Thu 9 Jun 2005
Well, I’ve gotten it ordered finally! YAY! Now comes the waiting. I thought I was so cool getting it so quickly, but even with the help of the great CS rep, it’s going to be 3-4 weeks before I get my tablet! 3-4 weeks! Are you serious?
That aside, there was only one other issue that I am bummed about, Lenovo’s current $100 off a MS Office package doesn’t apply to the Tablet, so I had to pony up $129 for that, and OneNote 2003 wasn’t in his system. Bummer, so the going rate for OneNote is roughly $99 ($84 someplaces), and I’m going to have to get an external USB 2.0 DVD writer too, because I’m too cheap to buy the $214 X4 dock and still pay another $269 for a DVD writer. $500 isnt’ worth that when I can buy a dedicated one for under $200. Alright, so it’s not one thing, but the rep made it up to me and threw in a free 4-cell battery and free shipping.
So here’s the main specs:
- 1.5 ghz
- 512 mb ram
- 60gb HD
- a/b/g wireless
- Fingerprint reader
- 8 cell battery in addition to the free 4 cell
- Price - $2528 before tax
Pricey? Yes. Worth it? We’ll find out.
Anyone have ideas how to make 4 weeks go by quickly? My current plan of checking tablet pc websites all day isn’t cutting it, and people at work are looking at me funny.
June 9th, 2005 at 10:11 pm |
Hi Vince,
This is Praveen!!!
Might be because they are not in stock, they are giving diff estimates and they might not know themselves. I ordered the one with 40gb HDD. I am not sure whether to add a 60 or go with the 40gb. How much extra is the 60 gb hdd? Who is the customer service rep for your order? Did you order the sleeve? It looks cool…
Thx…Praveen
June 10th, 2005 at 7:18 am |
I’d rather not mention his name on here, as I told everyone he gave me a free battery. I’d hate to send him a bunch of people asking for free stuff. He was a great rep though, I sent an email to their staff to let them know. It’s always important to help those who help you.
As for the exact upgrade price for the 60gb HDD, I don’t know. The reason I ended up calling support instead of using their site is because their site only lists one configuration, and doesn’t allow you to ‘build your own’ yet. My rep ended up selling me one of their ‘pre-configured’ tablets that happened to have everything I wanted so I don’t know what the price of the upgrade for that component is.
You could probably try configuring an X41 laptop and see what the difference is on that. I’d bet they use the same pricing structure.
I didn’t get the sleeve, as I’m not sure I need it yet. I don’t have to use it while I’m on-the-go, so the added functionality of keeping it in tablet mode all the time isn’t that important to me - yet. My current gadget bag will survive another day for now.
June 16th, 2005 at 6:13 am |
I’m not sure if that battery he threw in was a favor. If you customize the thinkexpress model on the website, there is an option to get an extra 4=cell battery for free, or the 8-cell for $49 bucks.
The ThinkExpress model seems to be the best deal at 1899.00…
* 1.5 ghz
* 512 mb ram
* 40gb HD
* b/g wireless
* Fingerprint reader
* 4 cell battery + the 8 cell for $49
* Price - $1948 before tax
if only it had bluetooth. The same exact specs with bluetooth goes up to $2449. If you want a 60g hd as well it’s $2499. So, about 600 bucks if you want bluetooth and a bigger hd. Couldn’t quite bite on that, so I bought the thinkexpress one. I’ve been reading that bluetooth is a removeable module on a lot of the thinkpads.(forum.thinkpads.com) Many have added the module after the fact for $50-100. Another option is buying a 3com bluetooth pc card for $80 bucks. Either way, it’s cheaper than buying the other models. Lenovo needs to work on the pricing a little bit…but I’m guessing there is no rush because of all the demand right now. I’m guessing people will buy regardless, of price/value, etc.
June 16th, 2005 at 7:48 am |
Well that sucks. You know what else sucks? I think my order is messed up. I was comparing my model # to the ones on a listing page that showed specs, and mine doesn’t seem to be what I ordered.
I’m waiting for a call back from my rep to see what’s going on with that, and my ship date that keeps moving back.
I should just get the 2nd 8-cell for $49 shouldn’t I? Thanks for the tip.
I definitly don’t want to tie up the only PC card slot with a bluetooth module, I want to keep that open in case I want to add an EVDO card or something in the future.
You’re right about the demand, it seems to be through the roof right now - hence my ever slipping ship-date. Updates to come.
June 21st, 2005 at 6:58 pm |
Crashless,
I think I just ordered the same thing
18666SU X41 TABLET PENT M LV 758 (1.5) 12 WAXGA 512 60GB ABG XPT 8C
Is that what you have on your confirmation email?
June 21st, 2005 at 9:23 pm |
I ended up calling back because my order was showing up as the 18666GU (I think) which was the 40gb b/g version - NOT what I wanted.
It’s all fixed now, and I have the same model that you have ordered, on back order now showing a July 15th ship date. I’m a little bummed it’s showing back ordered though. Is yours?
It was kind of a funny story, me getting the order fixed. Take a look at my post : Ordered, Not Shaken.
June 22nd, 2005 at 7:32 am |
Actually they just upgraded my shipping date to July 11th from July 22. It no longer shows “backordered” but rather “2-4 weeks” I think when you fixed your order they bumped you back because I ordered after you. If thats the case you should call and try to get it expeditied.
June 22nd, 2005 at 8:06 am |
I think you’re right. My rep assured me that it wouldn’t happen, and that his computer was still showing the same ‘3-5 weeks’ (which is longer b/c I ordered it with office 2003 basic preinstalled).
I’m trying my best not to check the status multiple times a day, but right now it’s saying July 18th, and back ordered.
I have to call a different IBM department today, so I might have them transfer me, and see if I can get it pushed up. Oh well.
Let me know when yours is shipped. At least then I’ll know they exist, and are shipping.
Thanks for the input.
June 24th, 2005 at 7:21 am |
Today they changed my EST ship date to “call us”
Not very cool at all. I also think I am going to add MS Office, and extended warranty. Waiting for a call back from my rep.
June 24th, 2005 at 9:18 am |
Same here. I talked with my rep, and it seems that the ship date is between July 15th, and 21st now…
I’m a little frustrated by this.
They also split out my extra battery to a new order, that now says ‘packaging’. If they send me the battery a month before I get the tablet, that would be cruel. There are some users on the TabletPCBuzz site that have already gotten their batteries and cases, but still no tablets.
I’m getting the feeling that the demand is way higher than they expected, and they haven’t totally ramped up production yet to meet it. So our orders are being pushed back as a result.
More waiting…
June 24th, 2005 at 1:57 pm |
Whats worse I’m worried that the x41t I get will be rushed through production. Makes me want to get an extended warranty. This is going to be my main PC for law School, I can’t afford a piece of junk
June 24th, 2005 at 4:07 pm |
I would argue just the opposite. Lenovo can’t afford to screw up their takeover of the thinkpad name. if they release a sub-par product, they’re screwed.
I think the extra time is because they’re having trouble ramping up their QC department for the unexpected demand.
PS. My battery says it’s being Packed. What the hell am I going to do with a battery to a tablet I don’t have yet? Ug…
June 24th, 2005 at 4:48 pm |
you’re lucky you have a shipping date and something coming right away. My rep didn’t even bother to return my call.
July 3rd, 2005 at 9:01 am |
I too ordered 18666SU X41 (in early June) and have learned the ship date is a total joke. I could tell it was turning into “Are we almost there yet? Just over the next hill”. So, I talked to some folks who could get an answer, and it looks like the earliest is August 5, but more likely around August 24th. I am sure it will be a good product, but I don’t like being lied to and now looking for an alternative product.
July 4th, 2005 at 9:07 am |
I ordered the 18695 configured with 1G Ram and protection program through the education division on 6/24 . It took a week to recieve my accesssories. But the tablet is still in the air. My rep told me, he got message that my configured unit has been packed, which means it’s ready to be shipped on June 29th. Obviously, it’s not been shipped. Levono changed the shipping date several times, I guess they had oders flooded in, and it has to reorganize the optimal shippment schedule to allow most of its customers to get the machine without fierce complaint.
The accessaries I recieved do not include the free battery. But I think Lenovo does this to help its customers hanging there. At least, I feel that it’s working at its best to deliver what it has and I won’t cancel the order. Two side effects: one is positive—it’s a very popular item and u gonna wait; the other is negtive—watching the temporary useless accessaries is simply painful…..
I think i should have it in 2 weeks anyway, i’ll update.
July 5th, 2005 at 9:37 am |
While it sucks that we’re all going through this, it is kind of nice to know that I’m not the only one having issues actually getting my tablet.
Thanks for the updates, and I look forward to hearing that people have actually recieved their X41s.
July 11th, 2005 at 12:44 pm |
Hey….i ordered my laptop on june 20th and still have not received it. I did call up and they told me it would be shipped the week of July 11th. Hopefully they are right!!!
July 11th, 2005 at 2:25 pm |
I hope so too, that’s this week!
Let me know if it actually ships.
July 15th, 2005 at 9:54 am |
Wow.
All this whining about when orders for the coolest new product around will ship. Are we friggin’ spoiled rotten or what? When you consider that IBM waited to see what the future held for Tablet PCs before jumping in, is it no surprise that they didn’t mass-produce a million of these things before announcing the product release, just so everyone who wanted one would have it within days? Hmmm….
And as for the gentleman getting married in Tahiti…you need serious therapy man. I’m sure your fiance would be thrilled to have you playing with your new toy instead of doing what any normal newly married person would do…like party, have great sex, go sightseeing, whatever… on a once-in-a-lifetime trip like that.
Finally, I agree with the persons above that are going for the “basic” model–the express. The X41t isn’t a desktop replacement (or even a multimedia notebook replacement for that matter). Why pay gobs of cash for 20GB more HD space when you can buy a 100GB backup USB drive for less? Why spring for bluetooth when you can add a wireless USB mouse for
July 15th, 2005 at 10:19 am |
Oh come on, I was kidding about taking it on the honeymoon.
I just wanted to mess with it BEFORE, because obviously I wouldn’t take it there, it might get broken…
Your thoughts about the slow rollout make sense, because I’m sure there’s no way Lenovo could have predicted the huge response they would get to this device. But the thing people are frustrated about is the constantly slipping ship date with no communication from the company.
If someone tells me it’s going to be 2 months - fine, tell me that. But don’t hold that carrot out in front of me for that long. I was originally told 2-5 weeks. It has been 5 weeks today, and still no word. I’m contacting my rep today to see what’s going on because I will probably have to change my devlivery address, because I’m obviously not goint to have it forwarded to me in Tahiti.
July 20th, 2005 at 3:49 pm |
hey guys ive read through all your replies and figures to me that i think none of us have recieved our tablets. I ordered the base model on the day of my birthday which was june 13th and have still no recieved my tablet. I just called the sales rep and he told me they were having problems bringing the laptops in or something. ITs funny becauses when i was buying the tablet it said that it would take 2-4 weeks so i was like oh it could take onyl 2 weeks then and so i ordered it with my uncle. BUt now its been 5 weeks and i still havent recieved no word. Also i was wondering if i should upgrade to the 8 cell battery. I know its a bit heavier and i like my laptop to be as light as can be. So is it worth it?
July 20th, 2005 at 4:50 pm |
You are correct. As far as I’ve been told, no one has recieved anything but the ‘express’ model yet.
As for the battery, in a funny chain of events, I’ve recieved my extra 8-cell battery already (now 3 weeks ahead of my tablet). You can see my thoughts here.
I decided to go with the 8-cell because I figured if I’m going to be carrying a second battery, I’ll want it to last a long time. In my opinion, the extra weight of the 8-cell is worth the extra run time.
Of course, if you’re on the run all day, and you’re always near an outlet - sure, shed that half-pound and get the 4-cell.
It really comes down to how you think you’ll use it.
July 24th, 2005 at 11:43 am |
I ordered a Thinkpad X41 in the first few days of June. So far Levono has promised and failed to that promise of delivery at least 4 times. It has now been 2 months and still no sign of my computer…