Shop IBM frustrations and video card / screen choices: T42

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DuckRyder · #1 Post by **DuckRyder** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:58 pm

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

I just found this forum and have been reading some post that came up on searches.

First of all I have a ThinkPad Express (2378FZU) on order that was ordered on 10/06/2004. The confirmation E-Mail stated it would ship on 10/11/2004 (I find this in itself a bit slow for an “In Stock” model) but the order status pushed it back by a day each day, Saturday it showed 10/20/2004. I’ve had some conversations with IBM and will be having another on Monday. I expect I will end up cancelling the order.

Any way, I’ve found a supplier which may be able to ship one of 3 express models on Monday.

2378FVU 1.7, 256, 14.1, 64m 1400X1050, 40g
2378FZU 1.7, 512, 15, 32m, 1024x768, 40g
2379DXU 1.7, 512, 15, 64, 1400x1050, Bluetooth, 60g

Reading some post has me second guessing the 32m card and 1024x768. And I wonder if the 2378FVU might be a better choice (upping the memory is easy) the 2379DXU is honestly stretching the budget and I don’t need the 60 gig or the Bluetooth. (The supplier cannot ship a 2378DXU on Monday)

The machine will replace a Sony Z505SX (366p2m, 192, 4m, 12.4, 1024x768) and is for word processing, personal photo editing, web surfing and media player stuff.

I’d be sold on the 2378FVU if it were not for a post alluding to the 14.1 models being generally poorer build quality than the 15 inch models.

Any opinions on what the right thing to do might be?

TIA

Plinkerton · #2 Post by **Plinkerton** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 12:35 am

Get the one you want, and don't worry too much about build quality.

You refer to a post about the bad build quality, and I have heard of that. I have also heard that a conversation about the same thing ended with most people agreeing that there wasn't really that many noticeable differences between the two.

The 14 inch is still a GREAT computer.

I have/had a 2378FVU. Unfortunately, and definitely not helping your thoughts that the 14 inch has bad build quality, mine turned out to be a lemon. I am now awaiting my second one.

As for built quality though, it felt great. Very solid and dense. I liked it a lot.

I think you should just go for what you want. There are many people who complain about build quality, but there are TONS of people, who love theirs, and have never had a problem with theirs, through tons of abuse and travel.

DuckRyder · #3 Post by **DuckRyder** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:24 am

Well, I got up this morning and had a shipping confirmation. Should arrive weds.

I guess I will take the 2378FZU for a test drive and decide if I want to return it within the 30 days.

Wonder if the 64m card could be installed at a later date?

My gut feeling is that it will be fine for my purposes.

My company has a long history of using IBM and I know what a tough workhorse our 600E's were, and the X30 are. (and the ones before that were 760's I think)

fritz_the_blank · #4 Post by **fritz_the_blank** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:01 am

This is strange. When I placed the order for my T42, I was told that I couldn't get the 64meg video card with the 14" screen. Does anyone know if the video card can be upgraded at a later date? My configuration is as follows:

1 SYS.2378EV CONFIGURED SYSTEM
10/13/04 $2,433.20 $2,433.20
2378EVU T42 INTEL PENTIUM M 1.7GHZ
09N4278 60GB 7200RPM HDD CTO
31P9705 CTO 802.11A/B/G WIRELESS MINI
31P9838 512MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM CTO
31P9857 CTO TP 6 CELL LION BATTERY
73P2814 IBM INTEGRATED 56K V.92
73P2891 MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP PRO
73P3295 CTO IBM MULTI BURNER
30L9192 3YR DEPOT REPAIR
1 08K8197 THINKPAD T40 SERIES HIGH
10/15/04 $99.00 $99.00

Leon · #5 Post by **Leon** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:19 am

video cards cannot be upgraded.......

fritz_the_blank · #6 Post by **fritz_the_blank** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:23 am

Oops, I said that poorly--I meant to ask if they could be swapped out.

Leon · #7 Post by **Leon** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:24 am

only if you replace the whole mobo........

fritz_the_blank · #8 Post by **fritz_the_blank** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:34 am

Dang!!

Thanks for letting me know.

mattfromomaha · #9 Post by **mattfromomaha** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:34 pm

fritz,

For your intended uses, you should have absolutely zero problems with the video card as is. 32 outta be more than enough for you!

fritz_the_blank · #10 Post by **fritz_the_blank** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 5:31 pm

Hey Matt--

Thanks for writing. I was hoping to play the odd game on this, and every now and then you see the requirement of 64 megs of video ram. I thought that might mean that those games wouldn't work on this computer. But then again, the games in question aren't 3D games, so perhaps a 32Meg 3D video card is enough?

lvlolvlo · #11 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:39 pm

Have you considered getting one from Bill???

fritz_the_blank · #12 Post by **fritz_the_blank** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:32 am

lvlolvlo wrote:Have you considered getting one from Bill???

I had already purchased from IBM directly before I found this site. I would feel strange cancelling the order and repurchasing.

DuckRyder · #13 Post by **DuckRyder** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:04 pm

fritz_the_blank wrote:
lvlolvlo wrote:Have you considered getting one from Bill???
I had already purchased from IBM directly before I found this site. I would feel strange cancelling the order and repurchasing.

Ditto.

BTW you guys are a terrible influence. I'm trying hard to convince myself that I'll be very happy with the 15"XGA+34m but reading more and more has me contemplating the hot rod T42p with the 128m and god-awful huge resolution..............

I am concerned about the display though; this Sony Display is quite bright and clear even if it is quite old.

My machine is in Customs so I guess I'll have a clearer opinion by the weekend.

RCube · #14 Post by **RCube** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:50 pm

fritz_the_blank wrote:Hey Matt--

Thanks for writing. I was hoping to play the odd game on this, and every now and then you see the requirement of 64 megs of video ram. I thought that might mean that those games wouldn't work on this computer. But then again, the games in question aren't 3D games, so perhaps a 32Meg 3D video card is enough?

what game requires 64mb of video memory?
I don't think you will beable to play such a game at max resolution anyways. And if you lower it to play....whats the point of all that video ram?

fritz_the_blank · #15 Post by **fritz_the_blank** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:13 am

RCube--

I think the game that I tried to install when I got that message was called BloodRayne, but that was on my old desktop that has a 16meg non-3D card.

Once I get the new T42, I'll try installing to see what happens and report back here in case anyone is interested.

RCube · #16 Post by **RCube** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:42 am

fritz_the_blank wrote:RCube--

I think the game that I tried to install when I got that message was called BloodRayne, but that was on my old desktop that has a 16meg non-3D card.

Once I get the new T42, I'll try installing to see what happens and report back here in case anyone is interested.

ok never played that game. :p

I just don't like how videocard companies use video ram as a marketing tool to sell videocards. Like you see some ati 9000 with 256mb of ram...it will never beable to use that much ram and render at a playable framerate. So what is the point of all that ram?

I think 32mb is fine for ati 9000. And 64mb is a good match for 9600, 9700

DuckRyder · #17 Post by **DuckRyder** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 7:24 pm

Got mine yesterday.

Extremley unimpressed with the screen. It is going back.

I was ready to order FVU as a replacement but I wasn't really happy with my treatment.

I'll have to think about it, but I may look at something besides IBM.

fritz_the_blank · #18 Post by **fritz_the_blank** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 9:29 am

I received mine on Thursday and am very pleased with it. In regards to the discussion above about video games, the game that needed 64 meg of video ram runs fine on this machine even though it is only a 32 meg card. There is something that I don't understand here, but as long as everything works....

One complaint about the screen: the top of the screen doesn't form a straight line--it is somewhat crooked. Is that common?

Shop IBM frustrations and video card / screen choices: T42

Shop IBM frustrations and video card / screen choices: T42

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