T410s

Hey guys,

Given my relatively poor eyes and needs for mobility/built quality, I've been looking for a T410s whose lower resolution suits me better than T420s' IMHO.

I found a couple of T410S equipped with SSD on Ebay that goes for about 1k CDN in order of preference:

1) new: http://www.ebay.com/itm/280747330331?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

2) refurbished: http://www.ebay.com/itm/190575853618?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

The first choice clearly stands out because it's new, comes with a 3 yr depot warranty and its seller is top rated. What do you gurus here think?

Thanks a lot!

 

I would jump on the new one. I sold mine used for $1200 (even though it was in like new shape). You should ask the seller for the model type and serial number then look it up at the parts and warranty lookup area. That will verify the warranty period for you.

See Lenovo Support - Check Warranty Status (US)

 

That seller wouldn't provide the machine type and serial to me...Is something fishy here?

 

You know the 2nd one provides you with the S/N?

Model # 2912-CTO
Serial Number R9CLDVH

With #1, given T410s is over 1.4 year old model, there possibly could be less than 2 year warranty left as the warranty starts ticking from invoice date. I would ask for the Type and S/N for #1.

I bought a clearance T410s (2904-GGU) from my workplace for 450, had 1.9 years left in warranty before I traded it away.

 

Aren't they both new? Both also list the machine type (2912-CTO and 2912-47U).

The eritech one has the better GPU, wifi card and warranty but only 2GB memory vs. 8GB on the austin one. As a Canadian, I suggest checking ebay.ca, where you'll see the shipping charges for these sellers. Eritech will charge you a bit more for shipping and they'll use UPS Worldwide Saver so be prepared to get dinged by UPS on customs brokerage.

edit: Also, no fingerprint reader on the austin one if that matters to you.

 

UPS: Rates for Customs Clearance into Canada

UPS Worldwide Saver saves me the "Entry Preparation Charges" but then I'd have to pay for "Additional Services" such as duties.

If I go through Ebay.ca, would I avoid all those "Additional Services" all together?

 

i would probably get the T420s instead, the palmrest of the T410s and T400s do crack more frequently then the new T420s.

My T400s which uses interchangeable parts with the T410s has already have palmrest replaced twice.

 

I'd say it isn't fishy. If you have that information, you could potentially use it for nefarious gain. Some sellers provide it, others don't.

 

Sorry, I was too lazy to look it up and thought UPS Worldwide Saver was the same as UPS Standard since it didn't have "Express" in it. If Worldwide Saver = Worldwide Express Saver, then the customs brokerage is already included. I don't think there is any duty on computers coming into Canada, but you would have to pay the applicable HST.

As for the palmrest cracking, Lenovo came out with a couple of new FRUs several months ago that should address the problem ( forum.thinkpads.com • T410s are they still cracking?.

 

Not necessarily. The serial number can be reported stolen. If so, it would be a major headache in the least if someone reported it stolen and the new owner tried to get service for it. Some eBayers give them out while others will not. If it's supposed to have a certain warranty and does not, Paypal would almost certainly decide in your favor should you dispute it. If you really want to be anal about it, when you get it, call sales and ask what the warranty upgrade options are. They'll know if it's been refurbed or not. Sometimes the warranty look up is wrong.

 

Is it not possible for you to get the T420s and just use it at a lower resolution? It doesn't make sense to get a last gen laptop for $1k. The t420s can be had for that much.

 

Bumping up the DPI is probably a better option.

 

I have both the T410s and T420s and I personally prefer the former because of the following features:

16:10 screen
Larger screen size
Larger palm rest
Thinner and lighter in size

Please note though, that the palm rest and the screen of the T410s are less strong than other thinkpads and may be damaged more easily, and unlike the T420s it does not have USB 3 and has slightly worse battery life. Some also report overheating of the NVIDIA graphics during gaming but I haven't experienced that yet.

Other than that, I wholeheartedly recommend the T410s. It's still the best thinkpad I've had.

 

Thanks for chipping in everyone!!!

So basically I narrowed it down to 2 choices:

1) new T410S: from Ebay seller for ~1080 CDN + taxes with 2 GB RAM, i5, SSD, switcheable graphics, cam, BT, Intel ultimate, less than 2 yrs of depot

2) new T420i: from Lenovo for 700 CDN + taxes with 2 GB RAM, i3, 160 SSD, integrated graphics, cam, no BT, Thinkpad wireless card, standard 1 yr depot

I am not sure weather the lighter and slimmer T410s justifies the extra cost.

 

i would probably go for the T420i.

 

I would probably go for the T410s - I think it can be had at around 800 on ebay, brand new. Just look around for a bit.

 

I tried my best but not all sellers ship to Canada but I did bargain this other T410s with integrated graphics to 800 USD from 1000 USD though: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190575853618#shId

By the way, do I have to pay the Canadian 13% tax rate as well if the machine is delivered from Texas by USPS Express Mail International?

 

Here is a $749 brand new T410s?

I think you'll have to pay the tax unless the seller marks the package as a 'gift'.

 

Thanks I'll see if the the seller will ship to Canada.