo wrote:I don't know where people are getting some of these prices. Looking at completed auctions on eBay, $275 is not a bad price for a nice T23 with the OP's specs. And $275 is a pretty low price for a T23.

He got a T22, not a T23.

pianowizard · #16 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:46 pm

Nolonemo wrote:I don't know where people are getting some of these prices. Looking at completed auctions on eBay, $275 is not a bad price for a nice T23 with the OP's specs. And $275 is a pretty low price for a T23.

The OP paid $275 for a T22, not T23. MY friend bought a mint condition T22 with similar specs half a year ago for $270 shipped, though with only 20GB of HDD, and 256MB of the 512MB RAM died after a few weeks of use.

#17 Post by **underclocker** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:12 pm

I second the suggestion for 3Com X-Jack wifi adapters. They work great can come in many flavors, including A/B/G.

dsigma6 · #18 Post by **dsigma6** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:22 pm

I purchased a T21 or 22 (can't remember, purchased for a friend) from dsvochak about 2 or 3 months ago (which happens to now have a failed motherboard) for $240, with a 40GB 5400RPM HD and something like 384MB RAM. It also has a bunch of white spots and bleed through at the bottom of the LCD.

It sucks that this had to be my friends first impression of ThinkPads, because now he'll never buy one again.

pianowizard · #19 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:37 pm

dsigma6 wrote:It also has a bunch of white spots and bleed through at the bottom of the LCD.

Sounds like the T21 that I sold locally thru Craigslist last month for $170.

dsigma6 · #20 Post by **dsigma6** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:43 pm

pianowizard wrote:Sounds like the T21 that I sold locally thru Craigslist last month for $170.

I never would have paid $240 for it, but the guy thought it was fair. $170 is a good price. I picked up a T20 with upgraded 800mhz, 384MB, CDRW/DVD drive and 13.3" with about 5 insignificant white spots from tselling a few months back for $150 shipped.

iscoot · #21 Post by **iscoot** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:41 pm

The unit looks clean and purportedly has a perfect LCD. Windows XP and Office 2003 with max RAM.

I am gathering that I could have gotten one like it for like $20-$30 cheaper if i waited and looked, but my T20 screen is shot and fading and I needed a replacement fairly urgently.

Also, the extra $30 is worth the time I would've spent wating, watching, and bidding.

Great advice about wifi card. That makes life lots better, in my book. I will look around for one.

If the T22 I bought is as advertised, I am good with it. If is sux like the experience posted above, it wouldn't be worth $75 to me.

Hell, when I strike oil, its new T60s for everyone; on me.

iscoot · #22 Post by **iscoot** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:53 pm

Oh....and before I start another street fight with my post-purchase posts, how much should I pay for the 3Com X-Jack wifi card

dsigma6 · #23 Post by **dsigma6** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:54 pm

iscoot wrote:Hell, when I strike oil, its new T60s for everyone; on me.

PM sent

#24 Post by **underclocker** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:49 am

Hell, when I strike oil, its new T60s for everyone; on me.

Best of luck, may I trouble you for an X60s? Now those look fabulous!

Am I stupid? Potential buyers remorse over T22???

Am I stupid? Potential buyers remorse over T22???

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