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Need Advice On First Laptop Purchase!

post #1 of 12
6/26/04 at 2:05am
Thread Starter 
Hello Everyone,

I have been doing ALOT of research on laptops from this thread and others. I finally decided to join and ask the experts for their advice. I will be starting college as an Engineering student (EE or ME.. soo many choices ), and have been comparing the different models out now with the one my school has with IBM. The specs are as follows:

IBM Thinkpad T42
14.1 in SXGA 1400 * 1050
1.7 Ghz Pentium M Dothan
512MB RAM
intelPRO 802.11b/g
80 GB HD (5400 RPM)
2X DVD Burner
10/100/1000 Ethernet
ATI Radeon 9600 64MB
3 year Warranty
Custom Software ($225 value)

$2329 w/o shipping and handling

I know IBM is a very good company, and the T42 similary configured is $$$, but i kinda wanted a 15+ in screen.Besides, IBM's are ugly(not a very valid reason) I was also worried that if i choose ME, that the 14.1 in screen might not be big enough for CAD/Inventor work. I tried to config the Compal cl56 to meet the specs but i always go over, especially when i have to add $225 for software installation.

I am not a hardcore gamer, so this laptop is for class work,email, CAD,simulation software, and DVD playback. More work than play.

PLEASE give me your opinions. thanks
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post #2 of 12
6/26/04 at 2:12am
what custom software are u talking about

keep in mind the cl56 has a 9700/128 Mb card
this will outperform the t42's m10/64 Mb
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post #3 of 12
6/26/04 at 2:23am
you tell'm Aikeo!
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post #4 of 12
6/26/04 at 2:37am
Chembook 2056 -S
15" SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) Active Matrix Display
1.7 GHz Intel Pentium M Processor (Dothan - 2048 L2 Cache)
128 MB Dedicated Video Ram, Ati Radeon 9700 Pro w/ 4X AGP 3D Graphics Accelerator
60 GB Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
512 MB DDR333 (PC2700) SDRAM (512 MB x 1)
4X DVD RW (+/-) / 16X CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo Drive with Software
Internal 56k Modem
Internal 10/100 Ethernet LAN
Internal IntelPRO Wireless Ethernet/Lan (802.11 b+g)
Smart Lithium Ion Battery (4.0+ hours battery life)
S-Video, VGA, 1 IEEE Firewire Port, 3 USB 2.0 Ports
Panasonic Secure Digital (SD) Memory Slot
AC Adapter w/ power cord
Free Deluxe Carry Case
FREE BONUS! Notebook Essentials Software (19 Titles)
No Operating System Installed, drivers included on CD-ROM
1 year parts / 3 year labor, life tech support
Extended Warranty w/ Help Desk Options (coverage begins after factory warranty ends)
3-year extended warranty w/ on-site & help desk services (EW3)

$1950 total w/o shipping and handling

also includes this silly custom software if you want it

EEs rule the world. nuff said.
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post #5 of 12
6/26/04 at 3:21am
dekela:

If you post a question on IBM's Thinkpads on this forum, the outcome is fairly predictable, since most active members here are simply looking for cheapest vendors of notebooks similar to CL56 in specs, ignoring other important factors such as the additional cost of factory installed software, reliable warranties, quality of tech support, etc. If you wish to find out more, search this forum for "T42".

In your particular case, if you think that a 14.1" screen is too small, you should first check with your school if upgrading to a larger screen is viable.
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post #6 of 12
6/27/04 at 3:11pm
Thread Starter 
thanks everyone I am getting close to makin my decision,

Aikeo, the custom software I am talking about are software that is needed for my classes, although i can magically come up with the software myself... they require VALID licenses and they do check for it on orientation.

Windows XP Pro, Office 2003 Prof, Microsoft Visio and Publisher 2003, Microsoft Project 2003 Std, Microsoft Frontpage 2003, Microsoft .NET 2003, Matlab, Robolab (Lego), Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.1

KCK, you are right, those things are important to me, but it seems as thought the vendors, like powernotebooks.com, have good support and a high reseller rating. I am also going to contact my school to make sure i can upgrade to a larger screen, and to see if i do purchase the laptop outside of their deal, that the OS comes inside the $225 package i have to purchase.

EE 4 LIFE
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post #7 of 12
6/27/04 at 5:34pm
Thread Starter 
Ok. im pretty much decided on the Compal cl56, unless my school can give me some incentive on getting the T42 (doubtful). My next question is to those who own the Compal, where did you order it from and what were your experiences with the vendor?

Thanks

ME 4 Life
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post #8 of 12
6/27/04 at 5:58pm
Im an incoming college freshman going for a mechanical engineering degree and i chose the 14.1 inch t42p. The 14 inch is plenty big for CAD programs and such from what the instructors and students have told me. I went for the "p" because the 128mb FireGL T2 should work nicely with CAD programs (as well as a few games here and there)
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post #9 of 12
6/27/04 at 9:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KCK
dekela:

If you post a question on IBM's Thinkpads on this forum, the outcome is fairly predictable, since most active members here are simply looking for cheapest vendors of notebooks similar to CL56 in specs, ignoring other important factors such as the additional cost of factory installed software, reliable warranties, quality of tech support, etc. If you wish to find out more, search this forum for "T42".
this is total bs. we all take into account IBM's build quality and tech support when we recommend ODM laptops.

we just don't its worth the $500-700 price markup when most laptops today only last 4-5 years at most.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dekela

Windows XP Pro, Office 2003 Prof, Microsoft Visio and Publisher 2003, Microsoft Project 2003 Std, Microsoft Frontpage 2003, Microsoft .NET 2003, Matlab, Robolab (Lego), Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.1
IBM includes full copies of Office XP and Visual Studio.Net with that price? really...
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post #10 of 12
6/28/04 at 1:12am
Thread Starter 
oo No IBM doesnt include all of that software with the laptop. The school provides the software in the package deal they have wtih IBM. basically IBM provides the laptop and other contracts the school have with Microsoft provides the software.

Aikeo, or anyone, where did u order your laptops from, and how was the experience?
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post #11 of 12
6/28/04 at 7:09pm
the only problem w/ ibm laptops is ghosting (like with dvd playback)
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post #12 of 12
6/28/04 at 7:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ratm1992
the only problem w/ ibm laptops is ghosting (like with dvd playback)
That only happens on the 15 inch flexview screen, not the 14.1 inch non-flexview (which is what i got )
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