decisions decision... display vs battery life vs uh. . .

[Jublian]

I've been scrimping and saving and it's time for a laptop....
I've been trying to decide between two models on the IBM refurbished website:

ThinkPad T30
2366-57F support
(it's the french version, but I doubt that'll be any problem)

P4-M 2.0GHz (512KB), 256MB RAM, 60.0GB HDD,
14.1 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 16MB ATI Mobility Radeon 7500
16x10x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD-ROM,
802.11b Wireless/Modem(MPCI),
Ethernet(LOM), Bluetooth(CDC), Secure Chip(TCPA), UltraNav,
Li-Ion battery, Win2000
$1,899 canadian

and

ThinkPad T41
2373-72U support

P M 1.5GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD,
14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500,
16x10x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD(slim),
Intel 802.11b Wireless(MPCI),
Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), Secure Chip(TCPA), UltraNav,
6cell battery, WinXP Pro
$1,999 canadian money,

The T41 is about $100CAN more and is 1" thick vs the T30 which is 1.4" thick...
It also has a 5.5 hour battery life vs the 2.5 - 3hr battery of the T30.
The T30 has a much larger HD and a super sweet high res display, but I've got a home machine and monitor to use when I need it.

How much value should I place on the higher res display? I don't play games but I do alot of graphics stuff: Illustrator, Photoshop, AutoCAD, Rhino. . .

does anyone have firsthand experience with laptops? I've used Toshiba and Compaq laptops before, but really really dig the build quality of IBM mashines...

 

[Jublian]

I forgot to mention that this is mostly to supplement the desktop I have now, which is sufficient and has a 19" 1600x1200 crt. I have a feeling that I will eventually migrate to using a laptop only. maybe. I don't know. That's why I'm here. . ..

 

[Frightcrawler]

the t41's processor is better, because it surpasses the 2.0 p4(no matter which multiplier you use). you also get better battery life, but...its your choice.
the t30's screen and hard drive is better (unless its 4200 rpm), but everything else is pretty much equal, except graphics card.

 

[UltraWide]

I have owned the T30 and T40p. My T30 had a 1.6ghz P4-m and it got so damn hot after 30min of use, even with Speedstep running and the battery life was a good 2-2.5hrs MAX.
My T40p was actually COLD when it ran and the fan rarely came on. It would get about 5-7hrs with the extended 8-cell battery.

If you need something to just take around and use it as a companion to the MAIN desktop then i recommend you go for the T41 as it's a much more polished machine and equally durable, but you get more battery life when it matters, away from home!!