If you are looking for a sturdy and feature-filled laptop computer, IBM has what you need. The ThinkPad T42 is hefty, but powerful. The Intel Pentium M 745 processor, 1.8 GHz, 512 MB ram combined with the ATI Mobility RADEON 7500 video card with 32 MB of memory is strong enough for just about any task.
This ThinkPad looks very similar to the previous models, but it is packed with impressive new features and additional functionality. The most obvious new addition is the small finger print sensor near the bottom of the unit. You enroll your fingerprint(s) by following the simple software instructions. Once that is accomplished you replace your passwords with your fingerprint securing access to the entire computer, to Windows, to certain files and folders and/or to certain programs or Web sites.
Other impressive features include an exciting IBM Hard Drive Active Protection System. This system uses built-in sensors to detect when a shock is occurring to the hard drive and takes precautions like parking the hard drive to minimize damage.
Connectivity is a strong part of this ThinkPad’s usability. It comes with a modem port, an Ethernet port, built-in wireless capabilities (802.11g), and an infrared port. So you can use most any type of Internet connection. The wireless performance was impressive. The software automatically finds a wireless network. The built-in antenna gave me wireless access in areas where other computers and wireless cards failed. Although the unit I reviewed did not have Bluetooth connectivity. It is an available option.
The ThinkPad is marketed as a business notebook but it makes a fine choice for anyone looking to use it as their main computer or a desktop replacement. Unfortunately, no word processing program or spreadsheet is included, so you will have to either have a copy available or purchase one separately.
The T42 also has features that make it easy to use, therefore making your life easier. The red TrackPoint that is situated in the middle of the keyboard can be used for navigation. It even comes with multiple tips (smooth, stipples, etc.). There is also a touch pad just under the alpha keys that can be used for navigation. I found myself using both the TrackPoint and the touch pad for various tasks while using the ThinkPad. There is a keyboard light that can be turned on and off right at the keyboard. Although at first I thought it superfluous, I found several times when it came in handy. The most common one was when I wanted to use the laptop in bed without having to turn the light on. Another useful feature is a full-screen magnifier that is activated by pressing the FN key and the spacebar.
Other impressive components include a useful rapid restore button, an easy eject button to undock and remove attached devices, and individual volume and mute buttons. The 15” TFT display was bright and clear. Travelers will love the long battery life. Right out of the box the T42 gave me over four hours of computing power. I could maximize the battery usage to about seven hours by using the included software, making this laptop a pleasure for extended work (or play) while traveling. I also enjoyed the fact that I could use the ThinkPad on my lap at home for hours at a time without being tethered to an outlet.
The features of this laptop computer are almost too numerous to mention. It includes a CD-RW/DVD combo drive, a 40 GB hard drive, an external display adapter, headphone/line out port, parallel port, and an S-Video out. The only thing I found lacking was a firewire port, but unless you plan on hooking up your video camera, that is not a necessity.
Although the IBM laptop division has been sold to Lenovo, a Chinese company, the computers are set to continue using the same manufacturing processes and designs so future T42s should have the same look and feel as the one I reviewed. Before you purchase, however, you will want to make sure that the technical support options have not changed.
