$150 extra for 20GB HDD, is this worthy

[vijaysingh]

Hi,

I am s/w developer having about 4yrs exp. I work in .NET and have also worked in java. I am going to install .NET studio, msdn and alot stuff for development on my TP.

I saw the models DVU and DUU. the major diff is HDD. DUU have 60GB, DVU have 80GB (Processor speed doesnt matter much) and cost diff is $150.
I am going to use this PC atleast next 2.5 to 3 yrs.

I am also in delima for chosing 14.1" or 15". If I go for 15: then I have to have 9 cell, in 14" i can chose 6 cell. problem with 9 cell is only that it stick out little bit. can u tell me how much this matters, in terms of use and look and feel. I am also not sure how much time i will use the pc on cell as most of the time in office or at home i will be connected with power.

please suggest.
-Vijay

[jfh]

Not sure why you started another thread on this ... but it all depends on whether or not the $150 is an issue. Been a while since I did some development, but I don't think the CPU upgrade will make that much of a difference.

For 14 vs. 15 - I decided based on how often I'd carry the ThinkPad. Since optimizing travel weight isn't as important, I went with the 15. Given your comments on how you are likely to use it, the extra pound shouldn't make that much of a difference.

As for the 9 cell vs. 6 cell - simple - just get whichever one doesn't come with the machine you decide on as a spare. Then you'll have both.

And, if you don't really need the DVD writer, get the DTU instead and save another $52.

[anthony]

Hi backatcha vijay,

I'm not a developer, but I can't imagine why anyone would need more than 40 gig, let alone 60 gig, on a laptop. That's why the storage gods invented DVDs. For me, using the extra bucks for a DVD burner (slow though it may be) makes more sense then upping hard drive capacity. But, I can keep my system uncluttered, plus have backups; just in case. Although for any real efficiency, I think you still need a good quality external burner with some serious speed.

For me, the 14" made more sense as I spend my life in airpports and on planes. To me thinness is equally as important as weight. I gotta keep this thing in my messenger bag with all my files, etc. Of course, if I were a campus jockey and only using it so I could hang out in the fesh air, I might have chosen the less expensive 15" and spent the extra on something else. Either way, you can't go wrong.

For me, the extra depth (and weight) of the 9-cell is less intrusive than the burden of having to lug around the adapter/charger. But as jfh says, the extra 6-cell will make the choice issue moot as I will have them both. The li-polymer is also only about $90 aftermarket, so that is another choice if you go with the 6 cell.

At this point you're debating the finer points of an already top choice. Just choose one and go with it. Time is money. By agonizing over it for hours, you are in fact investing far more than the $150. Flip a coin and move on. Either way, you're driving a Bently. Besides, it's only money, they'll make more...

[Marc_G]

...I can't imagine why anyone would need more than 40 gig, let alone 60 gig, on a laptop. That's why the storage gods invented DVDs...
For me, the 14" made more sense as I spend my life in airpports and on planes.

I'll offer a different point of view, though I respect Anthony's opinion. I'm a road warrior, spending a lot of time on the planes.

I NEED an 80 GB drive. Not want, NEED. I carry around a substantial amount of data in the form of Lotus Notes databases, and also need to support about five or six different virtual machines, each of which take up a few GB of drive space. Then there's about 10 GB worth of software installers I need to keep handy... sure those I could put on a couple DVDs, but it's just easier to have them on the HD. Plus all the regular stuff. Oh, almost forgot: I keep a current image of the system partition handy on a storage partition in case I hose the OS and need to restore.

And I really prefer the 15" UXGA screen. The more pixels the better, I always say. Love the real estate for a lot of the applications I run. While the footprint of my T42p is bigger than many laptops, it still just barely fits in my Brenthaven topload bag (with the 6 cell battery). I don't have any trouble putting it under the seat in front of me or using it on the plane, even in the middle seat.



Marc

[MadeInJapan]

For about $100 you can buy a 60-80GB Hard drive on the web (new with warranty). Don't spend the extra money on one with the OEM purchase is my opinion. You can buy another one, clone it and still have the original one around if needed. Just my 2cents.