Just bought two used Thinkpads! T23 and X30!

I had posted earlier about looking into either a T60 or z61t. While those options may still be open in a couple of months, I looked at some older cheaper options while my absolutely hated, but still managable skank of an Inspiron 5100 would remain my "main" computer. My uncle is paying for them, so I didn't want to break his back with a $1300 load out of the blue (no pun intended).

I got an X30 from ebay for about $350 shipped, in decent shape, perfect screen. I plan on using it almost entirely for class work needs at college, just taking notes, surfing the internet, reading Acrobat files, using some AIM, hooking up an iPod perhaps. With the ultrabase and the 2nd battery, the battery life should be phenomenal...the portability of the main unit itself should be amazing. I hate my Dell because it feels cheap, weighs 8 pounds, and lasts less than 2 hours on battery. Talk about a sea change! I bought a 1gb thumb drive to transfer files and such to my "desktop laptop," the Dell. I have a 160gb external HD I can use too. I wanted the X31, naturally, with USB2.0, but it was just too expensive.

Stats:
-1.06 ghz P3M
-512MB RAM
-12.1" XGA
-20 GB hd (smaller than I wanted...)
-Ultrabase X3 with CD? Not sure what drive came with it, CD-ROM or CDR. I have an external DVD-RW anyway.
-2 Li-On Batteries! I hope they hold charge.
-3COM PCMCIA wireless card


I also got a T23 for $330 shipped. It doesn't have wireless, but I'll add a PCMCIA card since theyre are some good ones for cheap on Newegg.
Stats:
-1.13 Ghz P3
-14" XGA
-30gb, 4200 RPM (slow...)
-640mb RAM (!!!)
-DVD-ROM
-Says the battery holds a good charge

While it doesn't have the CDRW/DVD of my Dell Inspiron 5100, and is naturally a lot slower and older, it has a lot more RAM and if it works out well, it could replace the Dell as the main computer I use at the dorm. I multitask constantly at the desk, with way too many Firefox windows open, multiple AIM convos, Winamp accessing a huge song library that stays on the external HD, usually a word processor or something, and often some skinning utilities and a OSX Dock emulator. Also a lot of photo editing, Skype, and things of this nature. Almost no "gaming," though. I have a PS2 for that.

While a T60 would smoke all of these computers combined, this is a LOT easier on the pocketbook and I might still get a better one down the road. I always wanted an ultraportable and felt terrible about how I could never bring my huge Dell anywhere. I really really hope they arrived in good shape, I'll report about it when I get them at school. I am really excited, if you can't tell! I have wanted a Thinkpad for many many years, ever since I saw one in the 5th grade, I felt like they were sleek, no-nonsense machines. I couldn't afford one in 2004 when I left for school and got the Dell (my uncle bought it for me as well).

I am so thrilled! Do you guys think I got a good deal, assuming their conditions are decent to good?

 

Hmm that's $680... dont wanna rain on your parade but I would have instead gotten one of those z60t's for $699-$749 (free shipping) from the lenovo outlet... M740, atheos wifi, 8X dvd burner, brighter screen, widescreen, bluetooth, better utilities, and 1-3 year warranties... in a package that's about 4.5 pounds and 120 square inches.

I have a T23, it's a good workhorse... it's somewhat heavier bigger than my T41. The t20's dont have the trackpad if u care.

 

I know...but really, had I gotten a newer T or a Z, part of me would've longed for an older X anyway, for that simple use. And I get a larger, more static computer for the price as well. Granted, it's not new, isn't nearly as zippy and all of that, but I'm still excited =)

 

yep well if you want ultraportable, the T and Z dont fit the bill