Ordered T500

I finally got permission from the boss to upgrade my aging Z61m. I ordered a T500 with the following specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8700 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2)
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
ATI Mobility Radeon 3650 with 256MB with Intel Advanced Management Technology
15.4" WSXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology
No WWAN support (I hate unnecessary drivers)
6 cell Li-Ion Battery
3-year depot warranty

And of course 2-day shipping for $9.. After the sale and employee discounts it came out to be $1279.37 with tax and shipping. Good deal!

I placed my original order on 10/20 and got an estimated ship date of 11/5. I got an email yesterday (10/25) saying my order was reset do to some parts being backordered. They changed my screen to a different part number and upgraded my HDD. The new ship date is 11/11, but hopefully they can kick it out sooner..

I have heard some people complain about different WSXGA+ screens. Any idea to figure out which one I am getting? The new part number is 44C1924.

 

Well judging by this post on the lenovo forums, your screen is a Samsung.
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/W-series-shipping-thread/m-p/123146


No one has really complained about the samsung WSXGA+ screens as far as i know.
Guess you'll just have to wait and see.
I have no idea what screen i have either, but i think its perfect for my usage =)

 

Yeah, I suppose it doesnt really matter anyway as it will be attached to an external monitor anyway 75% of the time. Here is a good thread comparing the two though: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=232615

 

Congratulations, Giant. Hope you get it soon. I ordered mine last Thursday and got a shipping notification today. Must admit that I was pleasantly surprised.

BTW, if it is a Samsung, I wouldn't be too concerned. When I got my HP, there was a lot of negative talk about Samsung screens on the HP forum, but mine is fine.

Bill

 

Wow, that is fast! I placed my order a whole two days before you! How did you configure yours?

I hope it will ship out by the end of this week, but I doubt it for some reason. As long as my current Z61 doesnt crap out on my I think I will survive..

 

Yes, I was surprised. Here is what I ordered:

ThinkPad T500 - 1 Yr Depot Warranty
2242CTO $813.96

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2)
Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
Recovery DVD: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
15.4 WXGA TFT, w/ LED Backlight
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator x4500HD with vPro
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Pointing Device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Integrated Camera
320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
Card Reader: 7 in 1 Media Card Reader
Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology
Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
6 cell Li-Ion Battery
Country Pack North America with Line cord & 65W AC adapter

Accessories and options: ThinkPad and Lenovo 65W AC Adapter with US/Canada/LA Line Cord $31.20

Not including sales tax, price is $845.16 ($1578 - $732.84 with 10% coupon) with the additional AC adapter.
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I went with a WXGA LED screen because I do so much reading and writing. I felt that WSXGA+ would be too small and I would be enlarging most everything, and I wanted an LED screen and the WSXGA+ is CCFL. Ideally, I would have ordered a WXGA+ LED if that were an option for the T500.

I kind of wish that I had added the fingerprint reader, but I don't think it's a big issue.

Bill

 

I think its because you ordered with the stock screen. So they could basically take it already made from standard stock, like what they sell to retailers.

 

The "stock" screen is actually probably the WXGA CCFL. Lenovo may have had more of the WXGA LED screens in their stock, so it's common for one configuration to ship faster than another.

@Giant: Your configuration is very similar to mine, although I have an LG WSXGA+ CCFL. Hope you receive it soon and enjoy it!

 

Unless I misread it, the post you linked said the part number does not indicate the brand of screen. Am I missing something?

Bill

 

Ugh!!! I just got this email from my sales rep..

This your new order number. I had to rebook the order due to an invalid configuration. This is totally our fault. on the new order I gave you the 2 business day shipping for free and I also aded you to the critical list to improve the ship date. Thanks in advance for your patience!

My new estimated ship date is now 11/17!! Does being on the "critical list" actually help anything, or is it just something they say to keep people from complaining? Just like everyone else, I am seriously dissappointed so far...

 

In my observations here a lot of users get told that they are on a critical list, but for your case it might actually mean something.

And that isn't even that far off from the original ship dates you had. Another week. Hopefully it will just be out sooner.

 

Did he say what was the "invalid configuration"? 11/17 may simply be the new worst case scenario. Perhaps you'll get a shipping notice within a few days.

Bill

 

I'm going to order the ThinkPad T500.

STill deciding 1680x1050 CCFL or 1280x800 LED.

 

No, my original ship date was 11/5. It got pushed back to 11/11, and now 11/17. Thats almost two weeks..

I hope so.. He did not say what made it invalid. I do not see any chances to part numbers on my order status page.

For me there is no choice, the only way to go is the WSXGA+ screen. The LED backlight would certainly be nice, but there I need all the real estate I can get, personally..

 

What resolution is in your computer now? That may help you decide. Do you find yourself needing more screen real estate?

I have WXGA in my HP and decided that I'm more like to need to enlarge fonts instead of reduce them, so I stuck with WXGA. Besides, I wanted more the brightness of LED and didn't want the screen to dim over time as CCFL does.

However, if you need to have more stuff on the screen, you'll want the WSXGA+. The ideal for me would have been a WXGA+ LED, but I like what I have.

Bill

 

I have a 1920x1080 24" for my deskotp, had a 1280x800 on my mac, wasn't bad or good. it was just... meh but it aws 13.3"

IDK I wanted a decent laptop with good battery life with decent graphics (like the radeon 3650 isnt that bad, and has intel which gives me batt life)

and the t9400 is great.

 

Update!! My laptop shipped on 11/04/09, 11 business days after my initial order. I would say that is reasonable considering the original estimate of 10 days, I just wish the communication was better throughout the process. I think next time I will just skip the CTO and order through my distributor like usual.

How long does the "2-day" UPS shipping take with customs and everything?

 

I ordered on 10-19 and still don't have my T500.
Ship date changed once and it currently shows 11-11 as the estimate!

Edit..
So I call them today and get Rajit in India with the heavy accent telling me that now the ship date is the 23rd....(more than one month from the time I ordered).
NOT HAPPY...WITH LENOVO.

So, I call Lenovo Sales and ask him what he can do for a brand new customer who is getting agitated with the ridiculous wait time. He ask for my order number and tells me to hold...next thing I hear is a "Click"....and "ring..ring"...and all of a sudden I am talking to another guy from India!

I have a Fry's 10 minutes down the road from me.....and I'm serioulsy considering canceling this Lenovo order and just buying something "else" today!

 

Kinda sounds like my experience. Mine got stuck in customs 2 or 3 times, then I started noticing people who ordered well after I did get their thinkpads while I was waiting for customs to clear mine.

 

Don't worry about Lenovo shipping date, 70% of the time it is not accurate, they will either deliver before it or after it, i never got my laptop on the date that they suppose to deliver.

The critical list does improve thing by a few days, so no biggies.

But what you are saying about configuration errors, show that Lenovo is running out parts, and they are preparing for the new future thinkpads. It would be interesting what parts they are short of, if it is the LCD. Then it could mean the next generation thinkpads will be a 16:9 inch format, or a 16:10 format with LED. But this is darn exciting.

 

Its here!!

Ordered: 10/20
Shipped: 11/4
Delivered: 11/6

Two days to get from Hong Kong to my hands.. Pretty reasonable if you ask me!

 

Nice to hear that. Enjoy your new rig and take some pics.

 

Take pics? Dont they all look the same??

 

Hm, I definitely notice the keyboard flex.. I remember seeing a thread that mentioned Lenovo sending out replacements.. Any idea who to contact?

 

Not wanting to sound dumb or cute, what do you mean by "flex"? My w, e, r, s, d, and f keys have a little "sharp-thud" sound, different from the other keys, when I press them (I'm a bit aggressive when typing). However, the keyboard itself doesn't give. Lenovo used to give a T-61, if I have the right model number, keyboard to T500 owners when requested, but I think that was before the original flex ones were "fixed." This is my only annoyance, well, other than the Fn and Ctrl keys being reversed.

Bill

 

If I press down on, for example, the "s" key the entire keyboard tray will flex downward about 1-2mm. Not a huge deal but it is definitely noticeable, especially when compared to the left side, which does not move at all even with hard pressure.

 

I take it that you mean when compared to the right side.

Mine doesn't have any flex, but you can tell a difference in the sound of the keys when pressed. It's as though the right side is more solid and the left side, particularly beneath the keys I mentioned, is more "hollow," if that makes sense.

Bill

 

Congrats on getting your new laptop...sorry you're not happy with the kb. sux!

I just called (for like the 13th time) and they tell me mine "just" shipped today.
So I expect to have it mid-week..of next week!

FINALLY!

 

Mine does the same but I don't notice. As I say, if someone hadn't mentioned what to look for I wouldn't have noticed or thought anything of it. I would find it hard to believe that it will depreciate the notebook's effectiveness.

 

I can hear the sound difference, but like Lostinlaptopland I wouldn't have noticed if it hadn't been pointed out and it doesn't bother me at all. I feel as though my keyboard is really solid. Do they ship different models of keyboards for the same type of notebook?

 

I can hear a sound difference on my "1" and "`" keys, as well as my Tab, F1 and Esc keys. They feel fine though. All other keys feel fine and sound the same.

Lenovo has historically used 3 different manufacturers for keyboards: NMB, Chicony, and Alps. NMB is the quietest and is generally regarded as the best, although many people like Chicony keyboards.