Here's hoping it'll all work out X31

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ozone · #1 Post by **ozone** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 12:27 am

Well, I decided to take the plunge and bought a "factory sealed/fully recertified" X31 off of EBay (2884BRU). Not the fastest machine (Centrino 1.3 GHz, only PC2100 RAM) but I think I got a good deal that included an X3 ultrabase and DVD/CD-RW for US $1125.

I've been up and down Thinkpads.com for the last month, trying to evaluate what I really needed. It came down to an X40 versus an X31 and I'd been reading various opinions on both. I managed to try an X20, which I figure is close in size to the X31, and I rather liked it. I then managed to try an X40. Very nice, but it just seemed a wee too small on the left hand side as I typed and it was the sort of thing I just knew would bother me over the long term. Also, I didn't really like the 8 cell battery extending out the back. What the heck... I figured the X31 would suit me better.

I can buy a brand new X40 with ultrabase and DVD/CD-RW for about US US $1900, but I had a hard time justifying the extra money, especially since this would more of desktop complement and I wasn't overly satisfed when I tried it out.

Here's hoping the unit arrives safe and sound and that it works...

Blake · #2 Post by **Blake** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 2:17 am

im sure you will love it.

how much ram is installed? and what size hard drive?

i had a t22 then a 12 inch g4 powerbook and now my x31 and i never put it down. im actually buying it presents as we speak to make it my ultimate machine.

i dont regret it for a second.

ozone · #3 Post by **ozone** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 1:25 pm

It's got 256 MB RAM - which I know I will have to upgrade - and a 20 GB, 4200 rpm hard drive. I'm not sure I'll need a whole lot more hard drive space just yet. The X40 would have come with the same amount of RAM, so I'd still have to upgrade that, and although it has a 40 GB HD, I know the 1.8" sized ones are not currently upgradable.

I actually might just go with a portable, pocketable external HD since they've fallen so much in price. But if you have suggestions as to where to get bigger and faster hard drives, I'd be happy to hear.

Blake · #4 Post by **Blake** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 8:12 pm

i might be sellin the ram out of my x31, i have 2x 256 chips, and the drive is going too. 40 gig...

but i would def make a change in ram asap

Txiasaeia · #5 Post by **Txiasaeia** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 7:53 pm

I love my X31. Now that the IBM product line is being sold I have no idea what I'm going to upgrade to 5 or 6 years from now

ozone · #6 Post by **ozone** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 10:36 pm

Actually, the imminent sale of IBM's ThinkPad (and other) divisions is partly what motivated me - well, just a little bit - to get the X31. Figure might as well get the genuine thing before they're gone. That said, there's no reason to think that an equally good laptop won't be around in the future. It's just that I'm not wedded to trackpads but I've never been a fan of trackpoints: the IBM ones strike me as superior however.

#7 Post by **aamsel** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 10:57 pm

I hope you enjoy it.

Did it come with any IBM warranty??

Let us know if you have any upgrade questions.

BTW, I just bought a really "cool" adapter at CompUSA.
It plugs a notebook hard drive into a standard desktop IDE connector and supplies it power.

So, with this $6 item, you can backup or clone notebook drives on your desktop PC.

Andrew
Austin, TX

ozone · #8 Post by **ozone** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 4:21 pm

Thanks to all the well wishers! It's supposed to arrive in the next couple of days.

aamsel... supposedly, it comes with a 1 year IBM warranty. If I like it, I'll probably get an extended warranty on it.

I do have upgrade questions:
1. It takes PC2100, DDR266 RAM. If I have to, can I install PC2700, DDR333 RAM? As far as I know, it should work, but I don't know how picky IBMs are. I'd almost rather do this because I would think the PC2700 RAM could then be used in other things if needed. My local BestBuy sells KByte memory that indicates it is PC2700/PC2100 and DDR333/DDR266: I guess they're marketing it for both ranges of ram specs.
2. What should I do about a larger hard drive? I guess if I want a larger hard drive - and a faster one - it makes sense to put in one sooner rather than later. But then I guess I have to go through the bother of reinstalling the IBM custom software. I have no idea if my X31 will have recovery CDs in it. Can I make my own?

I wish we had CompUSA in Canada. Most retail computer outlets are pretty poor in terms of stock.

Blake · #9 Post by **Blake** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:12 pm

ozone wrote:Thanks to all the well wishers! It's supposed to arrive in the next couple of days.

aamsel... supposedly, it comes with a 1 year IBM warranty. If I like it, I'll probably get an extended warranty on it.

I do have upgrade questions:
1. It takes PC2100, DDR266 RAM. If I have to, can I install PC2700, DDR333 RAM? As far as I know, it should work, but I don't know how picky IBMs are. I'd almost rather do this because I would think the PC2700 RAM could then be used in other things if needed. My local BestBuy sells KByte memory that indicates it is PC2700/PC2100 and DDR333/DDR266: I guess they're marketing it for both ranges of ram specs.
2. What should I do about a larger hard drive? I guess if I want a larger hard drive - and a faster one - it makes sense to put in one sooner rather than later. But then I guess I have to go through the bother of reinstalling the IBM custom software. I have no idea if my X31 will have recovery CDs in it. Can I make my own?

I wish we had CompUSA in Canada. Most retail computer outlets are pretty poor in terms of stock.

well im selling 2x256 chips out of my x31 and a 40gig drive if you are intrested send me a pm. they will be ready to ship tomorrow. i have 100% ebay feedback

ozone · #10 Post by **ozone** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:57 am

It came! Very nice. It's a refurbished unit, but it looks practically brand new. Screen is gorgeous with nice deep colours and very bright.

But one thing to ask X31 users... does the palm rest seem a bit short? I know it has to be, but I could've sworn it would have been a "bit longer". For me, it was a toss up between the X40 and X31 originally. Or is this something that just takes a little getting used to?

#11 Post by **aamsel** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:49 am

Yes, you either like it or you don't.
The X40's is even shorter.

Andrew

ozone · #12 Post by **ozone** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:42 pm

Thanks. Good to know that the X40's palmrest is even shorter in that I think I made the best decision. I remember the one thing that bugged me about the X40 demo I tried was that my left hand kept wanting to fall off the end. Maybe I just type weird...

Here's hoping it'll all work out X31

Here's hoping it'll all work out X31

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