Is this laptop a good buy?

tom9042 · December 17th, 2005

My son works at a university and has a chance to buy an IBM Thinkpad R52 for $999.00. I never had a laptop but worry about the integrated graphic on this machine. I'm not sure if he has the option to add memory or other options. How does this machine look to all you bright young men and women?

Intel 370 processor 1.5GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 512MB
RAM, 40GB Hard Disk, DVD±R Multiburner,
14.1”XGA TFT (1024x768) Intel GMA 900
integrated graphics, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g
Wireless, 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1394 Firewire, 6.1lb
weight, 3.6 hr battery, 3 year Warranty with
ThinkPad Protection accidental damage coverage,
XP Professional.

**kcnychief** · December 17th, 2005

Bah, with all the sales and deals that are going on all the time, I don't really see that as a great deal. Maybe close to a good deal, but not a great one.

I'd pass, that's my .02

mooo · December 17th, 2005

ibm make great notebooks and use great hardware.. I would pick them over most but you can probably find a better deal for notebooks a little more powerful so shop around..
Depending on what you are going to use it for, i would go with something more basic and generic if its just going to be like office and general internet use..
I like the 3yr warranty though..

**Admiral Michael** · December 17th, 2005

Friend has an older IBM laptop and I found it to be pretty tuff. Myself, I'd go for that notebook (just wish it would have a larger hdd)

**Grandmaster** · December 17th, 2005

I agree its nothing special, barely a good deal. But it is an IBM and they are really good quality. My family has an T-50, and it's really well built.

**dreamliner77** · December 17th, 2005

If you are going to be traveling alot and want something durable and well supported, go with the R52. I have one and it's pretty good. I'd upgrade to 1 gb of ram though.

**LeeJend** · December 18th, 2005

IBM is no longer in the business, you are buying a Lenovo (Chinese).

This may still be a pure blood IBM designed machine but keep in mind IBM is not waranteeing it, Lenovo is.

Features for the price were not particularly impressive.

Considering it's not really IBM anymore there is no reason to pay a premium for the name (if there ever was).

PS "Young"? A lot of old farts here too!

December 17th, 2005	Top \| #1
tom9042 OSNN Senior Addict Joined: December 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 314 Reputation: 440 Power: 123	Is this laptop a good buy? My son works at a university and has a chance to buy an IBM Thinkpad R52 for $999.00. I never had a laptop but worry about the integrated graphic on this machine. I'm not sure if he has the option to add memory or other options. How does this machine look to all you bright young men and women? Intel 370 processor 1.5GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 512MB RAM, 40GB Hard Disk, DVD±R Multiburner, 14.1”XGA TFT (1024x768) Intel GMA 900 integrated graphics, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g Wireless, 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1394 Firewire, 6.1lb weight, 3.6 hr battery, 3 year Warranty with ThinkPad Protection accidental damage coverage, XP Professional. Life is too important to be taken seriously.

December 17th, 2005	Top \| #2
kcnychief █▄█ ▀█▄ █ Joined: April 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 16,949 Reputation: 4941 Power: 305	Re: Is this laptop a good buy? Bah, with all the sales and deals that are going on all the time, I don't really see that as a great deal. Maybe close to a good deal, but not a great one. I'd pass, that's my .02 XBOX Live Gamertag: kcnychief

December 17th, 2005	Top \| #3
mooo thecyberninja Joined: January 2004 Location: earth Posts: 886 Reputation: 310 Power: 114	Re: Is this laptop a good buy? ibm make great notebooks and use great hardware.. I would pick them over most but you can probably find a better deal for notebooks a little more powerful so shop around.. Depending on what you are going to use it for, i would go with something more basic and generic if its just going to be like office and general internet use.. I like the 3yr warranty though..

December 17th, 2005	Top \| #4
Admiral Michael Michaelsoft Systems CEO Joined: February 2003 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Canada Earth Posts: 3,125 Blog Entries: 8 Reputation: 2216 Power: 166	Re: Is this laptop a good buy? Friend has an older IBM laptop and I found it to be pretty tuff. Myself, I'd go for that notebook (just wish it would have a larger hdd) Apple MacBook Pro Intel Quad-Core i7 2GHz \| Corsair 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 Memory \| WD 750GB 7200RPM Black Edition SATA Hard Drive \| Intel HD Graphics 3000/AMD Radeon HD 6490M 256MB GDDR5 \| 15.4" LED backlit glossy screen @ 1440x900 \| Dual Band Airport Wireless/Bluetooth \| Gigabit Ethernet \| Thunderbolt I/O \| Built-in Webcam \| Backlit Keyboard \| Firewire 800 \| DVDRW \| OS X Lion 10.7.1 My Site \| My DVD Collection \| Your Chevrolet Guy

December 17th, 2005	Top \| #5
Grandmaster Electronica Addict Joined: February 2002 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 10,574 Reputation: 2960 Power: 260	Re: Is this laptop a good buy? I agree its nothing special, barely a good deal. But it is an IBM and they are really good quality. My family has an T-50, and it's really well built.

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December 17th, 2005	Top \| #6
dreamliner77 The Analog Kid Joined: March 2002 Location: Red Sox Nation Posts: 4,653 Reputation: 1111 Power: 182	Re: Is this laptop a good buy? If you are going to be traveling alot and want something durable and well supported, go with the R52. I have one and it's pretty good. I'd upgrade to 1 gb of ram though. "You can fight without ever winning, but never win without a fight." -Neil Peart of RUSH

December 18th, 2005	Top \| #7
LeeJend OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: January 2003 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 5,261 Reputation: 3386 Power: 199	Re: Is this laptop a good buy? IBM is no longer in the business, you are buying a Lenovo (Chinese). This may still be a pure blood IBM designed machine but keep in mind IBM is not waranteeing it, Lenovo is. Features for the price were not particularly impressive. Considering it's not really IBM anymore there is no reason to pay a premium for the name (if there ever was). PS "Young"? A lot of old farts here too! Thought for the new millenium: In a world without walls and fences, who needs Windows and Gates? - Open Office - Firefox - Thunderbird - Gimp -Ubuntu - Red Hat -

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