Size: X41 v X32

[rayfranco]

Due to the increased power consumption of Sonoma, IBM only sells the X41 with the 8 cell battery. Yea, you can custom build.

According to the tabook:

IBM X41: W - 10.5"; D - 9.32"; H - 0.81 to 1.06"; 3.3 lb, 4.2AH, Avg. 5.7 hrs
IBM X32: W - 10.7"; D - 8.8" ; H - 0.98 to 1.19"; 3.6 lb, 4.4AH, Avg. 5.7 hrs

So comparing the two systems, with the same avg. battery life (5.7 hrs), is there really that much of a size or weight advange?

[gazingwa]

the 41 is smaller, noticably, included in that is the extended battery, the standard battery (4 cell) makes it weigh 2.7, and small depth wise as well. But the 41 uses those 1.8" drives the 31 uses 2.5", has firewire and has ati graphics... your call

[eriqesque]

I really would not even compare the graphics chips as they both perform about the same.

[rjs]

Why is IBM, for the moment, forcing all X41s to 8-cell? At least for me the extra weight almost defeats the purpose.

[JonathanGennick]

I suppose that how you feel about weight and the larger battery depend on your needs. For me, it was the long battery life that attracted me to the X-series to begin with. That long life is incredibly convenient when I travel. When I fly, I plug in the X30's extended-life battery (for a total of two), and I haven't searched for an outlet at an airport for a couple of years now. That's very freeing.

And my desire for battery-life is what gives me pause about the X40 and X41. The size and weight advantage of those models over the X3x seems to narrow when you factor in the larger battery. I recall a half-pound difference between the X40 and X31 when you configure the X40 with the larger battery. A half-pound is not that significant to me. Now, if the form-factor were somehow reduced too, say perhaps that the X40 was half as thick as the X31, then I'd be more impressed.

At the end of the day, I just have trouble understanding why anyone would configure an X40 with the smaller battery. Why buy the X40? So you can carry it around easily, right? And what do you need when traveling with your laptop? You need long battery life. So the small battery seems, to me, to work against the reason for buying a small, lightweight laptop to begin with.

[rjs]

As you say it depends on one's needs. I am happy to live with 2 to 3 hours battery time but save half a pound of weight. I wish they would allow the option. I can only presume that at some stage IBM will get around to allowing the "let me build" option for the T43, X41 and X32.

[JonathanGennick]

It does seem a shame that IBM no longer provides the option.

You probably can still buy the smaller battery separately though. IBM has to still supply, if only to cover current X40 owners.