T400 - Mandatory Wireless WAN?

I've been planning for a while now to order myself a new T400. It will be my first Thinkpad and quite the purchase, so I have been hesitating a little bit. Well, not so much hesitating, but putting it off so-to-speak. I guess waiting for the right time, and the right paycheck. But anyway..

Over the past month or so I'd occasionally go through the customization process on Lenovo's site for the T400, often reconsidering certain things, like which kind of monitor I will want, etc.

Well a few days ago I decided I'm ready to place the order. I went to the T400 page and started customizing like always.. and what do I find?

Well, aside from the fact that prices have gone up, it looks like now that Lenovo is "forcing" you to get some form of Wireless WAN. Previously, i'm positive you could either choose the AT&T one, the Verizon one, or "none." But now there is no "none" option. The default is the AT&T service with some sort of confusing advertisement:

If I understand that correctly, this whole mandatory inclusion of AT&T Wireless WAN (unless you change to Verizon) will end November 10 when the "special deal" expires. But why remove the "none" option? I feel like I am being charged $30 extra for something I don't want or need. And I'm afraid of trying to wait until November 10 now, because what if prices go up further?

Does anybody have any insight for me?

Thanks...

 

come Christmass the price will go down. the reason the price when up is the big sale is over.

 

So then you think it's a pretty safe bet that if I wait a couple months, the prices will actually lower again? I'll have to consider that...

But what about this AT&T nonsense? Is Lenovo just making Wireless WAN standard on T400s now, or will I once again have the option to go without it?

 

I think that $30 is small enough to just go for it, unless your really tight on cash. I don't know if prices will go up, but if this is a "special deal" I think they will, you don't want to be caught in that spot. But then again I could be wrong, but my experiences tell me I wont be.

 

I'll solve the problem easily: contact me if you want to sell your AT&T WWAN card.

 

True, $30 isn't that bad, but I'm already having to pay a Microsoft Tax. Just seems little odd to be forcing you to get that sort of add-on. Were they thinking people wouldn't notice? It's disappointing, but i'll get over it if I must. I was just curious.

 

Lenovo probably signed some shady deal with AT&T. I have seen quite a few advertisements for AT&T lately, were they claim that they have "The Nation's fastest 3G Network". That is total BS, and they are actually documented as having a slower network and worse coverage than either Verizon or Sprint.

AT&T probably figures if they can put make the cards more or less standard in Thinkpads by pricing them at 1/3 the cost of the Verizon alternative that they can get people to sign up for their inferior service. This is a classic loss leader model, where they give you cheap hardware and plan to make it up in service ($60/month, 2 year contract, - $60 for 1 month free, =$1380). This actually totals more than you paid for your brand new Thinkpad, and unless you travel all the time, and find yourself spending $15 per night for internet access at crappy hotels that refuse to give free Wi-Fi, and/or airports, or need the internet in a moving vehicle, the service really isn't worth $1410 (card and service) over two years.

 

I can't wait for Wimax, no contracts and competitive pricing with universal Wimax card

 

You can always find a T400 owner who didn't config the 3G option to buy your $30 chip. I think it's worth it.

 

I just spoke with "Serge" via Lenovo's "Chat with Lenovo" customer service thing. After telling me that there is currently no option for no WWAN (gee, thanks, I can see that) I asked why the 'none' option was removed. He said it would be updated 'shortly' but would not tell me when.

Oh well!

 

Once again... I'll solve the problem for you easily. buy the laptop with the AT&T WWAN card and I'll take it off your hands for you. ;p

 

Well, how about the up-coming Halloween? I guess they will probably sale off by then.