Dothan for only $20 more

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Guest · #1 Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:13 pm

OK my school is now offering T42s. On a list they sent me there are prices but the Dothans is only .

2373-7FU $1,869.00 XP Pro Pent. M 1.6 14.1" XGA 40GB 512MB 1Gb Y Centrino (b) UltraNav 32MB Radeon 7500 Combo 6 cell 3 Yr. Dep. 4.9 lbs.

I can get a T42 for only $20 more.
2373-6VU $1,899.00 XP Pro Pent. M 1.7 14.1" XGA 40GB 512MB 1Gb Y Centrino (b/g) UltraNav 32MB Radeon 7500 Combo 6 cell 3 Yr. Dep. 4.9 lbs.

Actually I am getting a faster processor, and newer (Dothan) processor, and a centrion g card for only $20 more.

Which price is wrong? In all the reviews on the new T42 the critics say that the T42 is one of the less expensive Dothan computers out now so that brings up the question which deal am I getting. Did IBM not lower the prices on the Banias models? is the T42 that inexpensive? I know that I am getting a more than 200 dollar discount on both models but still the prices should not be so close to each other.

csv96 · #2 Post by **csv96** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:17 pm

IBM doesn't immediately lower prices on older models whenever newer models are released. Usually, they don't lower prices at all. Since you can get the T42 for only $20 more, there's really no point even considering the T41.

Txiasaeia · #3 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:30 pm

Why don't you spend another $27 (VISA/MC/AMEX site) and get the 2378-FVU, with a Radeon 9600 instead of the 7500?

Guest · #4 Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:46 pm

I am not considering the T41 at all. I was extremely happy to know that I could get Dothan. I had been reading about it and said wow that would be nice. Suddenly last Tuesday got an update and said it would be available. Plan on having the laptop for at least four years so wanted to make sure I had room to upgrade and all that.

I also am not a gamer so I don't really need the better graphics. Thanks though.

benz · #5 Post by **benz** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 10:36 pm

Plan on having the laptop for at least four years so wanted to make sure I had room to upgrade and all that.

Even though you're not a gamer, it would be in your best interest to get a more advanced GPU (9600) if you intend to be able to handle the software four years down the line. The next version of Windows is reported to require a DX9-compatible GPU, which the 7500 is NOT (9600 is DX9 compatible). Just a thought to keep in mind.

Txiasaeia · #6 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 10:51 pm

benz wrote:The next version of Windows is reported to require a DX9-compatible GPU, which the 7500 is NOT (9600 is DX9 compatible). Just a thought to keep in mind.

Aero Glass, the highest level of detail for Longhorn, purportedly requires a DX9 vid card and 64MB VRAM. Aero requires a DX8 vid card and 32MB VRAM. "Legacy mode" (not sure of name) is the basic Windows 2000 interface and doesn't require a fancy-schmancy vid card.

Guest · #7 Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:26 am

With that being said I will look into it the graphics card. However how seriously should I take it consiering so many computers don't even have a separate graphics card right? Also how long is the visa master/card/amex discount being offered? I don't plan on buying the computer till the end of August. And didn't someone say that the discount is down to 5% now? about a week or more ago on a posts here?

#8 Post by **K. Eng** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:47 am

I would try to obtain a T42 with a Radeon 9600.

I'm a big proponent of purchasing or building "balanced" systems. This basically means avoiding equiping a new system with some parts that are very powerful and some parts that are very weak. The Radeon 7500 is a tried & true GPU, but it's several generations old. As others have stated, it will probably be inadequate for Longhorn's full-featured GUI (might be important if you plan to keep the machine through 2008). It might be frustrating for you in the future if you have a CPU fast enough for Longhorn, but an inadequate GPU.

My T40 is balanced for office work under Windows XP (relatively weak components across the board

, except for wireless because I like having flexible connectivity options

)

Guest · #9 Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 1:10 pm

Oh great now I have to go back to the site and start configuring models again. With a discount the computer needs to be under $2000 with tax also. So that means no more than $1900 dollars. I live in mass with 5% tax.
I will of course read into the graphics card issue but if it is only $27 dollars more with I will look into it. I hope there are not different levels of the credit cards either. I can always ask my parents to call the credit card companies right? I went to the site and did not see any deals for visa/master/amex customers but maybe I did not look hard enough. But if I will need a graphis card in three years that would suck. My idea is if you are going to do it do it right the first time. Thanks guys

G-Man · #10 Post by **G-Man** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 4:12 pm

Visa: http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/visa
MasterCard: http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/mastercard
Discover: http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/discover
Amex: http://www.ibm.com/businesscenter/amex

Regards,
G-Man

CantStopNow · #11 Post by **CantStopNow** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 4:26 pm

K. Eng wrote:I would try to obtain a T42 with a Radeon 9600.

... The Radeon 7500 is a tried & true GPU, but it's several generations old. As others have stated, it will probably be inadequate for Longhorn's full-featured GUI (might be important if you plan to keep the machine through 2008). ...

As far as I can tell, no Centrino-based laptops will meet the announced minimum requirements for Longhorn's full-featured GUI. The released list includes 8X AGP - the 855PM chipset only supports up to 4X. On top of that, 64MB of VRAM will probably be too tight.

If you want a Pentium-M laptop that will be ready to handle Longhorn, you'll have to wait for the Sonoma chipset with PCI-E support (and whatever PCI-E enabled laptop GPUs ATI releases).

Dothan for only $20 more

Dothan for only $20 more

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