X41 HD replacements: Max size,capacity,speed of aftermarket?

[findrivr]

Sorry if this is common knowledge at this point in the discussions of the X series, but my search here didn't yeild an eact answer, so here's the query:
I'm considering purchase of a used X41[non-tablet] and have reservation about the HDD's available [afetrmarket, if any] for the main bay.
I did a search at IBM by model#; 2526CTO and found the table of "Hard drive options - ThinkPad X41, X41 Tablet ", wherein it specifies:
"Internal 2.5inch form factor 9.5mm height ThinkPad 30GB Mini hard drive 09N4268 13N6703
Internal 1.8inch form factor 9.5mm height ThinkPad 40GB Mini hard drive 09N4283 92P6085".

Are these drives special productions for IBM by the selected builder [Hitachi?] to fit the reduced form factor of the X series design and therefore, the downside of the X41 design is that you are limited to only a few replacement choices?
From my understanding and according to that IBM page, the only HDD's that will fit into the X41 HDD main bay are the 2.5" 30gb or the 1.8" 40gb built specifically for the X41's [or other X's?].

Correct me if I'm mis-interpreting here or if in fact, aftermarket replacements exist in 1.8 and 2.5" at greater capacity and speed?

Thank you.

[ajkula66]

The size you're looking at is strictly 1.8", and not all of these will fit, since there are differences between the drives, as some were meant for IPods and such.The biggest size that will fit is 60Gb, still at 4200rpm. Hitachi would be the manufacturer of choice.

[findrivr]

Thanks ajkula66.
In researching more on this, it appears that the architecture of the X32 may be what I'm looking for. From what I've seen at the IBM support site, the X32 can accomodate the same HDD as my T41.
If this is true, I may have just changed my mind about an X series.

What other issues would persuade me to go with an X32 over an X4x?

Thanks.

[ajkula66]

Honestly, these are two very different machines, as much as they both belong to X series.

If your main concern is weight, you can't do better than X40/X41 if you want to stay within ThinkPad range. And you'll be stuck with 1.8" HDD. Many people don't mind it. Many people do. To each his/hers own.

Raw processing power and upgradeability would be on the side of X32...with a nice 7200rpm HDD, this will work faster and be more responsive than an X4x. But it will also be heavier.

What's going to be main use for this machine anyway?

[findrivr]

Main use tasks will be on the road email, web surfing, and occasional word doc's or photo d/l and photoshop. May consider install of some specialty s/w dealing with GIS [ArcView, ArcMap] or GPS based s/w.

It would definitely be an every other daily commuter and maybe down to our boat on weekends to view occasional movies [via a usb drive?], or listen to live stream music.

Compared to my T41 [I've toted it around just a few times] at 5 lbs., the X41 at 2.8 to 3.1 lbs. or the X32 at 3.6 lbs. is almost 1.5 lbs lighter than my T41.
I'm still comparing the virtues of the X41 vs. X32, but I can't get past the HDD limitations of the 41; when the 41 does eventually fail, it appears one will be stuck with just a few choices from IBM. Again, I like the options of the 32 to choose almost any HDD of 9.5mm, 2.5 inch form.

Counterpoint?