Just Found You Guys - Could Use Your Advice X31 or X40!

[Orbitz]

Hey all...man I am so annoyed. I just happened to run across this site tonight having spent the last few days trying to research my next IBM purchase I could really use some advice.

I currently have a T41p that I am looking to sell (or even trade) for either a X31 or X40...I am having a hard time deciding what will work best for me. Initially, when I purchased the T41 (about a year ago) I expected to be doing much more work on it then I actually do. It is an awesome machine (I probably baby it way too much) ...14.1" screen, 60gb 7200 hd, 128meg video card, 512 ram etc. and it has worked flawlessly since day one...so well in fact I don't think I would ever consider a brand other then IBM for laptops. Problem is, with my current usage I am not taking advantage of all that horsepower and find that I leave it home when I travel because it is just a touch too big for me to not mind hauling it around.

I use my lappy primarily for Outlook, heavy web browsing, heavy spreadsheet work (at least by my standards...say workbooks with 20+ pages etc.), as well as a good bit of PowerPoint and Publisher. Graphics wise, the most intenstive thing I probably do on it is related to manipulating graphic images for use in publisher or powerpoint. I also watch a lot of DVD's and streming TV on it (actually when I am home this accounts for 70%+ of my use). An optical drive is not a major factor for me since all of my DVD's are immediately ripped to the harddrive on my main box and copied to the laptop as needed.

My main 2 questions are whether the slower HD and lower level video card in the X40 will really have any noticeable impact on the above activities. Also, since storage is an issue (I am assuing even the slow drive in the X40 is plenty fast enough to keep up with DVD's playing off them) what is the largest HD I can have in an X40?

I am not so interested in waiting for the X41 or X32 really since I am hoping to sell my T41p for enough to get either and X40 or X31 straight up (I think I paid almost $2600 my my T41). Other then the above activies, BT and at least one free PCMCIA slot are a must for me since I will be using it frequently with my cell service.

Based on the above "proforma" would anyone have some advice for what would be suitable? I don't care so much about having a wicked fast machine as I have 3 other desktop machines all very high end...so it is really about something that will not be so slooooow with what I am doing that it will be a constant aggrivation...if I wanted a desktop speed unit I would keep the T42p for sure. Of course, if the X40 hd can't keep up with DVD's streming off the HD that would be a deal breaker

Size wise, it seems like the X40 with the extended battery on it is roughly the same depth as the X31...is this right?

Sorry about the long winded post...thanks for any help you guys might be able to offer! I am probably leaning towards the X40 unless anyone feels it will not be up to any of the above tasks to a reasonable level.

[pphilipko]

what model is the T41p? I have a 1.2Ghz, 512MB, X4 base with CD-RW/DVD, IBM a/b/g wireless, bluetooth...and I just might be willing to trade, havent really decided yet.

the X40 runs games fine for me, and DVD playback quality is awesome!

I might need a T-series for speeding up photoshop stuff, it just takes too long to haul around 500mb+ images...

[stgreek]

Unless you need maximum portability, go for the X31. If you put the 7k60 on it, the speed difference, even for simple tasks, is noticeable. However, since you state you already hav ea couple desktops, maybe the X40 is a better choice. I believe the 1.8 drives go up to 80gb, but I haven't seen any 5400 or 7200 drives coming for them anytime soon. Oh, and the graphics card on the X31 has discrete memory, which makes it much faster than the X40 for any use.

[Orbitz]

Thanks for the comments

My T41p model number is 2373-GEU. It has a 1.7 P M in it, IBM B / G wireless, BT, 60GB HD. Does the X40 you mention still have room for another 512meg in it?

Hmm..still not quite sure what to do Does the X31 "seem" that much larger then the X40 with the extended battery? I see they are offering the X41 on IBM's site with the 60gb drive in it ( I assume still a 4200 rpm drive)..any idea if that will work in the X40 as an upgrade?

[pphilipko]

its memory soldered onto the board is 512mb, you can add another 512 or 1GB memory. and yes, the 60GB HD is compatible with X40. hope everything works out for you!

[DavidNZ]

I use my X40 much the same way you are planning to use whichever model you pick: heavy Outlook, heavy web browsing, heavy spreadsheet (maybe not 20+ sheets), heavy statistics (SPSS), FrontPage, heaps and heaps of work on Word and PowerPoint, and even use Photoshop and Illustrator 7 on it.

Could it be faster? Sure, and it's not nearly as fast as my Dell desktop in my office at work, but I didn't buy the X for speed or games.

In fact, truth be known, one of the small reasons I bought the X is precisely because I *knew* it wouldn't handle most of the games that pique my interest these days. From past experience, if I have a gaming machine, work doesn't get done! So, no games on my X.

[Orbitz]

Man..I just laughed outloud! That is also my little secret...I really don't want anything that will play games....its too much of a distraction Especially with the T41p...it plays Doom3, EQ, EQII etc. etc. dam near as well as my desktop machines...my wife really loves it when she sees me playing Doom on my "honey it is a necessary business thing" machine!

Turns out I have a co-worker who has and X40 (and really loves it ) but just recently barrowed an X31 for a few days just to compare the two...while he said the X40 most definately has a smaller feel to it...he didn't think it was so much so that he would choose the X40 over the X31 if he were buying now...he summed it up by saying that as far as wow factor he would rate the X40 a 10 and the X31 a 9 but just the opposite as far as performance.