DEAD: IBM ThinkPad T23 for $999

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: BigEdMuustaffa
Why does the T23 review on CNET show different specs?

You're probably looking at a review of a different model T23.

 

[Vcize]

I'm still wondering what the catch is...I did a search and this laptop anywhere else is $2200+

A difference of $1200 on a ~$2000 product seems kind iffy to me...

 

[handydave]

There could be several reasons why the price is so low. The big one is the T40. Since the T40 was introduced, the T23 now became the product that is end of life. IBM is only going to keep the T30 around and the T40. The T23 is gone. Since distributors may still have ample supply of these products and want to get rid of them, they offer aggressive prices to resellers to move them, even if they are loosing money.

 

[Trikat]

The T23 on IBM's website is heavily over priced... I think. I mean look at the stuff you get and compare it to other companies... lilke Dell or something.

 

[Vcize]

HandyDave: Yes, that's true, but why would this one site go SO much lower than all the rest?

Trikat: Yes, IBM's site is overpriced, and most places when I searched had the same laptop for about $400 cheaper...only this one had it for $1600 cheaper...pretty big difference.

Probably just being paranoid though , especially since I just looked them up and they have a resellerratings over over 9. Anyone ordered this lappy from there before that can verify things went as advertised?

 

[BigEdMuustaffa]

Originally posted by: Souka

Originally posted by: BigEdMuustaffa
Would the built in wirelss adapter work decent with a dlink 614+ wireless router, say through one wall or so?

Yes. It comes with 802.11b internal adapter....which is completely compatible with your 802.11b D-link 614+

My folks have a T30 laptop and a Dlink 614+ router...works like a charm.

Thanks....

 

[Andy]

I just picked up a T30 from PCConnection. Ordered it on a Thurs, requested overnight shipping (30 bucks) and I received the unit on Friday.
Good company to do biz with. Girl here baught a T23 from them, so we'll see when she gets it.

Keep in mind you can get a new T301.8GHZ T30 for $1350 with a 1.8ghz p4/256mb/40gb/dvd nowifi

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: BostonYuk
I just picked up a T30 from PCConnection. Ordered it on a Thurs, requested overnight shipping (30 bucks) and I received the unit on Friday.
Good company to do biz with. Girl here baught a T23 from them, so we'll see when she gets it.

Keep in mind you can get a new T301.8GHZ T30 for $1350 with a 1.8ghz p4/256mb/40gb/dvd nowifi

This T23 is almost just as fast as the P4 1.8Ghz T30...The P4 is not the best processor for notebooks.

The T30 that you got, does it have an SXGA screen or is it an XGA?

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: Vcize
I'm still wondering what the catch is...I did a search and this laptop anywhere else is $2200+

A difference of $1200 on a ~$2000 product seems kind iffy to me...

I don't think there is a catch. IBM's web price is very inflated, and as a rule, you don't want to buy directly from IBM anyway...The delivery times are longer and everything is more expensive. Add tax to that and it's a lose-lose situation.
I paid $2800 for my T40. It just wouldn't make sense to pay that much for a T23, which is a dying breed. At $999, however, this notebook is a sweet deal.

Also, PCConnection.com is a good place to shop. The sales reps are very friendly and helpful and they have a great rating at RR. When I ordered mine, I asked the rep whether this was a price mistake or a genuine deal...He said that while the notebooks weren't currently in stock (they were scheduled to come in on the 16th or 17th), they would be getting them for sure, and that he's sure they'll honor this offer. He seemed very convincing at that, so I really don't think there is a catch here.

If this deal were on ebay, tiger direct or some shady place that asked for paypal payments, I'd steer clear, but PCConnection seems reliable and this doesn't look like a price mistake either.

 

[swifty]

thinkpads are the best - solid and reliable - we use them at work

i have one home - pushing 4 years of heavy use - they just get a litlle dusty

 

[V00DOO]

I bought a Thinkpad T21 back in the hot deal day of the IBM Thinkpad @Egay. Thumbs up for the IBM T series. But there Budget C series are POS.

 

[wshtb000]

IBM is selling T23 with WIFI for $1199 on Ebay, this explain why PCConnection can sell them for $999.
http://www.stores.ebay.com/ibmauthorizedauctions/plistings/list/all/dept3/index.html

 

[lukatmyshu]

If you check the product page, you'll see that they are currently in stock. I ordered my yesterday (Thursday) morning and they said it'll be here by tonight.

 

[IgoByte]

Mine too has shipped out [via Airborne Express].

 

[geoffkin]

So this is one of the best deals right now on a decently fast/equipped laptop that isn't made like a kid's toy and will break SOON?!
I like the integrated wifi, nothing else to buy except maybe some more RAM.
Anyone know how much another stick would cost me to get installed?
Just thought of something, how many USB ports does this thing have?
Found it: 2 USB ports

 

[geoffkin]

I found the Thinkpad R40 on the IBM site under SPECIALS for $999 instead of $1,269. Now I have no clue which one to get, which is a better?!

Model name

268128U
Description
ThinkPad R40
IBM Web Price*
$1,269.00

Architecture
Form factor

Notebook
Bus type/architecture

PCI
Bays

Ultrabay Plus
Indicator light

Yes

Display / Graphics subsystem
Screen type description

TFT
Viewable image size (diagonal)

14.1 inches
Screen illumination

Backlit
Max colors or grey shades

16777216
Max resolution on built-in screen

1024x768
External display supported

Yes
Max resolution on external display

2048x1536
Simultaneous external display

Yes

Graphics subsystem
Graphics chipset

ATI Mobility RADEON
Graphics type

XGA
Video RAM std./max.

16 MB / 16 MB
Video RAM type

DDR SDRAM
Max resolution (with max video RAM)

2048x1536 65536 colors
Max colors (with max video RAM)

16777216
Graphics bus interface

AGP 4X

Processor
Processor manufacturer

Intel
Processor (CPU)

Mobile Intel Celeron processor
Processor internal clock speed [1]

1.60 GHz
Front side bus

400 MHz
BIOS type

Flash ROM

Memory
Memory (RAM) std./max.[10]

128 MB / 1 GB
RAM speed supported

266MHz
RAM type

PC2100 DDR SDRAM
RAM slots total

2 SODIMM
RAM slots available

1 SODIMM

Hard disk
Hard disk size (GB) [5]

20 GB
Hard disk type

ATA-100 (Enhanced IDE)

Optical Device
Optical device

CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo IV
Optical device speed [6]

24X/10X/24X/8X Max
Device interface

EIDE

Audio
Audio chipset

Sound Blaster Pro 16 compatible
sound system
Audio data width

16
Integrated speakers

2
Speaker power rating

1.0 W
Volume control buttons

Yes

Communications
Fax/modem

56K V.92 designed modem
Fax/modem speed [4]

56Kbps data/14.4Kbps fax KBps
Infrared port

Yes
Infra-red port speed

4Mbps
Network card

10/100 Ethernet
Network interface

Ethernet
Network speed

10Mbps, 100Mbps
Wireless standard[16]

Wi-Fi wireless upgradable

Accessories
A/C adapter

72 watt
Worldwide A/C compatibility

Yes
Port replicator

Optional

Standard features
Pointing device type

IBM ThinkPad UltraNav
Keyboard type[17]

Full size
Keyboard light

Yes
Product approvals / certifications

UL-1950, VCCI Class B, ACA, BSMI
(Taiwan), CCIB/CCEE (China), CE
MARK, CER, CISPR-22 Class B, CSA
C22.2 No. 950, FCC Class B - Part 15,
IEC-950, JATE, MPR-II, NOM (Mexico),
SASO

Power management
Heat emissions

72 W
Sound emissions

40 dB
Battery life min./max.[7]

3.95 Hrs hrs (with 1 battery)
Power management features

Battery Power Status Display,
Hibernation mode, Power
management mode, Standby mode,
Suspend mode, Switching between
display devices
Battery type(s)

8 Cell Lithium-Ion
Charge time (on/off)

3 hrs/ 3 hrs

Expansion options
Plug and Play support

Yes
Parallel port(s)

1 (EPP)
Serial port(s)

2 (USB 2.0)
Additional Expansion ports

AC adapter, Expansion Bus port (for
Dock or Port Replicator), External
Display, Headphone/Line out,
Infrared, IEEE 1394, Line in, RJ-11,
RJ-45, S-Video out, 2 USB 2.0
PC Card Support

1 Type II or 1 Type III

Weight & dimensions
Weight [2]

6 lbs
Height

1.53 inches
Depth

10 inches
Travel weight

5.6 lbs

Software[23]
Operating system provided

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Supported operating system

Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
Microsoft Windows 2000 Microsoft
Windows 98 Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Communication / networking
application[13]

Access IBM, IBM Access
Connections,IBM Update Connector,
ThinkPad Configuration Utility
Device drivers / utilities

IBM Drive Letter Access, IBM Rapid
Restore PC, Norton AntiVirus 2003
OEM Version, PC Doctor Diagnostics
Other applications provided

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Security
Security features

Hard disk drive password, IBM Security
Slot, Power-on password, Supervisor
password

Limited Warranty[9]
Limited Warranty period

One year parts and labor (system
battery: one year)
Type of service[25]

Customer Carry-in Repair or ThinkPad
EasyServ

 

[chin311]

id buy one of these puppies right now, but i need at least 32mb video mem to play my warcraftIII decently :\, ah well, great buy tho

 

[geoffkin]

I play Warcraft III on the DELL 2.4, with a GIG of RAM desktop baby!
I want the laptop to be able to surf the NET out at the pool. Need to soak in more California SUN! Also to watch DVD's on trips, download pictures into and such. So DVD, battery life are my main focus.

 

[jetpack]

Aren't the new Thinkpads suppose to come with longer life batteries? I think the p4 mobos pull less juice then the p3s, right? I recall one of the only complaints about Thinkpads was the battery dying before the end of a DVD movie....

 

[geoffkin]

T23 rated at 3.2 hours of juice and the R40 is rated at almost 4 hours!
Should be plenty for a movie!? And alot cheaper than the new models of thinkpads?!

 

[IgoByte]

The T23's battery life is OK, but not much compared to the T40. The T40 with the larger battery gets ~4.5 hours watching DVDs.

 

[IgoByte]

geoffkin,

I'd go with the T23. It's a better computer. The R40 is a budget machine whereas the T series is the traveling businessman's dream.

 

[DukeN]

Toshibas.

Best build quality, period.

And they dont rape you like IBM price wise either

There's a reason why they're tops in laptop sales til date (and last year for that fact).

As long as you don't buy Compaq or Dell, its ok.

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: DukeN
Toshibas.

Best build quality, period.

And they dont rape you like IBM price wise either

There's a reason why they're tops in laptop sales til date (and last year for that fact).

As long as you don't buy Compaq or Dell, its ok.

*deep inhale* Ahhhh yes a nice fresh and hearty thread crap...nothing smells quite the same after a long day at work.

I still happen to think IBM's are the best and am really really tempted by this....

 

[Lol715]

Just got my T23 in today...called last night and said they had them in stock. Next day shipping and BAMN! I wake up to Airborne Express dropping this bad boy off.

I have to agree with a lot of previous posters - this computer is built very nicely and quite light (~5 lbs). Very happy I didn't buy one of those heavy ass Inspiron 5100s.

So for all those out there who were skeptical, this is the real deal. Brand spanking new. And PC Connection is definately legit - CSR I spoke with was pretty cool.