IBM ThinkPad and Buy.Com Question...

[shari1011]

saw a post on another board for an IBM thinkpad at buy.com for 599.00 I wanted opinions on this item and the buy.com company before I buy one. Also, is this like a laptop and does anyone know what wireless connection costs..etc... Thanks so much in advance!!! Shari [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] I hope this link works!

[sydnie]

This is a reconditioned (by IBM) laptop (ThinkPad is just IBM's trade name for their laptops). I'm not in the market, so don't know how good the price is considering the specs. Try doing a Google search on the model number and see what prices come up elsewhere.

One thing to watch for in reconditioned laptops -- does it have a new battery or not? If not, you are looking at $150 or thereabouts for a new battery if you want to use the laptop on battery power.

[Barbs001]

I have one - it runs very well with Windows 98 (which it comes with) but if you ever intend to upgrade to 2000 or XP forget it, the speed just isn't there. The weight is nice and the screen is a good size for viewing.
I bought the optional external floppy case (has something like a small SCSI looking connector that attaches to the laptop on the right side) so I can have the CD and floppy at the same time like a PC. It comes with 64MB of ram but I added an additional 64MB and it made a major difference.
Not sure what you mean by wireless connection but it has a 56k modem built into it.
HTH

[Dyllan]

Wireless connections aren't cheap. I'm assuming you're talking about some kind of wireless ethernet. I work for an ISP, and my boss has a LinkSys wireless hub he swears by. You can get PCMCIA cards as well as regular ethernet wireless cards to work with it.

If you're adding it to an existing network, or a high speed internet connection such as DSL or Cable, you can use this (which is what he has): [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

And for the laptop you'd need this card: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

I don't know how good those prices are, but I think that's what you'll need.

-Dyllan