Lenovo has jumped the gun on Black Friday by posting a 20% off ThinkPad coupon BLACKFRIDAY that works on Lenovo.com starting today and lasts through next Monday, 11/28. Here are some examples of deals you can get with this BLACKFRIDAY coupon code:
- ThinkPad Edge E420 $483.12after coupon
- ThinkPad T420 $721.65after coupon
- ThinkPad T520 $721.65after coupon
- ThinkPad X220 $719.20after coupon
- ThinkPad Edge E520 $483.12after coupon
- ThinkPad T420s $919.20after coupon
- ThinkPad W520 $1,039.20after coupon
- ThinkPad X220 Tablet $919after coupon
- ThinkPad X1 $1,019.15after coupon
- ThinkPad E420s $849.15after coupon
- ThinkPad Edge E220s $832.15 after coupon
One of the better deals on that list is the ThinkPad Edge E420 for $483.12. For that $483 amount you get the following configuration:
- Intel Core i3-2350m 2.30GHz processor
- 14.0” matte display
- 4GB memory
- 500 GB HD 7200RPM
- 6-cell Li-Ion battery
I reviewed the E420 and found it to be a very capable laptop and one that is well suited to student needs. The Core i3-2350m processor is a very capable one, the ThinkPad E520 I just reviewed came with this processor and it performed close to the level of a more expensive Core i5. The 4GB of RAM included with this deal and fast 7200RPM 500GB hard drive ensure that the overall system performance will be more than fast enough for the average student user. I also like the fact the E420 has a matte screen as that makes it possible to stare at the screen for long periods of time without developing eye strain. If you need a desktop replacement style laptop and like a dedicated number pad the E520 is available for the same price with the same configuration and would also be a good budget option.
If you’re willing to spend a couple of hundred extra the ThinkPad T420 with the exact same configuration as this E420/E520 is a great deal, check out this article for a comparison between the T420 and E420 laptops and decide if the extra money is worth it for your needs.
These are some great prices on ThinkPads, if you want your new laptop to arrive before the holidays it’s certainly a good idea to order earlier rather than later to avoid any shipping delays.
Link: ThinkPad Black Friday Deals (use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY to get up to 20% off)
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the heads up on these deals and for your incredibly informative and comprehensive reviews. I am thinking of upgrading my trusty T40 for a ThinkPad E420. I am a heavy multi-tasker, running Excel, PowerPoint, and lots of Chrome windows. I occasionally use Google SketchUp, but no other heavy duty apps. After hours, I like to stream Netflix, YouTube, etc., but I don’t do any gaming.
My question is should I get the i3 or i5 processor? If I don’t need the TurboBoost, would I be better off using the money I save on extra RAM? If so, how much RAM would be sufficient? I also want to get the most battery life possible — would the i5 drain the battery faster than the i3?
Sorry for the barrage of questions — thanks in advance for your guidance!
Les, recently the E420 base processor was upgraded to the Core i3-2350m 2.30GHz processor from what was the Core i3-2310m 2.10GHz processor when I reviewed it, this slight speed increase actually does help performance for the entry level E420 and I think for your needs you’d be good to go with just the i3-2350m. More memory does help for multitasking, each browser tab you have open will use memory and so the more memory you have available to pool the better. That said, if you’re brave enough to do memory upgrades yourself you can spend a lot less by getting just the 4GB on Lenovo.com and then buying an extra 2 – 4 GB at NewEgg.com or Crucial.com for around $20. As far as battery life, there’s really not going to be much difference in power draw between the Core i3 and Core i5, you might gain a little battery life I suppose but it’d be on the scale of less than 10 minutes.