T42p (UC2F4GE / 2373-F4G) anyone?

[Master One]

Took a look at this forum and did some searches, found quite some info, but not a single topic on the ThinkPad model that got my closer attention.

It's the following IBM ThinkPad T42p (UC2F4GE / 2373-F4G):

- 15" UXGA 1600x1200 TFT panel
- ATI Mobility FireGL T2 128 MB 4xAGP
- Intel Pentium M 745 1.80 GHz FSB 400
- Intel 855PM chipset
- 1 GB PC 2700 / 333 DDR
- 60 GB ATA-100 EIDE (hopefully this is really the 7200 RPM?)
- DVD Recordable 2x EIDE (no idea, if this is the multi / dual-layer burner?)
- 56k V.92 faxmodem
- IR / Intel 802.11bg / Bluetooth / Intel PRO/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
- IBM ThinkPad UltraNav / Full size keyboard with keyboard light
- 6 cell lithium-ion battery
- IBM Security features with fingerprint reader

I can get that unit here for about 2.520,- EURO excl. VAT (which is about 3.280,- USD). If I order it on monday, I should have it in hands on tuesday.

Any comments on that machine?

I think it sounds pretty good, also a little expensive, it may well be worth the money.

I am only a little concerned about the first installation. WinXP will come preinstalled, and I want to convert that notebook to a Gentoo Linux only machine. I've read about some important things to back up, before starting the Gentoo install.

The only real uncertainty may be about the embedded security features, which most likely will be of no use under Linux. I already searched for info about the fingerprint reader & Linux, but nothing came up except the Linux TCPA driver from the IBM site http://www.research.ibm.com/gsal/tcpa/
Not sure what that driver is supposed to do, and if anyone could get it to do something usefull. That driver is available for 2.6 kernels, but as I've seen, it's not in portage.

I would love to hear, that someone got the fingerprint reader to work with it.

Any comments are highly appreciated.

[frank99]

hello,

i think its only the 5400 rpm HDD! i am not sure but i thougt i had read it somewhere

where do you find this offer? which country / shop.... do you have a link for that?
and do you mean 2520 including tax or + tax???

because i know i shop where you can find it for only 2415 + tax!

frank

[sidus]

60Gb 7200 rpm

I'm going to buy this model also.

[frank99]

okay - your right. sorry.

but where did "we" buy it?

frank

[sidus]

I'm from Moscow (Russia).

Here I can get it for 3336$.

[pH]

Hello,

I just got the same model yesterday. I haven't had the time to use it in anger yet, but here are my first impressions:

As I have previously used a 14" T42p (2373-GXG) I was a little worried that the machine would be too large and heavy. This is not the case. Yes it is larger than the 14", but the higher resolution makes it up for the added weight and size IMHO.

In WXPP the fingerprint reader works perfect. I have no idea if this would be the case in Linux. Would like to try though, but it seems that Linux and I aren't meant to be.

I still haven't used the multiburner so I can't help you out on this either. I think a multiburner in a laptop is nice to have but certainly not nescessary. The same goes for the fingerprint reader. The reason that I got them was that I wouldn't save any money by omitting them.

I can definitely recommend this machine. It suits my needs perfectly.
If you end up ordering this one I am sure you will be satisfied.

Peter

[sidus]

Thanks for your impression.

What's your opinion on UXGA resolution? Is it "readable" enough?

[pH]

I find it perfectly readable. Actually upon the first boot I was surprised that the text looked too big. I think IBM made some modifications to the default appearence of XP to make things more readable. I have now changed the layout to a more suitable size.

Of course, what is readable depends on your eyes. But I think you will find UXGA suitable on a 15" display if you like SXGA+ on a 14.1" or perhaps XGA on a 12.1" (I haven't seen this last one but my guess would be that it will be similar to the others). If it's too small you always have the opportunity to make things bigger. However I know some people still have trouble reading the text. I guess the only way to find out if it's readable is to look at the machine in real life if possible and not just take my word for it.

Peter

[Master One]

where do you find this offer? which country / shop.... do you have a link for that? and do you mean 2520 including tax or + tax??? because i know i shop where you can find it for only 2415 + tax!

The price I mentioned was excluding tax, and it's the actual price of a wholesaler here in Austria. The price you mentioned is pretty good, I also searched on ebay.de, and the few results did not get down that far. Nevertheless, if I finally decide to order, I'll order it from that Austrian wholesaler, as it means no struggle with payment and next day delivery with minimal costs for P&P.

But I found a much better offer for the two needed IBM Mini-Docks on ebay.de, which will save me 1/3 of the price, which is worth it ordering this way.