question about lenovo topseller

I'm very intrigued by Clorox's order and tried looking up topseller for the x200. Now I have a ton of questions!

What does topseller even mean? Where do these systems come from and why are they so cheap?

How can I find out what topseller configurations are available?

Also, why do some of the specs seem to list an optical drive? Isn't that what "DVDRW" means? I thought you couldn't get an x200 with an optical drive. Am I wrong? And why do some of the specs not list a camera. I thought all x200s had cameras . Also, is it possible to get a topseller without a fingerprint reader. I'm so confused!

Sorry for all the stupid questions, but this is a pretty major decision and I'd love your help!

 

As far as I know these laptops are already made machines that are not configurable. That may be why they are a little cheaper than others. Basically you buy it and they ship it out.

I wish they would post full specs on it. It's kind of hard to make a decision based on the title of the model. I personally would like one that has low RAM and any kind of HDD since those can be replaced easily. But I'd like a camera, bluetooth and wireless N. But there's no config like that

 

Hi Hanna, since I have been posting all the stuff about the topsellers I'll chime in. Yes, they are all preconfigured, which makes them cheaper because they make a TON of them. No, the $1200 unit you see does not actually have a DVDRW drive. That looks like a typo on behalf of the retailers or someone else. Yes, they all have fingerprint readers, and bluetooth, and faster processor than the base spec, and Vista Business. Here are all of the specs - You probably won't find all of these online at many retailers, but the 74542GU and 74542HU and 74542JU are all likely to be available at numerous retailers. The GU and HU models don't seem to list a camera, but who knows. The JU is totally decked out and only $1600, which is a steal relative to Lenovo's current pricing. Also, no tax at many online retailers gets you as much as a 10% discount over Lenovo depending on where you live. If my GU unit gets in before I go on vacation next week, I will let everyone know as soon as I open it.

Here are the specs for the TopSellers:

U.S. English Machines


Microsoft Windows Vista Business

Machine
Order type/ List
Description number model price(18)

ThinkPad X200 74542GU 7454-2GU $1,199
(12.1-in WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT,
Bluetooth, Fingerprint Reader,
Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8600,
Intel GM45 Express chip set,
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500MHD,
160 GB / 5400 rpm,
Modem + 5-in-1 Media card reader,
2 GB (1 GB x 2), Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN (1x2),
4-cell battery,
Vista Business downgrade to XP Professional)

ThinkPad X200 74542HU 7454-2HU 1,549
(12.1-in WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT,
Bluetooth, Fingerprint Reader,
Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8600,
Intel GM45 Express chip set,
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500MHD,
160 GB / 5400 rpm, UBx200 / DVD Recordable (9.5 mm),
Modem + 5-in-1 Media card reader,
2 GB (1 GB x 2), Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN (1x2),
6-cell battery,
Vista Business downgrade to XP Professional)

ThinkPad X200 74542JU 7454-2JU 1,599
(12.1-in WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT, Camera,
Bluetooth, Fingerprint Reader,
Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8600,
Intel GM45 Express chip set,
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500MHD,
160 GB / 7200 rpm, UBx200 / DVD Recordable (9.5 mm),
Modem + 5-in-1 Media card reader,
2 GB (1 GB x 2), Intel Turbo Memory 2 GB,
Intel WiFi Link 5300 AGN (3x3),
WWAN Ready, 6-cell battery,
Microsoft Windows Vista Business)

ThinkPad X200 74542NU 7454-2NU 1,249
(12.1-in WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT,
Bluetooth, Fingerprint Reader,
Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8400,
Intel GM45 Express chip set,
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500MHD,
160 GB / 5400 rpm,
Modem + 5-in-1 Media card reader,
2 GB (1 GB x 2), Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN (1x2),
AT & T Wireless Broadband Access,
4-cell battery,
Microsoft Windows Vista Business)

ThinkPad X200 74542PU 7454-2PU 1,649
(12.1-in WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT,
Bluetooth, Fingerprint Reader,
Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8400,
Intel GM45 Express chip set,
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500MHD,
160 GB / 7200 rpm, UBx200 / DVD Recordable (9.5 mm),
Modem + 5-in-1 Media card reader,
2 GB (1 GB x 2), Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN (1x2),
AT & T Wireless Broadband Access, 6-cell battery,
Microsoft Windows Vista Business)

ThinkPad X200 74542QU 7454-2QU 1,699
(12.1-in WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT, Camera,
Bluetooth, Fingerprint Reader,
Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8600,
Intel GM45 Express chip set,
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500MHD,
160 GB / 7200 rpm, UBx200 / DVD Recordable (9.5 mm), 2 GB,
Modem + 5-in-1 Media card reader,
Intel Turbo Memory 2 GB,
Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN (1x2),
AT & T Wireless Broadband Access, 6-cell battery,
Microsoft Windows Vista Business)

(18) List price; does not include tax or shipping and is subject
to change without notice. Reseller prices may vary.

 

WOW.....P8600 in a 12" laptop? That's crazy.....it's like Mini-Cooper having a V8 engine

 

See tabook

 

One thing about topsellers though is that it does not seem like you can apply any type of discounts (coupons, member programs, etc) to them.

Or can you?

 

Well they are for retailers. You could look for rewards at certain retailers. I know MS Cash Liveback gets 12% at JR.com but they don't seem to be shipping units as of a couple days ago. If you can wait...you can save a lot with the cash back. The topsellers are not as attractive to me because of the 4cell battery on the base model. If you were to buy a battery separately that would be over $150.

 

I honestly look at the discount and pricing issue from the perspective that most people pay sales tax, which is normally at least 5% and as much as 10%. Given that, the cpp and epp are like 15% off, so that's marginally a better discount (or no discount at all) given that the $1200 74542gu model cost me 1,132 with no tax (WAY below the $1,434 base x200). Also, the battery argument is bunk. The cheapest you can get the x200 with 15% discount and lowest options (vista basic downgrade for -$49) and no tax is $1,177. Add a 6-cell additional to the 1,132 topseller and you're about $1,282, $105 more than that Lenovo base spec (after 15%), but that's before tax and after discount, so you're paying actually about $22 more after 15% disount and after 7% tax 1,132 + 150 = 1,282 vs. 1260. Of course in my scenario you are getting an EXTRA 6cell battery, plus with the topseller that's better OS, faster processor, double ram, double hdd, n wifi, Bluetooth, fingerprint reader. Oh, and did I mention that the topsellers are actually shipping out? Lenovo doesn't seem to be doing that. Based on current pricing an the in stock status of the TopSeller, there are very few reasons many should shop from Lenovo.com on this over a retailer with the topseller

 

thanks guys, this clears things up for me. It's just weird how i can't find the specs listed a lot of places and the places just feel kind of sketchy to me, so I want to be sure I know what I'm getting and I'm not getting ripped off!

So if I was planning on getting the base model, but then upgrading to the six cell battery, and that's it... I'm much better buying the topseller and then buying a separate battery, right?

I am very concerned about weight though. Does have this specked out machine add a lot of weight on? why is clorox the only one doing this? Any reasons not to???

 

Yes, you get a better-spec machine at the topseller price than buying the base model at lenovo (at least at current prices--I'd expect Lenovo to drop the base price of the x200 down in the next month or so...certainly by the holiday season).

The weight is pretty much the same (RAM and upgraded processors dont add that much). The only real increase in weight would be the 6 cell battery. I cant speak for Clorox, but the only reason I pulled the trigger on launch day was due to the SSD pricing error. To be honest, none of the TopSeller configs is exactly what I wanted, but if you take my SSD out of the equation, they are a FAR better deal. Plus, as Clorox mentioned, there is no wait time for shipment, and many of the resellers dont charge sales tax. But then again, as I think Clorox mentioned, if you use the CPP discount or a similar discount, the prices may be quite comparable when all is said and done. Crunch the numbers and you'll have your answer.