news.com announces IBM’s latest notebook the lighweight (2.7 pounds) IBM Thinkpad X41:

‘The tiny machine, dubbed ThinkPad X41, incorporates the same fingerprint reader found in other ThinkPads, such as the ThinkPad T43. Fingerprints can be used to help identify a computer’s owner and thus protect data from falling into the wrong hands, IBM says.

The X41, designed to be easily toted by frequent travelers, also comes with a 12.1-inch screen and incorporates Intel’s 1.5GHz Pentium M 758 processor. The X41 will start at $1,999, a slightly higher price than that of its predecessor, the ThinkPad X40. IBM attributes the difference to the additional equipment. It will also continue to offer ThinkPad X40 models, which now start at about $1,500, for about another year, a company spokesman said.’

Get the Latest Price on the IBM X41 Tablet PC

PC Magazine reviews the IBM ThinkPad X41 laptop and writes - ‘The X41’s 40GB hard drive is smaller than the R200’s 60GB drive, and its optical drive is external, located in the docking station that comes bundled for the price. You also have the option of purchasing an external DVD�RW drive ($429). Toshiba offers an external USB 2.0 drive, without dock, for an additional cost.

With the new Centrino updates, the Lenovo/IBM ThinkPad X41 is the top performer in the ultraportable category, edging past the R200. It’s an excellent choice for an ultraportable heavyweight. But the super-slim, super-sleek, and equally competent R200 is currently the most coveted of the ultraportables and retains our Editors’ Choice.’

Information Week reviews the IBM ThinkPad X41 and writes:

‘Overall, though, the device’s capabilities make this one flexible and — dare I say it about a product initially designed by IBM — almost sexy, in a mobile device sort of way.

This device’s primary competitor is Toshiba’s new Satellite R15-S822. The Toshiba device has a slightly lower price (in base trim) but is somewhat bigger and heavier. The Toshiba has a 14.1-inch screen compared to the ThinkPad’s 12.1-inch screen. Put differently, the Toshiba is worth a look if you are office-bound, but the X41 Tablet the hands-on favorite for mobile computing.’

CNET Reviews has reviewed the IBM ThinkPad X41 Tablet and finds - ‘Like other convertibles, the ThinkPad X41 tablet has a split personality: you can use it like a standard notebook, or you can swivel the display and fold it over the keyboard to create a digital slate for writing, drawing, or just doodling. Unlike other convertibles, the X41 tablet’s screen doesn’t wobble on its single hinge, and the digital grid layer required to interpret the pen’s movements doesn’t diminish the quality of the 12.1-inch XGA display. We did find that the slightly recessed screen makes writing a little awkward, though the glass surface closely mimics the feel of pen on paper. The character recognition is still a work in progress, so you’ll need to write slowly and carefully for scratches and scrawls of the pen to be correctly translated into editable text; in our usage, the X41 tablet recognized 86 percent of our handwritten comments. Alongside the screen are helpful buttons for scrolling, rotating the display orientation, rebooting, and calling up a system control panel, plus Enter and Escape keys–pretty much everything you’d need to control your computer while it’s in tablet mode.’

Vince Anido has a user review of the IBM X41 Tablet and writes - ‘Overall, things have been extremely smooth these past two weeks. I’m getting my main programs up and running without issue, and a few kinks aside, the user experience has been phenomenal. [GN7] I’m going to get more in depth into some of the other features and programs as I become more comfortable with them. All-in-all, I have to HIGHLY recommend this system to anyone that is looking for an ultra-portable laptop. Even if you’re not sure about the Tablet PC thing, it’s premium over the normal X41 is only about $100, and half a pound on the weight, but it’s built like a rock. Every part of the device is of very high quality and there is no rattling at all. I can’t wait to explore a little deeper into this tablet, it’s already exceeding my highest expectations.’

TabletPC2 reviews the Lenovo Thinkpad X41 Tablet PC and writes - ‘The Lenovo X41 Tablet PC offers users the convenience of a convertible in a lightweight sturdy package. Long Battery life and an nice selection of IBM software make the Tablet PC user experience as easy and friendly as possible and the available accessories make it an excellent choice for Students, road warriors and home users alike.’

Pocket Lint reviews the Lenovo Thinkpad X41 and writes - ‘The Lenovo ThinkPad X41 is the company’s leading ultraportable design so it comes as no surprise that it has been used as the basis for this take on the Tablet PC…. Tablet PCs have had a bad time in the press, mainly as they haven’t lived up to the early hype surrounding them. However, if you approach this machine as a standard notebook but with even extra functionality, then you’ll be closer to appreciating how useful the format is.’

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 6th, 2005 at 4:11 am and is filed under IBM. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.