Lenovo Thinkpad T410 in the pipeline

I opted out for discrete graphics as I concluded I have no foreseeable use for it:

I also managed to snag it with the 10% discount for an educational purchase and the 5% bing cashback, total of $1187 before taxes and no shipping charge:

Processor: Intel Core i7-620M Processor (2.66GHz, 4MB L3, 1066MHz FSB)
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
Operating system language: Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 US English
Display type: 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight (WWAN antenna)
System graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD - AMT
Total memory: 2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
Keyboards: Keyboard US English
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
Camera: Camera, 2.0 MP
Hard drive: 320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
Optical device: DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 65W AC adapter
Bluetooth: Bluetooth w/ antenna
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300
Wireless WAN accessories: Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable

They claim it ships within 13 business days so Jan 25. I am actually giong to be out of town for 2 weeks on the 28th. Anyone think I'll actually be able to get this in my hands by then? That would be a NICE bonus
I guess then I'll have to wait till I get back to wipe it, install Windows 7 Enterprise, and integrate with my Windows domain at home...


I got a 2GB stick in the mail from Amazon to save a few $$, and I got 500GB 7200RPM HDD ready to go. I actually ended up buying it for just about the same price as the upgrade plus the warranty on it is effective 4 years instead of 2.

Speaking of which:
My credit card extends anything I purchase up to an individual item's amount of up to $10000 for an additional year. So in reality the laptop currently has a 2 year warranty on it. Luckily the laptop itself is below $1200, so the extended warranty for 3 years is just $82 up from just 2 years. Should I do this? Is there any value from going from 2 years to 3 years?

 

The only aspect of the T410 that bothers me is the lack of dedicated graphics card + HORRIBLE LCD.

 

I'd say this configuration looks good. There's no need to get discrete graphics if you don't need it. Nice configuration

I think 2 years warranty is plenty, I personally wouldn't extend it.

 

I'm as willing as anyone to hold Lenovo accountable for their choices to use absolutely poor screens in past T-series. But, as far as I've been able to ascertain, there have been no actual reviews of the new T-series models yet. None anywhere that I can find. So, how do we have any idea what the new screens are like? I can suspect that they'll probably be the same bottom-of-the-barrel crap they've been pushing on us for the last couple of years, and I can certainly hope that they won't be, but I don't think we know anything at this point, do we?

 

Well, let us know when you get yours!