Want to upgrade...up $1000 to spend....Have 600E/400mhz

[MadeInJapan]

Last weekend was our wedding anniversary and on the card I got from my wife, it said "free thinkpad upgrade...up to $1000." I could buy a new computer...what's your recommendations?

Okay, so here's the deal...I have a 600E with 400mhz....256Ram besides what's in the Thinkpad,an extra HHD in a slim bay adapter, 2 extra CDroms (without the brackets) and 1 DVDrom, several extra batteries and several extra FDD's. I have tried my (in computer) HDD in a 600X and it worked fine...have enough stuff that if I were to get a 600X, even without all the extras, I could make 2 computers without any trouble. I like that idea, and the idea that I would not have to format my HDD and start over.

I have occassionally seen 850mhz 600X (from Canada) on eBay (if my memory serves me well). That would be my preference, (as I wouldn't have to re-format my HDD) but I don't see them very often and they aren't available now. Does anyone know where one is, or if there is a way to upgrade one of those 500/650mhz 600X's to a faster CPU.

Also, can anyone tell me (I mean, come on...for up to $1000??), it there is a better solution for me...where I could use the same HDD and maybe some extra parts I have with a newer, faster Thinkpad?

Or...would you recommend that I just bite the bullet and buy another, "incompatible" Thinkpad anyway? If I were to do this, which Thnkpad should I get for $1000 (including shipping/upgrades) or less (I don't need another HDD....in the end, I could re-format my 40Gig HDD, though I don't want to). I would love USB2 and firewire, though the firewire is not really necessary. I already have a wirelss PCMCIA card, so that really isn't necessary either...would like at least a 14" screen, a fast processor and at least as much memory as I have now...or more, but 1gig, etc. really isn't necessary. If I get another Thinkpad, I definitely would like DVD on it...could have CDRW, but that really isn't necessary. I would want something thin, light, durable and reliable because I would be carrying the Thinkpad back and forth to work. I already have OS, other software with licenses.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[MadeInJapan]

Thanks everyone...bought a T30 last night!