I just got a Thinkpad X31 and wanted to say how pleased I am with it. Great screen, nice keyboard, fast enough for what I do (mainly Word, Excel, email, web stuff, watching movies when travelling). Easy to carry at 3.6 lbs. 1.4ghz, 512mb, 60gb 7200rpm. It doesn't have a built-in optical drive, but I can easily plug in a USB drive at home and copy whatever I need.

Highly recommended.

I am about to buy that same model of Thinkpad, but am torn between the X31 and X40. My primary priorities are weight, thickness, and battery life. What kind of battery life do you get out of your X31? What kind of battery life do you get when watching a DVD during a flight?

Thanks!

Based on your priorities, I'd get the x40.

I haven't tested the battery yet, but have heard that the claimed battery lives for the models are generally accurate, maybe a touch high. x31 about 5.5 hrs, x40 about 3.5 or 7.5 depending on which battery you get (the larger battery obviously adds weight). I almost always use powerports on flights, so battery is less important for me. You can always get a second battery, which should let you run through just about any flight.

I agonized a long time deciding between the x31 and x40. I ended up with the x31 because it should be a bit faster (note especially the current lack of larger or faster HDDs for the x40), 3.6 lbs seemed light enough given the limited amount of time I'm actually carrying it each day and I got it at a very good price. The x40 looks very appealing though.

Several of my exec staff have X31s. One has an X40 (yeah, I know we standardized on T41's but RHIP when it comes to SVPs ).

The exec who has the X40 moans about short battery life. He bought the larger extended battery and now it's almost as heavy as the X31. He wishes he got the X31.

Anecdotal evidence, I know.

When I looked at th etwo side by side, the X40 didn't impress me as being all that much smaller or lighter than the X31 (though it is both).

Unless you absolutely have to have the tiniest (then IBM probably isn't your best bet anyway), I'd recommend the X31.

I've been using a Sony Vaio PCG-R505DL the past two years. It hasn't held up well; at some point, I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a new laptop. People are consistently recommending the ThinkPad. The Vaio has a touchpad; I understand that the ThinkPad has a joy stick. How difficult is it to adapt?

I had a thinkpad with a joystick for years before I switched to this Vaio. Personally I preferred the joystick to the touchpad

I got an X40 from

http://www.emperorlinux.com/raven.php

It replaced a sony vaio. With the 8 cell battery, it's 3lb. I'm getting 5 hours
with the 8 cell, and a bit under 2 with the four cell.

It took no time at all to get used to the joy stick.

I like this machine. The X30's too heavy for me.

Need to submit bid on personal use X-40 or X-31 tomorrow.

Main requirements are 12" screen, light weight, and wireless capability.

Can buy the UltraBay, but am considering models that have built-in optical drive (heavier, but much more convenient)

Currently using 5-yr old Sony Vaio on Win 98 for a portable, but Dell state-of-the-art desktop at work.

Any suggestions?

I have been using Thinkpads for many years and now have an X-31 that I bought when they first came out. The plusses are many, great keyboard, joystick pointer, durability (this one fell out of an overhead, hit the floor and all that was damaged was one of the closing clasps), light weight and very good battery life. Additionally, the chargng brick that you need to carry is much lighter than the one for my last Thinkpad.
I bought the Ultrabay but do not carry it around. I leave it in one of my offices where I don't have a desktop and just hook it up when I'm there. I hardly use it in my main office, but when I need an optical reader for it, I just use one on another computer on our wireless network.
I have no familiarity with the X-40.

I personally find that the pointing stick gives more precise control than touchpads. It limits the laptops that one can consider, though. The Thinkpad T series now has combo pointing stick and touchpad;I have a T41 and occasionally use the touch pad, but still prefer the pointing stick. In addition, you don't have to move your hands from the keyboard to use it, a great advantage. The only thing it's probably not good for is playing games.

has anyone compared this to the Dell 700m? I'm currently shopping for a lightweight portable laptop and am just curious on how they compare.