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New to laptops

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  New to laptops Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-17 17:20 -0500
    Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) parv <parv000@yahooWhereElse.com> - 2012-12-18 10:50 +0000
      Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Christoph Schmees <cjws@nurfuerspam.de> - 2012-12-18 19:31 +0100
        Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-18 19:24 -0500
          Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Christoph Schmees <cjws@nurfuerspam.de> - 2012-12-19 11:36 +0100
            Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-20 16:43 -0500
          Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Anthony Campbell <ac@acampbell.org.uk> - 2012-12-23 10:28 +0000
            Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-25 22:30 -0500
              Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Anthony Campbell <ac@acampbell.org.uk> - 2012-12-26 09:51 +0000
                Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-26 21:52 -0500
                  Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Anthony Campbell <ac@acampbell.org.uk> - 2012-12-28 11:38 +0000
                    Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-31 14:54 -0500
                      Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) parv <parv000@yahooWhereElse.com> - 2013-01-04 06:29 +0000
                        Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2013-01-04 17:22 -0500
                          Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) "~misfit~" <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> - 2013-01-12 13:15 +1300
                            Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2013-01-14 19:46 -0500
                              Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) "~misfit~" <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> - 2013-01-26 10:56 +1300
                                Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2013-01-28 19:42 -0500
                                  Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) "~misfit~" <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> - 2013-01-29 16:00 +1300
                                    Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2013-01-29 21:21 -0500
                                      Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) "~misfit~" <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> - 2013-01-31 22:38 +1300
                                        Re: OT: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2013-02-04 00:22 -0500
                                          Re: OT: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) "~misfit~" <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> - 2013-02-09 14:56 +1300
                                            Re: OT: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2013-02-10 00:57 -0500
      Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-18 19:24 -0500
        Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) "Tom Rutherford" <tom@nospam.invalid> - 2012-12-19 20:28 -0500
          Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-20 16:43 -0500
            Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) News <News@Groups.Post> - 2012-12-20 17:00 -0500
              Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-20 17:19 -0500
                Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) News <News@Groups.Post> - 2012-12-20 17:24 -0500
          Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Ardent <iam@here.com.invalid> - 2012-12-23 08:16 +0530
            Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) "Tom Rutherford" <tom@nospam.invalid> - 2012-12-23 15:20 -0500
        Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) parv <parv000@yahooWhereElse.com> - 2012-12-20 07:35 +0000
          Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <adam@address.invalid> - 2012-12-20 16:43 -0500
            Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Joe <joecool1029@gmail.com> - 2013-01-04 15:18 +0000
              Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60) Adam <newsgroup@invalid.invalid> - 2013-01-04 17:22 -0500

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#223 — New to laptops

Hi everybody... anybody?  I'm familiar with desktop systems, but I just 
got my first laptop (T60 refurb) and I feel almost like a newbie again. 
  Would anyone be able to suggest some links that explain -- well, just 
about anything about laptops that a desktop user wouldn't know, either 
generally or specific to ThinkPads or my T60.  Everything from choosing 
a case/backpack/pouch to securing my data, and how to connect to public 
Wi-Fi (I know how to connect to my own) to good sources of accessories 
and information.  I've set it up as multiboot, Windows XP and Linux. 
Thanks VERY much in advance!

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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#224 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

in message <kao5rc$ioq$1@dont-email.me>,
wrote Adam ...

> Hi everybody... anybody?

Hi there.


> Would anyone be able to suggest some links that explain -- well,
> just about anything about laptops that a desktop user wouldn't
> know, either generally or

Laptops are a compromise among cost, (non)working hardware,
portability, and modularity.


> specific to ThinkPads or my T60.
...

Arrange for a fan replacement now so that you would have one handy
when the fan dies and 'puter eventually stops to start. For example,
fan in my T61 died after 4 years. OEM part (for my T61 with 4:3
ratio, 14" screen) costs around $85 (or was it $60?). There are
related videos on Youtube.


-- 

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#225 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

On 18.12.2012 11:50, parv wrote:
> in message <kao5rc$ioq$1@dont-email.me>,
> wrote Adam ...
>
>> Hi everybody... anybody?
>
> Hi there.
>
>
>> Would anyone be able to suggest some links that explain -- well,
>> just about anything about laptops that a desktop user wouldn't
>> know, either generally or
>
> Laptops are a compromise among cost, (non)working hardware,
> portability, and modularity.
>
>
>> specific to ThinkPads or my T60.
> ...
>
> Arrange for a fan replacement now so that you would have one handy
> when the fan dies and 'puter eventually stops to start. For example,
> fan in my T61 died after 4 years. OEM part (for my T61 with 4:3
> ratio, 14" screen) costs around $85 (or was it $60?).

so expensive? For the cooling/fan unit for my ancient T40p I paid 
about 45 € IIRC.

There are
> related videos on Youtube.
>

and better yet: you can have a complete and comprehensive HMM 
(Hadware Maintenance Manual) at IBM/Lenovo. Every single step is 
explained.

Christoph

-- 
email:
nurfuerspam -> gmx
de -> net

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#227 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

Christoph Schmees wrote:
> On 18.12.2012 11:50, parv wrote:
>> wrote Adam ...
>> Arrange for a fan replacement now so that you would have one handy
>> when the fan dies and 'puter eventually stops to start. For example,
>> fan in my T61 died after 4 years. OEM part (for my T61 with 4:3
>> ratio, 14" screen) costs around $85 (or was it $60?).
>
> so expensive? For the cooling/fan unit for my ancient T40p I paid about
> 45 € IIRC.

So you must have also had a fan failure.  Are they really that common in 
ThinkPads?  Also, where can one find replacement fans and other pieces? 
  Are they only available from Lenovo, or do other vendors sell an 
equivalent?

> and better yet: you can have a complete and comprehensive HMM (Hadware
> Maintenance Manual) at IBM/Lenovo. Every single step is explained.

Thanks, Christoph!  I already searched online, found and downloaded four 
different versions for the T60, and printed the most recent of them 
("September 2008").  I see there's no "User's Guide" like I'd been 
hoping for, but the HMM does explain a lot of hardware-related things, 
such as why the Wi-Fi wasn't working.  I hadn't realized there was a 
separate switch for it. :-)

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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#230 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

On 19.12.2012 01:24, Adam wrote:
> Christoph Schmees wrote:
>> On 18.12.2012 11:50, parv wrote:
>>> wrote Adam ...
>>> Arrange for a fan replacement now so that you would have one
>>> handy
>>> when the fan dies and 'puter eventually stops to start. For
>>> example,
>>> fan in my T61 died after 4 years. OEM part (for my T61 with 4:3
>>> ratio, 14" screen) costs around $85 (or was it $60?).
>>
>> so expensive? For the cooling/fan unit for my ancient T40p I
>> paid about
>> 45 € IIRC.
>
> So you must have also had a fan failure.  Are they really that
> common in ThinkPads?

no. My machine had run 24/7 for several years until the fan 
failed eventually.

Also, where can one find replacement fans
> and other pieces?  Are they only available from Lenovo, or do
> other vendors sell an equivalent?

I found mine in the ..bay :-)

>
>> and better yet: you can have a complete and comprehensive HMM
>> (Hadware
>> Maintenance Manual) at IBM/Lenovo. Every single step is explained.
>
> Thanks, Christoph!  I already searched online, found and
> downloaded four different versions for the T60, and printed the
> most recent of them ("September 2008").  I see there's no "User's
> Guide" like I'd been hoping for, but the HMM does explain a lot
> of hardware-related things, such as why the Wi-Fi wasn't
> working.  I hadn't realized there was a separate switch for it. :-)
>

look for a download "Access Help" SW or the like. The user manual 
hides there.

Christoph

-- 
email:
nurfuerspam -> gmx
de -> net

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#234 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

Christoph Schmees wrote:
> On 19.12.2012 01:24, Adam wrote:
>> So you must have also had a fan failure.  Are they really that
>> common in ThinkPads?
>
> no. My machine had run 24/7 for several years until the fan failed
> eventually.

But it sounds like that's more likely to be the first component to fail 
than any other.

>> Also, where can one find replacement fans
>> and other pieces?  Are they only available from Lenovo, or do
>> other vendors sell an equivalent?
>
> I found mine in the ..bay :-)

Yep, I've bought some useful things there.  I think part of the "secret" 
is knowing what /not/ to buy there, too.

>> I see there's no "User's
>> Guide" like I'd been hoping for, but the HMM does explain a lot
>> of hardware-related things
>
> look for a download "Access Help" SW or the like. The user manual hides
> there.

Thanks, Christoph!  I see it's software for Windows, and I found some 
useful-looking files at:

http://mypdfmanuals.com/dref/321212

http://t1.good.gd/?FileId=736196&on=Access+Help%d3%a2%d3%ef.rar&cn=3492237c-038c-43a1-9ed0-c8c292ca0a52&ut=2010-9-29+10%3a19%3a00

I was expecting some sort of PDF file, but those should be enough... and 
if they're not, a web search should find answers to most other specific 
questions.  For more general questions, like "What's that 'docking 
station' thing?", I'm going through some laptop-specific books from the 
public library.

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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#240 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

On 2012-12-19, Adam <adam@address.invalid> wrote:
>>> wrote Adam ...
>>> Arrange for a fan replacement now so that you would have one handy
>>> when the fan dies and 'puter eventually stops to start. For example,
>>> fan in my T61 died after 4 years. OEM part (for my T61 with 4:3
>>> ratio, 14" screen) costs around $85 (or was it $60?).
>>
>> so expensive? For the cooling/fan unit for my ancient T40p I paid about
>> 45 € IIRC.
>
> So you must have also had a fan failure.  Are they really that common in 
> ThinkPads?  Also, where can one find replacement fans and other pieces? 
>   Are they only available from Lenovo, or do other vendors sell an 
> equivalent?
>
[snip] 

The fan failed on my Z61M after 5 years, though it had been getting
increasingly noisy for a good few months before that. To be fair, it
had been operating quite a lot in Greece in the summer, so it must have
worked hard.

In Britain I paid 100 pounds for the replacement (from China) plus
fitting. Although I had downloaded the maintenance manual and had seen
YouTube films of people doing the work themselves, I didn't want to risk
DIY. For me that is a big disadvantage of laptops; I'm happy to build
and repair desktops but laptops are a stage too far - I'm sure I would
damage something in the process, especially now that my sight is not
what it was.

As others here have said, I would not buy any laptop now apart from a
Thinkpad, both because the build is better and becaus it has the
pointing stick instead of the infernal Touchpad.

AC

-- 
Anthony Campbell - ac@acampbell.org.uk 
http://www.acampbell.org.uk
http://www.reviewbooks.org.uk
http://www.skepticviews.org.uk 
http://www.acupuncturecourse.org.uk
http://www.smashwords.com/profile.view/acampbell

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#242 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

Anthony Campbell wrote:
> On 2012-12-19, Adam <adam@address.invalid> wrote:
>> So you must have also had a fan failure.  Are they really that common in
>> ThinkPads?  Also, where can one find replacement fans and other pieces?
>>
> [snip]
>
> The fan failed on my Z61M after 5 years, though it had been getting
> increasingly noisy for a good few months before that.

Well, at least it gave some warning.  I suppose any mechanical device 
has a weakest spot that's the most common piece to fail first.

> In Britain I paid 100 pounds for the replacement (from China) plus
> fitting. Although I had downloaded the maintenance manual and had seen
> YouTube films of people doing the work themselves, I didn't want to risk
> DIY.

£100 is what I paid for the computer itself!  A refurbished T60, US $240 
- $73 store credit = £103.50 at today's exchange rate.

> For me that is a big disadvantage of laptops; I'm happy to build
> and repair desktops but laptops are a stage too far

This is my first laptop after several decades of using (and occasionally 
doing minor repairs and upgrades on) desktops, and that's one of the 
reasons I prefer desktops.  Still, I think this laptop should be fun to 
play with.

> As others here have said, I would not buy any laptop now apart from a
> Thinkpad, both because the build is better and because it has the
> pointing stick instead of the infernal Touchpad.

I did some research before I bought it, and this model seemed both 
well-regarded and "Linux-friendly".  And yes, the pointing stick is much 
more convenient than the touchpad -- I've hardly used the touchpad so 
far.  Still, I suppose I should get a little skill using the touchpad, 
in case I have to use (or, more likely, am asked to fix a software 
problem on) somebody else's laptop.

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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#243 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

On 2012-12-26, Adam <adam@address.invalid> wrote:
>
>> In Britain I paid 100 pounds for the replacement (from China) plus
>> fitting. Although I had downloaded the maintenance manual and had seen
>> YouTube films of people doing the work themselves, I didn't want to risk
>> DIY.
>
> £100 is what I paid for the computer itself!  A refurbished T60, US $240 
> - $73 store credit = £103.50 at today's exchange rate.
>


Computers of all kinds are a lot cheaper in the USA than they are in
Britain. I think I paid about 1100 pounds for the Z61M 5 years ago. A
couple of years ago I bought a T42 on Ebay for 140 pounds including
postage.

AC

-- 
Anthony Campbell - ac@acampbell.org.uk 
http://www.acampbell.org.uk
http://www.reviewbooks.org.uk
http://www.skepticviews.org.uk 
http://www.acupuncturecourse.org.uk
http://www.smashwords.com/profile.view/acampbell

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#244 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

Anthony Campbell wrote:
> On 2012-12-26, Adam <adam@address.invalid> wrote:
>>
> Computers of all kinds are a lot cheaper in the USA than they are in
> Britain. I think I paid about 1100 pounds for the Z61M 5 years ago. A
> couple of years ago I bought a T42 on Ebay for 140 pounds including
> postage.

I hadn't heard that before.  I just compared a Lenovo Z580 with 15.6" 
screen, 4G RAM and a 750G hard drive on pcworld.co.uk and newegg.com and 
the prices are roughly the same (£400 vs $630), although I can't 
generalize from that one example.  (That happened to be the first Lenovo 
laptop listed on the pcworld site.)  I hope the stores are comparable; 
NewEgg is where I do most of my online computer shopping.

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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#250 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

On 2012-12-27, Adam <adam@address.invalid> wrote:
> Anthony Campbell wrote:
>> On 2012-12-26, Adam <adam@address.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>> Computers of all kinds are a lot cheaper in the USA than they are in
>> Britain. I think I paid about 1100 pounds for the Z61M 5 years ago. A
>> couple of years ago I bought a T42 on Ebay for 140 pounds including
>> postage.
>
> I hadn't heard that before.  I just compared a Lenovo Z580 with 15.6" 
> screen, 4G RAM and a 750G hard drive on pcworld.co.uk and newegg.com and 
> the prices are roughly the same (£400 vs $630), although I can't 
> generalize from that one example.  (That happened to be the first Lenovo 
> laptop listed on the pcworld site.)  I hope the stores are comparable; 
> NewEgg is where I do most of my online computer shopping.
>
> Adam

My son currently lives and works in the USA. He finds that, as a rule,
you can substitute pounds for dollars in the price of computers; i.e. a
computer costing about 700 dollars in the USA would cost about 700
pounds here.

AC

-- 
Anthony Campbell - ac@acampbell.org.uk 
http://www.acampbell.org.uk
http://www.reviewbooks.org.uk
http://www.skepticviews.org.uk 
http://www.acupuncturecourse.org.uk
http://www.smashwords.com/profile.view/acampbell
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/anthony-campbell/id73235412

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#257 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

Anthony Campbell wrote:
> On 2012-12-27, Adam <adam@address.invalid> wrote:
>>>>
>>> Computers of all kinds are a lot cheaper in the USA than they are in
>>> Britain. I think I paid about 1100 pounds for the Z61M 5 years ago.
[...]
> My son currently lives and works in the USA. He finds that, as a rule,
> you can substitute pounds for dollars in the price of computers; i.e. a
> computer costing about 700 dollars in the USA would cost about 700
> pounds here.

Wow, that IS quite a difference!  According to 
http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/ today's exchange rate is USD $1 
= UK £ 1.61533 (is that showing up as a "pound sterling" symbol on your 
computer?).  Are there any other products or services where there's such 
a disparity either way?

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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#260 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

in message <kbsqhf$ont$1@dont-email.me>,
wrote Adam ...

> Anthony Campbell wrote:
>> On 2012-12-27, Adam <adam@address.invalid> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>> Computers of all kinds are a lot cheaper in the USA than they
>>>> are in Britain. I think I paid about 1100 pounds for the Z61M 5
>>>> years ago.
> [...]
>> My son currently lives and works in the USA. He finds that, as a
>> rule, you can substitute pounds for dollars in the price of
>> computers; i.e. a computer costing about 700 dollars in the USA
>> would cost about 700 pounds here.
>
> Wow, that IS quite a difference!  According to
> http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/ today's exchange rate is
> USD $1
>= UK £ 1.61533 (is that showing up as a "pound sterling" symbol on
>your computer?).

Yes, indeed.


> Are there any other products or services where
> there's such a disparity either way?

System camera, lenses, flashes is one kind of example -- that is
what other people tell about of prices in Europe compared to in USA
or Canada. Prices reported to be worse in Australia & New Zealand.


  - parv

-- 

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#263 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

parv wrote:
> in message <kbsqhf$ont$1@dont-email.me>,
> wrote Adam ...
>> Anthony Campbell wrote:
>>> My son currently lives and works in the USA. He finds that, as a
>>> rule, you can substitute pounds for dollars in the price of
>>> computers
>
>> Are there any other products or services where
>> there's such a disparity either way?
>
> System camera, lenses, flashes is one kind of example -- that is
> what other people tell about of prices in Europe compared to in USA
> or Canada. Prices reported to be worse in Australia & New Zealand.

That's interesting, because many of those items are manufactured in the 
far East and so aren't "native" to any of those countries.  The worst 
price I've heard was someone whose Internet service was over NZ 
$900/month with a 4 GB/month cap, but the circumstances were unusual -- 
this was the schoolteacher on Pitcairn Island, where the only practical 
connection was satellite.  The students were allowed to use the 'net for 
research only when absolutely necessary.

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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#267 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

Somewhere on teh intarwebs Adam wrote:
> parv wrote:
>> in message <kbsqhf$ont$1@dont-email.me>,
>> wrote Adam ...
>>> Anthony Campbell wrote:
>>>> My son currently lives and works in the USA. He finds that, as a
>>>> rule, you can substitute pounds for dollars in the price of
>>>> computers
>>
>>> Are there any other products or services where
>>> there's such a disparity either way?
>>
>> System camera, lenses, flashes is one kind of example -- that is
>> what other people tell about of prices in Europe compared to in USA
>> or Canada. Prices reported to be worse in Australia & New Zealand.


I can confirm that. As a rough guide things like video cards that feature in 
Toms Hardware 'Best under $xxx' quarterly feature can be used. Over the 
years the card that they pick as "best under $100" has consistantly been 
~NZ$250. (This is with the NZ$ being around US80c on average.) The trend of 
2x to 2.5x continues up the scale.

> That's interesting, because many of those items are manufactured in
> the far East and so aren't "native" to any of those countries.

Indeed. However Australasia is but a stone's throw from S/E Asia, you'd 
think that carrier charges would be minimal - at least compared to the US. 
<shrug> I guess it's a volume thing.
-- 
/Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long, way when religious belief has a 
cozy little classification in the DSM."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)

> The
> worst price I've heard was someone whose Internet service was over NZ
> $900/month with a 4 GB/month cap, but the circumstances were unusual
> -- this was the schoolteacher on Pitcairn Island, where the only
> practical connection was satellite.  The students were allowed to use
> the 'net for research only when absolutely necessary.
>
> Adam

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#269 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

~misfit~ wrote:
>>> what other people tell about of prices in Europe compared to in USA
>>> or Canada. Prices reported to be worse in Australia & New Zealand.
>
> I can confirm that. As a rough guide things like video cards that feature in
> Toms Hardware 'Best under $xxx' quarterly feature can be used. Over the
> years the card that they pick as "best under $100" has consistently been
> ~NZ$250. (This is with the NZ$ being around US80c on average.) The trend of
> 2x to 2.5x continues up the scale.

I hadn't realized there was that much difference.  I assume you're 
quoting the prices from NZ retailers.  How do prices compare if you 
order online from US/Canada sites (e.g. NewEgg) and pay shipping to NZ? 
  Or won't they do that because the manufacturers only allow them to 
sell to North America?

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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#282 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

Somewhere on teh intarwebs Adam wrote:
> ~misfit~ wrote:
>>>> what other people tell about of prices in Europe compared to in USA
>>>> or Canada. Prices reported to be worse in Australia & New Zealand.
>>
>> I can confirm that. As a rough guide things like video cards that
>> feature in Toms Hardware 'Best under $xxx' quarterly feature can be
>> used. Over the years the card that they pick as "best under $100"
>> has consistently been ~NZ$250. (This is with the NZ$ being around
>> US80c on average.) The trend of 2x to 2.5x continues up the scale.
>
> I hadn't realized there was that much difference.  I assume you're
> quoting the prices from NZ retailers.  How do prices compare if you
> order online from US/Canada sites (e.g. NewEgg) and pay shipping to
>  NZ? Or won't they do that because the manufacturers only allow them
> to sell to North America?

Sorry for the late reply. None of the major NA resellers will ship to NZ. 
There are freight-forwarding companies in the US who can be used (there was 
talk of these in a NZ comp group recently) but it adds another link to the 
chain - and more expense. Also they vary, the cheaper ones (relatively, 
they're all expensive) are very slow and the type of postage they use means 
when it gets to NZ it's low-priority and is treated as such.

(For instance, one guy in aforementioned group used a mid-range FF company, 
requested and paid for signature required delivery but the parcels were 
simply left on the step. Seems the type of postage meant that the signature 
was obtained at the NZ post depot. Consequently, as he was on vacation, if 
it hadn't been for his neighbour his three new Kindles would have been 
outside for a week, in the rain for three of those days.)

Cheers,
-- 
/Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long, way when religious belief has a 
cozy little classification in the DSM."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1) 

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#287 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

~misfit~ wrote:
> Somewhere on teh intarwebs Adam wrote:
>> ~misfit~ wrote:
>>> The trend of 2x to 2.5x continues up the scale.
>>
>> How do prices compare if you
>> order online from US/Canada sites (e.g. NewEgg) and pay shipping to
>> NZ?
>
> None of the major NA resellers will ship to NZ.

That makes me appreciate living in the U.S., at least as far as prices 
go.  What about some of the smaller NA online sellers, even if they 
charge a little more?

> There are freight-forwarding companies in the US who can be used (there was
> talk of these in a NZ comp group recently) but it adds another link to the
> chain - and more expense.

But how much is "more expense"?  If that hypothetical US $100 graphics 
card can get to you for the equivalent of US $150, that still sounds 
cheaper than buying it from a NZ seller.  Once I found that a particular 
college textbook was actually cheaper for me from Amazon.co.uk than 
Amazon.com, _including_ the shipping.

> Also they vary, the cheaper ones (relatively,
> they're all expensive) are very slow and the type of postage they use means
> when it gets to NZ it's low-priority and is treated as such.

Even within the US, shipping time can vary.  I just bought a 2 GB DIMM 
for the Thinkpad T60 from Crucial.  It took two days to get from halfway 
across the country to a U.S. Post Office maybe 40 km from me, then it 
sat at that post office for nearly a week before anybody there did 
anything about it.

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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#288 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

Somewhere on teh intarwebs Adam wrote:
> ~misfit~ wrote:
>> Somewhere on teh intarwebs Adam wrote:
>>> ~misfit~ wrote:
>>>> The trend of 2x to 2.5x continues up the scale.
>>>
>>> How do prices compare if you
>>> order online from US/Canada sites (e.g. NewEgg) and pay shipping to
>>> NZ?
>>
>> None of the major NA resellers will ship to NZ.
>
> That makes me appreciate living in the U.S., at least as far as prices
> go.  What about some of the smaller NA online sellers, even if they
> charge a little more?

I've not been overly impressed with the few I've looked at.

>> There are freight-forwarding companies in the US who can be used
>> (there was talk of these in a NZ comp group recently) but it adds
>> another link to the chain - and more expense.
>
> But how much is "more expense"?  If that hypothetical US $100 graphics
> card can get to you for the equivalent of US $150, that still sounds
> cheaper than buying it from a NZ seller.

In this hypothetical case it would be more like US $175 to get it here (I'd 
still have to pay to have it delivered from the seller to the forwarder, so 
frieght x 2, although only one is international). Then there's the exchange 
rate (currently one NZ$ = 83 US cents. Or 1 US$ = $1.20 NZ) whic would bring 
it up to NZ$210.

Compare that to the NZ$250 price here, and the complexities of any warranty 
issues (not a problem with the textbook mentioned below) and I'd rather 
spend the extra $40 (>20%) to not only have it now rather than next month 
(they go obsolete so quickly) but also for the peace of mind a potential 
local, speedy warranty claim resolution brings.

> Once I found that a
> particular college textbook was actually cheaper for me from
> Amazon.co.uk than Amazon.com, _including_ the shipping.
>
>> Also they vary, the cheaper ones (relatively,
>> they're all expensive) are very slow and the type of postage they
>> use means when it gets to NZ it's low-priority and is treated as
>> such.
>
> Even within the US, shipping time can vary.  I just bought a 2 GB DIMM
> for the Thinkpad T60 from Crucial.  It took two days to get from
> halfway across the country to a U.S. Post Office maybe 40 km from me,
> then it sat at that post office for nearly a week before anybody
> there did anything about it.

The company that I deal with for my computer parts in NZ delivers the next 
business day 80% of the time. It's never taken any longer than three days. I 
like that. A benefit of living in a smaller country I suppose.

Cheers,
-- 
/Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long, way when religious belief has a 
cozy little classification in the DSM."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1) 

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#289 — Re: New to laptops (Thinkpad T60)

~misfit~ wrote:
> Somewhere on teh intarwebs Adam wrote:
>
> Compare that to the NZ$250 price here, and the complexities of any warranty
> issues (not a problem with the textbook mentioned below) and I'd rather
> spend the extra $40 (>20%) to not only have it now rather than next month
> (they go obsolete so quickly) but also for the peace of mind a potential
> local, speedy warranty claim resolution brings.

I can understand that completely.  I prefer to buy my computers from 
local brick-and-mortar outlets to give me some place to go back to and 
yell at if there are problems, even if online would be cheaper.  This 
refurbished Thinkpad T60 is the first one I've ordered online, but then 
there was no urgency.

> The company that I deal with for my computer parts in NZ delivers the next
> business day 80% of the time. It's never taken any longer than three days. I
> like that. A benefit of living in a smaller country I suppose.

NewEgg (my preferred online retailer) has several warehouses nationwide; 
I never know which one(s) my order will be shipped from.  I'm used to 
allowing a week or so for delivery, but generally I choose the cheapest 
method.  Usually next-day (or 2nd-day) delivery is available, but for a 
hefty surcharge.

What did we ever do before there was online shopping? :-)

Adam
-- 
Registered Linux User #536473

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