Based on this: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:T21 your suspicions that it's faster than the ad says it is make a lot of sense.
If it's actually a T21 and it's in good condition, I'd say to go for it. If you try not to throw it around like a frisbee, it'll last just about forever. Also, ThinkPads tend to hold their value really, freakishly well.
I've got an A21m and an X24 hanging around here, and neither of them feel like laptops that are five to eight or nine years old, and yet, they're from December 2000 and March 2003, respectively, and they're both still chugging along just fine. The X24 is my main mobile computer.
If it's actually a T21 and it's in good condition, I'd say to go for it. If you try not to throw it around like a frisbee, it'll last just about forever. Also, ThinkPads tend to hold their value really, freakishly well.
I've got an A21m and an X24 hanging around here, and neither of them feel like laptops that are five to eight or nine years old, and yet, they're from December 2000 and March 2003, respectively, and they're both still chugging along just fine. The X24 is my main mobile computer.