Good deal and configuration on a T500?

Here is the system I plan on ordering:

CONFIGURED SYSTEM $846.40 $846.40
The above product code consists of the following component(s):
THINKPAD T500 EXPRESS - 1 YR DEPOT WARRANTY $846.40
SBB INT.CORE2DUOPROCP8600 $0.00
VBB MS WIN VISTA BUSSINESS 64 $0.00
SBB G W VISTABSS64 US ENGLISH $0.00
SBB 15.4 WXGA TFT $0.00
SBB ATIMOBRADEON3650WITH256MB $0.00
VBB 2GBPC3-8500 1067MHZ1DIMM $0.00
SBB KYB US ENGLISH $0.00
SBBULTRA NAV(TR.POINT+TOUCHPAD $0.00
SBB 160GB HDD,5400RPM $0.00
SBB DVD REC8XMAXDUL.ULT.S.SATA $0.00
VBB EXPR.CARD SLOT/PCCARDSLOT $0.00
SBB INT.WIFI LINK5300 $0.00
SBB 9 CELL LI-ION BATTERY $0.00
SBB COUNTRY PACK NORTH AMERICA $0.00
SBB LANG.PACK US ENG. $0.00

This is my first Lenovo and I am actually extremely hesitant about making the purchase. Should I be? What do you guys think of the configuration? I will be upgrading the hard drive and the RAM by myself so don't look at that. Any suggestions?

I couldn't decide if I wanted the LED screen...the WXGA is perfect for the person I'm buying this for as he wouldn't like a higher resolution but I haven't found enough information/interest in the T500 LED screens so I didn't go for it.

 

Really need some help ASAP guys.

 

Price and configuration look fine to me.

You may want to consider a 3yr depot warranty if you plan on keeping it a while, but it's not mandatory.

My recommendation would be to get the WSXGA+ display, but if you are sure the person you're buying it for would prefer WXGA then get that.

It would probably also help if you could state what the person you're buying it for intends to do with it. Otherwise, specific recommendations (CPU speed, dedicated GPU, cell count, resolution, etc.) can be difficult to make.

 

i don't think you should be hesitant, Lenovo Thinkpads are nicely built and great quality. After the 15% discount, it's makes them an even better value.

The LED screens should be nice on the T500, they are available for WXGA.

 

That looks like a pretty solid configuration, for a great price. Depending on the person's usage, an LED-backlit WXGA screen would be a better choice. If he will be using it outside at all, or if he really cares about battery life, then that may be a better pick.

 

The person that I'm buying it for does pretty basic business stuff, nothing crazy. He likes to game once in a long while so I chose the ATI GPU.

He likes the WXGA screen because it's easy on the eyes...is the LED WXGA screen better in this respect?

 

The LED WXGA screen won't be any easier on the eyes, unless he is using the laptop outdoors - a brighter screen would help outside visibility and reduce eye strain in bright environments.

 

Oh gotcha...yeah it will be indoors 98% of the time.

 

Why the 3 year warranty? I'm not a fan of getting more warranty on any laptop really...is there something about Lenovos that would require the 3 year warranty?

 

I've read some bad reports about WXGA LED panels on t500 on other forums regadring crappy viewing angles. On the other hand, WSXGA+ panel is supposed to be one of the nicest ones used by Lenovo on all of their laptops (good colors and decent viewing angles). Both panels are rated at 200 nits, so brightness would be the same. If i was you, i would get the one with better panel.

 

A warranty is basically a gamble of whether the laptop will fail or not. Even if the machine were guaranteed to stay in one place you still have more risk than a laptop. The warranty price is cheap. Personally, I would never recommend not purchasing a notebook without warranty. It's the converse of asking 'am I willing to do without this computer.'

 

IMO, most companies including probably Lenovo will let people buy extended warrenties up until the expiration of the standard warranty. If you dont want to spend on the warranty right now, you can wait for a while and then decide if the extended warranty is going to be useful for you or not.

 

Im not a fan of warranties. Usually if something is going to fail it will be within the first year, and even if its 2-3 years down the line its not really worth it sometimes. Now if I were to buy a $2k+ laptop then by all means get a warranty, but for the average user its just not cost effective.

 

Exactly I totally agree. And besides, Lenovos should be built better than other laptops right?

 

Yes. The ones that I have used are solid and built to last. They are meant to be on the road and beaten into the ground over the years and keep going. The only laptop I have found to be built more solid is my dell vostro. That thing is a tank, but so are thinkpads