Final questions before I take the plunge!

So after doing my homework on IBM and their inner workings, I still have a few questions before ordering: (this is for a T43 14" sxga+)

1- Dead Pixel Policy: according to IBM’s site for sxga+ screens to qualify for replacement, you need 11-bright, 13-dark, or 16-bright and dark pixels! Is this right? It looks like a bit of a not so great policy, although it seems only very few people here have had dead pixels in general, which is comforting.

2- Return Policy: Am I understanding this right? I can return my notebook with in 30 days no questions asked, no restocking fees. Or is this just for an unopened product? All I lose is shipping cost back to IBM, or not even that? This is good in case I get a bad screen that doesn’t qualify for replacement!

3- OS, applications and drivers: I know that IBMs no longer come with recovery CDs, but those can be burned from the hidden partition thru an already installed application. But can I burn a driver and applications CD, or are all of the applications and drivers readily available online? My intension is to save some $ by getting home edition since I have access to a professional license through my university. So I can use that, but I need to know if I can get all the drivers and useful applications (for example the finger-printing one) installed again on the clean XP pro?

4- WIFI: are all the IBM branded WIFI cards Atheros chip powered? Since I will be using this mostly on public wifi networks, I’d rather avoid Intel and the probability of issues since I have no control over APs I am connecting to.


Thanx!

 

Incase anyone is curious about the configuration I arrived to at the end, which is basically just what I need, (no extras to waste $ on )

Special offer T43: 1.86GHz / 256 + 512 (free) Ram / 14” sxga+ / X300 / CDRW-DVD / 60GB 5400RPM / IBM abg wifi / 9-cell battery / XP HE / 3 year warranty

All for $1430 + tax + free shipment

Will replace the 256MB with a 512MB or 1GB later on. IBM's memory upgrade pricing is too steep!

Only thing missing that I need is Bluetooth. But I did some digging around and found out that I can buy the modem-BT card online and install it myself instead of the modem only card that will be in there. BT antenna should already be installed and not connected to anything, and installation instructions are readily available in the service manuals provided by IBM.

I am opting to do this Bluetooth upgrade because I cannot seem to locate any available pcmcia or expresscard Bluetooth v1.2 (only v1.1 available). v1.2 or above is usually recommended for use in wifi infested areas due to overlap in signal and interference. And I do need a decent interference free signal because I will be using my BT-headset from a bit of a distance away with the T43.


This should be a good little bro to my Fujitsu

 

Did you order it yet? I ordered mine Thursday, and they're telling me the expected ship date is January 5, 2006.

First my status was "backordered."
Then "packing," whatever that means, with ship date of 1/5/05. Hopefully, it will come through a lot sooner.

Looks like you got a good deal too.

Larry

 

WHAT!!!
No I haven't ordered ... I was gonna order once I got my inquires answered!

I guess I'll have to make sure that if it really might be delayed, that it be delayed a lot ... ie till something like january 5 or even more. I am going for xmass break in about a months time, but I never thought that would be a problem!

I don't want my laptop sitting at the front desk of my apartment building for a couple of weeks while I am away.

yup that deal sure is sweet. I would have never imagined getting a brand new IBM for that little. That's even cheaper than an equivalently configured dell latitude!!!

 

About the dead pixel part. IBM states they will refund your laptop purchase in full if you don't like it within 30 days. If there is a problem with it, state you don't like it and return it. After you get a refund make another purchase and go again

 

There is a drivers and applications folder, just burn that off along with the recovery discs.

 

RE: Shipping - *SUPPOSEDLY* the way to imrpove your shipping time is to take note of the availability status when you make your choices on their website (if that is how you are ordering) or when you call to place your order just ask them.

For example : You will see either "In Stock" , "Within 2 weeks" , "2-4 weks" , "Within 4 weeks" or "More than 4 weeks"

So #1 - if you select the T43 model, and then select "View all models" you will see the availability listed for each model.

And #2 if you select "Notebook finder" from the drop down menu on most of those pages , and then use the selection that says "Availability", you can narrow down your choices that way. Also, I would reccommend clicking on "Show additional features" to help you make a good selection. I have played with it for hours during my selection process. and I am about to order one as well. Decided on the T43 14" models instead of the X32 because I wanted the ATI x300 64MB dedicated vram, instead of the X32 where I can only get 16MB vram. Otherwise I'd definately go with an X32 or X41 if they had more vram (and unfortunately the Sony S580 has all those heating issues, the wobbly battery, and some people said uneven lighting on the screens, I figure IBM is the top of the line laptop anyhow)

From what I understand, these would be the times until the unit is actually shipped from CHINA, not from the US... UNLESS you choose an *In Stock* Item. Also, when it ships from China, and arrives in the US you will find out that it gets held in customs for a few days or something like that, somewhere (I think in the midwest) for a while, and then ships out from customs.

You can find some other feedback regarding IBM shipping here in the IBM forum.

 

If it says packing, it means packing. On the phone they told me 4 weeks at the earliest for a customized model. Online it said November 30th, I RECEIVED it a week after ordering. 1 week. I didn't pay for the 2 day shipping, but they sent it Express anyway.
[edit]And it shipped from Hong King, not the US.[/edit]

All of the software and drivers can be installed off of IBM's website. I reformatted a T42 and deleted the recovery partition. I suggest you use their software installer, because I tried installing drivers seperately and couldnt get a few things to work.

Only thing about ordering home is that the sticker on the bottom of the machine will say home instead of pro ;-)

 

Darn! I guess I'll pay $70 more to get that sticker

thanx for the info. I guess I'll call them later today or tomorrow, as time permits Anyway the special offer orders for some reason show up as "call in for availability" when you are trying to place the order.

It sure would be nice to have the T43 with me for xmass break. I aint gonna be taking my overweight Fujitsu with me this time!

 

Mine was a manager special or whatever it's called and had call in for availability. I was dissapointed when I thought I wouldnt have it for Thanksgiving, but now I do

 

Well, I was told "less than two weeks" and not it's Jan. 5 to ship. However, there have been so many cases where they have arrived quickly. Mine was a manager pick also.

Hope we all get them soon. Sure glad mine will say "XP Pro!" ;-)

 

I just realized I have a dead pixel (dark) :-( I hope no more show up.

 

The "availability" listed on the lenovo site is notoriously "worst case". I ordered a T43 for my niece to take to college and the estimated ship was 2-4 weeks. I got it in about a week.

 

Call them up and setup a refund. When that is done order a new laptop. Unless it is towards the far edges, they get REALLY annoying.

 

Actually are dead pixels that noticible on such a high res screen?

But sure if it is annoying you get a refund while you still can, and offers are still running.

 

I have FOUR dead pixels on mine. Two are dark that are only noticeable on bright, two are cyan which are only noticeable on red.

By "noticeable" I mean that you open up Dead Pixel buddy and search for them. Otherwise you will just not pay attention.

15" 1400x1050 Flexview.

 

I have one main one on my sony desktop lcd. Bottom right about 2" from the bottom and 2" form the side. Its a stuck red pixel that gets much brighter on red backgrounds.

Dead and frozen pixels can be hidden much better on higher res screens because the size is so small... anything else and they really come into view much too often.

 

Its black, and its smaller than a pin point, almost not noticible, not worth the effort of returning, paying for shipping, reinstalling all my software. If I get any more, I'll consider it. The only reason I noticed it was because it was infront of a number, and I was like .83? That doesn't make any sense....