Any current model 2.5" hard drive should work fine. Look for features like a large read cache and faster spindle speed. A 2MB cache will be ok, but an 8MB cache is better for disk data throughput. And there are now three standard speeds for notebook drives: 4200, 5400 and 7200 RPM. You'll find a price premium on 5400RPM drives and a BIG premium on 7200RPM drives! There are even some 10,000RPM notebook drives! Whoah! The trick is to match the cache size to the drive's ability to put the platters under the heads-a slow spindle doesn't need a big cache, and a fast spindle shouldn't have a small cache.
My ideal notebook drive would have the highest capacity possible, run at 7200RPM with at least an 8MB cache.
Brands abound, but look hard at Toshiba and Hitachi. Hitachi recently bought out IBM's stake in their joint hard drive venture, so their Travelstar and Deskstar drives are the same ones that have won acclaim throughout the years (and probably worth a slightly higher price too).
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