New guy here.... student...with THE question

[sheynk]

Hi guys!

Some quickie facts:

name: gary
live in: chicago burbs
born in: ukraine



going to: Indiana University Bloomington

now...here is where my problem resides.



IUB is a very wireless campus. I need an ultraportable that can chew through Access and some risk management software that the business school will throw at me as part of the business technology education.

I am a heavy photoshopper so I am *probably* getting a 20" imac (thats for another thread though...please ) for my media work.


now...

I am swaying between the x32 and the x41. Lighter is better ... but is the difference in power THAT great as to add a the x32 weight?

My applications will be msft office and what I mentioned above...maybe a movie on the road and some misc stuff I can't think of.


this is the toughest call ever


Thanks guys!!

[jokerunm]

well if you are going to have a powerful desktop anyway, go for portability with the laptop. The extra power will not be noticeable; for the use you are describing.

[wingman]

IUB is a great school! Kelly is a amazing (and difficult) business school.

THIS IS JUST MY OPINION:
I think that the x32 is going to be a better option for you. Price wise, the x41 is going to be more expensive. X32 from what I have read around here seems a little bit more durable. The weight difference is not too bad, I don't think you will notice too much. Performance wise, and correct me if I am wrong, the x41 may not be as fast because of the smaller HD in it.

I am probably a bit biased, I just bought an X31 (also a great machine).

Either way you are going to get a wonderful portable.

wingman

[sheynk]

Yeah... direct admission into Kelly....woohoo honors classes up the wazoo

Price does not worry me as much. With the EPP the cost is within 10 dollars of each other.


It is just a tough call...I want to be able to carry it wherever I go, so weight is an issue. Neither have the optical drive w/o the dock right? So this is purely a lbs/performance issue


this is just too frustrating

[jokerunm]

Again the performance difference is small to non existant for the tasks you described. Ok so performance is out of the equation, you already subtracted price, so you are left with mobility; which the. X41 has the edge on. Hope that helps. Whats interesting is that you are getting an imac, but not considering a power or i book. I figure for consistency and interoperability you would get both machines with at least the same platform.

[sheynk]

haha


i decided (90% sure at least) on the mac because it makes sense.

the iMac is bar-none the best photoshop/ media editing system under 2 grand...not even going to mention the awesome 20" display.

I need windows for access + some other business apps. If I have my windows needs covered with the x41, why not go for the best solution that my other tasks require?

[Aroc]

Someone else with more knowledge of Photoshop (e.g., how the layers are handled in graphics card, etc) can correct me, but I would imagine that a 16MB video RAM X32 would be fine for 2D (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc). Especially for your freshman and sophomore years. Just get an external LCD and run it at 1600x1200. Granted, I don't know how heavy and advanced of a graphic artist you are, but I'm going to go out on a limb that you won't starting getting into the really advanced stuff in you junior year. I'm basing that on my own observation of college cirriculum for most underraduate studies. YMMV.

Then when you need more power (junior or senior year?) get either a more powerful notebook or desktop. You could get something to compliment the X32, or even flat out replace it. Trust me, when the course load gets really intense you junior or senior year, you going to want a new computer. Even if you bought a top-of-the-line system before your freshman year. Don't buy computing power until you need it. And in most cases in college you don't need this type of power from day one of your freshman year.

Now granted *I* bought the most powerful desktop and largest monitor I could along with an notebook PC, too. All before I even moved on campus. But really I wish that I had waited. After about 1-2 months on campus - only then did I have an idea of what I could have best used. [Hint: I would have made different choices that I would not have anticipated beforehand] Plus then I could have stretched my (limited student funds!) even better by buying a better system around thanksgiving or even Spring time frame. My first semester computing needs (email, web, MS Word, MS Excel, C Compiler) were so basic that I could have used any computer (my high school PC for example) in the meantime.

I'm not sure if it's already too late or if you would even follow my advise or not, but I would wait before laying down the serious bucks. I would have appreciated this advice back in the summer of 1996, but I can't say I would have listened. I know I wouldn't have. But I wish someone would have at least tried to let me know. Take it how you will.

Aaron

[Aroc]

See this post - http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... sc&start=0 .

[sheynk]

My schooling has nothing to do with photoshop, it is a side hobby for me.

Trust me, 9 or so layers for a very simple add at 300dpi in cmyk is a bit too much for ANY ultraportable.

[JohnDrake]

Based on your need for multimedia capabilities, you might not want the X41...its low voltage processor is designed for battery life in a small package, not for processor performance.

The X32 would be a better choice, but probably a T43 would be better still...especially a T43p.

[jokerunm]

Based on your need for multimedia capabilities, you might not want the X41...its low voltage processor is designed for battery life in a small package, not for processor performance.

The X32 would be a better choice, but probably a T43 would be better still...especially a T43p.

Man, does anybody even read the posts? Here's what I got from actaully reading the post. -->

1. He needs an ultra portable for business software use.

2. He already commited to getting a mac for his multimedia needs.

3. Again, he wants the ultra portible for ms office and other business software.

4. He's trying to decide between an X32 and a X41.

Instead of helping him decide between an X32 or an X41, people are giving him lectures on spending too much for too much power than needed on a computer in college, and pointing him to laptops to meet needs that are going to be met by the mac he already mentioned.

Again, my recommendation is to go for the increased portability of the X41 over the X32, because there is not much of a noticable difference in speed using business class software.

[brainpicker]

X41.

Yak

[sheynk]

thanks jokerunm,

an internet forum member that reads! wow




I am 99% sure on the x41 now. I will probably max out the ram (3rd party lol) and unless i find out the x41 cant handle big access or other heavy business programs well... the 41 will be my companion for the next 3+ years.

Again, for non readers, I had problems with a 2.8ghz 512 ram 64vid ram (or was it 128?) machine today at work, the toughest multimedia job for the x41 will be opening a tiff file or two.... just to show off

I would not underestimate how hungry some of the business applications are however, and that makes me wonder

[Aroc]

To jokerunm, sheynk, et al. If anyone was inferring that I did not read the original post, they would be mistaken. I did read and offer what I thought was poignent advice. I was hoping to perhaps save sheynk some money if perhaps his needs could be bet by one machine. I did not speak as as authority and I clearly stated that.

Someone else with more knowledge of Photoshop (e.g., how the layers are handled in graphics card, etc) can correct me

To see posts like

an internet forum member that reads! wow

Again, for non readers

Man, does anybody even read the posts?

Clearly my advice was not wanted and was wasted. I retract my previous statements. In you case the X41 is your best bet. Pearls before swine.

Cheers

Aaron

[sheynk]

sorry if you were offended man, I didn't mean for it to come out that way...

I was being more sarcastic that caustic and I thought my tone carried over the wrong way.

Again, I apologize and truly appreciate your oppinion on this.

[jokerunm]

I would not underestimate how hungry some of the business applications are however, and that makes me wonder

It could be something to consider, depending on how much disk access is needed for your business apps. Are these huge Access files you are talking about, like a corporate data base? Or are these your avg. everyday small to meduium business apps? (Big difference)

Reason being....disc access(achiles heel of the X41) comes into play now...

X32 is faster than X41 on disc access...--> 4200 rpm drive vs. 5400 rpm.(Granted some of the difference is made up by the 4200rpm drive being a smaller drive with data packed closer together) and is probably %90 of reason for the performance difference between the two pads.

Ok...maybe we can break it down a little more..

X32 ---Faster Centrino X41 Slower Centrino(uses less power)

X41 processing diffienciency made up by a newer platform --->

X32 ---Older Intel Chipset(855?) X41(Newer Intel Chipset(915GM)
X32 ---333 DDR X41(400 DDR2) ---> this could be a wash considering the higher latency of DDR2 memory.

X32 Ati Graphics with 16mb Vid Mem.(this chip is really aging), X41- Intel 900 128mb Vid Mem. (first time an intel graphics chip is better then anything)

If you really think your business apps will have a lot..I mean a lot of disk access, you will notcie the differnce and you might want to reconsider a X32 not only because it has a 5400 rpm drive,,,,but you have more of a possiblity of adding a 7200 rpm drive at the 2.8 inch form facter ...than you do at the 1.8 inch form factor.

You can make up some of the differnce by adding the ram.(good idea), but it's up to you to decide weather you need/want the extra disk performance over portability.

[jokerunm]

To jokerunm, sheynk, et al. If anyone was inferring that I did not read the original post, they would be mistaken. I did read and offer what I thought was poignent advice. I was hoping to perhaps save sheynk some money if perhaps his needs could be bet by one machine. I did not speak as as authority and I clearly stated that.

Someone else with more knowledge of Photoshop (e.g., how the layers are handled in graphics card, etc) can correct me

To see posts like

an internet forum member that reads! wow

Again, for non readers

Man, does anybody even read the posts?

Clearly my advice was not wanted and was wasted. I retract my previous statements. In you case the X41 is your best bet. Pearls before swine.

Cheers

Aaron

Don't get me wrong, I think your advice was very good.....and definately not wasted...I just didn't it was valid enough for this thread...vs other threads...but who am I to say.....consider my irratation on this matter retracted...

[sheynk]

I wish I knew jokerunm, all i know that I will using access a whole lot....didnt get too much info out of my conversations at orientation.

hey, as long as its crusing (with maxed out ram) once its loaded.... then its fine.

will lenovo ever make a faster 1.8 inch hd??