My understanding re: HDD speeds is that the only thing it really effects is the time it takes to open a file and save a file. Actually working w/in a program you are using RAM memory which has nothing to do with HD speed.
Where you do sometimes see differences (I have noticed) is in dealling with large MS Office docs (ppt or word files with lots of images). Since these programs are not really designed to deal with big files, they do not seem to load all the iamges into RAM, so while working in a file you can see lag. When I upgraded to a 7200 drive it actually did make a (small) difference in opening, and working in these files. Conversly, it has no effect that I can notice working with photoshop or inDesign.
The next machine I get, I will probably opt for the larger slower drive over the faster smaller drive, as the time differences are pretty minimal.
just my 2 cents.
Where you do sometimes see differences (I have noticed) is in dealling with large MS Office docs (ppt or word files with lots of images). Since these programs are not really designed to deal with big files, they do not seem to load all the iamges into RAM, so while working in a file you can see lag. When I upgraded to a 7200 drive it actually did make a (small) difference in opening, and working in these files. Conversly, it has no effect that I can notice working with photoshop or inDesign.
The next machine I get, I will probably opt for the larger slower drive over the faster smaller drive, as the time differences are pretty minimal.
just my 2 cents.