80GB 1.8" for X40 & X41? Not yet/ever!

[underclocker]

It looks like Toshiba released an 80GB version of the 1.8" drive but apparently this one won't work in the X4x series due to a different data transfer protocol.

Here is a link with the full specs -> http://tinyurl.com/8nkbs

I found one link with it for sale "in stock" for $499 plus shipping. Ouch!

Maybe Hitachi will release one?

(P.S. My original thread was edited due to my incorrect assumption that this would work in an X40/X41. After further research, it is clear that Toshiba drives are NOT supported in the X4x series.)

[pianowizard]

Thanks for this excellent discovery. Yes, it's insanely expensive right now because it's so new, but it will definitely drop pretty fast in the next year or so, just like what happened to the 160GB 5400rpm drives.

[Grey Area]

Hmm, that drive from the link is a Toshiba, and as far as I can tell it won't fit the X40/X41. (?)

Björn

[dorin]

it's no chance to work on x40 41 due to different connector, design.
you can find them on ebay for 260usd, and there are some pics to realize is not compatible!

why dont they just make, a simple 40 gb with 7200?! is that difficult? yeap...no more market need, as long as x40 aint anymore manufactured...

ebay link

[em500]

*sigh*
I suggested to make the X4* HD issue a sticky some time back, since the Toshiba - Hitachi 1.8" HD confusion pops up so often.

* The ONLY hard disks that will fit inside an X4* are the C4K* series from Hitachi with IDE connector (they also make them with incompatible ZIF connectors). Toshibas will NOT work. The new Hitachi C3K* series does come in 80GB flavours, but appears to use the ZIF connector. Not that anyone would want to "upgrade" to a 3600rpm HD, mind you...

* The 1.8" IDE form factor in the X4* is a dead end. Don't expect any development on this front. It makes no sense for Hitachi to develop faster versions, as nobody uses them in new systems, and systems that did like the X40 or the Rio Karma never sold in high volumes. The majority of 1.8" drives go in portable media players which don't get any benefit from higher rpm. They might want to increase capacity, but the C3K* series clearly shows that their focus is on media players. And of the handful of niche ultraportables do use 1.8" drives, most are using the Toshibas, which are manufactured in much higher volumes due to them being used in iPods.

If you really can't let go of your X4* (that includes me, btw), load the thing full with RAM and learn use a system with a good cache like Linux and disable swap space altogether. Or try to see if you can get a 1.8" solid state disk like those from Transcend to work. (I don't expect them to be much faster, IMO those flash disk are overhyped at present).

Or do yourself a favour, sell the X4* and shell out for an X60(s). Yes, they're expensive, but they use standard 2.5" SATA drives that go in 95% of the current laptops, so you won't have any problems finding good HDs in the future.

[Grey Area]

*sigh*
If you really can't let go of your X4* (that includes me, btw), load the thing full with RAM and learn use a system with a good cache like Linux and disable swap space altogether.

Indeed, I am running my X41 with 1.5GB RAM and no swapping, I always hibernate instead of shutdown/reboot, and I think the machine is quite snappy. Recently I did enable swap space for a few days, and only then could I understand people complaining about the hard drive. But more capacity would have been nice.

Or try to see if you can get a 1.8" solid state disk like those from Transcend to work. (I don't expect them to be much faster, IMO those flash disk are overhyped at present).

Yes, the Transcend specs don't look too promising at 16.6MB/s, and they still top out at 8GB. And there might be voltage problems - the Transcend 1.8" SSDs run with 5V like 2.5"-drives, while the drive used in the X4*-series works both with 5V and the 3.3V used for most 1.8"-drives. So the question is which of the two voltage modes the X4* uses.

Or do yourself a favour, sell the X4* and shell out for an X60(s). Yes, they're expensive, but they use standard 2.5" SATA drives that go in 95% of the current laptops, so you won't have any problems finding good HDs in the future.

Probably the best choice, though I think I can wait until the X61 or even X62. Recently I "upgraded" to a 600X and I find myself using it more and more (like now). Nice machine, feels like driving an old Rolls-Royce (or at least how I imagine what driving an old Rolls-Royce feels like. ).

Björn

[underclocker]

Thanks for the corrections to my original posting. I modified the subject and my initial message to be more accurate.

BTW, I have an X40 and I'm actually quite pleased with the speed of the machine and hard drive. I upgraded from an X22, X23 and X24, so maybe that's the reason for my optimism, but the performance seems fine. It hibernates and restores quickly and boots reasonably fast. I have a 1.2GHz w/40GB drive and 512MB RAM.

With a 4-cell it's about 3/4 lb. less than the X2x series.

I really like the X40.

[em500]

Recently I "upgraded" to a 600X and I find myself using it more and more (like now). Nice machine, feels like driving an old Rolls-Royce (or at least how I imagine what driving an old Rolls-Royce feels like. ).

Hey, my other ThinkPad is also a 600X! I only use it at home though, since the battery is shot. Besides, if there is one thing that the X40 is good at, it's making "thin and light" laptops seem bulky and heavy.

Anyway, the 600 series were truly the Mercedes laptops of their day (with a price tag to match!). And although long obsolete, they still have the edge over the X40 in the HD area. I bet one of these bad boys would still work in them.

[adam1314]

yeah, x40 is quite slim and the best product ever.

[berlin]

I just purchased the x41 1.5 1gb ram and i'm quite disappointed. I thought I've read everything about it and assumed it has the standard 2.5 hard drive. I'm thinking of selling and trading it for a x31/32 since i'm stuck with the 4200 hard drive.

[nikemen]

Which one is smaller. We got an x41 here, but I think I have seen a slightly smaller unit?

Is the x40 actually smaller?

[danny_w]

I just bought an X40 768MB 40GB and am quite pleased. It may not be the fastest laptop on the block, but it is certainly no slouch either. Much faster than my work laptop.

[pianowizard]

Which one is smaller. We got an x41 here, but I think I have seen a slightly smaller unit?

I believe it's the same size as the X40 but the X40 is slightly lighter, like 0.1 lbs.

Perhaps you've seen a Thinkpad 240/240X, which has a smaller footprint than the X41. All X3* and X2* Thinkpads are bigger and heavier than the X40/X41.