10/100MB with 1000MB switches

Hi Folks
Just having a discussion at work and am hoping you guys can provide some input.
We have a client that needs a new switch, they had 2 Allied Telesyn 24x 10/100Mbps with crossover linking port 1 of switch 1 to port 1 of switch 2 (what I mean is they had nothing fancy, no EtherChannel or STP etc).
One of those switches has failed entirely.
We've been quoted about $350 for a 10/100 Mbps 24 port switch with 4x 1GB ports or about $550 for a 24x 10/100/1000 24 port, both would suit our requirements from a configuration point of view.
With regard to speed which would we be best to go with?
A 24 port 10/100/1000 where all computers would have equal access to the network.
Or a 24 port 10/100 + 4 1GB with the main server connected to one of the 1GB ports.
Personally I'd prefer the 10/100/1000 24 port, but a colleague pointed out that the server could be bombarded with requests from it's client PC's as there is quite a bit of file sharing done at this site to and from the server.
Which would you guys go with?

Go with the 10/100/1000 as most, if not all, computers are coming with G-Bit as the standard. This will increase the speed on your network especially since you mention there is quite a bit of file sharing. As for your colleague tell him that a 10/100 would be more of a bottle neck then Gbit.
Do what GhislainG said and team the nics together to increase throughput to the switch.