Question about 14.1"

So I initially got a 15.4" wsxga+, but the resolution was too small for me. I ate the restocking fee and order a 14.1" wxga. Unfortunately I got a Samsung screen (had a LG in the 15.4"), but honestly I can live with it. I definitely like the smaller size and got a NMB keyboard to boot (got a chicony in the 15.4").

The only major complaint I have with the 14.1" is that it get quite warm under both palm rests (right > left) where the hard drive is. Enough that my right hand get sweaty after 15 minutes of use (just internet surfing). Not a huge deal, but a bit uncomfortable. The 15.1" and my sister's T60 14.1" were both cool as a cucumber. I got a Seagate 100gb 7200 hard drive.

Is this normal? Are all 14.1" like this????

I know heat probably is a relative thing, but for me, it seems a bit uncomfortable. Is there anyway to decrease this, maybe another hard drive???

Thanks!

 

You ate a $200 dollar restocking fee?

I would have just used that to purchase low end config T61 14" and swapped specs...

it would only have cost $800...

your choice I guess...

 

Did you other computers have vista? Does this one? Vista is constantly using your harddrive.

Use this link to tame down vista a bit.
http://mostlysavingmoney.com/top-10-windows-vista-speed-tweaks/

 

Both computers have Vista.

 

you should have chosen the 5400 instead of 7200 which run hotter

 

It shouldn't make any difference during internet browsing since the drives are barely active.

 

I was wondering if I should have switched to a 5400 instead? Do owners of 14.1" all feel warmth in the palmrest???

 

it is definitely the 7200rpm hd...5400 runs much cooler....but then again..i heard reports that the new 7200's were suppose to be as quiet and cool as the 5400's....i guess not

 

I agree must be the 7200 hd. The 5400 runs cool. Try turning off the indexing feature Vista does. That might be why the hd is running so much while on the web.

 

It's the spinning that makes the heat.

 

My HD runs _all_ the time, even though the "activity" LED is not on. How do I know?

1) I can hear it running, it sounds much like the CPU fan but not as loud
2) In the Power Manager there's an option to power down the HD after a timeout, eg. after 5 minutes of no activity. Do you think the HD has stopped spinning just because the LED is not lit? That's just not so - the sucker keeps spinning until you shut down the machine or until the PM timeout takes place.

That's why the palm rest feels warm.
(Edit: on my machine it doesn't even feel warm, but maybe it does for those of you with a 7200 rpm drive...)

 

Do you guys think it is worth it to swap out a 5400 HD for the 7200?

Could owners of 14.1 7200 hd comment on the heat of there palm rest?

Thanks!

 

i have a 15.4" r61 thinkpad and i notice i little warmth from the right palm rest but nothing on the left side. i just have a 5400rpm hard drive and i can feel some warmth right above where the hard drive is but nothing to extreme. compared to the 17" acer that i had for a few days this thing is air conditioned the acer was like burning my wrist when i was using it. this thinkpad is so cool and quite i love it so much.

 

My palmrest stays cool to the touch no matter how long I use the system. This includes internet browsing and watching videos/movies, or whatever.

I have 5400rpm drive, and 1.8ghz CPU, with integrated Graphics.

 

Comparing the Hitachi 120gb 5400 vs. Seagate Momentus 100gb 7200. The Seagate uses much more power than the Hitachi which probably results in giving off that much more heat. I my laptop is mainly for surfing and office apps so I guess I don't really need the extra speed. Do you think if I complain enough that Lenovo will swap out HD with me???