R61 question

Hi. I'm thinking of ordering a 15.4 R61, but I have two questions, both of them concerning graphics:

1) At the moment, the choice Lenovo is offering is either:

A) Intel GMA X3100, GM965, 1394, S-Video, PC Card/PCIe

Or:

B) Intel GMA X3100, GM965, 1394, S-Video, PC Card/Smart Card [add $23.75]

Can anyone explain to me the difference? What's a PCIe? I can't find the answers to the difference between these two options on the Lenovo site.

2) Along the same lines, I realize these are integrated graphics chips rather than discreet. Do you think they're coming out with a 15.4 R61 with a Nvidia chip? Would it be worth waiting?

Just in case it would be helpful to know my needs: I mainly use the machine for work - email, word, powerpoint, watching video, plus some photoshop, and a lot of Skype video conferencing. (That's why I want the R61 with the built in camera, as opposed to the T61. It's one less thing to lug all over the world.) I travel a lot, and need the bigger screen. Battery life isn't a huge issue, as 80% of the time I'm plugged into the wall - or on a DC adapter on airplanes.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can offer.

 

I am pretty sure its referring to the Expresscard Slot.

Express card slots can be used to add:

 

Thanks for the fast reply. So here's my question: Do I have any need for a smart card? Is it just for corporate security, where (by comparision) the PCIe slot sounds a lot more useful? (And I apologize for my lack of understanding here, but the Lenovo site doesn't explain any of this.)

 

Well a smart card reader is not just for corporate secruity it has uses for us regular folks/consumers. With a Smart card you can limit access to personal files or to your system(windows). Its a substitute for a password(s) so less remembering for you and you can make your passwords longer and harder to decrypt(your name or birth date are not good choice for passwords ) since you wont have to remember them, all you would have to do is insert the smart card.

 

So for us "regular folks" why would you need a smart card and a fingerprint scanner? Or wouldn't you?

 

I personally wouldn't get either, but I have no use for either. I have my data thoroughly backed up and there's nothing on my laptop which could be deemed sensitive. Also had the fingerprint reader on my T42. It worked, but I only really used it log on which wasn't worth $50 to me when I got my R60.