Lenovo ThinkPad X41
Though costly and a bit heavier than the ThinkPad X40, the ultraportable ThinkPad X41 series is still our choice for the corporate road warrior's dream machine.
ThinkPad X41 series
The ThinkPad X41 series remains the corporate standard for ultraportable computing, squeezing so much of what traveling businesspeople need into a sleek, 3-pound case. This current-generation Centrino system has a fairly fast 1.5GHz Pentium M processor, but hard drive options are small, ranging from 20GB to 60GB, and sluggish--all spin at only 4,200rpm. With a 12.1-inch XGA display, the ThinkPad X41 uses Intel's 915 graphics accelerator that can tap into as much as 128MB of system memory; it can hold up to 1.5GB of DDR2 RAM. If Intel's 802.11b/g Wi-Fi radio doesn't cut it for your firm, Lenovo offers IBM-branded wireless products, as well as Intel's 802.11a/b/g radio. The included X4 UltraBase docking station adds either an optical drive or an extra battery. Although baseline models start at $1,899, more complete versions sell for about $2,300. The $2,149 (as of May 2005) configuration we tested included a 1.5GHz Pentium M processor, 512MB of RAM, and a 40GB hard drive. Overall, the ThinkPad X41 packs a decent array of features into a slim, sturdy case that will appeal to frequent business travelers.
The ThinkPad X41 series remains the corporate standard for ultraportable computing, squeezing so much of what traveling businesspeople need into a sleek, 3-pound case. This current-generation Centrino system has a fairly fast 1.5GHz Pentium M processor, but hard drive options are small, ranging from 20GB to 60GB, and sluggish--all spin at only 4,200rpm. With a 12.1-inch XGA display, the ThinkPad X41 uses Intel's 915 graphics accelerator that can tap into as much as 128MB of system memory; it can hold up to 1.5GB of DDR2 RAM. If Intel's 802.11b/g Wi-Fi radio doesn't cut it for your firm, Lenovo offers IBM-branded wireless products, as well as Intel's 802.11a/b/g radio. The included X4 UltraBase docking station adds either an optical drive or an extra battery. Although baseline models start at $1,899, more complete versions sell for about $2,300. The $2,149 (as of May 2005) configuration we tested included a 1.5GHz Pentium M processor, 512MB of RAM, and a 40GB hard drive. Overall, the ThinkPad X41 packs a decent array of features into a slim, sturdy case that will appeal to frequent business travelers.