X41 and faster HD?

[matchr4]

I'm thinking about getting a x41 but am as many other people worried about the performance of the 4200rpm HD.

Is it possible that there will be a faster drive in the nearest future.

I am going to use the laptop for taking notes, web surfing and editing photos in Photoshop.

I have also given the x32 a thought, but it is older and I would really like to get the x41 because it is newer and lighter than the x32.

/Mathias

[jdhurst]

I am using a T41 which is older and I can say this:

As delivered: 768Mb; Banias 1.4Ghz; 4200-rpm hard drive.
Is now: 768Mb; Dothan 1.8Ghz; 7200-rpm hard drive.

The difference is like night and day, and of the two upgrades, the most noticeable was the hard drive. I would avoid a 4200-rpm hard drive if at all possible.

The upgrades mean that the machine performs spiffily for any task (including multiple virtual machines) that I do.
... JD Hurst

[Yotam]

AFAIK currently there is upgrade option for X41 HDD. The X4x series HD is only manufactured by Hitachi and no other drive can fit the X41.
The drive in X41 is 1.8" while in T41 it's 2.5 and different technology.

There are lots of threads here about the HDD. Read them and decide. I don't think it's so bad.

[BillMorrow]

..... The X4x series HD is only manufactured by Hitachi and no other drive can fit the X41.
The drive in X41 is 1.8" while in T41 it's 2.5 and different technology.

while it IS a bit different, the 1.8 and 2.5 (parallel IDE) are, more or less, interchangeable and the 1.8 works fine in the UB of my T43p (Q2U)..

also, you can stick a 2.5 inch drive in the drive bay of an X40/41 series thinkpad..
though i don't think anyone would want to operate with part of the HDD sticking out of the front of an X40 series..

same IDE plug and socket for 1.8 as for 2.5..

[PDADoc]

I, too, am less than pleased with the performance of the HDD in my X41 Tablet. But I still need an additional one for purposes of testing software.

Bill, is there a way to buy another HDD for the X41 Tablet at a reasonable price?

[BillMorrow]

"reasonable price" is subjective..

i got lucky and found an ibm original 60gig for $170~
new..
so i can play and have a backup..

but it too shows no buffer (cache) on the drive, same as the original drive in the X41T..
both have same FRU #..

for now we will have to put up with the 60gig running at slightly less than half the speed of the 100gig 7200 drive on the T43p..

[PDADoc]

You're right, reasonable is certainly subjective (and relative!). That drive is more expensive than I would have thought it'd be (or at least deserves to be!), but I guess if you've gotta, you've gotta.

Where'd you get yours, Bill? I'm going to have to take the plunge, because I really need it.

Thanks!

[seabeam]

I got an extra 1.8" drive for my X41 in Hong Kong ($1500HK). It was bought as an external USB drive but I unscrewed the casing and swapped it into my machine and it works fine. No surprise as it is a 40GB Hitachi. I use it for when I need to work with Linux.

Be aware that some of these small external USB drives use Toshiba HDs which use a different connector and so won't fit in the X41.

[PDADoc]

Yes, I've already found this out the hard way.

Also, I want a 60GB drive; does this place where you bought yours make them in this capacity?

[BillMorrow]

i usually resell HDD's for thinkpads, but since 2.5 inch drives are commoditized, there is little profit in it..

IRT the 1.8 inch HDD's..
it seems that there are only the hitachi drives that will fit the X40 series..

so i have not pursued these..
i only happened on this one by accident and there are no more..

i suspect that the technology will advance and produce faster 1.8 inch drives fairly soon..
at least i HOPE so..

[PDADoc]

Thanks, Bill. I've been looking for those hard drives for a bit now, but no luck so far.

The hunt continues!