Online laptop retailers

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Milts

24 posts

Geek

#19516 19-Feb-2008 23:54

Grrr I typed up a whole huge post with links and everything then my net died and I lost it.
Basically, as you may have seen from the other threads in this board, I am after a laptop and have decided on an IBM ThinkPad. I was thinking of ordering from their site, probably an R series (top model in the series), here:
http://www-604.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10000554&catalogId=-554&langId=554&categoryId=4611686018425096207&seriesid=2137107

But I have now seen this:
http://www.einfo.co.nz/shop/product_info.php?pName=lenova-tp-r61-core-2-duo-t7500-22ghz-2-gb-160-154wsxga-vb

But I am unsure how safe the site is, haven't traded there before, have heard some bad stuff etc etc. Is it worth it? Will IBM honour the warantee even if they don't? And failing that, where do I buy?
I'm also curious as to the differences between the R and T series. If I get a higher end R series (like this one) what is the difference from a T series with similar specs?
Any other advice you can give is welcome :-)

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#111773 20-Feb-2008 08:18

Is this available on Ascent (www.ascent.co.nz)? Tried PriceSpy?

marmel

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#111791 20-Feb-2008 09:42

I've used Expert Infotech before and had no problems. Their prices are generally the cheapest in New Zealand and you can now pay by credit card which gives you automatic protection against fraud etc.

You might want to make sure that you know exactly what you are getting though. I was going to order a PS3 console through them which at the time were only $649. However I suspected that they were NTSC models and pointed this out. The only reply I got was that they worked in NZ and didn't get any further responses to my questions about region coding etc.

I have also used Ascent a lot over the years. They have an easy order system and it is easy to view if items are in stock or not. If you are a little worried about ordering online or worried about warranty issues buy from Ascent, expect to pay more though than Expert Infotech and Ascent will not pricematch.

Milts

24 posts

Geek

#111843 20-Feb-2008 13:08

Thanks guys, I've ordered from Ascent and C1com.co.nz several times in the past, but neither of them have IBMs with those level specs for that cheap. I talked to a friend about it who wasn't so sure about that site, he said they sometimes swap components out etc and I read on another forum that someone ordered a supposedly new camera and got a (badly) refurbished one, and had problems returning it (had to threaten legal action to get his money back).
I've seen another one at a supposedly much better site for about 100$ more, a R61 but with a T7500 CPU, ATI graphics etc, so I may buy from there. But what is the actual difference between a R series and a T series other than the specs? Would I be better off going for a lower spec'd T series for the same price?
Links when I get home from work and can find it all.

Milts

24 posts

Geek

#111939 20-Feb-2008 20:49

OK I think I'll be buying this:
http://www.playtech.co.nz/product.php?action=showdetail&id=4693

Anyone have any final advice? Suggestions?

Simonm

181 posts

Master Geek

#112290 22-Feb-2008 14:20

There are new models of the R61's with T8xxx CPUs available in about two weeks so Im told. So you win by either getting the old model cheaper or getting a newer faster CPU :)