X series buying advice

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mahorn · #1 Post by **mahorn** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:50 am

i'm deciding to buy X31 but it's been 3 years since it came out and probably it's now aging. i've read here X31 has better performance due to 2.5" hard drive having a faster roatation while X40 has the slower and limited capacity 1.8" hard drive. Is the performance really significant just considering the hard drives? It'll be my main PC (i'm ditching my DELL) and i travel a lot about 2 to 3 weeks a month. I mainly do POWER POINT, WORD, OUTLOOK, EXCEL and games (Solitaire and minesweeper). I looking at X31($1,550) with Pentium M 1.5 40GB and 512MB and X40 ($1,690) Pentium M 1.2 512MB and 40GB. Now i'm leaning towards X40 as it's the "updated" (some say a step backwards) and probably the components are better.

Thanks.

Txiasaeia · #2 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:57 am

Hard drive speed affects startup and program load times. For what you're suggesting, CPU speed isn't going to make a whole lot of difference. I really like the form factor of the X31 and wouldn't want my notebook to be any smaller - running Word, I get about 5 hours of battery life, startup time is about a minute. Honestly, unless I'm playing a game, I run my comp at the lowest CPU speed (~200MHz), so either of those systems would probably be fine for you.

monty cantsin · #3 Post by **monty cantsin** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 11:10 am

mahorn wrote:i'm deciding to buy X31 but it's been 3 years since it came out

3 YEARS? Huh? Where are you coming from, the distant future?

The first X31's (like all other first-generation Pentium-M notebooks) have been introduced just in March last year!

TP X31 Series (2672, 2673) Announce date: 12 Mar 2003 Withdrawal date: N/A
Warranty period: Three years System hardware: Three years System Battery: One year
TP X31 Series (2884) Announce date: 22 Apr 2003 Withdrawal date: N/A
Warranty period: One year System hardware: One year System Battery: One year
TP X31 Series (2885) Announce date: 07 Oct 2003 Withdrawal date: N/A
Warranty period: Three years System hardware: Three years System Battery: One year
TP X31 Series (2890, 2891) Announce date: 27 May 2003 Withdrawal date: N/A
Warranty period: Four years System hardware: Four years System Battery: One year

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-50098

kirk · #4 Post by **kirk** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 1:55 pm

Can anyone here from the not so distant future tell us if the X31 was ever (will be) updated to take the Dothan CPUs?

Do they still even make the Banias 1.7 GHz? Intel only lists the 1.5 GHz Banias here:
http://intel.com/products/processor_number/info.htm

Patsoe · #5 Post by **Patsoe** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:34 am

kirk wrote:Can anyone here from the not so distant future tell us if the X31 was ever (will be) updated to take the Dothan CPUs?

As far as I know, IBM is phasing out the X31. So, that's a no...

For me then, the plusses-list looks like this:

X31: standard laptop hard drive, long battery life, firewire, radeon graphics
X40: dothan (preferably the 738 LV), faster memory bus, models with gigabit-ethernet/bluetooth/wifi-g are better priced than for the X31

...I'm still in doubt!!!

mahorn · #6 Post by **mahorn** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 4:27 am

actually i work in the mine site up the mountains and comes back to the city every 6 months. that's where i've been!most contractors here use IBM and they are very reliable. I use DELL and it's "painful to use; heavy, hot, lots of creaking sound and hot again. I'm getting an X31. X40 is a step back.

ThinkPadX40 · #7 Post by **ThinkPadX40** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 6:57 am

Mahorn

Do not think X31

Have X40 but these model not mine

Model Name: 2386H6G

Par Number:US1H6XX

I saw it after buying my x40 mdel name:237179G

I am very dissappoint

mahorn · #8 Post by **mahorn** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 5:58 am

thinkpadx40

X40 doesn't fit my needs except having a small size but that's all there's to it. I'm getting X31 1.7GHZ with X3 ULTRABASE for $1999.

How's the left palmrest where the hard drive is, does it feel loose and warm?

rlc5 · #9 Post by **rlc5** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 6:54 am

I've used an x20 for several years and have loved the form factor...the palm rest can't be beat...and it's much more solidly built. I have a new X40 2382-HCU and so far I like it a lot, despite its unfortunate limitations. To me, the weight difference actually made a difference in my decision. It just doesn't matter whether the x40 is in my bag or not. I can hardly tell. But, the palm rest is warm and I don't much like that. And I'm banking on a faster HDD coming out before too long. Like so many on the forum, it was a really difficult decision between X31 and X40. For me it was the weight difference that pushed me to the X40. I travel a lot and it feels good to not be carrying around the equivalent of an extra pint jar of water in my bag.

Rick

ThinkPadX40 · #10 Post by **ThinkPadX40** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 7:21 am

Rick

you need Cd-Rom (Combo driver) in travel or home with your x40?

What use for them? External? Model-Brand name?

my 2371 x40 has no combo yet

I think to buy as soon as possible (looking good one -not weight)

eriqesque · #11 Post by **eriqesque** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:13 am

mahorn wrote:actually i work in the mine site up the mountains and comes back to the city every 6 months. that's where i've been!most contractors here use IBM and they are very reliable. I use DELL and it's "painful to use; heavy, hot, lots of creaking sound and hot again. I'm getting an X31. X40 is a step back.

X40 Hardly a step back
But the X31 is a great little machine also, and should fit your needs very well.

Tsuioku · #12 Post by **Tsuioku** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:42 pm

Patsoe wrote: As far as I know, IBM is phasing out the X31. So, that's a no...

For me then, the plusses-list looks like this:

X31: standard laptop hard drive, long battery life, firewire, radeon graphics
X40: dothan (preferably the 738 LV), faster memory bus, models with gigabit-ethernet/bluetooth/wifi-g are better priced than for the X31

...I'm still in doubt!!!

Does the radeon graphics make a significant difference in performance [X31]?
People have always told me that shared video memory [X40] = BAD..

eriqesque · #13 Post by **eriqesque** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:04 pm

Tsuioku wrote: Does the radeon graphics make a significant difference in performance [X31]?
People have always told me that shared video memory [X40] = BAD..

Not really, the X40 Intel Extreme performs
just as well as the version of the Radeon used in the X31

Blake · #14 Post by **Blake** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:56 pm

i bought a lightly used x31 on ebay for 1300 shipped. it was perfect and like it was never used. 2672-xxl, 1.4 with 512, wifi, , 40gb.

i felt i got a good deal, and had the option to get a 3yr war. with it from the place the previous owner bought it from.

im very happy with my purchase, ive recently added a 60gb 7200 rpm drive and upgraded to a gig or ram.

so far i have no regrets with my laptop. look on ebay u can get some deals if you buy right.

ishinryu · #15 Post by **ishinryu** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 11:33 pm

I have also recently bought a second-hand X31 with a 1.3GHz cpu 512Mb of ram and a 30Gb drive. It still has two years of IBM warranty left which is great plus.
Did you feel that the drive upgrade was absolutely necessary and has it improved things dramatically?

Blake · #16 Post by **Blake** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:10 am

yea i think it did make a big difference, the drive i had was 40gb but with the 10gb for partition, i wanted more room, i got a good deal, and im going to use the old drive as a portable backup. i also seem to use the laptop more than my desktop

ishinryu · #17 Post by **ishinryu** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:16 am

Do you also recommend a ram upgrade?

Blake · #18 Post by **Blake** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 2:32 am

i think the hard drive is a better upgrade. and its about 40 dollars cheaper. the ram i probally didnt "need" but if theres room ill add it.

JimMorris · #19 Post by **JimMorris** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:13 pm

rlc5 wrote:I've used an x20 for several years and have loved the form factor...the palm rest can't be beat...and it's much more solidly built. I have a new X40 2382-HCU and so far I like it a lot, despite its unfortunate limitations. To me, the weight difference actually made a difference in my decision. It just doesn't matter whether the x40 is in my bag or not. I can hardly tell. But, the palm rest is warm and I don't much like that. And I'm banking on a faster HDD coming out before too long. Like so many on the forum, it was a really difficult decision between X31 and X40. For me it was the weight difference that pushed me to the X40. I travel a lot and it feels good to not be carrying around the equivalent of an extra pint jar of water in my bag.

Rick

RICK, I am about to order a new 2382-HCU. I would be very interested in knowing what you think of yours--especially the Bluetooth component.
What are you using Bluetooth for?

T I A

Jim

ThinkPadX40 · #20 Post by **ThinkPadX40** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 4:28 pm

[/quote]

Jim

I use Bluetooth for;

Mouse---Logitech MX900

Printer---HP 450

PDA\Pocket PC Phone Edition......HP Compaq

enouhg?

How about your 2382 ? is that x40?

2371---X40...1.2.LV ..40 GB...512RAM

JimMorris · #21 Post by **JimMorris** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:23 am

ThinkPadX40 wrote:

Jim

I use Bluetooth for;

Mouse---Logitech MX900

Printer---HP 450

PDA\Pocket PC Phone Edition......HP Compaq

enouhg?

Yes, mine will be X40

How about your 2382 ? is that x40?

2371---X40...1.2.LV ..40 GB...512RAM[/quote]

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