z60t - good deal?

I'm trying to get a system under $1000 (after taxes and shipping) and I want to know what you guys think about this deal? This laptop is for my significant other who will need a day to day laptop for browsing, movies, occasional studying, etc..

Z60t Titanium
Intel Pentium M Processor 760 (2GHz, 2MB L2, 533MHz FSB) Operating Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
14.0 inch TFT 1280x768 WXGA (Standard)
1.25GB PC2-4200 CL4 NP DDR2 SDRAM SODIMM
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
80GB 5400 rpm SATA Hard Drive
24x/24x/24x/8x Max Combo Ultrabay Slim Drive
56K V.92 Designed Modem (Standard)
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet (Standard)
Wi-Fi wireless upgradable (Standard)
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter
7 Cell Li-Ion Battery 3 USB 2.0 (Standard)
Integrated fingerprint reader (Standard)

I have configured this system to come out to $1000 after taxes and shipping.
First of all, do you think this is a good price or I should wait a little longer for the z60t to drop even lower. My understanding is that the titanium hasn't been a hit so the z60t titanium in particular has taken a significant price drop.

And then questions on the specific features [highlighted]
1. My biggest concern is that the screen is not bright enough. Is it really THAT dim or were the people complaining dealing with broken screens? I know this is a sin to the IBM loyalists but how would you compare the screen brightness say to a Dell Latitude D610 (which is what I use at work).

2. Is the wireless card a plug-in or is it internal? The reason I ask this is because I already have a good netgear wireless card and I'm wondering if this is something I can use with this laptop. I could shave off $32 with that. Also what is the general quality of thinkpad cards?

3. What is the weight difference between the 7-cell and 4-cell. I saw a couple of people complaining about the 7-cell. Does it really make that much noticeable difference?

thanks in advance.

Also I just got off the phone with an IBM sales rep and he told me that the a 1.66 GHz Core Duo z61t will be available in a couple of weeks. He claims everything else is the same..including the features I have highlighted.

 

The z60 I saw a few months ago seemed pretty good to me as did the Z61 I wrote the review for though that was a M not a T.

My thought on that is why would you want something sticking out the side of your notebook.

The z60 I saw had the four cell so no help here. My T42 has the nine cell. I hardly notice it though I don't carry it everyday.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Lenovo rep was wrong.

 

Thanks for the response ZaZ. I'm just wondering if I can get something that sticks in all the way for a cheaper price. I feel like the $32 for the card is almost what I would pay in the open market. Maybe I'm being too greedy. But of greater concern to me is the brightness of the screen. Any thoughts on that? Thanks.

 

The one I saw seemed fine to me.

 

Kuchu,

That sounds like a sweet deal to me! I tried to configure a similar machine on the lenovo website and even with the $200 mail-in rebate, it's around $1200 (not including tax and shipping!)

How did you get this pricing? EPP? Or did I miss something on the website?

Thanks!

 

Yup vfilanovsky, EPP