Thinkpads Forum

Is it possible/thinkable/desirable to pack a 500GB HDD into a 410s? I want the lightest possible T4xx Thinkpad, but cannot go below 500GB in HDD space...

Yes, as long as you stuff it into the ultrabay.

Volker wrote:Yes, as long as you stuff it into the ultrabay.

Is there an Ultrabay adapter for a T410s ? The optical drives are tiny in some of these machines ... and so is the UB slot they occupy.

aaahhh... the HDD slot of the 410s is made for 1.8", not 2.5" drives? Is that really so?

That is true.

Bummer Bummer Bummer!!!

Maybe I should stick with my 30-month old X61s, which is light, slim, has no trackpad (for which I have no use anyway), and hosts a retrofitted 500GB drive. Or what would I gain by upgrading? If I buy a 410, I'll be stuck with a much heavier machine. If I go for a 410s, I cannot have a spacious drive... what a bummer!

X200's take 2.5" drives as well.

aag wrote:Bummer Bummer Bummer!!!

Maybe I should stick with my 30-month old X61s, which is light, slim, has no track pad (for which I have no use anyway), and hosts a retrofitted 500GB drive. Or what would I gain by upgrading? If I buy a 410, I'll be stuck with a much heavier machine. If I go for a 410s, I cannot have a spacious drive... what a bummer!

The X60s that I bought when they were first released, certainly remains one of my favorites. Like you I find the absence of a track pad a huge bonus. I've never liked them, and using the TrackPoint is second nature, especially after using a ThinkPad & TrackPoint for years. For me there is nothing remotely as accurate and satisfying to use. While its an individual preference, for me its all part of the "ThinkPad Experience".
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Cheers...

Harryc wrote:Is there an Ultrabay adapter for a T410s ? The optical drives are tiny in some of these machines ... and so is the UB slot they occupy.

Yes, the ultrabay adapter from the T410 will fit in the T410s, allowing you to add any 2.5" drive you like.

Good to know, thanks.

zhenya wrote:Yes, the ultrabay adapter from the T410 will fit in the T410s, allowing you to add any 2.5" drive you like.

Any 9mm 2.5" drive. The enterprise 12mm height drives will not fit, so no terrabyte for now

aag wrote:Bummer Bummer Bummer!!!

Maybe I should stick with my 30-month old X61s, which is light, slim, has no trackpad (for which I have no use anyway), and hosts a retrofitted 500GB drive. Or what would I gain by upgrading? If I buy a 410, I'll be stuck with a much heavier machine. If I go for a 410s, I cannot have a spacious drive... what a bummer!

Well, it depends on the reasons for upgrading. The X61s is still a fine machine, although you'll most likely be getting a much more powerful CPU with the T410s. However, with an 8-cell battery you'll still get a good deal of operational life out of the X61s, a smaller lighter form factor, and the ability to use 2.5" drives... you can get up to 640GB drives in that format. However, if you need more power in the CPU and GPU department, the T410s will be a better choice.

I needed more mobility than my T60p and more power than my X61s, so I went for a T400. The ability to put two 640GB drives in this machine is something I find very attractive. Still, unless you're doing some seriously processor intensive apps or gaming/CAD work, the X61s will still be a pretty good system for you, I think.

LegendaryKA8 wrote: Well, it depends on the reasons for upgrading. The X61s is still a fine machine, although you'll most likely be getting a much more powerful CPU with the T410s. However, with an 8-cell battery you'll still get a good deal of operational life out of the X61s, a smaller lighter form factor, and the ability to use 2.5" drives... you can get up to 640GB drives in that format. However, if you need more power in the CPU and GPU department, the T410s will be a better choice.

Thank you for this aequanimous, well-informed discussion of pros and cons. The X61s is doing everything I need just fine, with the exception of photoshopping files of >100MB, which alas I am doing a lot of. That would be my main (in fact my only) reason for upgrading - and it's also the reason why I need a spacious HDD.

However, as pointed out by Volker, I could stuff a 2.5" HDD into the Ultrabay - which would take care of the HDD issue. I never need a DVD drive (the X61s has none), so that's not a deal-breaker.

The only remaining issue is the battery. With the large battery, the X61s carries me from Zurich to Scandinavia (including the perfunctory stops at the de-icing station). I doubt that the 6-cell T410s will do the same - or will it?

De-icing station? Are you a commercial pilot?

Harryc wrote:De-icing station? Are you a commercial pilot?

No, no! Just a very frequent traveller. Which carries obvious implications for laptop weight, battery life, 3G connectivity, etc.