Hi all

Ok thankyou so much for all your opinions and experiences

I have gone for a secondhand IBM X30 

Specs
1.2Ghz
512mb Ram
Wifi (11mbit I think)
10/100 network card
40gb Hdd 

Screen 1024x768 std 

Size (this was one of my main requirements)

Overall width 26cm
Screen 24.5 cm

This is a full 10cm less than my normal laptop.

When I went to the sellers place he had a few laptops for me to look at.

The two that really fitted the bill were a Toshiba portage and this X30
Thinkpad

The Portage was cheaper $299 and overall smaller, thinner and lighter than
the thinkpad however it was 700mhz 128mb ram and the main unit had no
network socket only one USB1 and no wifi,oh and needed a docking station for
most other ports. I didn't get as far as checking screen resolution because
it appeared although the portage was 2/3 the price of the $449 thinkpad the
think pad was in a different league altogether.

1. It felt better built. 
2. It didn't need a port replicator (docking station)although I realise you
can get one for it
3. Decent CPU Speed
4. Heaps of memory (512 in comparison to 128)
5. comparative in size to the portage  
6. onboard network
7. wifi networking
8. interesting mouse control...lol

Im sure there are other reasons that I can't think of right this second -
however - having played with it for the afternoon I am impressed - it seems
like a really good piece of kit.

The only issue I have found so far is the HDD is not terribly well (22 Bad
sectors) I may prompt the guy who sold it as it has a 1 month warranty (exc
battery) 

Also reminds me that the battery hasn't been tested yet - been running on
mains for the day, however I'll cycle it a few times before looking at power
options. If I remember rightly there is a battery co here in Auckland that
rebuild laptop batteries. It think the hardest part is getting them apart
isn't it ?

So thanks all once again.

Regards

Chris
Auckland NZ

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