which thinkpad for me? t42 or x41?

[eigh]

t42
2379-dxu 1,646.10
2373-K1U 1,499.00

or

x41
26724UU 1,743.20


the main purpose of this thinkpad will be for me a college student. now that i think about it, i dont think i want the dxu because of the 15" screen, ive heard its just bulky. i was then planning on getting the k1u, but ive begun to think about the 4uu (the x41) again, and how its only 3.6lbs! the things that im comparing now and/or are unsure about are the following:


1. do you miss the optical bay in the x41 (i only use the one in my desktop for video games, but thats not the point of this laptop), what do i do if i want to install a diff os on the x41?
2. hd size: while it seems like 40gb is too small and id like to get the 60gb, i think that 40gb would be fine, im just scared since my desktop has just under 250gb of storage (and its close to full all the time)
3.cpu speed. my desktop is an amd 2400+ (2ghz actual speed), while ive learned chips arent sold strictly by speed anymore i feel that if i buy anything slower than a 1.7ghz pentium m, im wasting my money on a slow comp (i dont need uber speeds, but i just dont want to throw away my money in something thats going to feel slow within 2 years)
4. vid card size. while i could be fine with integrated video, i kinda want 64mb vid memory because of a comment i read about longhorn on these boards (something about needing/suggesting 64mb vid memory for longhorn)
5. weight. while the weight of 5.5 or 4.9 lbs is fine, not too heavy, 3.6lbs just blows my socks off. should i trade no optical bay, and an extra 300$ for 2lbs less?
6. run time with battery. if i get the t42 it seems like i should get the 9 cell, since the stock 6, runs barely 2.5hrs (im getting a laptop so it can run without an ac adapter for a day of classes). im afraid the 9 cell would just make the x41 seem bulky.
7. i wont be buying this laptop until august at earliest (since i hope prices will fall over the summer, and i dont need it during the summer)
8. ive read some posts, you guys sound like experts i would greatly appreciate any advice my soon to be fellow thinkpad owners have to give.



thanks!

edit: i posted the prices ill be getting (from edu discount or credit card, or something). i also posted this in the thinkpad t series to get thier opinions, i hope the admin, and the rest of you dont mind.

[JaneL]

The admins do mind if you multipost. Locking this thread and moving the other one to the general forum.