T61p availability with IWS

[Razzle]

Hello

I'm currently looking into buying a ThinkPad T61p however configurations with a WSXGA+ display are rare and expensive in Germany. When looking at prices in the US I figured that I'd pay less than 2000 Euro for a laptop from the USA compared to roughly 2500 Euro when bought in Germany - and that even includes taxes & shipping.

However as you most likely already know getting it shipped is only one part of the problem (should be possible with services like Access USA). The T61p models offered by lenovo in their web shop currently don't have international warranty support, which is the other part.
As I could gather the only T61p models with IWS available are 6457, 6458, 6460, 8889 and 8890 of which I couldn't find any with a WSXGA+ display so far in all the US web shop offerings I looked at until now.

If anyone knows a place that offers one of the models with international warranty and a WSXGA+ screen I'd be most grateful if you could point me to it

[Johan]

Perhaps the thread International Warranty (and the links pointed to there) may provide you with some useful input? You may also want to search this forum for "international warranty", as this issue has been discussed quite a bit, particularly in the GENERAL ThinkPad News/Comments & Questions section.

Best regards,

Johan

[gator]

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... OOK-IWS#sw

Have a look at this link.

[Johan]

@ Razzle:

Have you had a look in the Marketplace thread: FS: ThinkPad T61 (6460) T7300 15.4 WSXGA+ (Europe)? I haven't checked its IWS status, but do it yourself at IBM's site International warranty service (IWS).

Update: I just remembered another thread also discussing this issue; kindly see international selling online shop in US - and in particular see the post of Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:22 am.

Best regards,

Johan

[Razzle]

first of all thank you for your replies
I've already been looking through the forum a bit before posting here and came across some of the threads you linked which was basically how I learned that not every model comes with IWS and other logistic problems with buying in the US as a European (and how they could be overcome).
Especially the IWS check site linked by gator was very useful in my search for models that would be covered by IWS.

My current understanding is that there is a small number of T61p's that are covered by IWS, some of which I talked about earlier.
I have been looking through a lot of US web shops, trying to find those - either they were not present at all or not in my desired configuration. That's why I meant to ask the community here if anyone knew of some shops that sell the particular models, although I admit I didn't give many details on the configuration I had in mind, apart from series and display (another important thing being the Quadro FX 570M graphics with 256 MB RAM).


It's already hard enough to find a T61p with WSXGA+ display and mentioned graphics hardware but the IWS requirement makes it even harder
Sadly I couldn't find any source through the links that you guys posted so far but I'm grateful nevertheless for any tries to help me with this

[edit] the marketplace link looks like a T61 without p at first glance, thus the graphics card would be a different one but I'll ask the seller to be sure anyway.

[gr]

Hello,

Sadly I couldn't find any source through the links that you guys posted so far

So you may have missed the link Thinkpad T series I posted in the International warranty thread given above.

The 6463 and 6457 models can be configured and ordered from there, with the options you want (click on "Customize" in the 6457W1T column for example)

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Guillem

[Razzle]

Hello,

Sadly I couldn't find any source through the links that you guys posted so far

So you may have missed the link Thinkpad T series I posted in the International warranty thread given above.

The 6463 and 6457 models can be configured and ordered from there, with the options you want (click on "Customize" in the 6457W1T column for example)

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Guillem

ahh yes, I had not missed the link but I had foolishly assumed that the system graphics would not be configurable, like on the lenovo main site. Seems like I need more coffee ..thank you

[Razzle]

ok it seems I can really click a machine together there that fits my needs but 3 questions remain:

1. You say you ordered one though this page, does it take anything special for being able to order there? If I don't misunderstand it, this is some kind of educational part of lenovo's website (thus the different URL?) so don't you need any special authorization? I am a student myself but I doubt that they'd accept German student IDs.
2. If i can configure a T61 like a T61p, what's the actual difference between T61 and T61p then?
3. What's the catch?

[gr]

1. You say you ordered one though this page, does it take anything special for being able to order there?

Bill Morrow actually placed the order for me, but nothing special was needed. A similar configuration to the one I ordered was available through the front page, but without the IWS. Interestingly, the price was exactly the same, so it seems no additional rebate is accessible there. I really don't know to whom is dedicated this page, all I can tell you is I received my computer quickly and without any additional document request or anything special.

2. If i can configure a T61 like a T61p, what's the actual difference between T61 and T61p then?

I think the only difference between a T61 and a T61p is the graphic card (integrated or NVS 140m vs FX 570m) The one you choose will determine whether your computer will be a T61 or a T61p, even if the base configuration is a T61. I configured the 8889W16 model, which was marked "T61" at the time of ordering, but the one I received is actually stamped "T61p"...

3. What's the catch?

I hope there is none, I'm perfectly happy with my purchase so far

Good luck,
Guillem

[Razzle]

ok thanks for that information
Is there anyone else who has bought anything from that site and can share his experience? And just out of interest, could Bill Morrow placing that order have made any difference?

Sorry for being so inquisitive but it's quite a lot of money that would be sent to a different country which would make legal claims a bit complicated in case something went wrong so I'm trying to be extra careful here. Especially with the amount of scam nowadays, ordering something from an unknown URL with only few feedback makes you feel kinda iffy, hope you understand

[gr]

And just out of interest, could Bill Morrow placing that order have made any difference?

No, since it was a usual order, I think it haven't made any difference.

Sorry for being so inquisitive but it's quite a lot of money that would be sent to a different country which would make legal claims a bit complicated in case something went wrong so I'm trying to be extra careful here. Especially with the amount of scam nowadays, ordering something from an unknown URL with only few feedback makes you feel kinda iffy, hope you understand

No problem, I fully understand. I was feeling the same a month ago

[Razzle]

No problem, I fully understand. I was feeling the same a month ago

what exactly made you set your mind, if you don't mind telling?

[gr]

what exactly made you set your mind, if you don't mind telling?

Well, I guess the fact there was no special notice on the page, even at the time of ordering, made me think there was no special requirement. A post of pipspeak telling a similar page had worked for him can also be found on this thread:

There is another link floating around that goes direct to the 8895CTO page... it's a corporate order page I think. Worked for me (so far).

Another lead, if you feel more comfortable with it, is contacting www.euclidcomputers.com and tell them you want to order a CTO and ship it abroad. You can try to point them to the "odd" link and explain which model and options you want.

[gr]

I came to think that maybe you were bothered by the "http://shoprel.i2.com/" part of the address. Just try to replace it by "http://shop.lenovo.com/". You may feel better afterwards

[Razzle]

oh nice, that was indeed part of my concern since I couldn't find much information though the i2.com main website and typing just 'http://shoprel.i2.com/' results in a 404. So it was a bit like ordering through some website without obvious relation to Lenovo, apart from the logo being visible in some parts.

But this way it looks like a normal order directly at lenovo

[Razzle]

just wanna report back, t61p arrived today

big thanks especially to gr and everyone else who helped!

i'm already in love with my new "toy"