Should I buy a Certified Used T40...or a T42?

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edbatista · #1 Post by **edbatista** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:10 pm

I have a T40 that I bought two years ago through IBM's Certified Used Equipment program, and I'm thinking of replacing it with another T40 or a T42. Both models run about $600, but they have different pros and cons for me. Any feedback on the issues below would be helpful.

T40 PROS:
- I really like the T40 form factor.
- I could hold onto my old T40 and scavenge parts as needed.

T40 CONS:
- The USB on my current T40 is running at 1.0, and having reviewed several threads on this board and tried all the software-related fixes, I believe this is a hardware-related problem affecting T40s.
- No hard drive airbag.

T42 PROS:
- Hard drive airbag.
- Apparently far fewer problems with USB running at 1.0.

T42 CONS:
- Larger and heavier than the T40.
- Some parts from my current T40 could be scavenged, but not all.

Any advice, particularly from people who've used both machines, would be helpful.

#2 Post by **underclocker** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:31 pm

Only T42's w/15" LCD's are larger and heavier than T40's - which didn't offer 15" LCD's. All 14" T4x's weight about the same - higher performance models are slightly heavier. Of course, 6-cell vs. 9-cell battery probably makes the greatest difference in weight, either battery will work with any of the T4x's.

Suggestion: wait until a 14" T42 or T43 is available as Certified Used or look for a T42 or T43 in good shape with 1 year (or more) of warranty remaining on eBay.

My current T40 was purchased as Certified Used direct from IBM two years ago. It's still quite solid.

edbatista · #3 Post by **edbatista** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:10 pm

underclocker wrote:Only T42's w/15" LCD's are larger and heavier than T40's - which didn't offer 15" LCD's. All 14" T4x's weight about the same - higher performance models are slightly heavier. Of course, 6-cell vs. 9-cell battery probably makes the greatest difference in weight, either battery will work with any of the T4x's.

Suggestion: wait until a 14" T42 or T43 is available as Certified Used or look for a T42 or T43 in good shape with 1 year (or more) of warranty remaining on eBay.

My current T40 was purchased as Certified Used direct from IBM two years ago. It's still quite solid.

Thanks, underclocker--that's helpful. I thought all the T42s were slightly larger than the T40s.

If I could ask a related question, if I get a 14" T42, can I expect to be able to scavenge most of the parts from my current T40?

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:09 pm

edbatista wrote: If I could ask a related question, if I get a 14" T42, can I expect to be able to scavenge most of the parts from my current T40?

That depends; what parts do you want to scavenge?

Almost all the parts from your T40 will work on a T42.

nirvana0001 · #5 Post by **nirvana0001** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:24 pm

i think you can get a t43 for $600 now

Temetka · #6 Post by **Temetka** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:42 pm

Why no love for the T41?

edbatista · #7 Post by **edbatista** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 6:18 pm

christopher_wolf wrote:
edbatista wrote: If I could ask a related question, if I get a 14" T42, can I expect to be able to scavenge most of the parts from my current T40?
That depends; what parts do you want to scavenge?

Almost all the parts from your T40 will work on a T42.

The part that immediately comes to mind is the internal wireless adapter. I'm seeing a number of "WiFi upgradeable" machines available via IBM, and it's my understanding that they have internal antennas but lack the adapter, which I'd like to recycle from my T40 (assuming I can figure out how to make the swap.)

Temetka wrote:Why no love for the T41?

Initially I thought if I was going to give up the ability to scavenge parts from my T40, I might as well get the T42's hard drive airbag.

It sounds like I was mistaken in thinking that there were any substantive differences between the T40 and the T41 that would affect "scavengability."

However, it's currently a moot point, because I'm only seeing T40s and T42s available via IBM.

And as long as there's good interchangeability among the T4Xs, I'm inclined to go for the T42 because of the hard drive airbag, and because it's my understanding that both the T40s and the T41s are subject to the hardware issue that results in the USB running at 1.0.

nirvana0001 wrote:i think you can get a t43 for $600 now

But I'm put off by the difficulties people have had with non-ThinkPad hard drives in T43s. I upgraded to a 100GB hard drive last year, and I just want to swap it into the new machine (and the max hard drive size on the IBM Certified Used machines seems to be just 40GB.)

#8 Post by **underclocker** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 6:32 pm

I believe this is true, but not easily. You have to search diligently to find one for $600.

But it is possible.

nirvana0001 wrote:i think you can get a t43 for $600 now

T40 to T42 WiFi adapter and HD is not an issue. I'm not sure if an XP image will redetect drivers and run or need more help.

pianowizard · #9 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:17 pm

underclocker wrote:All 14" T4x's weight about the same - higher performance models are slightly heavier.

I did a research into this, by looking through the tawbook and the tabook. I think what I found was that the T40 was the lightest in the T series, by a small margin.

#10 Post by **underclocker** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:29 pm

I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes (and scale), but T43's do weigh more than T40's.

Both of my machines are configured similarly, with only one memory slot used, WiFi adapter, combo CD burner drive and six cell battery.

T40 weighs 5 lbs. exactly.

T43 weighs 5 lbs. 5 oz.

Quite a bit more, it's noticeable. Maybe the chasis has been strengthened?

pianowizard wrote:
underclocker wrote:All 14" T4x's weight about the same - higher performance models are slightly heavier.
I did a research into this, by looking through the tawbook and the tabook. I think what I found was that the T40 was the lightest in the T series, by a small margin.

Temetka · #11 Post by **Temetka** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:51 pm

I certainly hope they made they chassis stronger. Maybe it would help with that flexing issue that some have experienced.

Or there is more data on the hard drive of the T43. We all know more data = more weight.

pianowizard · #12 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:50 am

Temetka wrote:I certainly hope they made they chassis stronger. Maybe it would help with that flexing issue that some have experienced.

My T43 flexes quite a bit. If it's heavier than the T40 because it has more structural reinforcements, then the T40 must flex REALLY bad!

schmaud · #13 Post by **schmaud** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:32 am

Hi,

i guess the T43 is heaviear since it has a bit more cooling requirement dueto to the new chipset, the PCIe, Sata/Pata bridge etc.
additionaly, they ussualy come with the radon 9xxx instead of a Radon 7xxx, having a bigger fan assembly for this.
I got a T42, my brother got a T43, in terms of flex I do not the a difference.

Buy the way: Harddrive wight is almost independent of capacity, ussually the storage per cm2 differs.^

For the choice T40/T42:

the t42 (and the t41) has a faster memory connection ( 400 Mhz vs. 333 Mhz.), this acctually makes some difference 8 the T42 is 533, but has some issues).
The difference t41/42 is the processor generation: T42 (Dothan) has more cache and uses a bit less energy under load, t41 (Banias) uses less enegy in standby, and is available only until 1.6Ghz.

Temetka · #14 Post by **Temetka** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 12:47 am

I was joking about hard drive weight and data capacity.

Should I buy a Certified Used T40...or a T42?

Should I buy a Certified Used T40...or a T42?

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