Buy now or wait....Need Advice

So I've always been an admirer of the thinkpads. I like the idea of build quality and utility over aesthetic looks; functionality and performance over unnecessary eye candy. For that reason, I have chosen Lenovo (how I wish they were still IBM). After looking at the Thinkpads for a while now, I have to admit they have their own unique style--I for one think they're sexy .

Having owned an ugly HP, a flimsy Dell Inspiron, and a heavy Gateway, I'm looking at the thinkpads to redeem the notebook quality that its predecessors have tarnished. And I'm probably going to go with the R61 over the T61 by virtue of its cheapness and similar albeit heavier and thicker attributes. I'm looking for a relatively light notebook but something that packs a punch. I have configured the following, which I think is a steal:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7500 (2.2GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)[1]
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop version 10[12]
14.1 WXGA+ TFT
Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/ 1394
1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)[8]
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
120GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Enhanced[5]
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG[10]
No Bluetooth
4 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
7732: 1 Year Depot Warranty - Express
Subtotal: $ 636.49
Shipping and handling: $ 0.00
Recycling fee: $ 6.00
Estimated tax: $ 49.32
[USETHRESHOLD] -$ 33.50
Savings: -$ 414.51
Estimated total: $ 691.81*

Please critique my selections. I chose Ubuntu because I can easily upgrade later. I'm deciding between the t7500 (a little bit faster) over the t8100 penryn which is more power efficient. 1GB is fine for the ram right now as I can upgrade later. I like the 4 cell because the battery will not protrude out.

Overall, I think it is a deal. The only thing making me hesitant is that I won't be needing it until the end of summer, at which point the back 2 school deals will be really good. Should I wait, hoping that the Lenovos deals then will be as agreeable? I rarely see lenovo deals (although lately they have been going on), especially at back 2 school sales, as they are targeted toward the business consumers, not students.

Any help would be much appreciated, and sorry for the verbose writing.

 

as we usually say....

if you need it now, buy it!!!

If you can wait, wait. The technology gets better and always gets cheaper.....

 

But will it ever be that good? I've been lookin at these deals for a while now, and this is the cheapest I've seen for Thinkpads. I don't know, maybe I'm a bit anxious to touch the notebooks matte lid cover....

Also, T7500 vs. t8100 (for 10 bucks more). Is the verdict in favor of the t8100?

 

i greatly simplified it.......

basically meant, if you buy it now, something new/better will come out next week, or it will be cheaper........

 

Like nobscot6 said, things will always be getting better/cheaper, so buy when you need it. No point in waiting, unless you have found exactly what you want and don't want anything better, in which case you might be able to get a better price.

 

I was going to wait until summer but bought this sunday. There will be better but with 36% off if I order in july it would be about the same price and specs anyway. But if you want the best you can get waiting is the way to go...but I was tired of waiting and bought three months earlier anyway .

 

T8100... latest technology, longer battery life, cooler, probably enough increased performance to more than make up the unnoticeable difference in speed.

Quinn

 

K thanks. I'll probably go with Penryn for the added cost.

And I guess I hold out for another few months. Hopefully it does actually get cheaper.

 

I just ordered a T61 but I know for sure the price will be lower in the future.
You will never win in the price contest.

Just buy now and get the 'price match', then forget about the cheaper/faster ones to come.

 

YUP THEY ARE SEXY!.......ONCE U GO BLACK U CAN't GO BACK!!!

 

haha. I loved this line from American Dad. Great show

 

If you are price sensitive, then hold off. I spent a lot on my T61 last year right after they came out. While I could buy the notebook for about $300 less today, it was still a good notebook and I needed it at the time. I too would advocate for the newer cpu. The battery life will be improved a bit and performance will likely be equal, if not a bit better.

 

I think you answered your own question. Why buy it now if you don't need it until the end of summer. There will always be deals around. Haven't you ever walked away from what you thought was the sweetest deal ever only to find another sweetest deal ever? It happens.lol I say save that $600 until the end of summer. Put it in an interest-bearing account and watch it grow. At the end of summer, go ahead and try to find another deal. They'll be around.

 

The golder rule of thumb...there will always be buyer's remorse when you purchase notebooks. You'll buy a ThinkPad now for an awesome deal only to realize a couple months from your purchase, the price is even lower for a better speced out Thinkpad than the one you purchased.

So going with what everyone else has said; if you need a notebook now, then buy it now. If you can afford to wait out, then wait out.

 

Listen to Arkit. I can't remember the last time I bought a high-end electronic product/component and did not experience buyer's remorse later. There will always be something faster, more powerful, etc.

 

ntel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7500 (2.2GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)[1]
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop version 10[12]
14.1 WXGA+ TFT
Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/ 1394
1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)[8]
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
120GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Enhanced[5]
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG[10]
No Bluetooth
4 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
7732: 1 Year Depot Warranty - Express
Subtotal: $ 636.49
Shipping and handling: $ 0.00
Recycling fee: $ 6.00
Estimated tax: $ 49.32
[USETHRESHOLD] -$ 33.50
Savings: -$ 414.51
Estimated total: $ 691.81*

As others have said, upgrade to the Penryn processor; you won't regret it.

Don't pay the extra for the Intel wireless card, unless you plan to upgrade to the 4965AGN. The basic ThinkPad a/b/g card has equal or better performance than the Intel 3945, and is well-supported under most flavors of Linux (being Atheros-chipset based). I myself have this a/b/g card and it works very well.

With the money you save on the wireless card, consider upgrading to the 6-cell battery. It adds a teensy bit of bulk, but the improved battery life is worth it if you plan to be using your system portably.

I'd also consider going to the two-year depot warranty, but considering the price you're getting on the machine, you may decide that it's not the best investment for what is probably another $60 of cost. Up to you.

P.S. If you don't need the machine `til the end of the summer, then weight how badly you want it now vs. what may very well be available in August. If you can definitely make use of it now, get it now, otherwise, I'd wait.

 

Man...I'm in the same boat. I really want to get the X61s but I can wait for the next revision.

Right now I can order the X61s from Lenovo Canada with 1.8 Ghz CPU, 100GB 7200 rpm HD, and 8 cell battery for $1180 + tax, which I think is a pretty good price.

I'm hesitating to buy this because it would be nice to have the latest Penryn low voltage CPU and any other new upgrades in the new model.

I'm hesitating to wait for the new model because from the leaked photos of the X200 (the supposed replacement of the X61) it seems it has a larger bezel and footprint with the same screen size, which I don't want. Also, I'm worried that the new model will be a lot more expensive than this price (like $1500+) when it debuts .

 

Thanks for all the advices guys. How notebooks have decreased in price. I played with my friends thinkpad but he doesn't have it anymore. Are there any retailers that sell thinkpads which I can test? Bestbuy maybe?

 

i once found a thinkpad R60 a circuit city...dont know if they still carry it....check out office depot..

 

The R series are sold in retail stores. I don't know about the T series though.

 

Any idea when the next generation T will come out...? will it come out before the Latitude E series, which i heard will come out in end of my or begining of june when the next generation of intel processors come out