...but I'd prefer my laptops to not have a Samsung or Intel SSD because from what I understand they aren't reliable and they're slower than stuff like OWC or OCZ that can even cost less than the upgrade done through the manufacturer.
I don't know about Samsung, but Intel? Unreliable? That's the opposite of what I usually hear, and if anything, it's OCZ that's unreliable as far as SSDs go (with other SandForce-based SSDs sometimes being affected as well). Intel's controller lacks the raw write speed of SandForce, but is still fast enough to feel far more responsive than any HDD.
But I'll give you a heads-up if my Intel X18-M G1 fails (along with being really pissed 'cause I don't have any spare 1.8" drives to put in the 2730p in such an event).
Anyway, ThinkPads...there's only a few models I've paid any significant attention to:
-X41t
-X60t/X61t
-X200t/X201t
-X220t
-W700/W701(ds)
Out of those, the X41t has a major flaw in using 1.8" ZIF PATA drives (in other words, the already limited selection of 1.8" SSDs precludes the good ones like the Intel X18-M because of the interface), the X61t is a compelling option at $350 (moreso if it's one of the few with the 1400x1050 AFFS LCD), the X200t and X201t are very good offerings overall (albeit more expensive than the competing HP 2730p/2740p), and the X220t blew it with that 1366x768 resolution and awkwardly-shaped main battery that doesn't even color the whole rear of the machine like its predecessors did (and makes a nice handle to grip while in slate mode). The W700/W701 used to be my dream 17" notebooks...and then I learn that despite the presence of a built-in colorimeter and RGB LED backlighting, they still use cheap TN panels compared to something like the HP 8740w with the DreamColor IPS LCD option, making for a frustrating tradeoff. (Oh, and there's no Sandy Bridge followup to those two yet.)
