Yea or Nay on my latest purchase from eBay.

[Kaervak]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0100792176

For $150 shipped I had a hard time passing it up.

The crack in the LCD bezel is no big deal to me. The keyboard bezel I'll eventually replace. I recently upgraded the HDD in my current T23 so I have a drive just sitting here that I can put into it. The DC jack might be an issue, but I've seen them on eBay for around $10 shipped so that's no big deal. Ditto on the missing screws, probably can find them here or on Ebay for a decent price.

The classic inductor issue is a fairly easy repair, that's what was wrong with mine when I bought it. (See here, scroll down http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=39946) 256MB of ram is kinda a bummer but this one will likely end up as my mom's laptop so she's not going to care. The built in wireless is a nice plus and according to the 2647-BU5 number it might have a DVD/CD-RW drive which would be a very nice addition to my T23.

My biggest concern is how the LCD looks in the pictures. Definitely in need of a cleaning, but hopefully that's all it needs. It does work which is nice and if the backlight is bright enough I just may swap the panels as the backlight in this T23 is getting dim. Probably have another year or so before it completely cuts out and I replace the lamp.

So if you guys were looking for a cheapish T23 to repair, would you have gone for this one? I'm happy with my decision to buy it, just always nice to gloat and get the opnion of others.

[rkawakami]

Personally, $150 was a little too much for me. I saw this one when it popped up on my usual search. But, you have to remember this is in my context: I'm now on T23 #22 (read story about it here). Not all of the systems I have purchased so far are fully running (I'd say I'm at about 85%). You appear to have correctly quantified the costs, in my opinion, for getting the system back in shape. As long as you are happy with it, that's all that should matter.

[Phazer]

I gotto start jotting down you guys eBay names so I don't bid against you......

[pianowizard]

I got a mint-condition T23 on eBay for $165 shipped almost a year ago.

[Kaervak]

Well, I got the T23 today and have been tinkering wth it all day. No internal wireless, no CPU, no optical drive(I knew about it before it shipped). Took about two minutes to fix the cold solder joint on the inductor. The LCD backlight is quite bright, but there are a few pressure spots so I'll be keeping my current display. DC jack is perfectly fine and so is the battery. There are a few screws missing which I have replacements for on the way. Also a couple parts MIA which I'm surrently looking for. So, in light of there being no CPU or internal wireless, the seller has agreed to refund $50 off the sale price. Not too bad a deal after all. My biggest complaint is that the system belonged to a smoker. No offense to any smokers here, but man that smell is awful. Any ideas on how to help get rid of it? I've completely torn the laptop down and cleaned everything I could with a isopropyl alcohol/water/vinegar mixture. It helped, but it still have that "funk" to it.

[rkawakami]

I received a system like that (ex-smoker) and after cleaning it with isopropyl alcohol and then Windex (yes, Windex!) and then letting it sit for a couple of weeks, the smell eventually disappeared. If any of you have been following my story about my T22 "blink of death" machine, that's the one.

[phool@round]

I use Goo Be Gone for cleaning and it leaves a nice citrus smell as it rejuvinates...... sounds like a commercial.

My Ebay high water mark is $98 for a mint condition, finely purring 4U2. The space bar didn't even have a rub on it and the lid sparkles shined O' so brightly. The battery had less than 20 cycles. It was crying out my name...... "I'm waiting 4-U-2 buy me....phool@round.....". Needless to say it is all mine forever and ever, till death do us part. I just snagged it a couple of months ago. Kinda flogging it with Vista Business right now, I'm sorry, it actually likes it.

Bottom line.... If you can afford it then it was a good deal. One more badly mistreated T23 is going to finally have a good home.

Treat it well!

..... I've actually un-orange juiced a DOA mainboard with Windex, let it soak in then ran it under hot hot water, let it dry out over a forced air heat duct and once installed it booted first try.... I'm a believer.........Windex, aaahhhh you are my number one tool.

[Kaervak]

I tore the laptop apart again Friday evening and let everything that smelled sit propped up in an open window with a steady breeze blowing over it. Took care of the smell on almost everything. The lid and base however still had the smell to it so, a little febreeze on a paper towel and a rubdown later no more smell. The keyboard has a little bit of the smell left even after popping off all the key caps and giving them a good washing and cleaning the keyboard itself, just going to have to let that air out. So after everything that has gone on with this T23, just a couple more parts and it's ready for service. Cosmetically it's not a bad system after cleaning everything. Typical Thinkpad really, can take a beating from the user but with a little TLC it's right back up and running and ready to go.

On a side note, it came with two keyboards. The old really funky cigarette smelling one and a [censored] near new slightly funky cigarette smelling one (currently on the T23). The keycaps are in great condition, no shiny keys at all. Probably not able to salvage the entire keyboard, but the keycaps from the old one definitely can be saved.