[NTLUG:Discuss] OT: IBM Offers Free MP3 Player With Used PC Purchase

[Fred James]

For what it is worth ...
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  IBM Offers Free MP3 Player With Used PC Purchase


Bargains abound among the refurbished and older computers on sale, some 
of them returns from corporate leases. Used servers can be had, too.
By _Paul McDougall_ <mailto:paulmcd at cmp.com>
InformationWeek 
<http://www.informationweek.com/;jsessionid=D1Y3BCAYTGBY0QSNDLRCKH0CJUNN2JVN> 

December 14, 2007 02:58 PM

IBM 
<http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=204803644&cid=nl_IWK_daily#> 
may no longer be making personal computers, but it's still selling them.

The company is clearing out stock of some older, refurbished models of 
its desktops and laptops, and is throwing in a free MP3 
<http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=204803644&cid=nl_IWK_daily#> 
player.

Buyers who order a certified, used PC from IBM's Web site will receive 
at no extra charge a SanDisk Sansa 1.0-Gbyte MP3 player that can hold up 
to 16 hours of music. IBM says the offer is good while supplies last.

Even without the free music player, IBM's roster of used systems 
includes some real bargains. For instance, an IBM ThinkCenter PC with a 
2.8-GHz Intel processor and Windows XP is selling for just $239. A 
similar model with a 3.0-GHz chip sells for $265.

For those in the market for a cheap laptop, IBM is offering, among 
others, a "slightly blemished" T30 ThinkPad with a 2-GHz Pentium 4 
processor and XP for $435.

IBM says its certified used systems are fully tested and come with a 
three-month warranty.

The company stopped manufacturing PCs and laptops in 2005 after it sold 
the business to China's Lenovo Group 
<http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=162100445> 
for $1.25 billion. Apparently, however, it's got some leftovers. IBM 
says many of the used systems it sells are from excess inventory or from 
expired corporate leases.

Some are also Lenovo systems that IBM refurbishes through an arrangement 
with the Chinese company.

IBM also is offering a range of used servers, storage, and networking 
equipment. All sales are handled through IBM Global Financing.


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