IBM Thinkpad TABLET X41

IBM X41 Specs and Configuration Options (text in blue indicates review unit configuration when there is a choice available)

Processor: Intel Pentium M LV 758 (1.50GHz, 90nm technology, 2MB L2 Cache, 400MHz FSB)

Wireless: Intel PRO 2200BG or 2915ABG, Bluetooth optional

OS: Windows XP Home/Pro

Screen: 12.1" TFT XGA (1024 x 768)

RAM: 256MB or 512MB PC-4200 DDR-2 SDRAM (Upgradeable to 1536MB Max)

Hard Drive: 1.8" 20GB, 30GB, 40GB or 60GB @ 4200RPM

Battery: 2.5 hr (4-cell) 5.7 hr (8-cell) (extended-life battery option adds 3 - 4 hours of life on top of quoted numbers for each respective battery)

Ports: 2 USB 2.0 (1 IBM Powered USB 2.0), Infrared, expansion bus (for optional ThinkPad X4 Ultra Base Doc); external display; AC adapter; RJ-11 modem port;RJ-45 ethernet port; audio: headphone/line-out, external microphone.

Slots: 1 PCMCIA card slot, 1 Secure Digital card slot

Dimensions: 10.5" x 8.3" x 1.06" (w x d x h) (with 8-cell battery it's 10.5" x 9.3" x 1.06")

Weight: 2.7lb with 4-cell battery, 3.2lb with 8-cell battery

Expansion: ThinkPad X4 UltraBase dock optional

Warranty: 3-year

IBM X41 Product Page: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/thinkpad/xseries/index.html

The X41 is, by design, very light and thin. The X41 is 1.06" inches thin and with the longer life 8-cell battery I have the X41 weighs 3.2lbs, if you use a 4-cell battery the weight is cut down to 2.7lbs. But even at a weight of 3.2lbs I find it easy to simply walk around with the X41 in one hand. Try doing that with a notebook that has a screen over 15" in size. I love being able to reach into my notebook case, pull out the X41 easily and effortlessly with one hand, and then place it into it's docking station (called the X4 UltraBase, more on that later) and immediately be up and working. Abe Lincoln once said "right is might", I'll argue that "light is might" -- in the world of mobile technology at least!

Here's a size comparison of the X41 to the T40, the X41 has an 8-cell battery in so it adds an extra 1-inch to the back notice (view larger image)

One way we know of to keep weight down in a mobile product is by utilizing plastic as the build material for the case. The problem with plastic is that it's just not all that rugged and if you bash your notebook or drop it then you'd better cross your fingers and hope that nothing breaks or cracks. The ThinkPad X41 does use plastic for the case, but the kicker is that it's a reinforced plastic composite. The case material provides for a very rugged and durable build, but still keeps the weight down. The screen lid is constructed of a magnesium alloy so there's no flexing of the screen, if you push in on the back of the lid you don't get any of the disconcerting ripple effect on the front of the LCD. When this rugged build is combined with the IBM Active Protection System for the hard drive (this built-in software/hardware feature shuts down the hard drive if the notebook is dropped in order to protect data), you can be fairly sure both your data and the physical hardware will survive a decent sized drop. IBM claims the ThinkPad X41 will survive up to 3-foot drops with little to no consequence.

Dell X1 resting on top of IBM X41, the X41 has more depth than the X1 but the X1 is wider (view larger image)

One thing that is common in ultraportables, but that must be pointed out, is that there is no built in optical drive for the X41, nor has there ever been for the X-series. That's part of the formula for keeping the weight down and the overall package thin. So what happens when you need to load software from a DVD or CD? That's when you'll need an expansion base such as the ThinkPad X4 UltraBase Dock. This dock has a built-in optical drive and various ports at the back. The UltraBase X4 allows you to have an external monitor, power and all your favorite accessories hooked up to it so that when you slide the X41 into the base you can start working right away, no hassle of arriving at the office and plugging in all the various accessories to the