Media:Personal Computers Operating System:Microsoft Windows XP Professional CPU Manufacturer:Intel CPU Speed:1.7 System Bus Speed:400 Floppy Disk Drive:None Graphics RAM:32 Modem:Fax / modem Display Size:15 Warranty:1 year warranty
Product Description Making the power of a workstation mobile. Certified for graphics-intensive applications, ThinkPad T42 mobile workstation offers high performance in a thin and light notebook.
Amazon.com Product Description IBM delivers a top-of-the-line notebook PC--the T42SMB--for mobile business professional at a price that's easy on the bottom line. The T42SMB is highly portable, weighing in at just under 6 pounds, and has an average battery life of up to 4.4 hours. It features a fast 1.7 GHz Intel Centrino processor, 40 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, a CD-RW/.DVD-ROM combo drive, 54g wi-fi connectivity, and a bright 14.1-inch screen.
The Basics
Hard Drive: The 40 GB EIDE 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 T42SMB 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 T42SMB 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 T42SMB model has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g networks. 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
It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Gigabit Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).
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 includes other software applications such as Norton AntiVirus 2004 (with 90 days of free updates), InterVideo WinDVD and Sonic RecordNow.
Dimensions and Weight This notebook measures 13 x 10.6 x 1.4 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 5.7 pounds.
Power This T42SMB 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 T42SMB (model 2378FZU) 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.
Great performance with some hiccupsAugust 24, 2005 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have been using an IBM T40 for the last 1.5 years and just bought an IBM T43 for my brother. Performance wise, this is a great machine. Some of the differentiating factors I have found.
1. The IBM support center on the laptop itself is kind of helpful. 2. The IBM Record now (and the DVD record for T43) have very simple and clean user interfaces. And the CD/DVD burns really fast. 3. IBM is supposed to have one of the best customer support. Though I have not yet had a chance to use them.
Some of the not so great things I have experienced with my 1.5 year old IBM 1. Unfortunately, the battery cycles do not outlast other manufactures. My IBM battery now has only 1 hour of juice on a full charge. It started out at 3 - 3.5 hours 2. IBM computers come with their own wireless network setups etc. So it is sometimes confusing, when to open the Windows standard interfaces or when to use the IBM interfaces 3. My IBM T40 sometimes comes up with a "Fan error" when it tries to restore from sleep or bootup. It might be just my machine. But a little tap on the fan does the work almost every time. 4. The portable media bay door does not close if you don't push at certain points on the bay door. Once you know, what that point is (beyond the open button), then it should not be a problem.
Overall, it is an excellent machine.
Top Notch - Better Than HP, Dell, SONYApril 6, 2005 17 out of 18 found this review helpful
Research can get you a long way. I am an IT purchaser, software developer, and home user. For company use I purchase Dell only - usually. I am real happy I made an exception this time.
This laptop has many features that put it over the top. The only modification I have made is to install an additional 512k memory (total now of 1MB). The memory install was pretty simple in the empty memory slot. The slot has metal tabs to separate that are a little more than tough on the fingers. Note to IBM, make the next model use plastic.
Some of the features that have impressed me:
1.) It has built in 802.11b/g card that works real well. I get great reception due to the two antennas built in. They are those strange rubber tabs on the outside edge of the screen.
2.) Great keyboard feel. They keys are full size! The tactile feel is one of the best I've felt on a laptop. I'd like to see the Function (Fn) key placed somewhere different than the bottom left where I always go for the Ctrl and Alt keys. Suggestion to IBM, move the Fn key between the Ctrl and Alt keys like standard Windows keyboards have the Windows Start key. Extra keys include a forward and backward button that works well in IE, separate volume/mute keys, and ability to save power by turning off the wireless card when not in use.
3.) Speaking of saving power. The average actual battery life I have experienced is 4 - 5 hours! That includes using the wireless card and having the brightness contrast at a decent level. Average settings get above average battery life.
3.) Lightweight and very slim. I bought an IBM bag and the laptop only takes about a third of the available space. There may be lighter laptops but this seems light for a 15" screen.
4.) Hard Drive Airbag! Yes I said air bag. Ever considered what could happen if you drop your laptop? I don't know of anyone else that has this.
5.) Night Light! Yes another innovative feature. A light shines down from the top of the monitor with the click of two keys. The light is wonderful when you are working with presentations with the lights out, traveling overnight, or at home while working.
6.) IBM Software does a decent job monitor the system for you. The battery indicator they add is much better than the standard XP one.
Overall I love this laptop compared to the Dell, HP Sony, Toshiba and WinBook laptops I have seen and used.
Hopefully this research will help make your decision easier. The items I listed above were things I did not realize when I did my research and I though I did a thorough job researching this product.
Great job IBM. If IBM could only compete price and service with Dell desktops we would finally have a computer hardware war.
Thinkpad T42 model: 2378FZUMarch 31, 2005 9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Some things to note about the description that Amazon has provided for this laptop: this model (2378FZU - Ibm's designation for this notebook) has a 15" screen, not a 14.1"; cdrw rewrite speed is 24x, not 10x; it has one-year manufacturer's warranty, not a three-year; the wifi only works with b and g networks, not a networks; and to clarify, this model does not have the built-in fingerprint reader. I suggest you visit the IBM website to ascertain all of the details yourself. I highly recommend this model. I bought it to replace my Dell Inspiron 5000e which was over 4 years old and broke down on me. Having spent nearly $2700 on the Dell, I can now say that because of my experience with this notebook, I am a Thinkpad convert.
The coolest laptop everMarch 19, 2005 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been using Dell laptops for more than 7 years. Then I thought recently why not go for a change. I read almost all the reviews about the T42 and did my home work. I have the T42 now for more than 3 month and never had to call IBM Support or needed their help. Very friendly, easy to use notebook. Bright screen. I liked the Access IBM button which helps you keep your system updated. There are lots of nice stuff on this laptop that you wouldn't find in other laptops. That's beside its very very light weight which makes it the traveller delight. I think I am a happy owner and lucky that I purchased this laptop. It's sold now at IBM.com for $1399. I guess it's a great deal for an IBM laptop.
IBM Support is the worst.February 11, 2005 2 out of 9 found this review helpful
I got this machine 10 months ago and recently its trackpad button lost its spring action. The machine is under warranty but the IBM support says it happened because of the abuse. I do not understand how you can abuse the trackpad button on a laptop. Apart from that, the LCD started flickering when I open or close the lid and there is a crack on the palmrest which is propagating on its own. The keyboard also wore out pretty fast. I Would not recommend this machine to anyone. I have had dell, hp and sony laptops before and i must admit the best was the hp.
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