If you could get this for €800, would you?

cormie · 09-10-2006 2:14am #1

I know IBM are a very famous brand, but I've never heard any reviews on how good they are. In particular, their laptops.

I've come across the following deal for about €800 delivered. Do you think it's worth it?

IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad G41

IBM, Lenovo
80 GB HD
Processor Type: Intel Pentium 4 M
Operating System:Windows XP Professional
DVD+/-RW
Processor Speed: 3,330 MHz
Memory (RAM): 1,000 MB

P4-M 548, 1GB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HDD, 15 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 128MB nVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200, CD-RW/DVD-R Multi-Burner, IBM 802.11b/g wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), 12 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro

It's a refurbished machine.

Any opinions?

Ruu_Old · 09-10-2006 2:16am

Hmm I wouldn't trust refurbished mainly because of the battery and there is probably a good chance that its run down a bit.

cormie · 09-10-2006 2:30am

Is the battery the only concern you'd have? They wont really be used without a mains connection anyway, they will be used as desktop replacements really.

Here's what it says about the refurbished issue:

BM/Lenovo Factory Grade A Refurbished Certified L Claim Product. These Are Factory Sealed computers Some Are Excess New Products-Surplus Units That Are Still New, Duplicate Orders, Canceled Orders And Systems That Have Been Returned Because They Didn't Meet Customers Specific Needs And Some Are Discontinued Products In Perfect Working Condition they All come complete with all original accessories.

Conar · 09-10-2006 2:39am

I have been using an IBM laptop for over a year now. I think they're great.
I've left it on the sitting room floor a few times and come back to find my 1 year old son standing on it (while closed over) and its still fine.
They seem to be really well made.

I'd say that if the battery was screwed you'd probably pick on up on EBAY.

cormie · 09-10-2006 2:42am

It says it has 2 hour battery life. Besides the battery anyway, do you reckon it's a good deal?

Conar · 09-10-2006 2:54am

Compared to this on the Dell Outlet (refurb site) it seems good.
I don't exactly stay as up to date on laptop technology as I would on desktops though so I wouldn't know if there are better places to buy refurbs.

SYSTEM SPECIFICATION
Inspiron 630M (System Identifier. D0WLB7WB)
Inspiron 630M Pentium M Proc 740 1.73 GHz
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition

System Price EUR 747.39
Dell recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional

Operating System: Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
Memory: 512MB 533MHz DDR2SDRAM(1x512)
Floppy Drive: No Floppy Drive
Hard Disk Drive: 60GB (5.400rpm) Hard Drive
NoteBook Screen: 14.1 inch WXGA (1280x800) LCD
Modem: Internal 56K Modem
Internal 56K Modem
Network Interface Card: Intel ProWireless 2200 802.11b/g Mini PCI Wireless LAN Card
DVD Drive: 8X DVD+/-RW
Software: Microsoft® Works® 7.0
English - Adobe Reader 6.0
MISC: UK/Ire - Internal Keyboard
D-Series 65W AC adapter - ULD
Photo Shop Photo Album (5.22) - trial version

cormie · 09-10-2006 3:03am

The IBM seems better alright, plus it has a very important feature. A display with a vertical res of 1050. I think this is probably the best offer for what my friends want anyway.

Ruu_Old · 09-10-2006 3:37am

It seems fine to me besides the battery issue (the IBM). Is there any sort of warranty with it?

TerrorFirmer · 09-10-2006 7:44am

As long as there is a warranty with it yes. I would much rather an ibm over a dell equivilent, nothing wrong with dell but ibm machines are fantastic.

Gurgle · 09-10-2006 8:14am

cormie wrote:

Any opinions?

buy it.

cormie · 09-10-2006 8:32am

3 year warranty which is pretty good alright:) I've tried a final haggle which will put it to about €700 delivered, so hopefully that will work:cool:

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Tom Dunne · 09-10-2006 9:28am

Conar wrote:

I have been using an IBM laptop for over a year now. I think they're great.

I've been using IBM laptops for almost 8 years now, and I really think they are great.

Buy it. Battery concerns aside, they are the mutts nuts in terms of laptops. Better value compared to Dell.

One minor thing - the Pentium M is based on the Pentium 3 architecture, so I am not so sure it is technically correct to say the processor is a Pentium 4 M. Also, a processor running at 3.3Mhz on a laptop? Strange. I have a 3Ghz desktop processor in my HP laptop and I get 2 minutes out of the battery. So I reckon it might be worth confirming the specs before purchase. /pedantic.

cormie · 09-10-2006 9:56am

Sorry, I'm not too familiar with my MHZ and all that. What exactly should I be asking to confirm in particular? What seems strange in the above spec?

Tom Dunne · 09-10-2006 10:17am

Ignore me. I'm not awake this morning and I'm being too pedantic. I just checked a few specs of that machine and it is fine.

Go buy it.

cormie · 09-10-2006 10:46am

thanks for all the help everyone:)

seraphimvc · 09-10-2006 9:58pm

i got my first thinkpad nearly 2 years which is R52 ,a business model type laptop,never bring any problems for me.

PLEASE go for it.800euro is a extremely nice price to get a thinkpad.
Really recommend that.

p/s:do they give you that very 'delicious' 1yr international warranty?that warranty might give you a hand if u really got a problem in the future .Anyway,i DONT think that you will ever need that warranty unless you break your thinkpad by throwing from 10th floor,which,it may still 'survive'.emm........

TempestSabre · 10-10-2006 11:57am

While I realise the IBM is well built machine, that machine is neither a desktop replacement (its not high enough spec) and not all that portable (poor battery). Is there not a better IBM you can get? I have a old Sony Desktop replacment and find the poor battery life really limiting. The battery life will reduce over time so be aware of that.

Incidentally I got a 640m, Dual Core 1.83Ghz, 1GB, 80GB, DVDRW, 9 cell battery, and a 14" 1440x900, GMA950. All for about 750 incl VAT. While its not the same quality as the IBM it has a 6hr+ battery life. Which is why I bought it. I'd prefer a Sony or an IBM (mainly for a better quality screen) but I'd need to spend a lot more money to get the same or better battery life.The outlet has bargains only some of the time, a lot of the stuff is even more expensive than the main Dell site. So you need to watch it and wait for a bargain to pop up.

Why do you need the 1050 res? As this seems one of the few machines to have that res you don't have many options.

cormie · 10-10-2006 12:25pm

thanks for the input, both my brother and friend need that res for work. The spec on the above is more than enough for the usage it will have. When I say desktop replacement, I mean something that will do everything they need to be done, they aren't hardcore gamers or anything so no need to have the latest and greatest specs:D

Battery life isn't an issue either as they will be using with a mains, 99.9% of the time:)

TempestSabre · 10-10-2006 12:46pm

Sorry posted link in wrong thread.

cormie · 10-10-2006 1:08pm

Don't really have time to read that (12 pages:eek:). Is it saying the above machine is good or bad? It would still serve the purpose as a basic desktop replacement?

jimmycrackcorm · 12-10-2006 11:04am

FYI

Lenovo is a chinese company who bought the laptop division off IBM. So it might still be branded IBM but no longer manufactured by them.

cormie · 12-10-2006 11:16am

Hmm, didn't know that, does that change things for the worse?

I ordered 2 of them anyway. Did quite a bit of haggling. The starting bid price was $899, the buyitnow price was $1199, I rang them up and asked what deal could they do if I got 2, they said $50 off each, wasn't happy with that so I emailed asking for 2 of the machines for $1800 delivered (considering the buyitnow on them both would have been $2400 plus shipping, this was a bit hopeful), they said $2,000 is the best they could do, the bid was ending soon with no bids for $899 so I mentioned this and they still said $2000, I said $1850 and we have a deal.. they said ok:D

So I'm getting them for both for less than €750 delivered each. Let's just hope we don't get stung for import duties now:o

Tom Dunne · 12-10-2006 11:31am

cormie wrote:

Hmm, didn't know that, does that change things for the worse?

No, all they did was change the name on the entrance to the factory in China.

They were always made in China, or at least have been for a long time.

tonyboy247 · 12-10-2006 12:46pm

In generall IBM systems are OK though I had the unsavoury task of testing one of these out a while back. This model is a bit like a Dyson hoover…. It sucks... but.. the power stays good if you know what I mean.

cormie · 12-10-2006 12:54pm

I don't get what you're saying

If you could get this for €800, would you?

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