Which X is the best?

Message

echang2 · #1 Post by **echang2** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:03 pm

Hi,

I am trying to decide which X series to get between the X31, X32, X40, and X41 and I have a few questions.

1. What are the differences between the X3 and X4 dock? Is it just one's for the X31, X32 and the other is for the X40, X41, but functionally they have the same ports and accept the same drives?

2. Is the X32 with the 2.0Ghz chip the most powerful of all these laptops? Does its 4200RPM drive hold it back?

3. I know for the X40 and X41 there's one powered USB 2.0 port. Is at least one of the USB 2.0 ports on the X31 and X32 powered?

4. What's the availability of the X32? I see the X41's on the site, but not the X32's.

Any suggestions are greatly welcomed. This will be a laptop for work that I will be carrying a few times a week. I have other laptops and desktops when I do work that requires some more processing power. I would like the laptop to have USB 2.0, 802.11G, Bluetooth, etc...

Thanks,
Ed

Chaoz · #2 Post by **Chaoz** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 6:53 pm

I can't answer all the questions, but I can say that I've been using the X30, 31, and 40. They're all excellent in their own way!

If you don't need all the power of the new X's, maybe the way to go are these three models rather than the newer ones. Even the Pentium III-m 1.2Ghz of the X30 is plenty for Microsoft Office, ,multimedia presentations, and all your Internet needs!

With all the offers on the net today, I feel the older X's are better value. It's my humble opinion, of course.

echang2 · #3 Post by **echang2** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:48 pm

Thanks so much for your reply. Seeing that this is something my company is going to pay for, I'm going to go with the best X that I can get. I'm leaning towards the X32 with the 2Ghz, and the X3 dock. It doesn't have the benefits of the Sonoma platform, but it seems to be an established laptop.

Ed

daba · #4 Post by **daba** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:06 am

My experience with my current X40 has been a good one. Since it is an ultraportable, I take with me everywhere and do lab reports and other non-cpu intensive activities with it. Even MATLAB works well on it.

I say, if all you do is make presentations and write reports (or surfing the internet), the X40 is not an unsatisfactory choice.

echang2 · #5 Post by **echang2** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:20 am

Daba,

Awesome! Sounds like I really can't go wrong with any of the X series. They all have relatively good processors, wireless, displays and weight. I guess it just comes down to whether I want CF, SD, 802.11b, 802.11g, bluetooth, 5400RPM or fingerprint ID.

Ed

#6 Post by **aamsel** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:49 am

Well, if you get an X31 and a dock, for me it gets a bit too thick.

If you compare the overall size and weight (especially thickness) of a docked X31, it is so much thicker than a T series that, to me, it is rediculous. I would go for a T series over a docked X31 any day.

If I intended to dock an X series, I would go for the X40, due to the thinness and overall size and weight.

However, if you would not be taking the dock with you, and want the more powerful machine, I would go for the X31/32 over the X40/41.

The main reason is that you can drop a 7200rpm 60GB drive in an X31/32 and have a very zippy little laptop. You can't do that with the X40/41. Any way you slice it, the small form factor 4200rpm drive really limits the X40/41 for me. Just simple things like: how long it takes to boot is much quicker with a 7200rpm drive.

Also, the base memory is soldered into an X40, where it is not on an X31. So, if you wanted to upgrade to 1GB modules, you can't do it on an X40.

My $.02

Andrew
Austin, TX

echang2 · #7 Post by **echang2** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:56 am

Andrew,

I do plan on docking it, but only at work. I don't plan on taking the dock with me to many places. I have a T23 and a T41 as well. I think I'm leaning towards the X31/32 over the X40/41 since it can handle more RAM. I don't need 2GB today, but perhaps 2GB might be necessary down the road.

What do you mean you can't drop a new drive into the X40/41? I thought all laptops as long as they had a 2.5" ATA drive, you could upgrade to a 7200RPM drive.

Also, do you know if there's a powered USB 2.0 port on the X31/32?

Thanks for your $.02.

Ed

stgreek · #8 Post by **stgreek** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:31 am

echang2 wrote: What do you mean you can't drop a new drive into the X40/41? I thought all laptops as long as they had a 2.5" ATA drive, you could upgrade to a 7200RPM drive.

Thanks for your $.02.

Ed

X40 takes 1.8" drives, not 2.5". Mind you, the connector is still 2.5" but the 2.5" drive will not physically fit.

Stavros

#9 Post by **aamsel** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:06 am

stgreek is correct, above.

You can NOT drop a 2.5" drive into an X40/41 because it won't take one.
To me, the 1.8" drive size is the big disadvantage of an X40/41.
The 1.8" drives (other than in the X40) are used in iPods and other portable MP3 players, where speed is not a factor. Getting 1.8" drives to be 5400rpm or faster won't happen overnight, if at all.

As for the powered USB, the X40/41 has a powered port, I am not sure about the X31??

Andrew
Austin, TX

echang2 wrote:Andrew,

I do plan on docking it, but only at work. I don't plan on taking the dock with me to many places. I have a T23 and a T41 as well. I think I'm leaning towards the X31/32 over the X40/41 since it can handle more RAM. I don't need 2GB today, but perhaps 2GB might be necessary down the road.

What do you mean you can't drop a new drive into the X40/41? I thought all laptops as long as they had a 2.5" ATA drive, you could upgrade to a 7200RPM drive.

Also, do you know if there's a powered USB 2.0 port on the X31/32?

Thanks for your $.02.

Ed

selvan777 · #10 Post by **selvan777** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:31 am

My X20 is the best.

echang2 · #11 Post by **echang2** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:43 am

Thanks Stravos and Andrew. That 1.8" drive really does make a difference. I'm going to go with the X32. Specifically, I think I'm going to get 2885-K4U. Hopefully it won't take too long to arrive.

Slevan, I do like the older IBMs as well. My T23 is great!

Ed

Which X is the best?

Which X is the best?

Who is online