New T42p w/ Fingerprint Reader

So I've been in the market for a few months for a new personal computer and I just made the plunge. After lurking on this site for a while and doing a lot of other research, I bought the T42p (2379-r9u) with Fingerprint reader last Friday. All told, I purchased it through the shareholder program (10% off) and paid $2284.20 with a leather case and mini-dock.

First off, I read a lot about how long it can take to get a computer from IBM Direct, and with the website stating that it would ship in 2-4 weeks, I figured it would take a while for it to come in. To my surprise, I ordered it last Friday and it was delivered yesterday morning (5 days including the weekend). Not bad considering I'm pretty sure it was shipped from Hong Kong.

As for the computer, I couldn't be happier. So far I've found the 15" SXGA+ monitor to be crisp, bright, and with a wide viewing angle (no dead pixels, thankfully). And the keyboard is absolutely spectactular. It's my first IBM and I'm switching from a Dell Inspiron 5000 - I can already tell I'm not going back to Dell.

Wireless range is better than my external Linksys card on the Dell, and the speed of the 1.8 Ghz Dothan is awesome coming from a 650Mhz Pentium III. I also love the 7200rpm hard drive, especially over the 4200rpm ones in the Inspiron 600M.

The fingerprint reader was just a bonus on the model I bought given that is really was the only one with all other features I wanted. But, I gotta say it's pretty cool. It's really convenient - no more logging into my computer via password, simply swipe my finger and go. I can see how this could easily take off in the corporate environment. No need to remember passwords as a user or do password resets in the support dept - It's definitely convenient.

As a whole, the entire computer is built like a tank (a lightweight one) vs. the Hyundai that is my Dell. Don't get me wrong, the Dell treated me well, but when the case is cracked in four places, the keyboard is bubbling out, and after a hard drive failure, two battery recalls, and a power adapter recall four years after purchase, it's time to move on. (I just love finding out on CNET that my four year old power adapter is being recalled for the potential of starting fires

I've still got plenty of testing to do as it's only a day old, but so far so good! Thanks to all those who've participated in this forum and guided my decision!

 

Congratulations and good luck with your new T42, you made the best choice possible and got a super price on it!
How much stock do you need to purchase to get the SPP deals, and how did you go about getting the SPP login after the stock was bought?


Thanks
Jack

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

hey djac5700. I'm using the T42 with Biometrics right now too and concur with you. Ironically, I'm also the temporary owner of a Dell Inspiron 600m and I think you put it best when saying Dell is sort of the Hyundai of the notebook world -- I see nothing wrong with Dell notebooks if what you want is a decent product at a decent price while knowing it's not going to be the most durable thing in the world and will have noticeable inferiorities in build quality (I can't deal with the flexy keyboards that you get on Inspiron notebooks). I'd love to conduct that drop test they do in the IBM commercial with the X40 but using the T42...sometimes I think the floor would be the loser in that battle [ ]

 

As far as the shareholder program is concerned, follow this link:

www.ibm.com/shop/us/spp

You then need to enter a code, which you can find if you search this forum. (Sorry all - the site says expressly not to give it out - but it's not too hard to find. I'm such a conformist...)

As for rules, when you follow the link there is a selection called "SPP Terms and Conditions". They are pretty self-explanatory, but the high level is that you need to be a shareholder at the time of purchase to participate. No amount is specified, so you could own as little as one share. As for the code, I actually found it on this site, then read the terms and bought some shares before purchasing the laptop. I didn't feel like having my warrantee voided because I saved a couple hundred dollars and broke the terms of purchase.

And along the line of dropping laptops, I almost found out by accident how well the T42 stands out with a near catastrophe when connecting my laptop to the mini dock this evening. I would not have been a happy camper if the computer was a day old and already took a dive... But I bet it would survive the drop a lot better than my Inspiron 5000 or a new 600M!

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by djac5700

 

Actually, I believe everyone uses the same Offer ID, which is located on the front of the shareholder quarterly mail out. If you're like me,meaning you purchased the shares just before buying the computer and don't have that mail out, you can call Shareholder relations at 1-888-426-6700 to get the code.

You can find this information by going to:
www.ibm.com/shop/us/spp
Click on the "Having trouble logging in?" link.

I think they probably enforce the 10 computer limit via the customer information you enter at the time of purchase.

 

Thanks, I'll check it out and have to do something before they are bought out.

Jack

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill