Lenovo Outlet--Refurbished...Good/Bad idea?

1) Is refurbished a bad idea?
2) Is the outlet site a bad bet in general?
3) Is $976 (pre-tax) a good price for the refurbished system below?

Lenovo is saying they have no idea IF or when the 1400X900 led screen will return as an option for x200s. I can't imagine it's really gone for good, but I can't wait forever...

Processor Intel® Core™2 Duo SL9400 (1.86 GHz, 6MB L2, 1066 MHz FSB)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista Business 32
Outlet Part Number 746R907VDD
Condition Refurbished
Display 12.1” WSXGA (1440 X 900), W/ Backlight
Total Memory 3GB (1GB & 2GB) PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory
Hard Drive 160GB, 7200RPM Serial ATA 2.5" Drive
Graphics Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Optical Device Optical Not Included
Wireless Intel WiFi Link 5300 (3x3 AGN)
Mobile Broadband None
Battery 9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (6.0 Hour Run Time)
Limited Warranty 1 Year Standard
Color Black
Bluetooth Yes
Integrated Camera No
Fingerprint Reader Yes
Keyboard/Pointing Device UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Manufacturing part number 7465CTRR907VDD

 

i bought my T400 refurbished from the outlet and you wound think it was brand new. It had now marks of any kind. Only way you knew was because of the sticker they put on it. But that is my experience.

That looks like a nice config and price you have there especially with the 1440x900 scree

 

Only issue I've run into is applying a warranty to the laptop, but that may be because my W500 came with a 3 year warranty, which got knocked to 1 by the outlet, and now I can't buy a 3 year warranty on it.

But, Mark@Lenovo is helping me out, and it's possible that since the 4063 model came with 3 year (as opposed to the 4058's 1 year), that I can buy a 4 year warranty for a buck more than the 3 year.

The nice thing about the outlet is you can look up the laptop by the model they give you and the serial number, and check to see what parts they're sending. It was nice to look mine up and know I was getting an LG screen.

The one I bought was a redistributed, for what it's worth. I wouldn't worry about getting a refurbished model, so long as it's backed by a full warranty. I can't honestly remember a manufacturer-direct refurbished model that I've purchased, either for myself or others, that hasn't been practically perfect.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't refurbished just computer people may have returned not beacuse something was wrong with it, but just decided they did not want it? So there really isn't anything wrong with most of them.

Even if something was wrong, I am sure they just replace the part with one that works. No big deal.