t400 build opinions

Right now I have a configured t400 with the following specs:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor P8700 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2)
Genuine Windows Vista Business 64
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight
ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology
Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
6 cell Li-Ion Battery
2764: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller

for $956 before tax and $1,052 after tax

is this a good build and price?
i plan on adding in another 2 gb, and maybe replacing the hard drive later

 

Looks good however you could save some money at the outlet...

 

How were you able to get the WXGA+ LED display? Through academic ordering?

 

No card reader? It comes in real handy when you have a number of unused flash memory cards.

 

if you are getting it through academic ordering, select option for PC DOS and 512mb of RAM. If you managed to get access to ordering the thing through school, you can then get a license of vista for $40-50 through university licensing offices (price varies school to school). Then order 4gb of RAM form newegg ($45). Ends up being much cheaper.

Also personally, I find fingerprint readers on computers an utter waste of space and drivers. DVD burners are a bit obsolete as well, a 4gb flash drive costs like $12 now and is 10x more practical. I ordered my t400 with just a CD-RW/DVD drive (cheapest) and will swap it out for a 2nd hard drive as soon as i can get the ultrabay adapter. The drive itself is handy for installing software from CDs, but I have not used it for anything else.

 

I agree - for a minimal price increase, a memory card reader would be much more useful.

Other than that, your configuration looks great, for a pretty good price. The hard drive is a weak link , but if you're upgrading it, that's fine. A fingerprint reader is arguably quite useless in my opinion, so I would leave it out unless you really want it. It's interesting that you somehow got a WXGA+ LED screen option though, where did you find that?

 

Yeah I went through academic ordering and called several times and could not get wxga+ led. I would love to find out how you got it since 3+ reps told me it wont be available anytime soon.

 

i did choose the card reader, it just didnt show up
and i got the wxga+ LED by having a saved cart from jan of a t400 configured with it
it lets me get all the way to the order screen and also lets me get a quote
im not 100% sure if it will go through though

 

i just ordered it
est ship date of 5/29

 

Congratulations on getting the LED screen. I am jealous. And mine says est ship date of 6/23/2009 with similar options. Hmm.

 

i actually have 2 different dates
on the page right after i placed my order it says 5/29
but on my order status page it says 6/23

 

for me if says 6/2 on order page and 6/26 on the status page...

I ordered like an hour ago too so it's not like it changed after a few days.

also I envy you and your led screen, I have to deal with a ccfl light

 

Yeah I called and they said that june 2nd is the latest it would ship since that is the maximum 10 day build + 1 day max processing. Im personally hoping next week will bring me and my thinkpad together.

 

mine was shipped yesterday
how do you check what parts your t400 has before actually getting it?

 

They send you an order sheet email and then a shipment email. There is a link to the order status on both that will take you to your order and show you the parts.

 

ya i got it
seems like i got the samsung LED
at least i got a wxga+ LED