Transfer laptop Windows 7 to SSD [View all]

[DaveJ]

Is it easy to transfer Windows 7 OS to an SSD? I'm thinking about doing it over the weekend or maybe next. These are my concerns:

1) Since it's a laptop there is no second place to install a new SSD HD to transfer onto, that I know of, so I'm not sure how they would be both plugged in simultaneously during the transfer.
2) Would the SSD need to be as big as the Windows HD, or just the data. The hard drive is 451GB total/105GB is used. A lot can be cleared off since I hardly ever manage space.
3) It's a Dell laptop, so does Dell do anything to prevent this?

Also...
A) Is there any way to have a 2nd drive in a regular laptop? In case I want to use the 451GB drive rather than tossing it aside?
B) Is there any store (physical place I can go to -- we have Micro Center and Best Buy) that sells SSDs that are competitive with newEgg?. I'm the type who likes to buy stuff at the store instead of waiting. I'm impatient.

In addition, I heard that older SSDs might slow down over time (not due to data but due to some electronic principle). Has anyone heard of this?

Thanks