t500 questions, lenovo jacked up prices t series

Hey guys, I'm newly registered but I have been browsing these forums for several months.
I've been wanting to get a t500 for a while now
p8400
250gb
2g ddr3 ram
ati 3650
WXGA+ ccfl
6cell

I've seen somewhat varied battery life results, between 2-4 hours w/ wifi and 6 cell. I would like to get above 3.5 hrs (better yet 4hrs) on the 6 cell with wifi, integrated gfx, and average brightness. can anyone tell me if this is possible?

also, is anyone using the thinkpad default wireless option. I don't need wireless n so does the thinkpad wifi get the same signal quality/strength as the 2 intel options?

Finally, did anyone notice that lenovo jacked up the prices for at least the t series? Is the warranted at all, I thought electronics were supposed to get cheaper. The base price has for discrete t500 been 1000 for a long time, and now its 1060 (as of 1.13)and there are no ecodes.

 

It will say 4 hours on estimator with intel card, but i think 3.5 is real world.. (I do have the 7200 rpm drive though.)

 

I've heard the default (non-Intel) wireless card uses more power (→ less battery life). However, both of them should get comparable performance on 802.11 b/g networks.

Wait a day or two on the price, it will probably drop again. But build and save a quote now (it should be good for 21 days) just in case.

 

The Intel cards have had some strange behavior. The 5300 may have a little better reception than the default G card, but unless you really really really want N I think the default wireless card is enough. I'm not aware of anyone quantifying the battery savings between Intel's cards and the default card.

 

just to clarify, i meant battery life using the intel x4500 integrated gfx card, not the intel 5100 or 5300 wireless card.
I plan to buy the switchable gfx option, and I will use the x4500 on battery power and 3650 on AC power.
I'm not too worried about 3650 battery life, but if the t500 can get about 3.5 hrs with x4500, wifi on, (surfing/word processing) and 6 cell battery, that seems suffcient.
thanks for the replies guys.

 

prices on electronics have gone up everywhere after the holidays.

browsing amazon ive noticed a number of things have gone up considerably.

 

- doesn't make sense with recessions and economic slowdown's all over ....

- we will see prices nosedive soon, things are going to get worse before they get better, they're holding out on prices but it's gotta give ...

 

W-series laptops do not seem to have had a price hike, so the configuration I want, the W500 is now cheaper than the T500.

I'm sure a little wait will be all that's necessary for Lenovo to sort out its strange pricing scheme.

 

I have heard some say the 25-35% coupons may be gone for awhile. Basically they have a choice, sell for less and make money on volume or sell for more and make money on each sale like Apple does.

T pads are in demand and they are considered some of the best so why discount them assuming sales are only off slightly.

 

how exactly do you get a quote? I have a cart saved that is $70 less than what it costs now. I click "open cart" and rather than give me the previously saved price, it gives me the new one. 1224 -> 1294

 

Lenovo's arent as great as people say. Build quality on the new T400/T500 has issues.

Gaps in the construction, plastic bends too much, and the display isn't put on correctly.

 

I dont have any gaps or build quality issues with my t500.

 

Isn't it 30 days to convert the quote to a purchase? At least that was my understanding last month, and that is what the sticky says.

 

1.) Choose your configuration
2.) Go through the whole order process as if you are going to buy the machine right now.
3.) Then on the final page there will be an order button at the bottom. Don't click on that. Underneath the order button should be a link that says convert this order to a quote.
4.) Saved carts don't mean anything for Lenovo. You must create a quote to lock in the price.

 

Yes, it should be 30 days. It was when I made my quote.