No Display problem on R50 Thinkpad- Motherboard?

Due to the display problem in R50 (as posted earlier in this forum), finally I have given my R50 to a service center (not IBM authorized, as authorized center is very far from my place and since it is out of warranty). After diagnosis, I was told that there is a problem in the mother board and need to be replaced and quoted Rs 20,000 (nearly USD 500). Are they cheating me? I am afraid...

My laptop is 1 year 5 months old, whether there will be motherboard problem so soon. I am a single user of this laptop and never encountered any problem previously. If it is genuinely motherboard problem, I have to doubt the IBM brand image, as I have paid $300 extra for thinkpad over Acer for same configuration which has three years warranty.

I need your help...,

Regards,
Rao
India

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My prvious posting in this forum on this problem:
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No Display problem on R50 Thinkpad
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My thinkpad was just out of warranty and I had a problem suddenly. There is 'no display' at all. When I switch on power status indicator hard disk and battery indicators are on but there is no display.

Can anyone tell me what to do, before visting the service center?

-Rao

 

Unfortunetly it does not seem out of line. Laptop motherboards are highly specialized and you can usually only buy them from the manufacturer hence the inflated price. You might want to look on ebay or similar if you think you can put it in yourself or know someone who can. Good Luck.

 

Do people encounter mother board problem so soon in Thinkpad?

 

I think you are just one of the unfortunate few. All makers have some that fail soon. Me telling you this doesn't really help.

 

hey there.. i have a thinkpad r50p and recently had a similar problem. it wouldn't turn on when i pressed the power button instantly (i was used to that) and if i pressed the button for a few more seconds it would turn on with no picture or hard drive activity. i took it to ibm since it was under warranty and they said the motherboard was burned, they ordered a new motherboard put it in but it was not that so they installed a new cpu.. the problem was fixed. it's really bad that u have no warranty since it will be very expensive for u. u should tell the service company that u will pay the $$ for the motherboard only if they ensure it is the motherboard that has the problem. in other case they might say it was a mistake and charge u for a motherboard and a cpu