IBM Thinkpad T42 Review

There are so many laptop/notebook computer choices these days that it can be difficult choosing the right one. As a technology enthusiast, I appreciate not only leading technology, but also real-life usability. That is why I ended up choosing the IBM Thinkpad T42. I wanted a reasonably fast computer with a good screen and keyboard. IBM is known for its good laptop keyboards, and with its new FlexView LCD screen technology, it seemed to be a natural choice for me. I purchased a T42, model 2387-DXU, which comes with a 15" FlexView LCD screen (SXGA+ resolution 1400x1050, wide viewing angle), a 1.7 Ghz. Pentium M 745, 1 GB of RAM, a 40GB 7200RPM hard drive, extended battery, and DVD Burner.

Build Quality

The T42 feels solidly built. The 15" LCD models are a bit heavier than the smaller 14" screen models, 5.7 pounds (compared to 4.8 pounds). But, that's the tradeoff you have to make if you want the larger screen. It comes in any color you want as long as it's black, and has the classic IBM ThinkPad look. One particularly useful feature they added is the new Active Protection System. The laptop contains motion sensors that detect vibrations and parks the hard drive head if it detects large movements in order to protect the hard drive from crashing. It comes with a program that in real time shows you the amount of movement it detects, so you can see it is working.

Ergonomics

The T42 has a very good keyboard. For a laptop computer, it's quite spacious and is fairly easy to type on. Though it doesn't equal a good desktop keyboard, it comes close. The keyboard has some nice extras, such as a special Forward and Backward page key that simulates a web browser forward and backward button (and they work in Mozilla FireFox as well as Microsoft's Internet Explorer). The T42 comes with IBM's UltraNav pointer system, which includes both a TrackPoint (A small red pressure-sensitive stick in the middle of the keyboard for moving the cursor) and a touch pad. I like the TrackPoint a lot, and now they include 3 variations of rubber tips to choose from. Just below the spacebar, there are 3 buttons, the standard left and right buttons, and an extra middle button which causes the TrackPoint to enter scroll mode- useful for scrolling in windows. The T42 also has a night light, which sits at the top of the screen and can illuminate the keyboard if you're in the dark. Overall, this is a very usable laptop that is comfortable enough for extended use, and capable enough to replace a desktop computer.

Compared to my Sony TR2A, the keyboard and pointer navigation system are a huge improvement.

In Use

I really like using the T42. It is a fantastic laptop for general-purpose use. In fact, it has become my desktop replacement computer. In practice, I find that for my typical usage (word processing as web browsing, with the screen at full brightness), the T42 lasts about 2.5 hours on the standard battery. The extended battery does much better, at about 4.6 hours. The screen has a nice, wide viewing angle and is comfortable to look at. The anti-glare coating seems to work fairly well too. I find the brightness to be good enough, though at times I wish I could turn the brightness up one notch higher. Despite my pickiness about the screen, I should say that the T42 actually has one of the best laptop screens I have ever seen. Don't expect miracles, however, as, in direct sunlight (like almost all laptops), it is still difficult to read. In the shade, even in a bright room, it is quite usable.

The speakers sound fine, though they don't get very loud. The built-in 802.11B/G wireless network card worked just fine with my Linksys wireless routers.

Thinkpad T42 and Sony TR2A in the shade in a sunny room

Thinkpad T42 and Sony TR2A in bright sunlight

Drawbacks

The Thinkpad T42 has only a few drawbacks.

The fan seems to run constantly. Even if it's not doing too much work. Fortunately, the fan is fairly quiet and does not have a high pitch, so it isn't annoying.
The extended life battery also extends out the back of the computer about 1.5 inches. This means that it doesn't fit in many laptop cases when the extended battery is attached. I wish IBM had made the battery a bit thicker on the bottom instead of having it stick out so much in the back.

Conclusion

The T42 is a great all-around notebook computer. Its large, high resolution 15" FlexView screen is very nice. It is fast enough and capable enough to be your primary computer, and light enough to carry around. Combined with its great build quality, active protection system, and good ergonomics, it all adds up to a very nice system.