x201 tablet with/without multi-touch screen

I am currently using a T-400 and would like to upgrade and get a lighter computer.
Lenovo is having a Black Friday Encore sale, which ends today, and I can get a good deal on an X-201 tablet for $993 (w/o tax) with the following configuration

Intel Core i5-520UM Processor (1.06GHz, 3MB L3, 800MHz FSB
2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200 (2x2 AGN)
ThinkPad X200 Tablet 4 Cell Li-Ion Battery

I want to add a camera ($27), an 8-cell battery ($45) and maybe upgrade the hardrive.
A few questions
1. Should I upgrade the hard drive to 320GB 5400rpm or 320/7200rpm?
2. Is it better to have 3GB ram?
3. The big question: should I spend $ 247 and add the multi-touch screen?

I've never used a multi-touch screen and am not sure what advantages it would bring. I've seen friends i-pads and they look like fun for looking at pics and reading but for what else.

I use the computer for school (I'm a teacher), email, and doing some desktop design work using InDesign and might do more web work in the future (have a additional screen for this).

Any suggestions on this would be most appreciated, especially from those with a multi-touch screen. I live overseas and my friend will be bringing it so it's not so easy to test and return.
Thanks
Karen

 

1. 320GB 7200rpm

2. It is generally better to have more than 2GB RAM for Windows 7 and applications, especially Adobe and multi-tab browser. Order 4GB RAM and Windows 7 64-bit.

3. It all depends on what your needs really are. ($247 are not spare changes, at least in my book. )

 

Thanks for the info. About the touch screen I was asking because I haven't used one and was wondering what people use it for...going from one page to the next...I don't know

 

The touch capability does add a layer to the screen and effect image quality. I guess if you think you'd make use of the touch screen, then perhaps it's worth the cost. A X201t is going to be significantly heavier than an iPad. I don't know that you'd use it in the same way.

 

Going the multi-touch route will net you a brighter screen (theoretically) as Lenovo pegs the spec for a MT screen at 300 nits versus the standard screen at 200 nits. Also, you'll have the additional capacitive layer on it which may introduce a bit of grain to your screen. I say "may" perhaps it might not be noticeable for you. So for the additional $247 you're paying for touch capability and the above.

You should ask yourself if you need the brighter screen and/or touch capability. Otherwise, I suggest sticking to standard and saving the $247 (heck, buy a SSD instead ;P)

Regarding RAM: I would go for more RAM. It may be cheaper to upgrade it yourself later though than through Lenovo.

Regarding HDD: 7200 RPM drive would be nice unless you plan on adding a solid state to your laptop later...in which case you could save money and do that instead.

 

I don't think i'd be buying a solid state. And because I live in the United Arab Emirates, it's not so easy or cheap to buy things here. That's why I'm ordering in the US and having my friend bring it.

 

ZaZ
Are you using the multi-touch screen?

 

You certainly could have your friend buy a SSD while here. Then just burn off the recovery discs and use them on the SSD. I have the standard frameless display, which is quite nice to use. With the larger battery the X201t is going to be almost three times as heavy as an iPad. Even if I had the touch display, I personally wouldn't see using it like an iPad, but perhaps you're different.

 

If that's the case, I think you should upgrade as much as you can (Webcam, 8-cell battery) including the RAM because it doesn't seem to be as cheap as many people make it out to be unless you wait a very long time. And yeah, I think you should have at least 3GB of RAM in your laptop if you are running Windows 7.

As for the multi-touch, I don't like the idea of my oily fingers touching the screen. It seems sorta "useless" and is only for the "wow" factor. Then again, I don't own one and never used one so I wouldn't know. Anyways, if you don't get this feature, I would definitely somehow use that money on a solid-state drive in the US if you aren't pressed for GB space. $247 can get you a 120GB - 128GB SSD.

 

Ok. I think the non-multi touch might be the way to go and a 4GB ram and (?)Windows 7 64 bit...?

I had been thinking about a ssd but wanted more space. My T400 has about 100GB and it's getting pretty full.

Gotta run. Have class. Yes we teach on Sundays in the UAE.
thanks all and I'll check later.

 

When I went to order my x201t I had the same burning question. MT or not to MT. After long and difficult thought I decided to go with MT because I figured it would be worse to be without and find that I could really use it than to get it and find that I don't really use it that much.

Of course if money had of been a huge issue I wouldn't of gotten it but when you're getting ~65% off full price one can't argue too much.

 

HoboJ did you get it yet?

 

I wish I ordered last Thursday so I don't have it in my hands yet

 

I just checked out engadget website and they have a video of the multi-touch. Looks cool. I think I might splurge...yikes.

 

That tablet is very nice! I too have a T400 and am really thinking of a smaller Thinkpad to lug to classes (I'm a college student). The features of the tablet however add to weight so I'm most likely going with an X2xx non-tablet in the future. If I come into some obscene amount of money then one of the tablets for sure

 

If hard drive space is an issue you may as well have a look at the hybrid drives such as Seagate Momentus XT which combines flash memory of an SSD and large storage capacity of a HDD in one device. It's slightly slower than the SSD, not by much but it is much faster than conventional 7200RPM drives and it costs considerably less than a SSD per GB.

The Multi-touch is OK, I used it on my Uncle's X201T and it's pretty responsive. The screen has quite a wide viewing angle without much distortion, well thats in comparison to my T61 anyway.

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3

 

Good of you to send the photos. They really showed the difference in the screens and it was nice to see the size difference which didn't look too big.

I went ahead and ordered the x201T with multi-touch. It came to $1380 with all that I added: multitouch, 4GB, camera, 320GB 7200, 8-cell battery. My other IBMs/Lenovos (T40, 42, 400) except for the netbook were in a similar price range if I remember correctly.

They said they'd ship on 23 Dec with 3-day shipping; my friend is returning on 28 Dec--a very short window of time. Wish me luck.

 

And to ZaZ sorry I cross posted on the "what should I get..." cause I wasn't getting much response here so thought I might have better luck in another place.

I didn't know about tabletpcreview.com. Thanks for the heads up on that.