T43 vs. T42 Help Please

[salarhazany]

I know this question has probably been hacked to death. But since you guys are experts, I am going to ask anyway...I have a budget of around $1700 max and need a very reliable comp with no bs. I am a medical student and want a sturdy, light, and fast comp to carry in my backpack as i ride my bicycle to school and back everyday. I need it for general use and nothing fancy like video editing. Every arrow seems to point to ibm T series 14.1". But which one? I have seen reviews on CNET that claim the T43 is more expensive and basically sucks-up more battery than the T42. Some have said that T43 has better resolution but has a loud fan. Some say that the touchpad gets in the way and is very annoying. Since I am no expert, I would appreciate if someone with ample experience just tell me which one to buy and at what price. Does it make a diff if i buy from IBM directly with regard to warranty, discount etc? I heard about getting a student discount and a visa discount, is that true? Let me know what specs/package you think are suitable for my purposes. I was considering 2379R6U or 266849U (google them).
Thanks,
Inexperienced one.

[sugo]

T42 vs T43 won't make a big difference for most. If battery life is important, then T42. Otherwise, go with the cheaper one.

2379R6U is a 15" XGA model, btw.