T61p custom config wait times

I will be purchasing a notebook (T61p or 8510p/w) in the next month or 2 and I am wondering what are the wait times like for the T61p if I order a custom config. Would I be better off getting a preconfig? I don't mind waiting a week or even 2, but any longer would just make me mad. Anyone have any stories? What are the current wait times?

 

The only wait times you might run in to will be due to screen shortages. Let us know what screen you are looking at and then maybe someone can give some more specific help.

I know the SXGA+ 14" screens have very short lead times, My SXGA+ order shipped in 2 days.

 

I disagree. Last week I ordered a machine with a 7800 Processor and a nine cell battery. The ESD was 1/2/08. No one is quite certain which of those two items is in short supply.

 

Considering that they have removed the 9 cell as an option on the ordering website and if you try to add one into your accessories it notes a 4+ week shipping delay I'd vote on the battery.

 

Ahh i didn't realize.

 

I just got off the phone with lenovo and found out the 9-cell battery is the culprit. I ordered my T61p with a 9-cell, and even though they haven't changed my ESD, they did say that it would not ship at that time. They have a major shortage on 9-cell batteries, and it could be awhile before they get more. I was told that if I wanted my laptop before the holidays that I should cancel my order and re-configure my laptop with a 6-cell. I did cancel my order, but I didn't reconfigure another one. I was really looking forward to this laptop, but I can't wait months for it to arrive. Most people that got orders in before they removed the 9-cell as an option have ESD in Jan of 2008. I asked if mine would ship before the end of the year since I ordered it in early Oct and they told me it may ship in late Nov if they get an order in soon, but that Jan would not be out of the question for my shipment. 3-4 weeks of waiting time for a laptop is annoying, 3-4 months of waiting is just plain stupid. I was really looking forward to my laptop, but I can't wait that long.

 

I will be looking at a 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT since that's the only option that they have avalible. I won't need a 9 cell. So most people have been getting their laptops in a week or so then?

 

I ordered my 15.4" SXGA+ with 9cell on 10/12 and it shipped 12/17...

I'd warn you, though, that it seems most 15.4" SXGA+ are shipping with a Samsung screen instead of LG. The LG's are apparently great, but the Samsung suffers from:

Rather dim (in mid-light room right now and i'm straining my eyes to see it)
Poor viewing angle (even looking straight on at 2 feet, you can see a slight gradient from center to top/bottom)
Major light leakage (i can even see it with the "windows blue" background)
Ripple effect (the screen must be making contact with the skeleton of the laptop. Even the slightest vibration causes the screen to ripple)


All in all, I hope they stop shipping the Samsung screens... If I hear that's the case within the next 19 days, I'm sending this one back and reordering.

 

Lenovo has told me (rather rudely I might add) that the screen (15.4" SXGA+) is the culprit. However, people are ordering damn near the same laptop as me and they are getting theirs and mine is still waiting on the screen and an ESD of 11/15 (which has already been revised twice). Right now, I don't believe much of anything Lenovo sales or Ordering says.

 

Sounds to me like EVERYTHING is the problem, depending on the day. Seems to me like it's a raffle as to whose laptop ships on any day. No First in, first out but rather "let's throw all the invoices in the air and see which one ends up on top!"

I was one of the lucky ones to get mine shipped in under a week. I had the SXGA+ and the 9cell battery (both of which they claim is the holdup)... But I did get stuck with the Samsung screen... IF you wait and get the LG, you win out.

 

The eternal pessimist in me though is just WAITING for the friggin' "recall" of the Thinkpads because of excess lead "something" in the laptop!!

 

<joke>
Wow WxAxGxS... You had the best Lenovo ordering EVER.

Seriously guys Lenovo sales and CS doesn't know jack. We know. Let's all write their CS head a letter and see if they don't fix it?

 

The bottom line seems to be that lenovo gives wildly varying answers about what the delay is actually due to, but the shipping delays have been huge. I'm personally bitter because I ordered a T61p WUXGA 8/18. ESD was pushed back to 11/20/07 after I waited for a few months and passed two ESDs. I canceled and ordered a WSXGA+ with a 9 cell and a T7800. Now my ESD is 01/02/08.

 

LOL oops... I'll fix that

It arrived 10/22/07

 

How about a mass letter to their american CEO/C(insert whatever letter the sales/marketing/money making guy uses)O about how they need to:

1) Be more open about problems and ship dates
2) Keep up to the Thinkpad quality reputation (damn screen...)

Or everyone in queue will drop their order, everyone still in the return period will do so, and we will all make sure all potential customers know what has become of the Thinkpad quality reputation.

 

That pretty much settles it for me. I think I am going to go with the HP. But, then again I have changed my mind 4 or 5 times in the last month. Probably will change it 4 or 5 more before I actually buy. The screen is pretty important to me and I have heard that the HPs have a better looking screen. The only issue is I want the quatro 570 graphics card and the 8510w is WAY overpriced. Thanks everyone.

 

class action lawsuit FTW!

 

Are people having bad wait times for the US also, or are a lot of them international orders?