IBM ThinkPad T42 range - a first look

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IBM ThinkPad T42 range: a first look
http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/hardwar [...] 222,00.htm
Charles McLellan May 10, 2004


IBM's ThinkPad T42 range will be among the first business-orientated
Dothan notebooks to hit the market. We have the preliminary details.

IBM's new ThinkPad T42 series comprises the mainstream T42 and the
workstation-class T42p. As well as featuring the new Pentium M
Processor 735 (1.7GHz), 745 (1.8GHz) and 755 (2GHz), plus a range of
wireless connectivity options, the T42 series will be the first
ThinkPads to offer a 15in. display. Another first for the range is a
9.5mm multi-format DVD burner, the snappily named ThinkPad
Multi-Burner UltraBay Slim Drive.


Graphic caption: [IBM's ThinkPad T42 features the Dothan (90nm Pentium
M) processor, 802.11b, b/g or a/b/g wireless networking and a 9.5mm
multi-format DVD burner, and includes a 15in.-screen model.]


The 2.4kg (15in. screen) or 2.1 kg (14in. screen) T42 comes with
either a Dothan processor featuring 2MB of Level 2 cache or the older
1MB-cache Pentium M running at 1.5GHz. Graphics are handled by ATI's
Radeon M10 (with up to 64MB of video RAM) or M7 (with up to 32MB)
chipsets, while hard disk sizes top out at 80GB (5,400rpm).

Wireless networking options for the T42 include single-band 802.11b or
b/g, dual-band a/b/g or "wireless ready" (i.e. no wireless module
fitted). IBM uses two antennae fitted in the screen bezel to provide
isolation from electromagnetic interference. Gigabit wired Ethernet is
standard on all models, as is infrared (not a given these days), while
Bluetooth is offered on selected models.

IBM's ThinkPads generally deliver good battery life, and the company's
claims for the T42 are impressive: 5.5 hours with a 6-cell battery,
7.2 hours with a 9-cell extended battery and 9.5 hours ("all day
computing" ) with the extended battery plus a second battery in the
UltraBay.