Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 3 with 512GB PCI-e SSD -- a good price with these specs?

hubertlam on 27/06/2015 - 17:44
Last edited 27/06/2015 - 17:44

Hi all

I'm eligible for student/teacher pricing, and am looking at a X1 Carbon Gen 3.

The "regular" pricing has a "EOFY" eCoupon offer, which restricts the OS to Windows 8.1— otherwise the price goes up around $300 for Windows 8.1 Pro.

The student pricing (without an eCoupon) does allow Windows 8.1 Pro. However, it still seems very expensive — or is it simply because of the relative high cost of the 512GB PCI-e SSD?

With the added specs below, is it worth waiting for an eCoupon, given it has already attracted "Instant Savings" of $530?

Total price: $2857.90
Machine only: $2,726.00

Processor: Intel Core i7-5600U Processor (4MB Cache, up to 3.20GHz)
Operating System: Windows 8.1 Pro 64
Display: 14.0" WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS (non touch)
Memory: 8GB PC3-12800 onboard memory
Hard Drive: 512 GB Solid State Drive PCIe
Ethernet Extension Cable Ethernet extension cable
Integrated Mobile Broadband LTE Sierra EM7345
2Y On-site NBD compatible with Depot/CCI delivery $130.90 $130.90
ThinkPad Basic USB 3.0 Dock (Australia) $1.00 $1.00

Poll Options expired

  • 1
    Wait for an eCoupon.
  • 1
    Buy it now. You'll never buy anything if you keep waiting!
Computing 14inch Computer Laptop Lenovo Ultrabook

Comments

  • kipps on 27/06/2015 - 18:24
    +1

    Please read http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1996210 before you buy a Lenovo product. There are consistent stories of customers being unable to get proper support from Lenovo. It turned me off an X1.

    • hubertlam on 27/06/2015 - 19:02

      Don't you worry kipps — I've had my days with Lenovo! :) The only reason I'm now in the market for a new laptop is my ThinkPad Yoga fried and because I bought it whilst on sale but now that the TPY i7 is discontinued, they weren't ready to replace it with a better machine. They tried to flog a TPY 14 to me, which I refused.

      Is Dell any better though? Their on site technician service is still with the same company — Unisys.

    • jnewau on 29/06/2015 - 18:47

      We recently sold 40 of these to a client.Three weeks later and 15 have failed so far
      They're a beautiful machine but the QC is abysmal.

  • Millikano on 27/06/2015 - 18:24

    That is pretty cheap for a brand new model. I know JB Hifi get the Carbon X1, but even with their 15% off sales I think it would work out dearer than what you're quoting. They're beautiful, functional machines too with quite nice displays that aren't too reflective, though not quite as bright as the Yoga series from memory.

    Edit*- 'cheap' is the wrong word, but if that's the machine you're after it sounds like a competitive price.

    • hubertlam on 27/06/2015 - 19:18
      +1

      Thanks, indeed, "competitive price" is certainly what I was looking for.

  • hubertlam on 27/06/2015 - 20:25

    The alternative system that I am torn between: T450s, which attracts a full 30% discount when base configuration (first customisation screen) is at over $3000. It loses the "thin" factor, and is around 300g heavier and feels bulkier.

    However, I suspect it would outlast the ThinkPad X1 Carbon?

    Processor
    Intel Core i7-5600U Processor (4MB Cache, up to 3.20GHz)

    System
    Windows 8.1 64

    Display
    14" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit, Anti-Glare Display, IPS

    Memory
    4GB On-board memory + 8GB (1 SoDIMM)

    Keyboard
    Keyboard Backlit - US English

    Pointing Device
    UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader

    Hard Drive
    512GB Solid State Drive, SATA3

    Expansion Slots
    Smart Card Reader

    Rear Battery
    ThinkPad Battery 3 cell Li-Ion (23.2Whr) Rear

    Integrated Mobile Broadband
    LTE Sierra EM7345

    Warranty upgrade
    3 year On-site NBD upgrade from 1Y Depot/CCI delivery $152.15 $152.15

    Dock
    ThinkPad USB 3.0 Pro Dock – Australia $0.85 $0.85

    This configuration: $2346.46 all up. A good $500 off compared to the X1 Carbon Gen 3, but as mentioned, gains some weight, bulk and loses cool factor + 512GB PCI-e SSD.

    • Noblejoker on 28/06/2015 - 12:38
      +1

      If spending this amount of $$ - you must have the cool factor!

      Would love a carbon but I have heard some negative comments about the keyboard
      Not up to the usual Lenovo high standard on the Carbon I hear
      If you prefer th T450s kb That may help you decide

      I have always loved Lenovo but my latest is T520 brick
      Still going strong after 3+ years

      • hubertlam on 28/06/2015 - 15:11

        Thanks. Took the plunge last night and went with the T450s instead. I did have two ThinkPad OneLink Pro docks — now I'm going to have to sell them!

        The T450s does seem a lot sturdier. Whilst it loses the cool factor completely, I guess after owing a X230 Tablet & ThinkPad Yoga, touchscreen and all with all the "oohs" and "aahs", it was time to go back to basics. Non touch (thinner + lighter) and just zippy without having to worry about an accidental spillage over the keyboard.

        My wife's T430s is also a testament to good ThinkPad durability — zero technician call outs — whereas the X230 Tablet and ThinkPad Yoga have required technician call outs (both had 3 yr onsite warranty).

  • SlickMick on 28/06/2015 - 22:30
    +2

    Just got an X1 Carbon for my wife. But not hugely spec'd like yours, so 1/2 the price. They'd be few better keyboards out there (that's it's main selling point after lightness and battery life). I reckon it's a very nice laptop.

    • hubertlam on 29/06/2015 - 17:47

      Yeah, I do need the i7 for the video rendering jobs I do :)

      It would've been good to see how fast that 512GB PCI-e SSD was. However, it was priced $$$$$$$$$$$….

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