Pro's and Cons of Buying a T42

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The Weissman · #1 Post by **The Weissman** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:11 pm

Subject: T42 (2379DXU) for $1424 (IBM EPP price)

Cons
- Nothing beats a free ThinkPad (company-issued, but aging A30)
- Why spend my money for company business?
- It's my money if it gets lost or stolen
- Not a dire need after the A30 upgrades (RAM, burner, HDD) which *I* paid for
- There'll be a better deal the day after I buy
- There'll be a better laptop the day after I buy

Pros
- Big beautiful 1400x1050 Flexview display
- Excellent laptop at a great price
- I just want it. I want it!

I'm this close to pulling the trigger...what to do, what to do?

Steve

arwuah · #2 Post by **arwuah** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:17 pm

Go for it! You have nothing to lose:)

#3 Post by **daeojkim** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:25 pm

The question I rather ask is will this new T make your everyday task / job more productive to justify the cost of a new computer.

Is your current A30 slowing you down? Or is it still perfectly usable without any major problems for the tasks you need to do?

Like the cons you have listed the best thing to do is to wait until you really need it. Is the opportunity to buy it through EPP will always be there? Then I would wait until you feel that a new computer is definitely necessary.

I think we all have to learn control our desire to purchase new technology when it is not really necessary.

BUT!!!!! If you have the money, and $1500 is not going to be a strain to your wallet... GO FOR IT!!!

Tan Mann · #4 Post by **Tan Mann** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:13 pm

JUST DO IT!!!

The 2379DXU is a marvellous machine. absolutely gorgeous screen, fantastic feature set, fast and quiet hard disk...and a [censored] good price for a TP with a 3 year warranty!

I have one that I use about 3 hours every day...I would not use anything for my desktop replacement!

The weight is a wee bit on the high side, but hardly an inconvenience considering that I move it to and from my knapsack once a day.

I have used the SXGA+ 14" screen on the 2373M3U and even though the lower weight is nice and the fingerprint reader is kinda cool, I can only work on that screen for about an hour before I find it irritating even at 120% font sizes. My fingers also rub up a bit against the fingerprint reader which I find a litttle annoying.

I like the 2379DXU, nice and big bright screen, decent battery life, games rock on it, and a clean space to rest my hands while I think about what I write.

I did upgrade the keyboard to the Thai keyboard, which in fact has a more pleasing tactile feel to it than the stock Chinese keyboard that came with it.

My 2cents...

Oh yeah, but it...I paid about $1700 for mine...$1424 is a steal!

Tan

#5 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:07 am

The 2379DXU is perhaps the most solid notebook design I have ever seen. Even more solid than the 2378FVU that I ended up with.
If I did not "envision" lugging it around, I would have gone with the 2379DXU over any other notebook I looked at.
(I say "envision" because I may or may not lug it around.)

Andrew
Austin, TX

Steve007 · #6 Post by **Steve007** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 4:48 am

The Weissman wrote:Why spend my money for company business?

It's my money if it gets lost or stolen

Exactly! DON'T DO IT!

edelrc · #7 Post by **edelrc** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:24 am

- Nothing beats a free ThinkPad (company-issued, but aging A30)
- Why spend my money for company business?

If you use it only for business, keep the A30.
If it belongs to the company, keep the A30.
If you don´t carry it around, keep the A30.
Otherwise, consider the T42

- It's my money if it gets lost or stolen

Insurance is around $150

- Not a dire need after the A30 upgrades (RAM, burner, HDD) which *I* paid for

If is yours, I am sure you can think of someone to sell/give it to. I gave my A20p to my brother.

- There'll be a better deal the day after I buy
- There'll be a better laptop the day after I buy

New laptops are ready for next year M$ operating system. On the other hand, processor speeds improvements are facing now a slow down, so does RAM. And new technology to overcome it won´t be here for a while, mostly at afordable prices. I think you could be a very satisfied customer of the t42 for a long while.

I moved from A20p to T42p and while I consider the move was a little precipitated, I am happy now. I noticed that adding a DVD-RW drive, more HD, more RAM... etc was just too much. To end, if you pass the first paragraph specifications and you feel this is the laptop for you and you dont need fingerprint reader of details like that, go for it. But don´t rush.

A owner of a T42p that since I do no envision any other improvement that I wish I had in my thinkpad I am very happy. (However I do miss the fingerprint reader because I wanted it even before IBM offered

)
An single guy that faces similar compromise decision with a girl.

The Weissman · #8 Post by **The Weissman** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:47 am

Let's face it: if I do this, I'm doing it for lust. It's heart vs. mind.

When I put that 7K60 hard disk into my A30, it was like a shot of viagra for the laptop. Suddenly I was able to run WinXP acceptably. When I put in that ND6500a burner, I opened up all kinds of content-creation possibilities. (But I don't do gaming.) I spend more time at this laptop than I care to confess, and only half of it for work--heh, maybe less!

But I do cart this thing around daily. I do have to demo all kinds of software on it, most of it having to do with PDF and TIFF processing. Some of it, document management stuff (SQL database).

For the fun stuff, I still have my home PC, so I have no excuse for spending the money except techno-lust. But I hate to turn that beast on when I can just pop open the laptop.

I see now the status of the 2379DXU has gone from "In stock" to "Call." Maybe my hesitation has saved me from myself!

redsb3 · #9 Post by **redsb3** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:53 am

You haven't been saved, its back in stock. Go for it. You only live once and if you can afford it, why not have what you want. If I could purchase
a DXU for $1424, I would be online or on the phone in a heartbeat. I am holding back because it will cost me $1709, just a stone's throw beyond my budget unless I unload a couple of older units.

raisindot · #10 Post by **raisindot** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:32 am

The Weissman wrote:Subject: T42 (2379DXU) for $1424 (IBM EPP price)

Cons
- Nothing beats a free ThinkPad (company-issued, but aging A30)
- Why spend my money for company business?
- It's my money if it gets lost or stolen
- Not a dire need after the A30 upgrades (RAM, burner, HDD) which *I* paid for
- There'll be a better deal the day after I buy
- There'll be a better laptop the day after I buy

Pros
- Big beautiful 1400x1050 Flexview display
- Excellent laptop at a great price
- I just want it. I want it!

I'm this close to pulling the trigger...what to do, what to do?

Steve

I had the same dilemma. I use my company-provided T30 at work and to take it with me when I travel. I was using it for "non-work use" (i.e., on the train), but it has such a long power up sequence (what with trying to connect with the network and all) and I was concerned that anything I stored locally would end up being copied to the network.

So I ended up getting a T40 last year, which I like a lot better. It makes more sense...even I have to do something for work on the train, I simply copy the files to a USB stick.

Jeff in Boston

Scorpiontico · #11 Post by **Scorpiontico** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:17 am

hey another bostonian pal

Leon · #12 Post by **Leon** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:32 am

BTW, if both of you (and everyone else who hasn't) would (pleeze) put your location info in your profile, it would be sooooo much easier to find our pals

(and to give location specific answers/advice when applicable).

Leon in Boston

The Weissman · #13 Post by **The Weissman** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:52 am

I have decided against getting this T42 for now. Until this A30 can no longer do what it is supposed to do, why spend the money--and $1424 is still a bundle of money, even if it is a great price for the 2379DXU.

I got my jones out by visiting a computer store in NYC that happened to have a T42 with a 15" SXGA+ display on display. While I would love to have more screen real estate, the fonts at 96 dpi were just too small (and I hate the way they look at 120 dpi). Bigger picture, though, I looked at this thing and said to myself, "Self, a laptop is just a laptop until it ain't a laptop anymore."

Maybe by the time I get itchy again, the T50 will be out, or maybe my company will upgrade me (as of today, their "state of the art" laptop is a T23), but for now...I'm keeping my money.

Thanks everyone for your input!

Steve

gazingwa · #14 Post by **gazingwa** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 1:49 pm

since you didn't use it, I'm still fishing for an epp login

The Weissman · #15 Post by **The Weissman** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 3:00 pm

Like I said before, good luck with that...the employee ID is not mine to hand out.

gazingwa · #16 Post by **gazingwa** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 3:58 pm

I know.... just wishfull thinking

thinkpadhk · #17 Post by **thinkpadhk** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:55 pm

I'm thinking... if a T23 is "state of the art" in your company, you're probably not getting paid enough to buy a T42. Hehehehe... just kidding. But not really.

The Weissman · #18 Post by **The Weissman** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 9:32 pm

Heh, you got that right!

The Weissman · #19 Post by **The Weissman** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:30 pm

I am weak and filled with technolust, and in a moment of "you only live once," clicked on the Order Now button.

I did it! And soon I'll be the proud owner of a 2379DXU for $1370 (it came down another $50 on EPP). Oh sweet temptation!

#20 Post by **daeojkim** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:42 pm

Haha.. Congratulations!!! The temptation is hard to resist.

So you did it and now you can enjoy it when you get it.

It will a huge difference from A30. I have both A31p and T42 and T is so much more solid than A series.

Nomad-Man · #21 Post by **Nomad-Man** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:12 pm

How do you get it for 1370.00. cheapest I see is 1646.00. Id even settle for the difference in the two.. whats the price is you are a IBM stockholder?

Leon · #22 Post by **Leon** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:14 am

It is an IBM Employee discount.

rhema83 · #23 Post by **rhema83** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:40 am

Sigh... Too late to tell you to resist, eh? Enjoy your new laptop! If you feel guilty enough you can always return it.

manny · #24 Post by **manny** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:20 am

I am on the verge of pulling the trigger myself, and was trying to decide between the 2378FVU or 2379DXU.

DXU pros:
3-year warranty
60gb drive
512mb RAM
bluetooth

DXU cons:
Significantly heavier than the FVU

FVU pros:
Lighter than DXU
Cheaper than DXU

FVU cons:
1-year warranty
256mb RAM
40gb drive

I can get both via EPP, FVU comes to 1146, DXU is 1376.
I don't really need the laptop to be mobile, but what initially attracted me to Thinkpads was that the T42 was thin and light, so I figured if I'm going to spend money on a laptop why not get one that really is a laptop and not a 'desktop replacement' as they call them these days. Besides how much difference could there be between a 14.1" screen and 15" screen? Seems strange it weighs almost 25% more. I figured I could upgrade the FVU with more RAM, perhaps an extra HD after a year I need the space, and perhaps an extension to the warrany if I feel the need (although if TPs are so reliable, do I really need a longer warranty?)

I need help deciding and I'd like to hear any opinions or personal experiences from people who have compared and/or used both.

Also, will I be able to add on RAM to either TP using this?

http://www.shopping.com/xCP-Kingmax_Tec ... 3~DMT-1~VK

Cheers.

raisindot · #25 Post by **raisindot** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:27 am

Leon wrote:BTW, if both of you (and everyone else who hasn't) would (pleeze) put your location info in your profile, it would be sooooo much easier to find our pals (and to give location specific answers/advice when applicable).

Leon in Boston

Fine. You happy now, arm twister?

Leon · #26 Post by **Leon** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:47 am

Yes!

(releases arm...)

asiafish · #27 Post by **asiafish** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:08 am

Get the 14", light is right!

migo2137 · #28 Post by **migo2137** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:48 pm

Since you´re all into giving buying advice, I would appreciate some:

I feel my T22 is not sufficient any more for Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Flash etc. It behaves more like a hair dryer than a computer and the battery lasts for max 2 h. What T model do you advice? What does the "p" stand for? Performance? I´m considering the 2378-fvu - is the 1 year guarantee upgradeable?
Thanks a lot!
/Michael

Leon · #29 Post by **Leon** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:55 pm

See this thread for "p" differences

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=6109

Yes, the warranty can be upgraded for up to 5 years total (good buy).

Welcome to our Forum. Please add Location and other relevant information to your profile. Not required, but appreciated.

asiafish · #30 Post by **asiafish** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:56 pm

The P indicates a workstation model with 128MB FireGL graphics card. Lesser T42s have a variety of other ATI video cards with either 32 or 64MB of VRAM.

Just make sure you get the SXGA+ screen and the 9600 video card (64MB) if you get a non P-model T42. Also the higher end models have the 60GB 7200 RPM hard drive which gives a nice speed boost, and should be noticeable with Photoshop when working with large files.

Andrew

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