T61 Battery & Bag Questions

Hi, I'm looking to purchase a 15.4" T61 and I had some questions regarding batteries and bags. I am planning on getting the Nvidia discrete graphics so I would like to get the 9-cell battery to make sure I get decent battery life.

I have seen conflicting data on the size of the 25.4" with the 9-cell battery. Can someone confirm that it's dimensions are 14.1"x11"x1.3"?

I was looking at the North Face Surge as a potential backpack for my new computer. According to the specs on Ebags the Surge fits laptops 15" x 11.2" x 2", but I've seen someone say that the T61 with the 9-cell doesn't fit in the Surge. Are my T61 numbers incorrect, or the Surge numbers, or is it just too tight fit?

If the T61 with the 9-cell won't fit in the Surge, does anyone have any other recommendations for backpacks? I do want a backpack, and a decent sized one at that, because I will be at school and likely carrying textbooks as well as my laptop.

One other question, I am considering the t61p but I want to see a 25" screen with that res before making that decision. Any idea where I could find one? I don't think the local Circuit City or Best Buy had anything like that in the store, although I'm not sure.

 

I used my T42 with the nine cell which would be deeper than the widescreen in a regular backpack. I didn't have any fit issues. If you know anyone with a UXGA screen would probably be the best way to see one. Sometimes college carry ThinkPads with higher resolution screens though I don't know if they'll have the WUXGA.

 

Anybody else?

 

My t60p w/ 9cell same dimensions as T61 DOES not fit in the laptop compartment of the surge, if it had the 6 cell, it would fit like a glove.

BTW i have the surge

 

So what do you do with your T60? Notebook sleeve in another section of the bag? Can you still fit a lot in the bag this way?