The Stinkpad - Should it stay or should it go? (IBM Thinkpad T Series)

Member Name: funkyd

Product:	IBM Thinkpad T Series
Date:	06/08/03 (1099 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: compact, all in one, cheap

Disadvantages: gets very hot, can be slow, fairly old now!

I normally use a desktop machine at work - but was given an IBM T21 Thinkpad Laptop, it was spare, I work in IT... so I now have it.

It's very useful to have - making good use of it. This specific model is a P3 800mhz with 128mb of ram. It has a 20gb hard drive, a 14.1 TFT screen, DVD capability, TV out and comes pre-installed with Windows 2000..

Altoghter, a fairly low-end model which is now far, far outdated. It seems to run OK, I only tend to use it for admin tools, web and email - it goes OK.. My home machine is a brand spanking new top of the range thing so my standards of comparison are a little muffled.

IBM are VERY good with providing updates online at www.ibm.co.uk - there support and drivers section is helpful, in depth and regually updated. I'm impressed - its not that often companies put that much effort into providing after-support

Now... talking of after support... I had a small problem with another T series Thinkpad and had to have it repaired under warranty.. After 2 WEEKS of diagnostic's IBM accepted there was a fault and that I should send it back to them.. but thats exactly what it mean, "i had to send it back"..

I had to get a courier to take it to a depot who would then take it to IBM - but to top it off, when the laptop was finished with - those lovely people at IBM decided that I had to also absorb the cost of getting it couriered back from the depot. Great warranty there, not.

This machine is good actually, its fairly small and has a CD drive, x2 ethernet ports and so on.. I'm currently using Wireless LAN on it and that seems to work fine. I prefer the Thinkpad T series as they have the little nipples as mice, rather than those horrible touchpad things... urgh, hate them... each to there own and all that stuff!

My summary? I like it. It could do with a memory upgrade to 256mb to make it a bit more competitive.. One more thing to add - it gets a bit hot i
n your lap, so keep it on a desk to avoid first degree burns!

The battery is a bit poor... the screen is sharp and its nice and compact. Overall, a good piece of kit :)

You can get them very cheaply now on places like eBay.. www.ebay.co.uk

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