Buy a T42 2378FVU or a 2373M3U?

[Esteban]

I'm trying to decide which T42 to buy. A 2378FVU for $1,484.10 or a 2373M3U for $1,895.20.

Background on my needs/wants. I'm a real estate broker. Need the notebook for client presentations, MLS acess, MS office, portability, internet access, Dreamweaver. I favor a 14" SXGA+ screen with the Radeon 9600. Don't need a big hard drive. Budget up to $2,000, or so. Current notebook is a 4 year old Dell PIII 750 with XGA.

With a 2373FVU, I'd probably add on IBM 3yr. depot warantee upgrade ($112) and 512MB from Crucial ($100). Maybe, later upgrade hard drive to 60 7200 rpm ($150). With these upgrades my total cost would be about $1,846.10 for a FVU.

2373M3U comes stock from IBM upgraded above the FVU with the following:
Dothan 745
512MB one stick with one slot open
60 HD (7200 rpm)
bluetooth
fingerprint reader
3yr depot repair.

I roughly estimate the M3U's value to be about $475 above a FVU. $100 for Dothan 745--not important to me, $50 for stock 512MB, $150 for 60HD, $75 for bluetooth, unknown $ for fingerprint reader, $112 3yr depot repair.

The M3U's features are all stock from IBM and covered by the warantee. While there'd be no warantee coverage for similar non IBM upgrades to the FVU.

Ideas/opinions/feedback?

Any M3U owners or users with feedback/review on it?

[cchsiao]

If the price for M3U is really around 1900 (I don't know how to get it in this price though), then you certainly should get it because you will have everything you need in it.

[Esteban]

I got the price from the edu/alumni website. http://www.ibm.com/education/us There's a much greater range of models available on that site than on the IBM businesscenter sites. Usually the edu prices match the businesscenter prices.

Months ago I confirmed with IBM I could get an alumni discount. I delayed my purchase upon learning T43s with Somoma were to become available. I'm not impressed they're better enough to buy one. A good T42 should fit my needs very well.

BTW, I first learned of the T42 2373M3U from a post by Roisin on the X series forum. He wrote that it's $1,572 at the EPP price. That would be a great bargain!

quote] Students/Alumni
Great products at competitive prices!

Welcome to IBM Personal Pages for Students/Alumni! Buy online now or for additional assistance, please call 1-877-222-6426, Option 1, x8279.

[/quote]

(I sold a house to a couple who retired from IBM. Maybe. with their ok, I can buy at the EPP price, too?

[Roisin]

yeah, m3u is a standard model, where the EPP discount is 35%, fvu is an express model, where they only give you a 15% discount

but right now, i'm waiting for a 2668-4EU (t43), the same specs as the m3u, as that expresscard slot might be usefull once (the only real reason, as the x300 radeon and the 533fsb make no difference to me...). And only has a 5400rmp 40gb drive (hopefully from the 5k100 series)

[CoolRunnings]

That's a fantastic price on the M3U. I am typing on one right now and it is far and away the best notebook I've owned (7 in the last 4 years if I'm remembering correctly).

I paid about $55 more than you would pay there and even though mine shipped with a bad video adapter, it was handled relatively quickly once I got to the right people. The warranty is worth the money in my opinion. The fingerprint reader is ok but not really necessary for most people...

[Esteban]

I was online ready to complete final authorizion for a 2373M3U from IBM when a $35 shipping charge showed up. There's a promo offering free shipping for online orders. Arrgh! Need to call them, I guess, to get this straightened out.

I was ordering MS Small Business, too. The promo for $100 off MS Office runs thru 2/14.

Wonder how it'll come out in the end? Might save $35 on shipping only to lose a $100 MS Office discount?

[lzy_tek]

Just off the phone with an IBM rep. The m3u is $1539 for EPP free shipping and 15-day backordered. It will be a great update from my (soon-to-be-returned) FVU.

[Esteban]

A new day. The $100 off MS Office promo is gone. Replacing it is a promo for a free battery. IBM still has free shipping promo online.

[Esteban]

T42 2373m3u ordered thru the edu site. MS Office $100 off promo still showed on ordering web page -- so I get it. Thru phone call to IBM $35 shipping cost was reversed. Thinkpad expected to ship in about two weeks.

BTW, Dennis a CSR from Canada, confirmed that graduation from college in US makes it OK to use edu. student/alumni pricing.

[Esteban]

Email order confirmation received from Dennis, IBM CSR, showed 2373m3u to have a 60 GB 5400 rpm HD. Not what I expected or wanted.

Called him and he confirmed it's realy a 60 GB 7200 rpm HD, as I expected, and he emailed a page from October 2004 TA book showing it's a 60U -- 60 GB Ultra HS (7200 rpm).

Shipping expected in about 3 weeks. Crossing my fingers everything works out well from here on in.

Esteban--future owner of T42 2373m3u.

[BranE]

Let us know when yours ships. I ordered a 2373-p3u yesterday and they said 3 weeks till ship. So long to wait!

[Esteban]

It shipped Just three days after ordering. Phone sales person told me to expect 2 weeks. Emailed invoice indicated about three weeks.

UPS tracking link from IBM Order Status is "unable to track shipment" by my tracking number.

Shipment is free from IBM, not extra cost 2 day. Maybe it'll arrive next Monday or Tuesday

[baraider]

esteban,

i'm about to order the m3u too...they said there is 5 in stock now...
how you like your m3u?