Was this a decent buy?

Hey guys. I couldn't wait until 2nd week of March Estimated Delivery date on mine that the rep told me when I called for an update). So I canceled my Lenovo order and got this in ebay.

$683 Shipped

It's a Thinkpad T400 that was purchased in December 2009 that was used as a demo unit. It's from a authorized Lenovo seller and business partner.

Here are the specs:
Core 2 Duo P8700 2.53GHz
4GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM
Windows 7 Professional
DVD Burner
320GB 7200RPM HDD
14.1 WXGA 1280x800, LED Backlit. 300:1 Contrast Ratio - 200 nits.
Camera
Bluetooth
Intel 4500MHD Graphics
6 Cell Battery
One Express/34/54 Card slot
One Type I/II Cardbus 32-bit
Bluetooth
Fingerprint.

with 3 year depot repair service (Starts today)

Was this a good deal? I mean, I got my T400 for $769.90 from Lenovo (And $44 for extra 2gb ram)...

I had to sacrifice, 1440x900 LED (BIGGEST SACRIFICE), Media Card Reader, and the "new"-ish box. But I did gain 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD 7200rpm, finger print reader, and a faster processor. (And it costs $110-120 less)

Oh and I have a question
Is this the regular 1280x800 LED Backlit or is it the high-nit or w/e display?
Do these thinkpads have the reinforced keyboard pads? (Dec 2009 it was purchased in)

Thanks a lot guys.

 

If it was manufactured after around March or April of 2009, it should have the metal keyboard reinforcement pieces that help eliminate flex.

It seems like a pretty fair deal to me, hope you enjoy it!

 

ok great. thanks!

oh... since it's notcoming with a media reader, i might buy a PCMCIA or ExpressCard reader. Will Express Card 34 have a gap? I really wouldn't want that... I don't think express card 54 will. Since it's a flush full fit.

anyone recommend anything?

**EDIT
got a ExpressCard 34 reader for $18 shippe,d a nd ExpressCard "STABILIZER" Adapter for $10.. omg consumerism at ITS BEST

 

That a great deal for a T400.

I just got a T500 from Lenovo last week......there are some great deals right now.

I have the same screen as you. I"m not sure who made it.....but it is great.

The keyboard is way different than my Ideapad Y530....I will adjust.


Given the price for the features....I could not be happier.

drake

 

Nice find...
I also found one yesterday as well locally, it was the loaded T400 2767-14U with three year warranty, just over a month old.
There are some smokin deals around on these if you look.

 

I just ordered a W500, at what seems to me is a good deal. Estimated ship date not until 3/22 however. I'm in no hurry, so that's not a problem. The price for the base W500 was not much more than a similarly configured T500. Given that I paid $900 (three years ago) for the HP DV5000 series I'm typing this on (which now has no wireless, that's fried), to me the Lenovo's are a no brainer if you're in the market for a new laptop.

 

Agreed that the time to buy maybe right now on select models, we have two hp 6930p elitebooks, two mid 09 unibody macbook pro's 13" & 15" and one HP 2710p tablet along with a couple of older poly macbooks.

Its been a few years since i use a TP as a main machine, the deal was just to good to pass on.
I have been out of the TP loop for a few years now & trying to catch up a bit.
The jury for my favorite is still out one which i prefer in comparing the TP & Elitebook.
The LCD on the 15" MBP mid 09 unibody is fantastic.

 

Unless I put a MBP side by side with my TP, my laptop's LCD looks decent to me. I just love the trackpoint and the keyboard so I'll stick with the TP.

OP: Be happy with what you have. Life is too short.

 

i looked in the lenovo outlet. i don't know what's LED Backlit and what's CCFL... Although in eBay, I did see a brand new one that had 1440x900 led, it didn't have a webcam. (and It was $100 more expensive) with a 9-cell batt. Since I wanted a lighter laptop, I went ahead with 6 cell, and this config. (I was condering the E4300, and E6400 as well, but I went with the tried and trusted thinkpad series XD)

One I bought I thought was best config for me tbh. I bought a 7-1 media card reader for expresscard 34, (and a "stabilizer" piece of plastic, which I hope both the reader and stabilizer is a flushfit). So I only gave up on the Resolution (1440x900 vs 1280x800)... which won't be TOO bad. Compared to my Studnets and Alumni thinkpad config, I saved $120-30, got a better harddrive, fingerprint reader, 4gb of ram vs 2, and 3 year warranty.

It will be getting it this monday. I hope all goes well!

BTW, is Lenovo 3 year depot warranty any good?

only thing though I wish Thinkpads accepted PCI-E SSDs.

 

oh does anyone know if my display is high nit led backlit, or if it's regular?

 

W500 I ordered is WSXGA+ TFT w/ CFFL backlight. Which I have no idea what this means, nit-wise. I'm just happy to get a laptop that actually has wireless again. I'll leave it to others to comment on whether this is a good display, which will obviously be subjective.

 

I saw my friend's T500 WSXGA+ vs a 1366x768 netbook LED backlit. the T500 is very dark imo. I'm not sure what others would say.

 

netbook LCD are usually glossy type, which is brighter than the matte type LCD on a Thinkpad.

 

Assuming it's the same LG WSXGA+ CCFL in my T500, it's quite a nice display. The colors are good, and viewing angles are pretty good. No backlight bleed for me, and the backlighting is even. If it was brighter, that would be great, but it's bright enough for me, at 200 nits.

Seeing as it's CCFL-backlit, the brightness of the T500 WSXGA+ display does fall short of many LED-backlit displays.

Glossy or matte should not make a difference as to how bright a screen is... although glossy screens do increase perceived contrast.

 

Funny, no one ever mentions. You go to the movie theater. That's no bright, glaring screen. (Granted, it's a dark room...) The point being, you don't need extreme brightness, especially on a computer used for work, not viewing DVD's.

 

200 nit is regular.

 

Its regular. However, what you would like; is relative to what you do, and where you usually sit (ambient lighting, direct sunlight amongst other factors).

I have the WSXGA+ T60 and I was happy with the screen I had until I bought a 300 nit external monitor. Now, my brain expects the brighter screen and I just cant work on photos on the laptop without hooking up the external anymore.

 

Midnight...

How did you find out who made your panel?

drake

 

oh i have a Dell G2410. 250 nits.
although my brightness is 30, contrast is 75.

i come from Asus G51VX-RX05. I hope it's good as or better than it.