[Tfug] Thinkpad passwords and loading Linux

[sitkaa@email.arizona.edu]

I had about decided to get a used t40 or t40p on ebay. I am concerned about
their passwords, though. It seems that many people are having problems with
Thinkpad passwords, particularly BIOS passwords which can inadvertently get
loaded up, and subsequently forgotten. Is this something which is easy to deal
with, or should I avoid buying a used Thinkpad?

Here is some juice for the discussion: I wish I undestood it more than 
I do. Is
this stuff easy to do?

I gotta admit, new thinkpads are just too expensive for me to justify one of
them. Even with the sale that they currently are having...

Is is it worth it to get a pre-password Thinkpad?

Or is this just getting ridiculous, and I should look into some other 
make (like
Dell)?

Any comments?

Michael