Buying an IBM Thinkpad

Well, I've looked into Thinkpads for a while now, and I really want one.

Can I get a nice T42 w/ Dothan and dedicated memory for under 1500USD?

 

Hmmm, may have to go a little more but for specifics I have to let someone else post. I just got my T42p and after this wouldnt buy another brand.

 

I think your going to have to spend more than $1500 if you want a T42. The T42 is IBM's premium line of notebooks and I think the cheapest price you wil find for one is between $1700-$1800 for the most basic of the T42's. If your just looking for thinkpads in general, there are many for under $1500. Visit www.newegg.com and look at the R50/51 line.

good luck
Jack

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

I'm willing to go over 1500USD.

Doesn't the R-series have those crappy plastic housings?

 

Anyone know if I can buy the T42 2378FVU WITHOUT WinXP Pro? I'm throwing it off and installing Linux anyway. IBM seems to officially say it runs Linux (link 1, below) and they support it, too! I'd be surprised if I can get it without Windows, but if I could, it's a free discount. Heck, if I did come with Windows, I only have more work cut out for me

link1: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-48NT8D.html

 

I'm 99% sure the only OS your going to find is XP Pro on the T42 models. It's too bad cause I would have liked to buy mine without an OS since I already own an extra copy of XP that is not being used since my desktop system is no longer being used.

Jack

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

Check out www.ibm.com/businesscenter/mastercard for discounted prices.

The cheapest T-42 with Dothan I saw was $1,661 for a 14-inch screen/256MB/40GB.

If you'd be interested in an R51, you can get a 1.5GHz Dothan with the 15-inch Flexview screen/256MB/40GB for $1.424.

 

tmcnellie, can I ask how you get to that part of their site, (other than your link). Ive went in and out of so many pages that I just cant figure out how to get there without going to your link first.

Also what qualifies you as a "Mastercard Exclusive". Just anybody that has a mastercard or do you have to be a premium/platinum/gold card with special privilages...holder?

 

I'm not sure if there is another way to get into the Mastercard part of the site. I found the link a few months ago on a different forum and used it to purchase a T-42. That was my first purchase from IBM so I guess anyone can use the discount, provided they can find it.

I don't think you have to use a Mastercard either. When you check out, it gives you the option to pay using any card. IBM has similar sites for Discover card users, Chase bank members and a few other financial institutions. The discounts seem to be the same.

It's a decent discount that makes Thinkpads very comparable pricewise to other top notebooks. If you happen to be an IBM stockholder you may be eligible for a better discount.

As a sidenote, I called IBM's sales staff for price quotes a few times, and each time I asked about using the Mastercard discount, I got a different answer.

One guy was very straight forward and quoted me the same price as the Mastercard discount site.

Another guy said that Mastercard discount would only take $50 off the price of a $3000 machine (according to the site the discount was nearly $500).

A third person told me that IBM can't give customers the Mastercard discount because that's something that Mastercard pays for.

Whatever. Buy from the web and save yourself a headache. Or buy from a reseller and save yourself $150 or so in sales taxes (check their dead pixel policy though).

 

http://www.zones.com/cgi-bin/zones/site/product/index.html?id=000998422&zone=zbs

No OS, but no hard drive, memory or optical drive. I'm trying to figure out if I can buy a caddy so I can use a NEC dvd burner in there.