[Thinkpad] A31 vs R40: advice?

For the past 3 years I've been delighted with my A20p, which goes
everywhere with me and is the only computer I used. But it's time
to retire it and move on.

I would get the newest A31 without a second thought, but the
official word from IBM sales is that the A line is ending, and that
there will not be a processor upgrade for it.

So I'm trying to decide between going with that anyway (in
particular the A31 model 2652Q5U: 15" SXGA+ (1400x1050), 2GHz P4 M,
40 GB ATA-100, etc.) and going with an R40 (2897GWU: 15" SXGA+,
1.5GHz Pent M, 60 GB disk, etc.).

Things that matter to me:
  15" screen, SXGA+ native resolution (in my experience stepping
      down from higher resolutions gives significantly less sharp
      display, and the reading glasses won't go for more than SXGA+)
  combo DVD/CD-RW
  ethernet, modem
  fastest processor I can get
  as much onboard as possible, eg floppy, various ports (which
      is why I liked the A line)

Clearly I'll have to compromise some of this (eg floppy and some
ports) if I go with the R.

I don't care about weight (I'm used to carrying the A20p).

I know the A's are sweet machines; anyone with
opinions/facts/experience about how the R line compares?

thanks in advance
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Received on Tue Sep 30 10:12:21 2003