Help ! Should I buy a used or a new thinkpad ?

I'm in a dilemma.

I need a secondary laptop to carry on trips etc.
Used T42s go about $550
But right now, I can get a brand new T61p 2Ghz, 100GB HDD@7200rpm, 1GB ram, rollcage, WUXGA, NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M
and a *SIX* year warranty @ $1485 incl tax.

So if I buy a new T61p, I'm set for 6 years, but I have to spend $900 more. But it seems such a good deal...

With a used T42, its cheaper, but there is no guarentee it will last.
At a $550 pricepoint, I want it to last at least 3 years, and most of it outside warranty. Is this unreasonable ?

 

search ebay for t60.

You can get used ones with 3yr warranty for less than 700$.

 

I think it depends more or less on what you need the notebook for, you have relatively two notebooks at either end of the spectrum...if you need a lot of power go with the T61p, if you only need the notebook for basic tasks save your money and go with the T42

 

Why not go somewhere in between? That's pretty extreme, used vs new at three times the price.

If you are open to used, why not look to ebay for something more recent, that still has some warranty left? Split the difference in price. ~800-1k.

 

seriously that 1485 + tax sounds like an extrememly good deal! I didnt even know it was possible to get it that cheap... I'd go with the t61p just because its so badass lol

btw how did you get the price tag to be that low?

 

Maybe you can fill out the FAQ (that would be the "What Notebook Should I Buy?" one) so we can give you suggestions based on what your needs are.

 

See
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=8893
Instead of USXIBMSPPTRIPLE use the coupon USPJULYT72 for the T61P
which gives 10% of thinkpads, but hurry, this deal expires TODAY.

Oh, and the 1485 was INCLUDING Tax (~$120)

 

sorry thats what i meant.... **** i already ordered one... can i still do it?

 

darn the thread was already deleted or invalid

 

Sorry I made a mistake in editing, link is fixed now.

I belive you have two options:
1.Creata a quote, and pricematch that quote to your order.
2.If your order hasnt shipped, order now, and cancel the earlier order.

I'm note sure which one is best....

 

thanks alot.

which one is easier... choice number 2 doesnt look too appetitizing...

sorry about sidetracking this thread

 

I dunno, did you sign up for tailormade and use AMEX in your original order ? If not, then option 1 wont work (you wont get tailormade 10% discount credited back).

Option 2 is guarenteed to give you the full discount provide you can cancel your current order, I'm not sure how easy it is to cancel.

 

I could get something around $900, decent specs with a 3 year warranty (SXGA+ is a minimum).
The thing is, the T61P has a *6* year warranty. So I theoretically get 3 more years for $600.
Thats very tempting.

And the T61p has this metal roll-cage thing for the screen going ...

 

Why don't you just get the T61? Do you even need the video card in the T61p?

 

Not all that much.
I configured the T61, it was only $200 cheaper (I require at least SXGA+).
I figured the video card, the WUXGA screen, and the metal rollcage for the top were worth at least $200

 

That seems a bit expensive. What specs did you configure?

 

2Ghz, 100GB@7200 rpm, 1GB ram, 5 year depot warranty, WSXGA+ (only available with nvidia graphics card)

 

Just go for lower specs then. 512mb ram (upgrade it on your own = save money), 120gb 5400 rpm, 1 year warranty (warranty isn't that important IMO). If you can settle for the 14.1" screen, you can get higher res (WXGA+) AND not have to get the vid card upgrade. You'll save battery life too.

 

1GB ram upgrade cost me around $35.
HDD upgrade ~$55
I thought both were worth it.
WXGA+ is not acceptable.
14.1" is fine.

And warranty - I'm not so sure. Almost 100% of the thinkpads in our group have died between years 3 & 6. Motherboard failures, fan errors etc.

 

Why is WXGA+ unacceptable? Is that not high enough for you or is it too high? If it's not high enough for you, how could 14.1" be fine for you?

 

Not high enough.
I need screen estate, Font sizes being a bit small is fine.

 

So 6 year warranty is a factor to you, and you need the highest specs of the t61p now?

Since you mentioned the 6 year warranty was important to you, I assume you plan on using it for 6 years. If anything less than a loaded p doesn't meet your needs now, do you think even it will suffice more than a few years down the road? It would for me, but I don't need anything near that powerful now.

But I also don't disagree with your need for wsxga+, even on 14.1 (not happening btw). I found I really missed that extra 150 vertical in wxga+. Felt cramped to me, ymmv.