When, where, and how should I buy a T42..

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BoostedA4 · #1 Post by **BoostedA4** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 6:49 pm

After much research, I think I've decided a T42 would be ideal for me. I can purchase it anytime between now and mid-April. My only requirements is that it be SXGA+ (14.1" or 15" (preferred) and at least 1.6 Dothan. I'd like a 60GB HDD, but i would settle for 40 if it was a good buy. I only have $1500 max, which isn't much but I feel given my time and the new Sonoma platform it's not an unreasonable amount.

Now I must determine when, where, and how to buy it so I get the most comp for my money.

When--Again, I have until mid-April to decide. Is waiting as late as possible my best route? Or might better deals spring up once the first T43's arrive.

Where--Newegg, ebay, IBM direct? Ebay seems to give me most bang for my buck, but may be questionable. Newegg is reliable, but no customizing. IBM direct allows customizing, but I don't need too many specifics, so I feel it may be a waste to pay extra from IBM direct.

How--If I did decide for IBM direct, should I buy a share, buy the computer, then sell the share? I hear you can use a credit card for a discount...I own american express and visa. Is there any student pricing breaks?

Any advice you can give me on getting the best T42 for my money would be greatly appreciate.

etherealtml · #2 Post by **etherealtml** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:09 pm

Look for a model 2378FVU, and buy it direct from IBM, you will not be disappointed by their service. As for the price, do a search on these forums for a link to the Visa/Mastercard discount site through IBM.

BoostedA4 · #3 Post by **BoostedA4** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:29 pm

Wow...that does seem awfully nice. Anyone else?

#4 Post by **carbon_unit** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:48 pm

Bill, who runs this forum has very good prices, excellent service and buying from him helps support this forum. At least check him out.

furball4 · #5 Post by **furball4** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:07 am

Hi, I'm about to buy a 2378FVU as well. Currently it is $1484 through the Visa/MC links, and as far as I can tell you do not even have to purchase the computer with the card (could be wrong though).

You should be able to upgrade the hard drive yourself to a 60GB and sell the standard 40GB on eBay. You can probably pull off that upgrade for a net expense of only ~$40. I am also going to immediately add 512MB RAM from ZipZoomFly for ~$87 shipped (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe ... e=80059-02).

Right now IBM is offering $100 off any MS Office purchase with the system. If you catch that deal buy MS Office Basic for $29, then sell it on eBay for ~$100. That should help offset the cost of your upgrades... Shipping is free, and hopefully your state doesn't have bad sales tax (or you live close enough to a state that doesn't that you can ship it there).

Also nice about the FVU is that it has the bluetooth antenna installed, so you are only a $60 snap-in card away from having internal bluetooth. If you care...

If anyone else can think of a way to sweeten this deal, I'm interested too!

furball4 · #6 Post by **furball4** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:10 am

Also, be aware that you can extend the warranty for as long as the system is under warranty, so if you need to pinch pennies right now you can stick with the 1-year base warranty and then extend it to 2/3/4/5 years next year around this time.

#7 Post by **BillMorrow** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 4:01 am

FYI i can not sell any express models..
(2378 and 2379 models in the T42 series)

also, some of those deals ibm posts are WAY better than anything i can come close to..
its hard competing with your supplier..

and

be VERY careful when buying on ebay..
read the fine print..

Nomad-Man · #8 Post by **Nomad-Man** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:17 am

Right now IBM is offering $100 off any MS Office purchase with the system. If you catch that deal buy MS Office Basic for $29, then sell it on eBay for ~$100. That should help offset the cost of your upgrades... Shipping is free, and hopefully your state doesn't have bad sales tax (or you live close enough to a state that doesn't that you can ship it there).

Umm I was looking at that deal to... but I was under the impression that MS office was preloaded, with no cds.

Save $100*
on any edition of MS Office 2003 (preloaded) when you purchase IBM ThinkCentre desktops or ThinkPad notebooks through 02/14/05.

If so then its all loaded on your hard drive and if you only select part of the options for install then your wasting quite a bit of hard drive space?

Best buy has the Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2003, Upgrade For $279.99. Ive got a full version of office 2000, wondering if that will work with XP, and if not if i could some how get the upgrade to work without buying the full version

furball4 · #9 Post by **furball4** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:36 am

I was under the impression that MS office was preloaded, with no cds.

Gah, you are right. Darn it.

db · #10 Post by db » Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:54 am

Mine came preloaded WITH CD's. I don't know much about software licenses, but I believe the EULA forbids selling it unless it is sold along with the computer. Maybe someone with more knowledge can chime in.

db

furball4 · #11 Post by **furball4** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 12:22 pm

Dude, I already suggested tax evasion in my first post. You think I read EULA's?

Seriously though, although some EULA's with some privisions have been found enforceable, a provision like you describe would violate the Right of First Sale. That is what reserves you the right to, for example, sell a used music CD, even though you only own a copy and not the rights to the music itself. Last I knew this was upheld in the famous "unbundling" case vs. Adobe, whose EULA disallows anyone from splitting up one of their software bundles and selling the programs independently.

Practically speaking, however, I know that at least one vendor (Dell) makes the disks work only with Dell systems. I don't know whether IBM does this or not.

Also, as I like to point out wherever possible, you do not need a license to run software if you legally purchased a copy of that software. The right to run the software (including making as many copies of it in RAM as necessary to make it run) is also reserved via a clause in the copyright laws. That, combined with common sales laws in the various states, means that you don't need to agree to the EULA in order to legally use the software, despite what the EULA itself will try to tell you. When you paid the money and received the copy, the sale was complete in the eyes of the law. If the sale was complete, then you have a right to run the software. The software vendor can't put the cat back in the bag just because it's easier to make money that way.

Note, for example, that no license grants you the right to "use" any GPL software. That is because you don't need a right to use software, so long as you legally acquired a copy. The GPL only grants distribution rights. That makes it easy to acquire a legal copy, which in turn gives you the right to run the software.

Sorry, just something I have a hang up about. Oh, and there is always the caveat that what the law says is irrelevant. It's what the judge says that matters! So anyone wanting to be careful had better obey their EULA's to the letter.

Nomad-Man · #12 Post by **Nomad-Man** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 12:41 pm

Best buy has the Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2003, Upgrade For $279.99.
Ive got a full version of office 2000, wondering if 2000 will work with XP, and if not if i could some how get the upgrade to work without buying the full version

So how about it ?????

Gah, you are right. Darn it.

Sorry to ruin your day furball ....

When, where, and how should I buy a T42..

When, where, and how should I buy a T42..

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