x220 too expensive :(

just a lil...

Including the B&N Deal and TOPTHINK eCoupon, is there any more additional savings I can apply?

I am college student, so would there be any discount for that?

and Should I spend the extra 17 dollars for the fingerprint reader, is it worth it?
Should I spend another 42.50 dollars to upgrade to the i5 2.4ghz from the i3 2.3ghz.

Im trying to get the cheapest setups without having any regrets later on.

I am planning to play Starcraft 2 on it, with low-medium settings. I'm also a mechanical engineer so I dont know if I might need the extra juice to run the softwares I need.

-Thanks

 

The major benefit of the i5 is Turbo Boost, which wouldn't make a difference if you don't run CPU intensive jobs a lot.

The fingerprint reader is very handy if you like security features or strong Windows passwords (e.g. UAC privilege elevation prompting for fingerprints). I'd say go for it as it's not expensive.

Don't expect too much for Starcraft 2 - any Intel integrated graphics card can be a really bad choice for 3D gaming.

 

Prices will come down in a couple of months when Ivy Bridge is imminent, and you can always try to snipe one from the outlet. Sales change every couple weeks, and you should see one down around $800 sooner than later, you'll probably see something for spring. There is an education store, but it doesn't often stack with sales. Once in awhile it does.

You can also check your university book store.

 

My bookstore sells mostly Apple products. They never heard of lenovo.

Whats the ETA of Ivy Bridge? Should I just wait for that then?

If not would i5 provide a significant increase in performance over the i3 on Starcraft 2 Low setting.

Ill definitely will be using autoCAD, so would i3 be sufficient?

 

Sorry for double post.

BTW heres my quote:

Upgrades: -i5 2430M
- IPS Display
- 720p Camera
-Fingerprint reader

Merchandise Total $790.65
Sales Tax $64.74
Total $855.39

Tax is a *****

 

$855 is dirt cheap brother, or sister as the case may be, for a notebook with an IPS screen. I've got no complains about my i3. I doubt the i5 makes any difference and is therefore not worth the cost unless you need top performance, which it seems you do not.. I wouldn't pay 10¢ for a fingerprint reader. It's a convenience rather than a security feature in my opinion. The camera only has value if you intend to use it. If so, then it's worth the $20. I didn't get it and have not regretted it.

 

Don't you get your sales tax back at the end of the year?

I've been paying 13-15% for years now in Canada.

 

^ Im a lil college boy that works whenever I want, under the table, thus no tax report.

I guess Ill ditch the i5 and save the money towards a new video card for my desktop.
Just to confirm, will the i3 2350m run smoothly on SC2, in situations of 200/200?

 

If an i3 CPU doesn't run it well, an i5 will have no noticeable improvement. Stick with the base i3, if you're tight on budget.

I would skip the fingerprint reader as well if your budget is tight, unless you have to have the convenience feature. I personally hate using the things, so I always opt out.

I would keep the camera; it's not a bad webcam, and it will hurt your resale possibilities down the road (people really do expect a webcam nowadays).

Just two or so months ago, I helped one of my friends get a base Core i3, 9-cell, IPS display X220 for ~$680 before tax, so I'm sure you can get the price down.

 

I have a T420 w. i5. It handles sc2 on low fine up to 4v4 late game except for huge battles when everyone engages in creep w. lost of lings and everything all mixed together. If you play mostly ladder 1v1's on low, i3 absolutely shouldn't be a problem.

This past august there was a sale for X220 i5/4GB/320GB/Win7HP for $609 (also an upgrade for 9 cell + IPS for $40+), so you can definitely find one for cheaper than in your op.

Don't buy x220 right now if you are not super in a rush to get a new laptop. Especially with Ivy around the corner, either wait and get the new x220 refresh or wait till prices start to drop for x220. Right now just seems like the worst time to get it because its nearing the end of a cycle but not close enough for inventory clearance.

 

The Fingerprint Reader is good for the X220 Tablet because sometimes you are in tablet mode, want to log in, but don't want to move the screen at all to type on the keyboard OR punch in the password using the stylus. There is no way I'd get a Fingerprint Reader on a regular X220; I'd only use it to log in (I disabled UAC).

 

you dont wait to buy computer. If you need computer you take a day or two in research of which to buy, and go buy yourself a computer. If you can not afford a specific computer then you should look for another model.

besides, what the OP posted as price looks rather cheap for that specific model at this time.

 

It all comes down to

1: Buy now
-1a. with i3
-1b. with i5

2: wait for better sale (Inventory Clearance for the Ivy Bridge)

 

For a 50$ extra, I'd definitely go with the i5. You will notice a difference down the road and since the notebook has the CPU soldered to the mobo, it's now or never

 

I think you're better off with a T420 with a dedicated card.
It's not a whole not bigger than the X220 and has more screen real estate.

 

My friend has a 14-inch laptop and regrets it because it's not too portable.

I'd rather get the x220 but I'm wondering if theres a better sale coming soon.

 

Your point is well taken, but the T420s is not ordinary 14" laptop... It starts at 3.68 lbs..., which isn't that different from the X220. If you choose one with discrete graphics it will fair a bit better with Solid Works, Inventor, and etc.

 

I disagree. "Down the road," if the Core i3 becomes "obsolete" or "too slow" (which won't be anytime soon for general usage), the i5 will be as well. There is nearly no difference between a Core i3 and Core i5, even in benchmarks.

If the X220 is stretching the OP's budget, a T420s is likely out of the question as well.

 

If you browse the marketplace for sale forum here there's a nicely equipped X220 at a good price

 

Possibly, but my point was that if portability and screen real estate are important... the budget may not be the sole determining factor.

 

If OP thinks a X220 is expensive, T420s is usually out of the question...

 

You're confusing sales tax with income tax, and it depends on deductions&income.

 

Canada uses a VAT tax. The rates are higher than here in the US.

 

Actually I could find a good t240 for about 700 on Craigslist easily.
Besides the size and optical drive what's the difference from the x220?
I'm going to carry it around school a lot so I don't know of the t420 will be convenient for me.

I'm a keyboard fanatic. I haven't tried the t420 kb yet but I know the x220 is great for a scissor switch.

 

T420 for $700 is good, but a T420s for $700 would be really good.

 

@OP,
There are two different models... the T420 and the T420s. They both have excellent maybe identical keyboards. The latter is a thin and light version of the former. I think the gains would be optical drive, higher resolution screen, 2" larger screen etc. You be the judge, but I wanted you to be aware that the T420s is no ordinary 14" laptop.

 

I think I'll commit to the x220.

Does anyone have an idea of when the inventory clearance will begin? Of the next big sale?

 

Lenovo is unlikely to share that with anyone here as then everyone would just wait for the sales. Best you can do is watch and be ready to act when the time comes.

 

The keyboard on all the new models is the same, so there is no difference from X220->T420->T420s.

The touch-pad on the other hand...

EDIT:

Also the T420/T420s have terrible displays. The only displays I like on the current line are the W520 FHD and X220 IPS.

 

I'm actually in the same boat as you now. My ideapad U330 died over the weekend and my sister took the family T420, so I am waiting to jump on the next x220 deal. I've been checking for deals pretty much every day now. Hope a good sale comes soon, for now, I'm using a friend's old HP with my U330 hard drive connected.

 

Hmm what's the most I should pay for a used x220 i5 w/ ips and webcam?

 

Depends on too many other factors as well. Other specs? Warranty left? Physical condition? Seeing as you can get a X220 i5 with IPS and webcam for ~$700-750 with good sales, I'd say that's an upper price limit. An SSD would bump that up another $100 or so depending on the SSD, and a 3-year on-site warranty would bump it another $100 or so more.

 

is this a good deal?

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

It has bleeding on the lower right corner, is it that bad?

 

Check out some of the sales here on the NBR Marketplace. I usually see one or two X220s up for sale for a decent price.

My first computer sold on here was my old X220.

 

You can also watch Lenovo's outlet store. Their refurbished models are typically indistinguishable from new. They haven't had much x220 stock recently.

Lenovo Outlet - Laptops - Discounted Laptops, Cheap Laptops, Refurbished Laptops, Discounted Desktops, Cheap Desktops, Refurbished Desktops