X60/X60s battery & ultrabay questions

Hi all,

I'm looking over the Lenovo website prior to ordering a new X60s. Two quick questions arise:

1. Do you X60(s) users advise combining the 8-cell high capacity battery with the additional 'extended life' battery which fits into the X6 ultrabay dock? How much difference does it make to performance, size, and weight? How much battery life can I expect with 'just' the 8-cell option?

2. When I select the option to buy an X6 ultrabase, I am now offered options to buy both a "Media base bay device", i.e.:

ThinkPad 24X/24X/24X/8X Max Combo Ultrabay Slim Drive [add $69.00]
ThinkPad 4x Max DVD Recordable Ultrabay Slim Drive [add $149.00]
ThinkPad 8x Max DVD-ROM Ultrabay Slim Drive [add $59.00]

and an "Ultrabay slim device", i.e.:

ThinkPad CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo II Ultrabay Slim Drive (with Flat Bezel) [$169.00]
ThinkPad Serial ATA Hard Drive Bay Adapter [$49.00]
ThinkPad Super Multi-Burner Ultrabay Slim Drive - Flat Bezel [$259.00]

What's the difference? Do I need both (I assume not, but I'm confused)?

Many thanks -- BTW I'm not buying today because it's probably worth waiting a day or two to see what happens with Merom.

 

In answer to your first question, you can expect about 6 hours of battery life with the 8 cell battery. I am not sure if I would like the extended life battery because of the way it attaches to the bottom of the notebook and because it doesn't have much capacity. Lenovo sells the extended life battery for the same price as the 8 cell battery ($179 at the time of writing). Given that the price is the same, I would probably get a second 8 cell battery because of its superior capacity. According to Lenovo, the 8 cell battery lasts up to 7.9 hours, compared to up to 2.6 hours for the extended life battery. Alternatively, you could get a smaller 4 cell battery and save some money. Also keep in mind that the extended life battery cannot be used in combination with the X6 UltraBase.