Is the Thinkpad R61i worth?

Hi people, I need your advice.

I need to buy a laptop now, I cannot wait 2 weeks for build and delivery.

I found this Thinkpad R61 at Circuit City http://tinyurl.com/3ywz44 for $849.99 after $150 rebate. Sounded like an OK deal to me.

I picked it up last night. However, their ad is wrong... online they say the model #7732A12 is a Thinkpad R61, Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8, 160 GB, 2 GB RAM.

The actual model #7732A12 in the box is Thinkpad R61i, Intel Core 2Duo 1.5, 160 GB, 2 GB RAM. The R61i, does not come with a FireWire port or a Media Card Slot.

Is this laptop (R61i, which is slower and does not have the firewire and media slot) worth the $850?

Should I ask for some money back (how much?), since I did not get what was advertised?

Should return it and I buy my second choice? HP Pavilion http://tinyurl.com/2kjjoq

To make myself clear, they are advertising one laptop and actually giving you a slightly different one in the box. They are only selling 2 Lenovo models and online they have the 1.8 but in the store the same model number is actually a 1.5 without firewire and media slot.

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much!

Chepe

 

I got the same deal on that machine from CC just over a week ago, and when I noticed the slower processor, I insisted on getting a written promise to upgrade to a machine with the faster processor (it states 1.8MHz - the guy thought that was the one advertised, but I think 5450 is 1.66MHz).

The thing is, I doubt they'll ever get the faster ones in the store anyway. I think the ad was simply wrong, so the 'promise' to upgrade probably means nothing.

If I wanted to return it, the best I could probably hope for is to insist on my money back and not have to pay the restocking fee. But I need the machine now, and so far I'm pretty happy with it except for the relatively slow video (slower than my last laptop, anyway).

So, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the R61i from Circuit City is pretty good value for money if you're willing to live with a few limitations, and don't mind dealing with the store (as far as I can tell, that seems to depend on the particular saleman).

For me, it's either go through the hassle of returning the machine and ordering a more expensive one from Lenovo, or living with it and appreciating that it probably will do 99% of what I need for maybe 50-60% of the price.

Dave

 

I also noticed the CC webpage for the noetbook says it has a Core 2 Duo T5250 which is 1.8GHZ and 1G memory (it changed to 2G memory now) about a week ago. I called them and told them as far as I know, T5250 is 1.5Ghz, so what kind of processor the notebook has, a Core 2 Duo T5250 (1.5G) or a 1.8G processor? And I was told it's a T5250.
But I was still confused since R61 not longer comes with a T5*** processor.

To make sure the notebook is I want, I drived an hour and went to the nearest CC store. The tag in front of the display notebook says it's a R61 with a T5450 processor and 2G memory.
But after I checked the machine, it's a R61i with a T5250 processor and 2G memory.

The machine is pretty good though I didn't buy it.

 

Dave,

Could you post the general specifications of the machine... I could not get details on type video memory (shared or not)... RAM expandability, BUS Speed, etc...

I barely open the box and turn it on to check the System Properties.

Is the Hard drive really 160 GB, mine said something like 142... am guessing because of Vista.

It's good to hear that you are happy with the machine, I need it for everyday computing, not much gaming, and occasional advanced stats. modeling and GIS.

I may still go to the store tonight... and see if I can get at least a gift certificate or something...

Cheers,

Chepe

 

You probably have the right spec. The HDD is 160GB, nominally. Comes with 2GB RAM, one of the better points. To me, the video card is barely adequate.

Vista, you'll probably have to learn to live with.

Did you ask at the store whether you could return it for refund (or just exchange) without a restocking fee? I had to go back to the original store just to do an exchange (the first machine was a Toshiba), and dodge the 15% restocking fee.

[I just looked on the Lenovo site, and the R61i there has only 1GB RAM and a 60GB HDD and is priced $10 more.]

BTW, anyone know do you pay state sales tax when you order direct from Lenovo? Which state do they ship from?

Dave

 

I did not ask at the store about returns for a refund... but given that is wrongful advertisement I hope that they are reasonable. I hope to hear more from other folks, I want to make sure that what we got is worth the $850 we paid. Thanks!

When you say that the video is barely adequate... running what? Games or basic movies or online streaming?

 

I checked Lenovo too last night but could compare since I cannot configure the R61i to our system. (14.1 display, no S-video, no firewire, no media slot) at least we got Bluetooth.

Like you said just by the HD and RAM it seems like a good deal, I can live without the firewire and the media slot, I do not think I ever used them in my old HP. And I am looking for something quality and durability.

Chepe

 

I meant even just playing movies. Let alone 3DMark-whatever or complex games. But you wouldn't expect that with this machine anyway. [I'm no doubt making an unfair comparison to my previous laptop, which had ATI Radeon 9600 discrete graphics.]

Dave

 

I picked up an R61i at Staples a few days ago for $699 after the instant rebate and easy rebate. It has the S-video, firewire, and media slot built in. I can't seem to find the bluetooth tho. It is a local thing that was not advertised, but tagged in the store. After installing XP on it, I'm very satisfied.

 

Is that in CA? You're making me jealous. Does it have the DL-DVDRAM drive and 2GB RAM? T5250 processor?

Dave