Need a T400 fast - where to get?

Someone is coming to visit me from the States and I want them to bring a T400 to replace my broken laptop. They need it by Friday, the 28th of November. Does anyone have any ideas where I can order a premade T400 with a 1440x900 LED screen, discrete graphics and a 9 cell battery in a week at reasonable price?

If not, I'm stuck getting them to bring me one of the many garbage laptops from their local Best Buy.

 

did you check amazon? or ebay

 

Provantage has always had quick shipping for me and nearly everything instock.

Find the model you want on their website or give their sales a call, they're very helpful.

 

CDW shows 19 in stock. (Sorry - noob here or I would post the URL.)

It has been a while since I ordered from them, but they are a local company (in Chicago) and I used to be able to get stuff from them next day using UPS ground shipping.

HTH,
hank

 

According to the tabook reference, I think you want preconfigured model 2765-33U or 2767-R9U or 2767-2NU. The first of those will be considerably cheaper because it is a "topseller" model which always seem to have very competitive pricing. Looks like about $1300 at most places online, but not sure if anybody has it in stock right now.

 

The problem you are going to find is that although there are a few dozen T400 configs, only three 2765-33U, 2767-R9U, and 2767-2NU have LED screens. All of these models appear rather scarce (there are plenty with 9 cell batterys, WXGA+ CCFL, and switchable graphics).

The 2765-33U is the most reasonably priced and will get the best battery life if you can find it (P8400 CPU, 2.26GHz, @ 25W, Switchable, LED. The 2767-R9U has the fastest processor (2.80GHz @35w), but it also has turbo memory, and a Verizon card which will push up the price and probably doesn't even work in your country. The 2767-2NU is price inflated because it has an SSD (also has 2.80GHz processor @35w).

SuperWarehouse seems to have the 2767-R9U but it is $2260, and this may be out of your price range.

If you are willing to forgo the LED, you can get a 2765T6U from ProVantage for $1212 (P8400, Switchable, WXGA+ CCFL, DVD±RW, 160GB 7200RPM, Intel 5100, Turbo, 9 Cell, XP Pro). Or for an extra $125 you can get a 276712U from ProVantage for $1347 (300 MHz faster processor and double cache at a 10W higher TDP, Vista Business 32, 160GB 5400 RPM, otherwise identical to the 2765T6U).

Even without the LED, the T400 will still be better than ANY laptop your friend can buy at Best Buy/Circuit City/etc.

 

try the lenovo outlet. mine shipped within 4 business days

 

Thanks for the quick replies. Anyone have any experience buying off Ebay?

One seller, IBMFactoryOutlet, has a ton of good deals but I'm leary to purchase from Ebay when I'm not in the country to followup on things if they go wrong. And, if I don't get the machine by next Friday, I don't get it period.

Also, how much of a difference is the LED screen vs. the CCFL? What are most laptops these days?

 

Given how quickly you need it, I'd be more inclined to go with Provantage or CDW instead of Ebay or the Outlet. Plus, personally, I've had an outlet order cancelled.

LED is still "somewhat" new...not the majority yet. CCFL should be fine, especially given your time restrictions.

The 2765T6U is $1298.99 at CDW, more than Provantage, but is in stock to ship.

Availability:
In stock and ready for shipment . Ships same day if ordered before 4 p.m. CT

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1524903

 

Where is your friend based? If he is in NYC, he can head down to J&R. CDW has their only retail location in Chicago suburbs. Microcenter stores may also carry ThinkPads, and they have many locations throughout the US.

 

I could only find the t61s there.

 

Denver, CO.

 

The T400 is supposed to be a big step up over the t61 in terms of screen quality. Is that true for LED and CCFL screens?

Thanks for the link but I couldn't find if it comes with a 9 cell and WXGA+.

 

On the page, in the "Overview" box, click on the link "Explore More About this Product from Lenovo". This will open a new window. Click on the "Specifications" tab.

Display
Screen type description WXGA+ TFT
Viewable image size (diagonal) inches 14.1
Screen illumination CCFL Backlight
Max colors or gray shades 16777216
Maximum Resolution 1440x900
Case Color Business black

Graphics
Video RAM std/max 256MB
Description ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 power optimized

Battery
Battery Types 9 Cell Lithium-Ion

 

The 2765T6U has a CCFL screen, but it is WXGA+ and it has a 9 cell. The key to all of these model numbers is the ThinkPad Tabook. As I said, only 3 models (2765-33U, 2767-R9U, and 2767-2NU) have LED screens.

LED screens are brighter than CCFL, are supposed to use less energy, and have slightly higher contrast (they can display true black rather than just dark gray). CCFL is still fine, and most laptops from most manufacturers are still CCFL. Lenovo only offers an LED on the x300, x200s, x200 Tablet, some T400, and I believe the T500 (although only at WXGA). The rest of their lineup is CCFL.

 

So even with the CCFL, the T400's screen is better than the T61's? I've just been a bit put-off by the bad reviews of the T61's screen and in general the bad reviews of non-p series thinkpads until the T400.

 

the outlet gets updated a lot on fridays. so keep checking it today, you might stumble upon a very good deal. the machines are first come first serve basis. i got one such awesome machine, ordered it last saturday, it arrived this morning. they did give an initial shipping date of 26th. but beware if some one might buy it before, they will cancel ur order. so if you do order, call them and confirm. i received my email 2 days back. they did not even send an email that it got shipped.

 

The T61 14" wide and T400 CCFL should have comparable screens. Both are 14.1" Matte, CCFL, WXGA+, at 200 nits, and a 300:1 contrast ratio. The T400 LED is not an inherently superior technology (they are all Twisted Nemantic), it is just brighter with slightly better contrast due to the LED technology.

The main difference between ThinkPad screens compared to consumer models is a matte vs. glossy finish. This means ThinkPads don't look as bright, sharp, or vibrant as a consumer HP, Dell, Sony, or Apple, but they do hold their image better under a wide variety of lighting arrangements (they don't reflect).

I don't know what bad reviews you have been reading. Because most ThinkPads (P series or not) have been quite good (superb build quality, lightweight, good battery life, decent power, matte screens).

If your top concern is screen quality, what you want is an IPS or FFS display. Unfortunately, these are very rare now. You will either have to get an old ThinkPad with a " FlexView" display (e.g. the T60P) or a Tablet (although these have 12.1" screens and integrated graphics).

 

I should have been more careful in my wording. I meant that the thinpad screens had gotten bad reviews, not the whole systems. Here's a quote from Kevin's T61 review here: "The only weakness of the 4:3 T61 is the screen in my opinion. The 200:1 contrast ratio really shows throughout normal use, with menus and other screen objects looking washed out. Some darker screens were difficult to view, with screen elements blending into the background."

Perhaps the 4:3 screen different contrast ratio is to blame?

Anyway, having the best screen quality is not of critical importance, I just don't want a subpar one.