Ordered a t61 on August 10th,
Estimated shipping: August 22nd.
Then new estimated shipping date was set to September 22nd.
I guess the back order on the 9 volts did me in. Called on September 12th, cancelled my t61 and ordered a T400

Estimated shipping date: September 22nd.
Actually shipping date: September 16th.
Received Laptop September 17th.

CONFIGURED SYSTEM
42X6338 SBB INT.CORE2DUOPROCT9400
43Y4471 VBB GEN WIND. XP PROFESS.
43Y3435 SBB MW XP PROF US ENGL
42X6318 SBB 14.1 W X G A +TFT
42X6313 SBB INT.GRAPH.MEDIAACCELX4500
42X6308 VBB 3GBPC3-8500 1067MHZ2DIMM
42X6355 SBB KYB US ENGLISH
4X6323 SBB ULTRNAV(TRP+TOUCHP)FINGERP
42X6351 SBB 160GB HDD/7200RPM
42X6326 SBB INT.TURBOMEMORY1.6 2GB
42X6345 SBB DVDRECORD.8XMAXDUAL,ULTBAY
42X6312 SBB EXPR.CARDSLOTXN4-1M.CARDR.
42X6325 SBB INT.WIFI LINK5300
42X6328 SBB INTG.WIR.WIDENET UPGRAD.
42V9338 SBB 6 CELL LI-ION BATERRY
41W1787 SBB CPK NORTH AMERICA
42X6388 SBB LPACK US ENGLISH
41C9338 3 YEAR THINKPAD PROTECTION
Status: Shipped on 09/16/2008
Shipment type: ups 2 day

Shipping Details:
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, US
09/17/2008 10:02 A.M. DELIVERY
09/17/2008 6:24 A.M. OUT FOR DELIVERY
09/17/2008 6:00 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
09/17/2008 5:18 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
09/17/2008 4:32 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN ONTARIO, CA, US
09/17/2008 1:59 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
09/17/2008 12:16 A.M. IMPORT SCAN ONTARIO,CA, US
09/16/2008 11:01 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN ANCHORAGE, AK, US
09/16/2008 4:56 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
09/16/2008 2:54 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN CHEK LAP KOK, HK
09/16/2008 9:27 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
09/16/2008 2:11 P.M. HUB SCAN HK
09/16/2008 2:16 A.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

So far I love the laptop! Except I have one little pixel defect on the screen which is sad that I can't get it replaced, but oh well. I just can't have a black background, otherwise I don't see it.

The battery thing on the t61 was frustrating but oh well, I upgraded and got the t400 and love it!

Upgrading the T43, ordered the following T400 today:

1 SYS.2764CT CONFIGURED SYSTEM
2764CTO THINKPAD T400
42X6351 SBB 160GB HDD/7200RPM
42X6345 SBB DVDRECORD.8XMAXDUAL,ULTBAY
42X6310 VBB EXPR.CARD SLOT/PCCARDSLOT
62P6054 VBB INTEGR.BLUETOOTH PAN
42X6325 SBB INT.WIFI LINK5300
42X6328 SBB INTG.WIR.WIDENET UPGRAD.
42V9337 SBB 4 CELL LI-ION BATERRY
39T6442 SBB COUNTRY PACK NORTH AMERICA
42X6388 SBB LPACK US ENGLISH
42X6342 SBB 2GBPC3-8500 1067MHZMEM
42X6336 SBB INT.CORE2DUOPROCP8600
42V9428 SBB PACKAGING US
44C1343 SBB 14.1"WXGA+,LEDB/L BT WWAN
43Y4470 SBB AMD M82XT HYBRID256MB FRU
44C1324 SBB LCDCOVBEZLEDB/L14.1"W/OCAM
44C6783 SBB ODD SW FOR DVD REC, VISTA
44C1511 SBB MT 2764 SYSTEM LABEL
43Y3470 SBB WWAN MISCP-WWAN READYFULL
43Y3475 SBB WLAN MISCP-3X3FULL(F2
42X2659 SBB ENERGY STAR 4.0 PACK
44C1316 SBB BLUETOOTH W/ANTENNA
42V8010 VBB MS WIN VISTA BUSINESS
42X1702 SBB BLUETOOTH SCREW
44C1318 SBB INTEG.WLESSANTENNA:14.1"
44C1356 SBB CL.PLATET400WLAN+BLUETWWAN
44C1320 SBB UWB MISC PARTS-NO CARD(H1
43Y3956 SBB 56K V.92 DESIG. MODEM
44C1350 SBB EXPRESSCARDSLOTNPCCARDSLOT
43Y4025 SBB BASE 2ND TOUCH FOR HYBRID
44C1410 SBB MECH MISC PARTS
43Y3962 SBB NEWINTELLB2008 CENTRINO2
42V7972 SBB MS LABEL (VISTA PREMIUM)
44C1128 SBB GWIN VISBUS 32 US ENG
44C1386 SBB GEOLBL.US,WLAN,BLUET.
42W7002 SBB FCC-ID/LABEL FOR WWAN
42V9665 SBB FCC, LABEL
41C9170 THKPLUS TP 3YR PICKUP DEPOT
40Y9135 THINKPLUS TS AND CS
42X6318 SBB 14.1 W X G A +TFT
42X6315 SBB AMD M82XT HYBRID 256MB
42X6306 VBB 2GBPC3-8500 1067MHZ1DIMM
42X6355 SBB KYB US ENGLISH
42X6323 SBB ULTRNAV(TRP+TOUCHP)FINGERP

Some good pricing, the Fall Savings, along with Amex deals, plus an additional discount, this system is right at $1200 USD, of course I bought a few accessories, ran the price up to about $1600, but still way less than I paid for the T43 3 years ago. Estimated ship date 10OCT2008.

SHG

Edit to add the laptop shipped on 06-Oct and I received it on 08-Oct, simply amazing the speed of delivery after shipment.

SHG

I ordered on 9/12, my original shipping date was 9/26, and it now has been moved to 10/13. Bummer!

I ordered mine today (13-11), there'll be around a 10-day delay for them to get the OS in, then it should arrive quite swiftly, as everything else was in stock.

Hi neenee,

Which OS has caused the 10 day delay?

tia

Vista Business UK. My contact at the German company I ordered with said such delays for preloaded OSes occur regularly with Lenovo.

However, my laptop will be shipped today

I do not mind the wait that much, as it's a good preconfigured setup; Had I ordered at a different company, I would face delays as well, or I might have to settle for CCFL backlight, no Bluetooth, etc.

Ordered Nov. 30/08
Shipped Dec. 5/08
ETA (according to UPS) Dec. 11/08

SYS.7417CT CONFIGURED SYSTEM
7417CTO THINKPAD T400
42X6336 SBB INT.CORE2DUOPROCP8600
42V8012 VBB MS WIN VISTA HOME BASIC
44C1269 SBB GEN WIN VIS HOBAS 32 US E
42X6321 SBB 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, W/ CAMERA
42X6313 SBB INT.GRAPH.MEDIAACCELX4500
42X6303 VBB 1GBPC3-8500 1067MHZ1DIMM
42X6355 SBB KYB US ENGLISH
42X6323 SBB ULTRNAV(TRP+TOUCHP)FINGERP
42X6347 SBB 80GB HDD/5400RPM
42X6345 SBB DVDRECORD.8XMAXDUAL,ULTBAY
42X6312 VBB EXPR.CARDSLOTXN7-1M.CARDR.
62P6054 VBB INTEGR.BLUETOOTH PAN
42X6325 SBB INT.WIFI LINK5300
42X6328 SBB INTG.WIR.WIDENET UPGRAD.
42V9338 SBB 6 CELL LI-ION BATERRY
41W1787 SBB CPK NORTH AMERICA
42X6388 SBB LPACK US ENGLISH
44C1347 SBB 14.1"WXGA+LEDB/L BTCAMWWAN
44C7424 SBB INTGMA X4500 LBL AMTNTPM
44C1325 SBB LCDCOVBEZLEDB/L14.1"W/CAM
44C6783 SBB ODD SW FOR DVD REC, VISTA
44C1359 SBB MT 7417 SYSTE. LABEL
43Y3470 SBB WWAN MISCP-WWAN READYFULL
43Y3475 SBB WLAN MISCP-3X3FULL(F2
42X2659 SBB ENERGY STAR 4.0 PACK
44C1316 SBB BLUETOOTH W/ANTENNA
42X1702 SBB BLUETOOTH SCREW
44C1318 SBB INTEG.WLESSANTENNA
44C1356 SBB CL.PLATET400WLAN+BLUETWWAN
44C1320 SBB UWB MISC PARTS-NO CARD(H1
44C1352 SBB EXP.CARDSLOTN7-1MEDIACREAD
43Y4024 SBB BASE 2ND TOUCH INTEGRATED
44C1410 SBB MECH MISC PARTS
43Y3961 SBB NEWINTLBL 2008 CENT 2 VPRO
42V7973 SBB MS LABEL (VISTA BASIC)
44C1386 SBB GEOLBL.US,WLAN,BLUET.
42W7002 SBB FCC-ID/LABEL FOR WWAN
42V9665 SBB FCC, LABEL
42X6341 SBB 1GBPC3-8500 1067MHZMEM
42V9428 SBB PACKAGING US

Bought RAM/HD at newegg, and it gets a nice install of UNIX when it comes in. Too bad you can't purchase sans Windows!

Mine arrived today, typing this using it now

No dead pixels and I do not experience any keyboard flex.

I have had unbelievable problems getting my t400 ordered. My first order went through on 12/5/08. Shipping address was different from billing address, so they had issues authorizing the charge. They sent me an email with a number to call. I called it a number of times, left my number a bunch of times as the promised a callback within 1 day, but never received a callback.

Apparently the order was canceled. I added the shipping address to my card account, placed another order, and lenovo refused authorization again for some mysterious reason. Again, it was impossible to contact their credit department.

I tried another order, having changed my shipping and billing to be exactly the same. Now Bank of America flagged the charge as fraudulent. So the charge didn't go through. I was informed by the rep that my account was flagged as fraudulent now. I emailed him back asking how we can resolve the issue, and he never responded.

I just put another order through the other day, with bank of america on the line with me as I spoke with the lenovo rep. I was just now informed, after calling lenovo, that my credit card number is on a blacklist. There is no mention of this anywhere on the order status page. I had to call and press for the details. My order status still shows an estimated ship date of 1/17/09. The rep says that no managers are available for me to speak with. He put my number into the credit department for a callback (yeah, right). I asked him if he realized that lenovo's credit department has an absolutely horrible reputation, and he said he didn't know. Totally amazing. He also informed me that the phone number sent in the email to customers when there is a credit issue "is not a working number". Uh, what? Excuse me? I asked to be forwarded to the complaint department. I stood on hold for one minute before the call magically dropped.

These guys are totally, totally unbelievable. I do hope they go out of business soon so that someone actually responsible can take over the thinkpad line. I'm sure I'll never get this thinkpad.

Chinese companies have to have a government sponsor. I wonder if the government is running their credit department. It wouldn't surprise me.

Hello,

I think my order (T400) have some problems with US customs. Could someone explain to me this tracking information, does it mean that I will be charged some additional fees, and for how long customs can hold my package?
This is info from UPS website:

LOUISVILLE,
KY, US 02/09/2009 1:07 P.M. IMPORT SCAN
02/09/2009 12:08 P.M. WAREHOUSE ENTRY CLEARANCE DETAILS, NECESSARY FOR CUSTOMS CLEARANCE, HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FROM THE RECEIVER
02/09/2009 11:38 A.M. IMPORT SCAN
LOUISVILLE,
KY, US 02/06/2009 2:03 P.M. SHIPMENT DATA NOT AVAILABLE ON TIME TO BE PROCESSED WITHIN NORMAL PROCEDURE. SHIPMENT HAS NOT CLEARED CUSTOMS
ANCHORAGE,
AK, US 02/05/2009 4:02 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
02/05/2009 12:25 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
CHEK LAP KOK,
HK 02/05/2009 8:24 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
SHENZHEN,
CN 02/05/2009 3:30 A.M. ORIGIN SCAN
CN 02/05/2009 8:49 P.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVE

Thanks,
davepol

No, and for as long as they want to.

Just placed my order for this T500
Web site said: ships in 9 days
Order said: ships on 4.16.09
Edit / Updated: 4.10.09
Received on 4.8.09
Sold 4.9.09 to a friend with an immediate need for this model.


2242-CTO CONFIGURED SYSTEM
42X6335 SBB INT.CORE2DUOPROCP8400
43Y4471 VBB GEN WIND. XP PROFESS.
44C6810 SBB GWV BUS+XP DOWNGR.US ENG
44C1924 ** SBB 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
44C1919 SBB INT.GRAPH.MEDIA ACC X4500
42X6303 VBB 1GBPC3-8500 1067MHZ1DIMM
42X6355 SBB KYB US ENGLISH
44C1926 SBBULTRA NAV(TR.POINT+TOUCHPAD
44C1934 SBB 160GB HDD,5400RPM
44C1930 SBB CD-RW/DVD-ROM ULTS.SATA
42X6310 VBB EXPR.CARD SLOT/PCCARDSLOT
42X6324 SBB INT.WIFILINK5100
41W1508 SBB 6 CELL LI-ION BATTERY
41W1787 SBB CPK NORTH AMERICA
44C1941 SBB LANG.PACK US ENG.

Ordered my T500 on 8 April 2009 (note for those over the pond: unambiguous date format). The online account shows it has moved from Processing to Released. Not sure what this means...

Full spec (including a terrific price) is here.

Just ordered this T500 today, estimated ship date: 5.6.09

2081-CTO CONFIGURED SYSTEM

42X6338 SBB INT.CORE2DUOPROCT9400
43Y4471 VBB GEN WIND. XP PROFESS.
43Y3435 SBB MW XP PROF US ENGL
44C1924 ** SBB 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
44C1921 SBB AMD M86M HYBRID 256MB
42X6309 VBB 4GBPC3-8500 1067MHZ2DIMM
42X6355 SBB KYB US ENGLISH
44C1926 SBBULTRA NAV(TR.POINT+TOUCHPAD
44C6255 SBB 320GB HARD DISK DRV7200RPM
44C1931 SBB DVD REC8XMAXDUL.ULT.S.SATA
42X6310 VBB EXPR.CARD SLOT/PCCARDSLOT
42X6324 SBB INT.WIFILINK5100
42X6331 SBB ERICS.F3507GUSA-WIWANCARD
41W1508 SBB 6 CELL LI-ION BATTERY
39T6442 SBB COUNTRY PACK NORTH AMERICA
44C1941 SBB LANG.PACK US ENG.
41C9170 THKPLUS TP 3YR PICKUP DEPOT

Placed my order for a T500 on Monday 13th at 7pm EST. The confirmation email reflected a tentative ship date of May 6th. Imagine my surprise when I received another email today saying it had shipped!

When ordering from Lenovo it's like a gambling, you never know what's going to happen. When I configured the computer online, there was a comment below my choice of displays "this choice may delay shipment of your machine by more than four weeks". Prior to the T500 I ordered a W500 with no delay notices at all. That one took nearly a month... go figure?

Cheers...

I submitted my order online late Mon 13th, for a new 2081-CTO T500, it was processed Tues, placed on the production list and built Thursday, shipped out on Friday and arrived Mon 20th @ 9:30am. I am amazed at how quickly Lenovo completed this order. In just four business days from start to finish. And to think that I almost did not place the order due to the warning next to the choice of the WSXGA+ resolution stating "choosing this option will delay you're order more than four weeks". Upon completing my order online I was given an estimated ship date of May 6th. What a shocker to receive it so soon. I've never received a new ThinkPad so quickly. Perhaps I am dreaming...ha...ha...ha.
.
Cheers...
posted via BlackBerry Bold

Things are a bit different this side of the pond. I submitted my order on 8 April and I'm still waiting, and the online ordering report still says "Released" (whatever that means), just as it did two weeks ago...

What you're experiencing is more the norm. Usually it takes me between four & eight weeks to get a computer from Lenovo. "Released" generally means that your order has been processed and "released" into production. Once in production, if they have all the parts it can get built in a few days. Without all the parts the delay can be lengthy. I would call in to inquire.
.
Think Fast... ThinkPad!

Have taken your excellent advice, thank you. I'm told 'released' means 'released to manufacturing', and that it'll be sent in the next couple of days to UPS for shipping under the courier's four-day delivery terms, so I should get it early next week.

Here's hoping...

Yes, once it's released to manufacturing it goes quite fast. I'm glad to hear you got that news! You will have your new ThinkPad in your hands before you know it.....

Cheers...

Update: it now looks like my best price deal could be going horribly wrong. Just got an email from Lenovo saying that the company's web site got it wrong, the machine is stuck in the system, so I have to cancel my order and re-order. This it seems to me is code for 'we just realised we haven't charged you the right price and we're trying to re-coup the situation'.

I replied saying that I gave my order in good faith and expect it to be fulfilled at the price I was given. We wait and see whether that's going to happen....

I ordered a T500 on 4/15. UPS tried to deliver it last Friday on 4/24 but I was not around. I was waiting for the second attempt yesterday but it never came. I checked online and found someone had called in and changed the delivery address. I talked to UPS three times and they couldn't do anything. They told me to call Lenovo. I am in Pittsburgh, PA and the package was re-routed to 715 West 175 St 6G, New York, NY 10033. Anyone has any idea about this place?

I tried to contact Lenovo last evening but they were closed. I called them early this morning. The CSR I talked to actually called UPS and he said UPS was talking to the driver to stop the delivery and would ship it back to me. I thought that's not too bad. However, I just checked the UPS tracking online and the package has been delivered to the NYC address and signed by someone. I immediately called Lenovo. The CSR I talked to was not helping at all. He said they shipped by UPS and UPS tried to deliver it last Friday. I was blamed for not being around to sign the package. I was really *****Expletives removed by Moderator***** off. Now they are going to do some investigation and someone from Lenovo will call me back in 5 business days.

liteswap - please keep us posted. I'm in the same situation - my order also got cancelled

I'll certainly do that. I was promised a response would arrive day before yesterday but, despite a hurry-up I issued yesterday, I'm still waiting. Apparently they're thinking about it.

Trouble is, I suspect I haven't a legal leg to stand on - so I'll be calling on the The Group here for either joyful or commiserable support...

Here is my take for whatever it's worth. Let's set the legalities aside for a moment. Let's take a positive proactive approach.

There is such a thing as "the right thing to do". I have found myself in the same position with Lenovo (more than once) over just such an issue as yours. Exactly.

Here's my mantra... "kill em with kindness". Translated, I call in, I'm very courteous, I state my case (ordered in good faith and executed on my part) then I listen without interrupting. Once they've stated their position, I thank them for listening to my request. I explain that I can understand their position even though I do not agree with it. I'm extremely careful to not show any change in the "matter of fact" calm tone in my voice. I remain calm and completely businesslike. I thank them for their efforts to help me (even if they made no effort) and then I ask to speak to a supervisor. I explain that I want to tell the supervisor how courteous and professional they were, even though they could not help me. If they say the supervisor is busy, I say that I would be happy to wait. The key is do not get off the phone. Be very calm, but persistent, and continue to ask (not demand) for the supervisor.

Now when the supervisor comes on the phone you are talking with a decision maker (albeit a low level one). Explain the situation and tell them that there is a very easy solution. They simply sell you the computer you ordered at the price you ordered it for. Do not entertain any other suggestion on their part (like giving you some accessories). Done this way I have a 100% success rate. Not only that, but by "killing them with kindness" by the end of the conversation they are thanking me for my patience and for giving them the opportunity to make it right (true).

So that's my take. I would call them at your first opportunity and take this positive approach. One must be proactive in this situation as they are counting on you going away quietly. When you are determined, polite, matter of fact and unwilling to accept a no, the likelihood of your success skyrockets.

Good Luck,
Cheers...

Archer6, this is developing into quite a saga. And I shall take -- or I should say, I would have taken --- your excellent advice had I not received an email this afternoon from a Lenovo customer rep.

Good news: she said that, as I had bought the product in good faith, even though the Lenovo site had somehow forgotten to charge me for the motherboard (!), she would be arranging for me to be credited with an e-coupon to the value of the discrepancy between what I thought I was paying and the full price. Comes to some UKP300+.

It apparently only means we have to wait for this arrangement to be implemented and, hopefully, I get a spanking new T500 for a very good price.

In my view, Lenovo's to be commended for its response to the situation as it would have been very easy to batten down the hatches, especially in the current climate. But no: someone's got their head screwed on and realises the value of good customer relations -- and of the free marketing I'm now performing for the company.

I was going to wait until I'd had a firm ship date before making this public (I felt a bit like I was watching a valuable vase teeter on the edge of a table - it makes you afraid to breathe) but on reflection, the Gestalt deserves to hear this story, and Lenovo can hardly complain if I tell it.

I hope, Ken, that you get as good a resolution as I did. As a matter of interest, did you buy yours off the Lenovo UK site on 8 April, when it seems that a bug in the site created this situation?

@ liteswap This is indeed, good news. I'm so glad you shared it with us. To think that Lenovo did the right thing on their own is incredibly encouraging.

What would add to this great news would be for Lenovo to get serious and fix their site. One should be able to visit the site at any time and find that, like Apple and the others, it's a stable site. The information is correct, the pricing is not subject to fluctuating as wildly as it does, as frequently as it does, and that finally they can be trusted to deliver. As it stands, each time something changes, it's treated like a rarity and no sense of urgency seems to applied to correcting it. Denial reigns supreme and in many cases supported by users passive "oh well" attitude, or worse, they claim it's a one of a kind event, and out of Lenovo's control. Therefore they should not be accountable for misleading the public. Some of the followers even suggest it's the customers fault for expecting Lenovo to do the right thing.

Perhaps this is a step in the right direction? Only time will tell.

Cheers...

ordered a t400 with P8700, wxga+ LED panel, PC-DOS, 512mb of ram through my university rep.
Gonna buy 4gb of RAM on newegg and use the vista license i already have access to.
ordered on 04/26, estimated shipping according to web site 06/04/09, however i am told
that estimate is not correct and it will ship sooner. gonna see if that is in fact true...

Glad your order worked out, liteswap. My order wasn't for a T400 but I've had no luck with anyone I've spoken to at Lenovo, so I'm back to considering a re-order. Win some, lose some

What did you order?
What were you told?