IBM ThinkPad T42 Laptop (1.70 GHz Pentium M (Centrino), 40 GB Hard Drive) 23734WU

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 40 GB IDE hard drive is on the small side compared to other notebooks. However, it does offer a decent enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors--but not enough for much multimedia storage.
• Processor: The 1.7 GHz Pentium M (Centrino) processor sits near the top of the currently available speed spectrum and will be fast enough for gaming and multimedia applications. The Pentium M processor is designed specifically for low-power mobile usage, and it features the latest in power-saving technologies--ensuring you push your battery and productivity to the max. The T42 has a large 2 MB L2 cache and a 400 MHz front-side bus.
• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, 333 MHz, DDR SDRAM) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: The combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive can write and read CDs at 24x and rewrite at 10x speeds. It can read DVDs at 8x.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has an ergonomic keyboard with palm rest, IBM ThinkPad UltraNav multipointing system, Internet scroll bar, and volume control.

  This IBM ThinkPad T42 notebook also features Embedded Security Subsystem, which allows users to authenticate with unique fingerprints instead of passwords with an optional fingerprint reader (sold separately).

Sound and Graphics
This T42 notebook has an ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 video/graphics card with 32 MB of video RAM. It's not the strongest card for rendering 3D images, but it is strong enough for demanding business productivity software. The 14.1-inch TFT active matrix screen has a native 1024 x 768 resolution and can drive a 2048 x 1536-pixel external monitor. It also includes an integrated audio card and internal stereo speakers.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
This T42 model has an integrated 802.11b wireless LAN (which is offers slower wireless speeds compared to 802.11g LANs, which are becoming more and more standard). You get a limited offering of connectivity options, but it does include super-fast USB 2.0:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 parallel port
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video out
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

Preloaded System and Software
This notebook comes with the Windows XP Professional operating system (which adds Microsoft's IIS Web server, back-up and recovery utilities, Remote Desktop, and other enhanced business features), and it features Lotus SmartSuite and Lotus Notes business productivity software packages. Other preloaded software includes Norton AntiVirus 2004 (with 90 days of free updates), InterVideo WinDVD and Sonic RecordNow.

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 12.2 x 10 x 1.2 inches (WxDxH) and weighs just 4.9 pounds.

Power
This T42 notebook comes with a standard 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery with an average battery life of 4.5 hours.

What's in the Box
This package contains the ThinkPad T42 (model 23734WU) notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a three-year limiited hardware warranty and one-year warranty for the battery.