Thinking I should prob get a lightweight one, around 4 lbs. Looking to spend less than $1200. Am I correct in wanting to get a light laptop? If not, I could get a good deal for $600 or so.

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Laptop (and bag) for Bschool...

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imjimmy

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08 Jun 2007, 01:13

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pelihu

tkkoh

What's the specs, where did you order from, and for how much?

I'm been given a T-series, but I'm debating whether I should get the X-series instead. Basically it is having to pay more for the mobility...

I ordered mine as follows:

2.0 GHz processor T7300
14.1" WXGA+ (1440x900)
1GB Ram (I'm adding another 1GB myself)
80GB HD
Intel Turbo Memory 1GB
DVD Multiwriter
PC Card/Express Card (you actually have a choice to substitute smart card or memory card reader)
7 Cell Battery
Bluetooth
802.11 ABGN
Fingerprint reader
Vista Business
2 year next business day warranty

Total $1311.91 + tax = $1427.57
I ordered direct from Lenovo. I'm also getting a $45 rebate through fatwallet. It will be nice when I move to Charlottesville where the tax is only 4% I believe (as opposed to 8.75% here). Not in time for this though.

If you want maximum portability then the X series is the way to go. I like the optical drive so I can watch movies, and perhaps play games if the occasion allows. I think the higher resolution will be nice for working on spreadsheets and things like that.

Pelihu, thanks for posting your configuration. I am about to buy the same machine with similar config.I know the father's day sale is not as good as the memorial sale earlier, but it still seems fairly decent to me. And i like the 21 day policy of Lenovo in which if the price changes(within 21 days of your shipping) they credit you the difference.

ONe Question:Which 2 yr waranty did you choose? Is it the Onsite Warranty or the Depot warranty? Did you choose the thinkpad protection also - and do you recommend it?

EconGirl

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08 Jun 2007, 09:06

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Do you think it is worth getting Vista Ultimate over Vista Business?

3underscore

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08 Jun 2007, 09:13

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There is a vista Ultimate?!

That reminds me of when I was considering getting a webhost - I looked at getting the "crazy domain insane" package. It was the smallest one they offered.

GMATcram

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08 Jun 2007, 09:54

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Do you know T61 have a discount to less than 1000$ on July 4? However, it often takes very long time to deliver?

EconGirl

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08 Jun 2007, 10:09

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GMATcram

Do you know T61 have a discount to less than 1000$ on July 4? However, it often takes very long time to deliver?

How do you know this? I did not expect them to put out the 4th of July specials before Father Day's are over. It seems that all Lenovo others are taking much longer than expected - I heard that Lenovo started outsourcing coz of this

cbreeze

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11 Jun 2007, 12:50

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For those of you going to Duke. The school states they are only supporting Windows XP Pro and 2003 Office until next summer.....are you still getting a new computer? Will we get free upgrades next summer if we get a new computer with old software?

Edit: OK, I emailed Duke and they said they would offer support to Vista and Office 2007 this coming August.

pelihu

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12 Jun 2007, 20:18

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For those looking to purchase a T61 from Lenovo, I just got an email from them saying that everything has been delayed - in fact I don't know if anyone has actually received a T61 from Lenovo (some have been sold through retailers).

They apologized for the delay and said that most orders should be filled by the end of the month. They offered a choice of a free gift for the delay; either an extended battery, AC Adapter or carrying case. I think the battery sells for about $150, the adapter about $70 and the case $70.

This actually works out perfectly for me. I was actually going to purchase an additional battery and AC adapter, so this saves me $150. I have no need for the computer prior to school so I'm happy to wait. Others that have ordered the computer probably don't have the time to wait and are understandably angry. So regarding the comment above that their shipments are slow, that's definitely true but Lenovo claims they will be caught up by the end of this month. That should be in time for anyone that needs a new computer before starting school.

died4me

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13 Jun 2007, 16:33

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This is what I got. In fact, originally i ordered 15.4 inch dv6000series w/ 12 cell batt. I had to admit that it is just too bulky. So I returned it and got a smaller one.

HP Pavilion tx1000z customizable Notebook PC
GD617AV
– Upgrade to Genuine Windows Vista Business (32-bit)
– AMD Turion(TM) 64 X2 Dual-Core TL-60(2.0GHz/1MB)
– 12.1" WXGA BrightView w/Integrated Touch-screen
– RAM 2GB (2 Dimm)
– NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 6150
– HP Imprint Finish + Microphone + Webcam
– 802.11a/b/g/n (draft 802.11n) WLAN and Bluetooth
– 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
– LightScribe DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
– 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
The batt life should be around 4.5 hours

I have always wanted to own a tablet PC as I love the idea of writing down notes on the screen!!!!

As I won't be playing any games, I was not too concerned w/ the low powered video card.

I don't think Duke would allow a Tablet PC in a class but I would be making notes on my screen for my group meetings. :panel

aaudetat

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15 Jun 2007, 08:52

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how much was it??

cbreeze

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15 Jun 2007, 09:56

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died4me,
After reading the tablet's specs, I am deciding between yours and the Lenovo x61s. Seems like yours are packed with features with a better price point. Did you get any service warranty with yours?

Here's a question for everyone, I am clueless about computers, do you recommend getting on site or depot warranty on the computers? It's expensive and add almost $250 for a 2 year warranty.

died4me

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15 Jun 2007, 13:18

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It was around $1500 w/o office 2007 as we can get it for $79 at Duke. Correct me if I am wrong. Make sure that you get APP discount w/ a student ID.

I didn't get any protection. it comes w/ 1yr warranty.
I gave a very hard thought whether I should get the damage cover or not......

I have used laptops for the past 6 years and I have never had an accidental incident such as spilling liquid on it or dropping it.

It was very hard decision, but I decided not to spend around $250 for this insurance.

sm176811

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15 Jun 2007, 14:26

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died4me

Agreed, I wonder how often people drop coffees or food on their laptop. I have been using laptops since the late 90s and never had any such accidents.

lepium

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15 Jun 2007, 14:58

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sm176811

Agreed, I wonder how often people drop coffees or food on their laptop. I have been using laptops since the late 90s and never had any such accidents.

I had a co-worker who "fried" her first - ever company laptop with tea, about 5 years back. It sucked for her, but was kinda funny to watch. That's the only case I've heard of people spilling stuff on laptops.

L.

pelihu

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15 Jun 2007, 15:16

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I've thought about this as well. I actually haven't had any personal experience with damaging a laptop, but I think the business school environment might be particularly challenging.

First of all, we will probably have it with us at all times. That means in and out of bags, onto tables, and just being carried around over and over each day. Then think about the group meetings and other impromptu sessions where you might need to use your laptop. I don't know about getting something spilled on it, but I could definitely imagine some being dropped or crushed, maybe a broken LCD or hinge, or accelerated HD failure because it gets bumped around a lot.

Some positive points about Thinkpads (and certain other business class notebooks) are that they have spill-proof keyboards (drains right through to the bottom without frying the internals), shock protection systems for the HD and hinges known to be extremely durable. The new Thinkpads also have a new and improved cage to protect the LCD from being crushed.

That said, they still haven't shipped my order. They did offer an additional $50 off (above the free battery they already offered). I have no use the laptop until school starts, but it would be nice to get it by mid July.

3underscore

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15 Jun 2007, 15:25

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I smashed a screen on a thinkpad at work a few years back. Probably explains my dislike.

sm176811

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15 Jun 2007, 15:41

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I was thinking of getting a HP Professional/Business series laptop (HP 6910p on Santa Rosa platform - https://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quic ... 99_na.HTML

Processor Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7500* (2.2-GHz, 800-FSB, 4-MB L2 cache)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista Business
System Memory 2048 MB 667-MHz DDR2 (2 DIMM)
Hard Drive 160-GB 5400 rpm SMART SATA
Display 14.1-inch WXGA
Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon X2300 with 128 MB of dedicated memory
Audio ADI High Definition CODEC
Communications Integrated Intel Gigabit Network Connection (10/100/1000 NIC)
56K V.92 modem
Integrated Wireless Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN; Bluetooth 2.0
Integrated Security Integrated Smart Card Reader
Drive Encryption for HP ProtectTools
HP Fingerprint Sensor
Pointing Device Enhanced dual pointing devices (touchpad with scroll zone and pointstick)
MultiBay II Drive DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive
Battery 6-cell (55 WHr) Lithium-Ion
Power External 90W adapter

Any thots?

aaudetat

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15 Jun 2007, 18:17

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i know a woman who has fried TWO laptops, all within a year or two. She dumped a glass of wine in the first one....it's sorta funny, because apparently what happens is that the computer goes down until everything dries out. And then once it dries out, you can power it back up with just enough to back everything up before the sugar or acids or something in the wine corrodes everything permanently.

pelihu

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15 Jun 2007, 18:46

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sm176811

Sounds like plenty of computer for whatever you might need to do at business school. How much will that cost?

sm176811

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15 Jun 2007, 23:05

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pelihu

sm176811

Sounds like plenty of computer for whatever you might need to do at business school. How much will that cost?

About $1.7K.

drMBA1

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16 Jun 2007, 03:31

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cbreeze

,

Here's a question for everyone, I am clueless about computers, do you recommend getting on site or depot warranty on the computers? It's expensive and add almost $250 for a 2 year warranty.

I would go with the onsite warranty. If this is a Lenovo laptop, most users I know prefer the onsite warranty and actually state that the Lenovo guys would usually come to your house with the necessary parts and make the changes.This saves a lot of time. If its depot warranty, they would first send you a box in which you would send back the laptop and when they are done, they would send it back to you. This process is definitely longer.

If you are concerned that you might also spill any liquid or damage the laptop in anyway on your own e.g then take the warranty upgrade+ protection combo.

If you use an AMEX card to purchase the laptop, you get a 1yr extension of your warranty from AMEX.

I personally took the warranty+protection for 2yrs and I am getting an extra 1 yr warranty from AMEX.

Hope this helps.