X200 purchase decision

I want to apologize in advance if this isn't the right forum for my question.

I've been looking to upgrade my three-year-old laptop and after numerous searches I think I've decided on X200. I'm looking for something somewhat powerful to use with statistical packages, although I will probably do the really intensive stuff over a server. I really like it's battery life with a nine cell, the fact that it has a regular processor, and the size. I am a bit worried about the screen size (I hate that large bezel), the lack of a touchpad, and maybe the lack of an optical drive.

So I guess my questions would be, do you think it would be worth investing in one of the new designs, or is the X200 still top of the line?

This is the configuration I've managed to get for about $750+tax with the education discount:
P8600, 4GB RAM, 250GB 5400rpm, 12.1 WXGA, Intel WiFi Link 5100, 9cell - no bluetooth, no fingerprint reader plus another 160 for 3yr warranty + ADP. Does this sound like a good deal? Anything else I should upgrade?

Thanks for your help!

 

I'd get that on-site warranty instead and a faster HDD afterwards from a third party.

 

that unit sounds like a pretty nice deal. get the unit, wait a few months (for prices to fall) and get an ssd drive. i think that's the perfect machine for a student. light weight, portable, good battery life and it's a quality, durable machine.

 

That looks very nice, and looks like a pretty good deal. Before my T500, I used a 12" WXGA Averatec as my main computer for ~3 years, and didn't feel too limited by the screen size (although my T500's WSXGA+ screen has spoiled me).

 

Thanks for your thoughts! I ended up pulling the trigger on that configuration. Having recently spilled coffee on my laptop (with no irreversible effects yet), I think the ADP will come in handy.

If anyone else is interested in the deal, going through Special offers -> Business Sale -> X200 and then de-selecting the Ultrabase can get the X200 down to around $700. Best deal is through the cpp website, but I wasn't sure whether the order would go through so I did the edu version instead.