Hot? Loaded IBM Thinkpad T40 for $1999 - SXGA+, 1.6 P-M, 80gb, 512 ram, CDRW, etc.

[a2k]

Okay - I know there's a school of hot dealers out there that think spending $2000 on ANY laptop is crazy. We all already know you think this is a cold deal so there's no need telling us. Then there's the other school that thinks that the IBM T4x series is in a different class than other laptops and that the quality justifies the expense. If you are in the second group, what do you think about this deal:

First, a LINK TO THE DEAL.

Second, the details:

Thinkpad T40
Pentium M 1.6 GHz
Windows XP Pro
14.1" SXGA+ (1400x1050)
512 MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM
80GB 4200rpm hard drive
Gigabit Ethernet and Modem
64MB ATI Mobility FIRE GL 9000 graphics
High capacity 7.2 hour Li-Ion battery
3 year warranty
$1999 (+tax, normally $2948)

Considering the fact that Intel is releasing the Dothan in 5 days and IBM is announcing the T42 in 6, prices of current P-M machines should be dropping. So, is this warm?

 

[dbk]

WOW this is so tempting!

 

[olouie]

very temping if you need a HIGH quality laptop to last you years and years

 

[777php]

mmmm...dayam....Fire GL 900

 

[a2k]

One more detail - this bundle doesn't include wireless. You can get the IBM Mini-PCI 802.11a/b/g for $99 or the Intel 2100 802.11b for $59.

 

[ken2001]

If you feel comfortable with ebay, at least you can save $100 for a T40 with WIFI.

 

[jm0ris0n]

This sounds really pathetic, but is the laptop where on the commercials they advertise it can withstand a drop from a barstool ?

 

[jkasmann]

It says 3 year system/battery.....it would be a bonus if the battery is covered for loss of charge.

 

[a2k]

Originally posted by: jm0ris0n
This sounds really pathetic, but is the laptop where on the commercials they advertise it can withstand a drop from a barstool ?

I believe that would be the T41, which has some sort of motion detection system that takes the drive heads off the drive if it senses that it is falling.

 

[olouie]

Originally posted by: jkasmann
It says 3 year system/battery.....it would be a bonus if the battery is covered for loss of charge.

Well from personal experience I know that IBM has always replaced my batteries when they start to die down. I called twice now to complain about power issues on my old X30 laptop and they asked what was wrong. I told them it didnt hold its charge and the customer service guy just overnighted new batteries and a new charger to me Maybe its just like that somtimes. But I guess the great service is factored into the higher price of the Thinkpads

 

[ShinSa]

I guess IBM changes the name from T40 to T41 to T42 for marketing purposes.
Other than the name, its the same computer with couple new features.

I bought my Inspiorn 4600 and cursed at my self when they pulled out the 5100.
Now I just wish I had an IBM...

 

[UltraWide]

Yeah, IBM's are very durable machines.

 

[dcdomain]

Nice deal... very tempting. I'm a big fan of the T series... but I think for students, you could get a similar deal through your school's computing store no?

 

[ianbergman]

I think this is a better deal than you guys are giving it credit for. This deal seems pretty damn smoking hot to me. IBM T-series are hands-down the best laptops out there, IMO. My guess is the T42 will have significant new features, as they always do, but this is an amazing machine and well worth the cost.

:ulls lint and three pennies out of pocket and starts crying::

Comparisons: Pricegrabber
that's the closest model I can find, and I don't think it has the GL 9000 graphics.

 

[PHiuR]

veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy gooooooooooood deal...

too expensive for me tho

 

[a2k]

The big question is what will happen to prices of T40's when T42's come out. I went ahead and got in on this, knowing that IBM as a 30 day return policy and doesn't expect to ship these for 2-4 weeks... Hedging my bets, 'cuz I need a new laptop in a bad way.

 

[Junaid0]

wouldn't this be only good if u need the xtra HDD space? the ones at newegg for 1859 is a deal similar to this, only it has wireless, no tax, but it doesn't have 80 gig, only 40? and 256 ram, i think the deal on newegg is better.... 1859+100 for ram = 1959 total shipped to u're door, i jumped on the new egg deal

this one 2k+100 for wirless+tax 140= 2240 aproximately, so u're paying a 200 dollar premium for bigger HDD and bigger battery that sticks out the back....

edit: i'm a jackass, i didn't see the better vid card... the one on newegg is a t41 so u get HDD protection, but that isn't anything special... i think both deals are similar, but this is hot for those who want high power vid card

 

[mdetz]

nice! Using a T41 right now. its sweet! Much better than my desktop. I don't even want to know how much $ it goes for. The locking the HD thing is cool, but can be annoying.

 

[a2k]

Originally posted by: Junaid0
bigger battery that sticks out the back....

The high capacity battery is bigger? Didn't know that (but IBM's website confirms that it is about .7" bigger).

Having longer battery life and a bigger hard drive is a big deal to me, so it rules out the newegg deal, and I'm buying it for my business so I'd really have to pay tax either way (I know I don't have to, but...). Also, if you buy the $99 wireless you get a/b/g.

When comparing this to the Newegg deal, I added the cost of the high capacity battery ($179) plus the cost of the a/b/g card ($100) plus 256 mb ram ($100), which brought it to $2237 without the upgraded video card or harddrive, though you would then have two batteries.

The other deal that is comparable is THIS DISCOVER CARD DEAL. It's got the upgraded GPU and 512mb, but the hard drive and battery are smaller.

Still, I'm curious if prices are going to go down more sometime this month...

 

[Tweakmeister]

I paid this much for a similarly equipped T40p (looks like exact same specs except w/ internal wireless) back in December. Mine was a refurb (retail at the time was $3500)

This is a fantastic laptop, definately one of the best on the market.

 

[DougmeisterX]

I bought one of these for my daughther through her college program for about the same price. It had the 80 GB HD. It's a sweet machine for sure. The nightlight for the keyboard is great, so is the keyboard itself.

I think they are closing the T40s out.

HOWEVER, reconsider the 80 GBHD. The 60 GB is much faster (7200 v 4200 rpm) and it makes a difference.

 

[micnn]

Yeah, that what I was thinking, 4200rpm is way too sloooooowww man, unless get a 2nd upgrade from ebay. Overrall, it's a nice bundle deal though.

 

[Dubb]

T42 = T41+dothan +option for a 15"sxga

I think the hottest deals from IBM are the certified used models...significant savings at the sacrifice of the longer warranty (1 year). I've been told by several that the certified used models are more checked out and tested than the new ones. I combined certified used + EPP discount to get a tricked out t41p for 2167.xx about a month and a half ago...best deal I've ever gotten in on. best laptop I've ever seen.

*edit: doh! just checked the epp site...the same thing I bought is now $1958...oh well, I needed the laptop bad at the time...sniff. That's a killer deal if you have a friend/relative who works for IBM...

supposedly t42p launches in august, possibly with UXGA and an upped vid card (from Firegl T2 on the T41p)

 

[a2k]

Deal's still on.

Got the machine yesterday - it's a T40p and has bluetooth, for anyone that cares. The 4200 rpm drive seems more than fast enough for my needs. My verdict: hot.