The ideal entry level laptop.
Written: Oct 30 '01
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Pros: Value, durability, speed.
Cons: No Serial port, delivery was delayed.
The Bottom Line: When it comes to durable, entry level laptops, nothing that I've seen beats this machine.
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| araidasa's Full Review: Lenovo ThinkPad i Series 1300 1171 (06P9216) PC No... |
I recently purchased a iSeries (type 1171) for my fiance who just started law school. Total package came out to just under $1000 (excluding tax and shipping) through a special sale at ibm.com.
This machine is sturdy, fast and reliable. In fact, it is substantially faster than similar processors on other brands. When I inquired on how this can be, I was told by numerous techies that much of a PCs speed is attributed to the overall engineering and design of the unit. This includes selecting the right parts that work well together.
Apparently, IBM puts its ThinkPads together to maximize performance. Presumably, this is an area where manufacturers could swindle the consumer by compromising on internal parts that add to the overall performance of the machine. I am convinced that with IBM, you get what you pay for. Typically, IBM does charge a premium for its machines. As one reviewer put it, the ThinkPads are the Armani of laptops. Seems to be a fair statement.
The only complaint I have on this entry level model is that it lacks a serial port. Since many users of laptops probably use a PDA, i is likely that either a serial or an infrared port would prove useful. However, this machine had neither. So, if you have a PDA that uses a serial port to synchronize, be prepared to spend anywhere between $40-$80 for a serial-to-USB adapter. However, this PC does have two USB ports which should be sufficient for most users.
Beyond that, shop at ibm.com. The site offers great deals. However, on popular sale items, expect to wait for delivery. I had to wait 3 weeks for mine. However, in the end it was worth it.
One more thing, if you have a Discover Card, go through Discover Card's home page to link to ibm.com. You'll save an extra 7% (last I checked, this was the discount for Discover card holders).
Happy Shoppging!!!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1099
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Celeron
Processor speed: 601-700
Screen Size: 13
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: CD-ROM
Hard Drive (GB): 13-20
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Epinions.com ID:
araidasa
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 1 member
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