X40 or X31 - best baseline setup.

Hi,

I hope this hasn't been brought up before but I didn't find anything on a search of he forum that gave any details of what people felt of the basic setup of the X40 (or X31) -

ie.

1. What is the most optimum ram configuration - 128? 512? 768? (This is for a windows xp system)

2. What size hard drive - is 40Mb enough? Do people find they need more? This is an ultraportable and I will be using mainly MS office and a little internet stuff.

3. Is the 1.2Ghz Pentium M slow? Is it really worthile getting the faster processor in the X31 series for mainly content creation?

4. Is the screen too small to read a document comfortably for long periods of time? 12.1" scares me a bit. Every now and then some reviewer makes a comment on "tunnel vision"

5. Is it worthwile getting a larger battery or get two smaller batteries if I want the portable to go for more than 5 hours?

Unfortunately in brisbane, australia no retailer or reseller has the x (or t series) in stock. I would love to just pick it up and try to type on it and see how it is to read a document.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,

BM.

 

1. 512MB is the sweet spot, more is better, but not needed for your needs.

2. 40MB for an ultraportable is very standard and a good amount.

3. With an ultraportable you know you're sacrificing some speed, the 1.2GHz is not as slow as you might think...I mean just consider the fact it's not so long ago that we were boggled by processor speeds that went over 1GHz!

4. I've used an X31 and as long as you're just viewing one document at a time you'll be fine IMHO. You can't view multiple windows of course...if you try to you're nuts, but once again 'tis the nature of ultraportables and a sacrifice you make.

5. Well, extended batteries are heavier but they'll give you 9 hours of juice and I think that the less loose stuff you have to carry the better so better one battery with long life than two batteries with short life that adds up to a long life. But, that's sort of a personal choice.

 

Thanks... just the advice i needed.



BM.