New T41p, few questions

[eski]

Hello! I was referred to this wonderful forum while searching for a new T-series notebook. I have found it to be extremely helpful thus far, so thank you all! The quantity of useful information contained on these forums is astounding. I am now sifting through the multitude of threads pertaining to the variety of sleeves for the T-series

I ended up purchasing a 2373-GEU T41p directly from IBM through their refurbished department, as I really couldn't argue with the fantastic price. The T41p has all of the components that I was searching for, and after receiving the laptop, I was not disappointed at all. This is not my first thinkpad, but the quality of their products never ceases to amaze me. The sxga screen is perfect, not a single dead pixel! Even though the laptop was purchased as a refurbished model, everything looks brand new. The keyboard and touchpad look untouched, and there is not a single finger-print or scuff mark to be seen. The only question I have pertains to the 60gb 7200rpm hard drive. After searching around the forum, I have seen a few different responses regarding the vibration of the drive. My drive is nearly silent; I can hardly hear it at all when the acoustic management is enabled. However, I do notice a constant vibration of the palm rest when working on the laptop. It is not extremely bad, but it is noticable; both on the right side of the palm rest and a little on the left. Is this vibration normal for the 7200rpm drive? I have seen a few posts on the forum that users' have had their drive's replaced and the vibration is gone. Is the vibration even completely gone from these drives though? The slight vibration could definately be worse. I am just wondering if requesting a replacement drive would leave me with the same vibration, or if there is a chance that the vibration could be gone entirely.

Thank you for any response you can offer!

[asiafish]

Every hard drive will vibrate to some extent (it is a spinning motor, after all), though the 7200RPM drive is no worse than other modern drives.

My brand-new T42p with the same drive has a perceptible vibration, as does my old T22 with an old and slow 4200RPM drive. My Apple PowerBook (5400RPM) has no vibration that I can feel, though I am certain it is still there, just insulated out through the chasis. The difference is so slight as to not be any cause for concern.

[nikemen]

My experience with the 7200 rpm drives, is that indeed in the palm rest there is a bit of extra vibration and heat.

[eski]

Thanks for your responses. I don't notice any extra heat, but the vibration is a bit strange. For comparison sake, I do not notice any vibration when using my X31 equipped with a Samsung MP0402H 40gb 5400rpm drive. This is not a visible vibration by any means, nor is the vibration any more intense when the drive is being accessed. I suppose it is very hard to quantify something like a vibration .