T30 replacement - please help with options!

Hello,

My beloved T30 just died and I am considering the T61 as a replacement. I generally use my computer for web surfing/email, youtube, photoshop, dvds, word/excel, and statistical programming. ~90% of the time I am sitting at my desk with the laptop plugged in. (However, given the weight/bulk and low battery life (<90 min) of my T30, I rarely take it anywhere, but perhaps with a smaller system, I would become more mobile.) I am looking for a laptop that will last me ~4 years.

This is what I'm considering:

T61: $1183 (university affiliation discount)
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T9300 (2.5GHz 800MHz 6MBL2)
Genuine Windows Vista Business downgrade to Windows XP Professional
14.1 WXGA+ TFT
Intel GMA X3100 GM965
2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim
PC Card Slot & Express Card Slot
ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)
7 cell Li-Ion Battery
3 Year Standard Depot Warranty

Any opinions on the following upgrades?
- nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M [add $77.00]
- 160GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm [add $26.95]
- 250GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm [add $65.45]
- Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (supporting Centrino Pro) [add $7.70]

Thanks !!

 

I'd recommend getting the faster hard drive, and if you do anything involving 3D graphics I'd get the NVS140M graphics card. All in all that's a pretty good deal for that system. I would also consider Vista over XP just because you're planning on keeping it so long...you may reach a point where you need to run software that is Vista-only.

 

The 14" R61 and T61 are almost the same notebook with the R61 being slightly heavier and thicker. Probably save you a few bucks anyway.