Questions - IBM ThinkPad

1. someone here posted a link for a mastercard discount thru IBM, it was my understanding that there might be one for Visa. How do I get to it..

2. Is this discount available if you call in your order, or is it just online?

3. In the small print on the configure page it says.. "IBM purchase price may not include tax or shipping & is subject to change without notice".
Has anyone here ordered online using the mastercard discount, and did they charge you tax or not, as I cant figure it out until I select a machine and create an account first..whether or not i pay tax is a determining factor right now...

4.Can someone explain Firewire to me... what is it, what does it do, and do I need it?

 

I can answer a couple of your questions.

3. If your in the USA, you will pay sales tax as IBM has local offices in every state.

4. firewire is another type of I/O port in the notebook; in your case since you don't know what it is you probably don't need it.

Jack

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

 

Still would like to know what firewire is about/for???

oh yeah.. and when I go to configure a R51 at the above link, when looking at ram it lists 2 of everything and at different prices.
example they have a 512 stick of ram for $90.00 and they also list a 512 stick of ram for 68.46.
So whats what??

Thanks

 

tmc thanks for the input..

In my hurriedness last night i forgot to post the link..

http://d02xms009.southbury.ibm.com/ibm_us/ConfigFrames2.jsp?Brand=ThinkPad&currency=USD&base=2883ARU&cntry=840&lang=en_US&ratetype=D&shop=sbc_mc&shoplogo=&shopname=MasterCard&masthead_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww-132.ibm.com%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FeCIMMastheadDisplay%3FcatalogId%3D-840%26langId%3D-1%26storeId%3D821221%26dualCurrId%3D201230&return_url=http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/AddConfig%3FcatalogId%3D-840%26storeId%3D821221%26langId%3D-1%26oiId%3Dnull%26bundleId%3D%26dualCurrId%3D201230%26URL%3D%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FOrderItemDisplay&cntrfnbr=821221&session_id=57921377

if you go to the drop down for the ram, whats the difference between the 90.00 ram and the 68.46 ram?

Thanks
Razor

 

1. Go to Thinkpads.com and do a search, though I'm not sure you even have to use a Mastercard to get the discount. The check-out gives you options for other cards.

2. Probably not. In my experience some sales people deny there is a Mastercard discount, don't know what it is, or say some other off-the-wall things. Strange, because IBM mailed me a letter directing me to the discount URL.

3. They charge you tax.

4. Firewire is a means of transferring data from perhipheral devices. Kind of like a USB port, but faster. It might be nice to have, but unless you're doing lots of video work or massive data transfers you probably don't need it.

 

I didn't look, but the difference is probably two 256MB modules vs. one 512MB module (or stick or whatever the proper word is).